Page 24 of Believing in You

Harrison chuckled. “Maybe one day I can introduce you to gaming.”

She glanced at him and smiled. That told her this wasn’t a one-time visit. Whatever this was building between them might have a chance. She couldn’t wait to find out.

They moved back into the hallway and went to the last room on the left where the door was closed. Harrison pushed it open, and she had no words.

The music room.

Jamie hadn’t exaggerated. The space was a musician’s dream. He had truly gone all out in setting up the space. The color scheme of black, gray, white with pops of light blue was gorgeous. A long, overstuffed, gray sofa at one end of the space made her want to lie on it and take a long nap. The rest of the room included a large keyboard, electric drums, and a stand that held a couple of saxophones. Hanging on the far wall were three guitars.

Nyla turned to Harrison. “If I lived in a place like this, I’d never leave home.”

He grunted. “I pretty much didn’t for the last few years,” he said, and invisible shutters covered his eyes. His previous relaxed demeanor was replaced with his usual somber aura. “Why don’t you get changed, then meet me downstairs.”

While taking a quick shower, Nyla couldn’t stop thinking. After touring Harrison’s home, it became even clearer that he was so far out of her league. Educated, great job, nice cars, and a gorgeous home, and what did she have? She had money in the bank, but all of it was earmarked for the club. Other than that, she had nothing. What could Harrison possibly see in her?

Jamie had said she and Harrison could be good for each other, but doubt was starting to settle in. They were as different as winter and summer. Surely, once Harrison got to know her better, he’d want to be with someone who was his equal in every area.

But what she couldn’t deny was that invisible pull she felt whenever she and Harrison were together. Each time she saw him, she wanted to touch him, kiss him, hug him, and it was obvious he was feeling the same way. His unexpected kisses kept catching her off guard, but was all that enough?

Nyla never considered herself an overthinker. Normally she was a one-day-at-a-time person who rolled with whatever wasbrought her way. Yet, dealing with Harrison had her thoughts and emotions all over the place.

Once she was showered and changed into yoga pants, a long sleeve T-shirt, and thick socks, Nyla headed downstairs. She was a night owl, but the queen size bed in the guest room was calling her name. She resisted.

“Hey,” she said when she reached the kitchen. She sat at the center island on one of the barstools.

He glanced over his shoulder. “That was quick. Do you need medicine for your headache?”

“No. I took something before leaving the club. It’s better.”

She’d been pushing herself hard the last few weeks, and the long days had caught up to her. She planned to spend the weekend relaxing.

“Hopefully, some food and rest will help,” Harrison said as if reading her mind.

His cell phone, sitting face down on the center island, rang, and he lifted it. After a quick glance and a frown at the screen, he silenced the device. Then he shoved it into the front pocket of the well-worn blue jeans he had changed into.

Nyla admired the way his long-sleeve T-shirt molded over his muscular body. The material was thin enough for her to see his sinewy muscles contract with every move he made. She’d seen so many different sides of him, including his styles of dress, since meeting months ago, and so far, she liked what she saw.

As she watched him move around, it was safe to say Harrison felt comfortable in the kitchen. He seemed more relaxed than she’d ever seen him. Clearly, his home was his happy place, but why was she there? Why did he invite her to his home?

So much for not overthinking.

They hadn’t talked since the night he’d dropped her off at home. Yet, today, it was as if no time had passed between them, and that kiss earlier? Goodness. Yeah, they shared an addictivephysical attraction that neither of them seemed to be able to resist. The man was downright enticing, but…

“What are we doing, Harrison?” she asked, just as he started cooking grilled cheese sandwiches. He had no idea they were one of her favorite comfort foods. “Why did you invite me over? Days ago, I was under the impression you didn’t want anything to do with me.”

That stopped him, and he swung around to face her, a spatula in his hands.

“I want everything to do with you,” he said with conviction, and her pulse quickened. “You’re all I’ve been able to think about this past week, Nyla. Hell, even longer than that. I’m sorry if I’m throwing out mixed signals, but I needed to get my head straight before I could come to you correctly.”

He turned back to the stove to flip the grilled cheese and turned off the tomato bisque he had going. Then he returned his attention to her.

“You came into my life when I was just resurfacing, for lack of a better word. I don’t think you understand how strong of an effect you have on me. You make me want things that I haven’t wanted in a long time. Things I never thought I could have, and I wasn’t ready.”

Nyla wasn’t normally speechless, but this… There was a bit of anxiousness behind his statements. As silence filled the space and as she dissected his words, he turned back to the sandwiches.

He hadn’t been ready for her. If she took time to think about it, she could say the same about him. For the last couple of years, her focus had been on buying Moody Days. She’d worked day and night, planning, saving, and a whole lot of praying that she could pull this off. She honestly didn’t have time for a relationship. So yeah, she understood where he was coming from. Still…

Approaching him, she placed her hand on his lower back, and he glanced down at her. “You said you hadn’t been ready for me. What changed?”

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