“The whole lot can be okay, I promise,” he mentioned softly. “I’ll ensure of it.”

I noticed in some way we’d gotten nearer. Shut sufficient that if I wished to, I might run my fingers via his darkish locks, shut sufficient to kiss.

And that thought was the one which drove me away.

This was not getting again to regular. This was dangerously near falling over an edge I didn’t wish to be on.

“I’ll maintain you to that, Harding,” I mentioned gruffly as I headed again to my brother’s to seize my shirt I’d left hanging over the sting of his sofa, leaving Nolan in my mud as soon as extra.

CHAPTER 6

Nolan

I’m a glutton for punishment.

Clearly, there was no different rationalization. I wasn’t positive what had gotten into me earlier, aside from the truth that Dawson simply appeared to have the ability to draw out components of me I didn’t even know existed.

Flirting with him over the cellphone was one factor. It was simpler to fake, to channel the individual I wanted I could possibly be after I didn’t must bodily take a look at the person.

I informed myself I used to be going to erase that morning’s cellphone name from my mind fully, and I had each intention of doing so; beginning with specializing in work—on the job Dawson was up my ass about—after which he needed to present up recent from a fireplace, his sandy blond hair all raveled, his pores and skin flushed and sweaty nonetheless, with smudges of ash and soot on his face, with that cocky grin…

Like some hunk out of a romance novel or one thing.

After which when he grabbed me, to apologize… it was like one thing had shifted in him too, and though I knew I ought to have been pissed and I ought to have informed him to again off, and get as distant from me as potential, I discovered myself falling additional into his gravitational pull.

His darkish eyes implored mine as his voice cracked simply within the slightest, displaying off what I gathered was in all probability the person beneath all of the tools and fireproof armor.

Somebody not lots of people noticed, and I couldn’t look away. Like a moth, I used to be drawn to his endearing flame, his change of character, and I couldn’t cease myself from falling like a star in his orbit.

His hair was nonetheless moist, and he smelled like cedar and spice. I appeared up at him via my glasses, my gaze falling over his lips as I questioned for a second if he would style nearly as good as he smelled, if his kiss could be as ravaging because the fires he chased, or if it could be a sluggish burn, like a fantastic whiskey making its approach down your throat.

It had taken practically all my focus to battle the need to take his lips and kiss away the concern that was so evident in his voice and on his face.

However I knew kissing Dawson was each unprofessional and unwarranted.

In any case, how might somebody like him ever need somebody like me?

Even I knew the world wasn’t some romance novel. Guys like Dawson might have any man they desired, and guys like me have been simply the wallflowers within the background, the muted colours of a portray put there solely to make brighter ones stand out.

So I did the one factor I might consider. I informed him, regardless of my higher judgment, regardless of the overwhelming want to kiss him within the yard of his brother’s home, that every thing was going to be okay, though I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.

At the least, the place my job was involved, I meant that promise.

However part of me was additionally attempting to persuade myself every thing could be okay. That I’d stroll away and overlook that second, that I’d overlook shirtless Dawson standing inches away from me and his spicy scent, his fiery copper eyes, and his sculpted body, or the way in which his eyelashes stood out in opposition to his tanned pores and skin.

Fucking hell, why do I at all times do that?

Why do I at all times fall for lovely creatures I can by no means have?

After which it was over, and Dawson walked away, and I let him go like an fool as a result of I couldn’t string my phrases collectively and bear in mind the way to fucking human.

“Approach to go, Nolan,” I chastised myself as I began the automobile. The digital clock blinked to inform me I used to be perilously near a late arrival, so I threw my automobile into gear and sped off for the workplace, simply as my cellphone rang.

“Harding,” I answered the automobile’s bluetooth handsfree, prepared my breath to return to regular. I wanted to get Dawson Richards out of my head and give attention to issues that have been truly tangible. Like my job, and the promotion that I’d been working towards.

“Oh, Nolan, I’m so glad I obtained you! I do know you’re nonetheless out on lunch and all, and I hoped to catch you earlier than you got here again…”

I tensed instantly upon listening to my boss Karla’s voice. “What’s up?” I requested as I steered the automobile onto Jasper Springs’s essential avenue.

Supply: www.seynovel.com