Page 97 of Breaking Point
My truck pulls up alongside Bella’s car right as she gets out and opens the trunk, revealing bags of groceries. Something in my chest uncoils, warmth flooding my veins at the sight of her.
I haven’t seen her since Friday, and although it’s only Monday, I found myself missing her around the house. Missing the lingering scent that she leaves from room to room, missing the playlist that seems to always be on as she works, and most importantly, missing the way the ache in my chest lessens when she’s around.
This weekend was…hard.
The AA meetings I went to ripped open that wound of Drew so thoroughly it took every ounce of my strength not to drive to a liquor store.
Monday couldn’t come soon enough.
Jumping out of my truck, I drink in the sight of Bella in tightblack leggings and a white sweatshirt, along with the smile she gives me as she turns and locks her gaze on mine. I put all my focus on breathing normally as I slowly approach her. A smile of my own spreads across my face because I can’t help but smile when she’s nearby.
“Let me get those,” I offer, not waiting for a response before grabbing up five bags.
She huffs out a laugh. “What takes you one trip would have taken me two.”
“Pays to be an athlete, I suppose.”
Her gaze trails down my body as she murmurs under her breath, “That it does.”
Turning from her before she can see the heat filling my cheeks, I carry the groceries into the kitchen, grateful beyond measure that I showered at the gym after my personal training session. As she walks in, I’m surprised by the intensity of wanting to touch her.
One public outing with this woman where I could touch her and hold her at my leisure, and here I am with no one around craving the feel of her skin.
I make myself busy with my hands so I don’t do something foolish like wrap my hands around her waist. I move around the kitchen gathering ingredients for a protein shake, my entire body hyperaware of her.
“Anything else on the agenda for today?” she asks.
Shaking my head, I gulp down some of the protein shake, noting how her eyes are trained on my neck.
Do I have something on my skin?
“Nothing more for the day. The shelter has too many volunteers today if you can believe it.” I give her a smile. “Afraid you’re stuck with me.” Taking in the amount of groceries, I frown. “Did Kieran get into the food again?”
She deadpans, “When doesn’t he?”
“I need to start sending him my grocery bills.”
A small breathy laugh escapes her, stopping me dead in my tracks.
I’ve never been so hyperaware of another person. Never hadmy gaze track every movement they make, never thought so much about them before. And yet here she is, humming under her breath, wholly unaware of how much she affects me. My heart’s beating a thousand miles a minute all the while she’s flitting around the kitchen without a care in the world.
“You can put your playlist on if you want.”
She stops, her cinnamon-colored eyes lifting to mine. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
“If anything, I’m intruding.”
The corner of her lip twitches. “In your own house?”
Rubbing the nape of my neck, my cheeks heat. “Right.” I quickly change the topic. “Need any help?”
She frowns. “It’s okay. You don’t have to help.”
I shrug. “I don’t have anything going on this afternoon.”
Her lips purse, her eyes raking over the mountain load of groceries. “You can help if you want. I’m just meal prepping for the next three days.”
“Done. Just tell me where you need me.”
