Page 35 of The Off-limits Grump Next Door
“Me too.”
I hugged her, still surprised at how the evening had turned out, but grateful.
Chapter Fifteen
Kendra
I stood under the warm spray of my shower, the water washing away the tension of the day. But my mind lingered on Antonio—his wounded elbow, and our kiss. The memory of his lips on mine sent a shiver down my spine.
Guilt gnawed at me like a persistent itch I couldn’t scratch. I had approached him with an ulterior motive. But the more we talked, the more I questioned my decision.
I knew I was genuinely drawn to him, yet I also knew the only reason I went for that kiss was to gain his trust—trust I’d be exploiting for his family’s story.
Asheville wasn’t a big town. Quitting my job because I couldn’t deliver a story would tarnish my reputation. Word would spread quickly, and securing another position in my field would become daunting. I needed to maintain my professionalism, no matter how much I was drawn to Antonio.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a plush towel.
What was I doing? Antonio deserved better than a deceitful journalist. His kindness and vulnerability made me feel like I was betraying him.
But my job was too important. Uncovering the truth about the Michaelson family empire could make my career.
I dried my hair, focusing on the soft hum of the dryer in an attempt to escape my thoughts. Yet my mind remained turbulent. Antonio’s smile flashed in my mind, followed by the memory of our kiss. Butterflies danced in my stomach.
No, I couldn’t let emotions cloud my judgment. My job came first. I had to keep my priorities straight.
As I tucked my hair into a bonnet, my gaze drifted to the photo of Elon on my dresser. My late husband’s warm smile seemed to be judging me tonight.
I turned the picture to face a different direction and climbed into bed.
I closed my eyes and tried to summon sleep for what felt like hours, but it wouldn’t come. I couldn’t shake off the memory of Antonio’s lips on mine. The way he’d deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping around me, made my heart flutter. As I lay in bed, my mind replayed the events of the evening.
Antonio’s vulnerability, his trust in me, and the way he’d opened up about his struggles—it all tugged at my heartstrings. His words, laced with frustration and concern, revealed a depth to him I hadn’t expected.
I picked up my phone to text him.
“Hey… about that kiss, could we forget it? Pretend it never—” I typed, only to tap the backspace until every letter disappeared.
How could I ask him to forget something I initiated?
“Ughhh!!!”
I tossed my phone onto the bed beside me, and in a heartbeat, it buzzed, breaking the silence.
Antonio’s name flashed on the screen, and my heart skipped a beat. Had I accidentally sent something instead of deleting it?
My hands fumbled as I grabbed my phone.
“Hey,”his text read.“Still awake?”
My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
“Yeah,”I replied, trying to sound casual.“Just winding down.”
“Can’t sleep?”he asked.
“No,”I admitted. And before I could stop myself, I added,“…thinking about tonight,”and hit send.
There was a pause before his next message.
