Page 16 of Most Likely to Fear Love

“So this is a habit of yours, is it? Helping chicks in need?”

She shot me a sideways look, her eyes alight with amusement. It was then that I realized the double meaning and I barked out a laugh. “Cute.”

The smile she gave me shot straight to my heart. Holy fuck this woman was gorgeous.

Moments later, the coffee was done. “Here we go,” She handed me a steaming mug. Our fingers brushed as I took it, sending a jolt through my system that had nothing to do with the hot ceramic.

Cassidy leaned against the opposite counter, cradling her own mug. She took a sip, closing her eyes briefly in appreciation. When she opened them again, I could see the hesitation flickering in their depths. Finally, she said, “I really am sorry about earlier. I promise I’m usually much more put together.”

I frowned. “Do you always do this?”

Her guard went straight up, making me regret the abruptness of my question. “Do what?”

“Feel so bad at slightly inconveniencing people?”

“Well, it’s rude and um…”

I gave her a gentle smile. “That’s a yes.”

“I guess it is.”

“You wanna know what I think?”

“I’m not sure, but hit me anyway.”

“Sometimes you need to give yourself permission to not be on your A-game. Life doesn’t always go as planned and the world won’t come crashing down because of a little hiccup.”

She was watching me closely now and I had to ignore the way her serious green eyes pulled at me. I had her undivided attention and I needed to make the most of it.

“I mean, how do you feel if a friend fucks up when you know they don’t mean to?”

The little head tilt, the focused concentration. Yeah, this woman was something else. “I guess I just say no problem. These things happen.”

There we go. “How about you give yourself the same grace.”

“Hmm, you might be right.” She bit her lip and there was that hesitation again. Like she was warring with herself about whether or not to say what she was thinking. Then, “But it’s not easy. A lifetime of being chastised for stepping a millimeter out of line is hard to get over.”

Pain flickered in the depths of her eyes, quickly masked.

The pull was too strong to resist. Without thinking about it, I reached out and pushed her hair back from her forehead. She went perfectly still, gazing up at me with wide eyes. Her skin felt warm beneath my fingers, and for a moment, I forgot why I shouldn’t touch her at all. Her breath hitched slightly, and I couldn’t shake the way her stillness made my heart race. I forced myself to let my hand fall away. Weird, to feel like I just lost something. Something I never had. Certainly something I wasn’t supposed to want. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…’

“No it’s okay, I know you were…”

“I should probably go.”

“Oh. Alright.”

I stepped back, trying to shake off the heat between us. “No need to see me out. I’ll let you get on with it.” I gestured to the sample on the table, my heart pounding in my chest.

Cassidy nodded, her expression a mix of uncertainty and something else I couldn’t quite place. I made my way to the door, my heart rate still high. I could feel her eyes on my back, and I fought the urge to look over my shoulder.

Once outside, the cool air hit me like a splash of cold water. I needed a moment to collect myself. My heart still thudded like a drum, the heat still coursing through my veins.

What the hell just happened? I’d come here to help her, and instead, I felt like I’d stepped into a whirlwind. It was one fucking touch. But that’s all it took. Cassidy was captivating and complicated, and I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward her. I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to wipe away the lingering thoughts of her sad green eyes and the way she looked in that oversized sweater.

As I got into my truck and backed out of her drive, I knew I needed to get a grip.Focus, Harle. This was supposed to be simple. A straightforward arrangement, no strings attached. But standing in her kitchen, I had felt something shift, something electric that I hadn’t expected. Fucking hell.

With a sigh, I grabbed a water bottle, taking a long swig to cool my head. I had to keep my distance, maintain the boundaries I’d set. But as I drove, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated.

---