Page 41 of Crash
He waited for the pair at the walkway, ignoring the way his heart seemed to clench at the sight of the happy pair. Quynh seemed so relaxed and content. He couldn’t help but wonder what her life was like back in the city. Griffin knew she wasn’t dating anyone seriously,but it didn’t mean she was single. Though, after last night, he sure hoped there were no other males in the picture.
Griffin’s fist clenched beneath his coat at the thought of another male in her life. He should not be this possessive about someone who was bound to leave him behind when she went back to her big city.
“Come on.”
If his voice sounded louder than he wanted, he blamed it on the wind. He turned his back and went inside the house.
By the time the happy duo made their way inside, Quynh was wiping her shoes off on the mat. She moved to slip her sneakers off when he barked at her to keep them on. Her hands went up in front of her as if she had been caught doing something wrong.
“No need to take them off.” He lifted his arm to show her the warm dinner he’d placed in a Tupperware container. “I made you some dinner.”
Quynh’s smile fell as she saw the container. Her eyes shuttered, cutting him off to her emotions. She nodded curtly as her lips rolled together. Slowly, as if to defy him, she slipped out of her sneakers and picked them up in her hands. He watched as she carried them down the hallway, walking past him with her head held high, her vanilla scent almost smacking him in the face as she moved away from him.
He felt a punch to the gut. He hadn’t meant to hurther by rushing her out of there. It was for the best. They couldn’t spend any more time alone and still be friends.
Do I want to be her friend?
Fuck if he knew what he wanted.
One thing he knew, though. The way her face looked when he’d basically told her to get out of his house made his stomach hurt. He didn’t like the way her eyes had dimmed when she’d seen the dinner he’d prepared for her to go, even though he didn’t want to send her mixed signals and have her stay for dinner.
Something snapped. Watching her walk away from him made him irrationally angry.
Tossing the offensive container on the counter, he marched down the hallway.
“Quynh,” he growled at her back.
She picked up her pace, ignoring him, as she tried to put on her shoes with jerky movements.
He heard her curse under her breath as he rounded on her.
“Quynh, stop.”
She didn’t stop. If anything, she renewed her efforts to leave.
“Thank you for the walk. And dinner. It was very nice of you.”
She had both shoes on and went to open the door, but before her hand could turn the knob, Griffin was on her.
He yanked gently at her arm, pulling her awayfrom the door, and backed her up against the wall. He kept his body from touching hers, knowing the contact would snap his barely leashed control. It would drive him crazy. He needed to be sane and not act like a complete caveman right now.
Her chest heaved with her heavy breathing.
“Look at me,” he commanded in a low growl.
She refused to look at him, averting her gaze by looking over his shoulder.
“Quynh, look at me, please.”
Griffin watched in horror as her bottom lip quivered.
Gently, he gripped her chin until her eyes met his. He cursed at the tears she was holding back.
“Fuck. Quynh, I’m sorry.”
He rested his forehead on hers as he shook his head from side to side.
“It’s fine.” She sniffed.
