Page 47 of Knotting Hill
Only this time, I freeze.
I get a lungful of apple pie with Chantilly cream, and I groan inwardly.
“Storm,” JP says quietly, grasping my shoulders gently. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I blurt out. “Just go away.”
He drops his hands instantly and takes a step back.
I surprise both him and myself when I suddenly fling myself at him, wrapping my arms around him and sobbing wildly into his t-shirt.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” I snort. “I’m all about ruining your clothes.”
“Hey,” he says, pulling me closer. “You can ruin every item of clothing I have it makes you feel better.”
“It makes me feel worse. Now I have to pay for m-more d-dry cleaning, and I don’t have a j-job!” I shriek at him, my mood erratic now that the implications have set in. “I need to fix this. I need to go back in and fix this…”
I turn, but JP grabs my elbow. “Slow your roll, beautiful. You are in no state to fix anything. Tell me what happened?”
I open my mouth to blab all but realise I can’t. I can’t put myself in that position with the Robbs. They will get in so much trouble if the ethics board finds out about this, and that will come back on me. I’m a nobody; they are influential people in this community. Panic spikes my blood, and I lean my forehead against JP’s chest, breathing in his calming scent.
“I just quit my job,” I mutter.
“Trouble?”
“You could say that.”
“Then you did the right thing.”
“Easy for you to say, Richie-Rich.”
He snorts. “She’s funny too.” His tone is sweet and gorgeous and lulls me into calming down slightly. I clutch his t-shirt and then pull back, glaring at it.
“You’re a dick, you know that?”
He glances down and chuckles. “Reminds me of you and will even more now that your scent is all over it.”
“My snot and tears. You’re going to have to wash it.”
“Nope.”
“You’re gross.”
“Want to go home?”
I nod. “I’m okay. Thank you, but you don’t have to walk me home.”
“Drink then?”
I shake my head. “I need to bury myself in my nest until I work up the guts to find another job.”
His heart starts to pound under my hands, still resting on his chest at the mention of my nest.
“Let me take you home. Make sure you get there safely,” he croaks.
I don’t even have the energy to argue with him. I nod and let him lead me away, his arm around me as I rest my head on his shoulder.
It sends a bolt of fear through me how natural and how perfect it feels.
