Page 53 of Embers of You
I chew on my bottom lip, debating on what I should do. Bennet jumps up on the couch again, and I narrow my eyes at him. “You enjoy my hard work then, my friend.”
Pulling my phone out, I admit defeat and ask for help.
Sutton: Any chance you know a thing or two about fixing a wall?
Jameson: If you wanted to see me you just needed to say that.
I look over at Bennet. “See what you did,” I blame him, because it makes me feel a bit better. Of course he doesn’t respond to me, more than content to be laying on the couch.
To be fair, I know the only one to blame here is myself, because if I’m being honest maybe it is an excuse to see Jameson, but I’m not going to admit that.
CHAPTER 26
Jameson
I’m exhaustedafter my shift, but Sutton texted asking for help, so sleep can wait. After a quick run to the hardware store to get what I need to help with her wall, I head to her house. Luckily, there’s not a lot of damage I can see from the picture she sent me and what there is could wait, but I’m not about to tell her that. I said I would let her reach out to me and this feels like an olive branch that I’m going to hang onto for dear life.
I’m greeted by both Sutton and Bennet when she opens the door. I can sense her nerves from where I’m standing even though she gives me a small smile; she doesn’t say anything when she opens the door wider letting me in.
“The damage is over here.” She leads me to the spot where a small dent is. It really doesn’t look bad at all and it won’t take me long to fix, but I plan on stretching it out.
“Thank you for doing this for me,” she says while I’m unloading the supplies I brought.
I turn toward her slightly. “Anytime you need me, I’ll be here.”
Her breath catches, and she immediately looks around, clearly trying to find a distraction and I let her, for now.
“Do you want something to drink?” she offers from further away than she was before.
“No, thanks.”
I work slowly to fix the damage, the only thing missing is paint to cover it since I didn’t know the color I would need. Once I’m done, I know I can’t draw this out anymore, and I turn looking for Sutton but she’s already right by me.
“All done, just needs some paint,” I tell her, standing up so I have to look down at her.
“Thank you,” she says, softly.
“Anytime,” I answer, just as softly. We’re closer than we need to be, our chests only inches from each others.
I expect her to step away, but she doesn’t. She’s looking up at me and her wide eyes draw me in like they always do. I’m taken back to every time I’ve gotten the chance to touch her. And the way my fingers itch to do it again.
I would give anything for her to let me in, to give me more of herself. To break down the walls and just let me show her how things could be between us.
If she would just take a chance.
Right now, I’m not seeing the walls behind her eyes. The way she’s looking at me seems like she’s open to letting me in, so I close the distance between us, turning so her back is against the wall.
“What’re you doing?” she practically whispers.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t,” she shakes her head slightly, “I don’t know.”
I slide a hand up the side of her leg, only feeling the soft fabric of her leggings covering her skin. I move up to her hip, gripping it, while the tip of one of my fingers grazes her waistband just barely touching her skin there.
“You don’t?” I run my finger gently along her skin.
Sutton lifts her hands so she’s gripping my forearms, but she doesn’t push me away. Our faces get closer as I lean down without even thinking about it, continuing to touch her gently.
