Page 62 of Fish out of Water
Something I didn’t currently have the words to describe.
“Did you just call me her daddy?” He stared at me over the rim of the coffee cup poised just under his lips.
Lips that had been on mine once upon a time.
But last night wasn’t one of those times.
Once we got back from our shopping trip Grant basically hid in his basement office the rest of the night, leaving me free run of his house.
His really nice house.
It wasn’t huge, but everything in it was the best of the best. All the lines were clean and modern. The colors were muted, manly tones of grey and beige.
Like his outfit Friday it was a little boring for my taste, but chicks like Valentina probably loved it.
I pulled my eyes from the suspenders that were just begging to be grabbed.
Maybe snapped.
“You get up early.” I almost smiled. I managed a whole four-word sentence in the face of Grant Servantes in suspenders.
And glasses.
“I have a lot to get caught up on.”
I was never one of those people who thought it would be awesome to work for yourself. No freaking way did I want to be responsible for taxes and insurance and everything else that went with it. “Even after working all night last night?”
At least that’s what I assumed he’d been doing.
He looked confused for a second, but it passed almost instantly. “Yes.”
“That sucks.” I spotted a full pot of coffee and a cup sitting right next to it. “Is that for me?”
“It is.” Grant was leaned right next to the pot, barely giving me any room to work, but he didn’t budge as I poured some coffee into the cup. His eyes stayed on me as I added a little sugar from a fancy crystal jar sitting on what was actually a posh little coffee station. “I’m sorry about all this, Jules.”
I tipped in a splash of cream from a tiny pitcher. “You might be extra sorry when I refuse to leave. Your bed is amazing.” I smiled as I sipped at my coffee.
But Grant didn’t smile back.
Something about him shifted. His gaze sharpened. His jaw tightened.
His already dark eyes got darker. Like the night sky somewhere far from the lights of Sweet Side Bay.
Grant slowly straightened, coming to his full height.
“I was just kidd—”
The rest of the word didn’t make it out of my mouth, because before I could finish Grant was against me, holding me right against the black stone counter. “I wouldn’t kid about that, Jules.”
“Why?” I always fell back on humor when I was nervous, and this moment was no different. “Are you going to lock me in your basement?”
Grant went very still. “Did you go in the basement?”
“No.” But now I really wanted to.
Maybe get myself locked there by a handsome nerd in suspenders and glasses.
His nose nearly touched mine as the seconds ticked by, each one ramping up the racing of my heart until the possibility of passing out was very real.
