Page 19 of Nodus Tollens
“Shut up, just shut up.” I felt the oncoming tears threatening to make this interaction far worse than it already was. It didn’t matter that this stranger was trying to lighten the mood by complimenting me. The damage was already done, and him still standing here was only making things worse. Hyperventilating, I began tossing everything into my caddy, and, of course, my shampoo bottle had to be cuddled up to his pristine white shoe.
“Hey… calm down.” His voice shifted to a calmer tone, but over my heavy breathing, it was hard to notice its effects on me. Before I knew it, the stranger was crouched down in front of me and helping me retrieve the items that had fallen. For a moment there, I was frozen in place, watching as the man in front of me took my shampoo and, without making eye contact, dropped the bottle into my caddy. He was clearly avoiding looking at me. For some strange reason, it made my heart flutter. Any other man would be desperate for another look, but not him. He kept his stare down, and in those dwindling seconds, I was able to get a good look at him. He wasn’t like vending machine guy. Not in the slightest. His build was nothing compared to the beast I saw at the hospital. While my vending machine guy was built for trouble, this man was built for a woman. His face was one you’d fall in love with, not just because he was gifted with handsome features but because you could see a certain gentleness in his movements that had me curious. His mouth went back and forth between chewing on his lip to mumbling incoherent words that made me question whether I should even feel angry towards the stranger. It wasn’t like I could blame him for walking just as I was. As much as I wanted to be mad, I couldn’t.
He reminded me of an angel with his dark blonde hair that swept haphazardly to the side while the rest was hidden behind a hood. There was no creepy, alarming vibe that would normally tell me to stay away. Instead, I felt almost like I was safe, which was strange for the kind of world we lived in today.
Who was this guy?
“Here.” He voiced when his piercing stare finally collided with mine. Sliding the shower caddy across the floor, he remained hunched over with a look of intrigue in his eyes. “You good?” He leaned in close, like a close friend would, and lifted a blonde brow.
My throat felt dry and sticky, and I knew if I spoke, the words would come off coarse and forced. Even then, once I’d be able to speak, I feared nothing would come out. The man just saw my breasts and everything else I had to offer. What the hell could I have to say to him?
“If you’re wondering if you’re in the presence of Hayes Decker, then yes, I can tell you that you are.” The brightness in his eyes seemed to have dimmed, then, with a sigh, he rose to his feet.
What the hell?
“Look, I know how this works.” He went on, confusing me further.
“How what works?” I finally muster up the nerve to speak.
“The look. The ‘I’m speechless, starstruck, let’s jump in bed together’ look.”
A less-than-charming sneer fell upon my face, and in seconds, I was on my feet, clutching my towel. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but that’s definitely not the look I was giving you.” I scoffed.
I officially take everything back I said about him being gentle and sweet.
“Oh really?” He chuckled, causing a strand of blonde hair to fall out of place and hover on his forehead. With his arms now crossed and a wicked grin staring down at me, I feel even more flustered than I did when he saw me naked. How the hell can that be?
“Look, I’ve never heard of you before, buddy, and I’m glad I haven’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to bed and pretend that this night never happened.” I tried to step around him but was blocked by his body.
Glaring, I peered up into a blinding smile that had my stomach in somersaults. My body reacted instantly at his pretty-boy charm, but my head fought valiantly at dismantling all his positive qualities.
“Wait a sec, you seriously don’t know who I am?” He asked with a look that resembled astonishment.
“Nope. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I seriously have no clue who you are.” I responded with a roll of my eyes. Seconds passed, and a silence sat between us as he studied me from every which angle. For some reason, I let him stare. Though it was uncomfortable and made my skin crawl being examined so thoroughly, he wasn’t looking at me with disgust or even disinterest. But something far worse than that, interest. “Should I?” I added.
Disrupting whatever thoughts were flooding his brain, he lightly coughed into his hand and shook his head. “Just surprised you don’t.”
Huh.
“You famous or somethin’?” I asked while taking in his whole appearance, but this time I went more in-depth with my leering. He definitely looked like he could be famous. Actor, maybe? Model? He was too pretty to be anything else.
“No. Not even close.” He chuckled, causing my cheeks to flame. His laugh was even pretty. Deep and melodic, the timbre rumbled down my spine until it sent a wicked chill through me. As his laughter finally died down, a faint smile materialized, and it was blatantly directed toward me. Not even a full-fledged grin, and he had me turning crimson. He knew the effect he had had on me because, within seconds, he gifted me a view of his teeth in a blinding smile.
Just as it had affected me, I wondered how many others felt the same.
“Huh.” I shook off the unfamiliar and unwanted feelings as I lifted my shoulders. “Well, I wouldn’t say it was nice running into you, Hayes, but I…”
“You always leave the showers in a towel?” He cut me off with a nod towards my covered body.
Confused and caught off guard by his question, I reared back slightly. “Excuse me?” I half chuckled and scoffed. Was he serious?
He crossed his arms over his chest, and his features shifted from amused to a firmer, concerned look. “You heard me.”
I just glared at his response. My eyes instantly filled with disdain while his briefly trailed over the tops of my chest. It wasn’t hard to notice he was fantasizing about my breasts again as I watched his throat contract. “No, of course not. I just forgot my clothes.”
His gaze suddenly lifted as he narrowed his brows in disbelief “How do you forget your clothes?”
“I just did, okay?”
