Page 16 of Working Out West

“What does this mean? Floats your boat?” His voice, his damn voice, was low and husky, and I wanted to drink it.

Weird thought, but my mind had been lost since he neared me. It was then I realized before tonight, I had been the only one to get close, to reach out. First, it had been with the touch to my back, and now this. He was blooming in front of me. Showing me the real him.

Yet, a part of my brain still asked me if he was actually gay. My other clients had been flirty. Adrik hadn’t… until now, but was this flirting?

“Have I broken you?”

“Yes, no… what was the question?”

Heavens, he was looking at my lips.

A ding sounded, and the spell was broken. Adrik straightened as the doors opened, and he started toward the waitress who stepped out.

“I could fall for you,” I whispered to myself. I could. Easily. And that scared me, as there was a high risk of being hurt.

My jaw hurt from clenching it. It was fucking strange that I suddenly wanted to cry. What was wrong with me?

I heard Adrik say something to the waitress. I glanced over to see her nod and move back into the elevator, leaving the cart behind. Once the doors were closed, Adrik pushed the food our way.

He was handsome.

He was scary.

He was gruff.

Sweet.

Reserved.

Funny.

But never would he be mine.

When would I get that through my thick head?

He was a client.

I worked for an escort service and was paid to spend time with this addictive man.

My chest cracked. I had to stop. I had to. For my sake, for my feelings, my heart, my sanity, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to stay away.

I had two weeks to get my head around what I was feeling. After tonight, I wouldn’t see him for two weeks. In that time, I would talk to Kylo for some advice, and then I would either cancel Adrik as a client or continue this torture on myself.

Why did I have to get feelings for him?

A gentle pinch to my chin had me raising my gaze to Adrik’s concerned one. “Where are you?”

I forced a smile. “Here in your office.”

He studied me, and under his assessing gaze, it felt like I had everything open for him to see. My mind, my body, and my soul. He shook his head as his thumb slowly caressed my skin under my chin.

Oh boy, I wanted to melt into him. I wanted to wrap my arms around his waist and tell him my name and everything about me. How I didn’t want to work and get paid for his company. I wanted him to give it to me, and I’d have it freely.

“Your mind is miles away.”

I scraped my top teeth over my bottom lip and once more threw my thoughts and worries aside to live in the moment. To enjoy Adrik Hail. I grinned. “Sorry, I have a test coming up at college, and the worry got the best of me for a moment.” The lie felt wrong, but it had to be done.

Adrik’s brows dipped. Eventually, he nodded. “I would help, but I do not know how.”

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