Chapter 32
Reese
Leo’s hands are in my hair. His lips are on mine. His body guides me in the general direction of the couch. Everything around me is a vaguery on the edges of my consciousness. I'm so lost in this moment, so lost in this kiss, so—
My foot catches on something large and immovable on the floor. My eyes fly open as my body hurtles backward. Reacting before I can even register what's happening, Leo's arms come around my waist and he saves me from crash-landing into the open box of Christmas decorations behind me.
"Oh hell!" He mutters as he deposits me safe and steady on my feet.
Clutching at my thumping heart, I glance back at the box. "Uh, I think it may be time to unpack the boxes. Don't ya think?"
He clasps both hands behind his head and his gaze travels around the room. Boxes take up half of the floor space. There's a lamp without a shade sitting next to a rolled up carpet against the wall. Kitchen chairs stacked one on top of the other. A suitcase bursting at the seams.
And this is just the living room.
He scrunches up his nose. "I've really been procrastinating on this..."
I laugh. I probably shouldn't because he's clearly overwhelmed but it's cute. I step closer to him and lay an arm on his shoulder. "I'll help you. It'll be fine."
His attention snaps to me. "Reese, I couldn't ask you to help me. This is a disaster."
I smile. "You're not asking. I'm offering."
"And why the hell would you do that? Do you see this place?" He waves his arm over the debacle.
"I don't have anything better to do this afternoon." I shrug a shoulder. And I want to spend time with you. No matter what we're doing.
When Leo texted to tell me that Charlie had taken Brenton for the day, this isn’t how I expected that we’d spend our time. But cleaning this place up is a necessary evil.
“I can spot at least three housing code violations in this room alone. If we don’t remedy the situation a.s.a.p., the mayor will have this building condemned.” I start tugging at the stubborn packing tape sealing one of the boxes shut.
“Reese, no…”
I head into the kitchen for a knife then slice open the tape holding the box closed. “Leo, yes…”
"You're so stubborn," he groans.
"You're so guarded," I retort. I walk over to him and put my hands on his strong biceps. “Let me help you,” I whisper.
His eyes narrow. "You're a sweet person. You like to fix things. But I'm not something that needs to be fixed."
“I’m not trying to fix you. I’m just being a friend. Can you accept that? Can you accept my friendship?”
I get it. His wife hurt him when she walked away. She obliterated his ability to trust. I don’t expect him to hand over his heart without careful consideration, especially since there’s an innocent, precocious child involved. I just wish that he’d believe that, no matter where things end up between the two of us, I genuinely care about him and Brent.
The purest form of need churns inside of me. Yes, I need to be in his bed but more than that, I need to be in his life.
Sighing roughly, he takes the knife from my hand and sets it down on the fireplace. “I don’t want you to think you have to go out of your way, doing all kinds of things for me to like you. I like you the way you are.” My heart pounds as he says it. These aren’t the words I’d expected to hear from him right now. But I guess that subconsciously, I do always go out of my way for other people in the hopes that they’ll see that I’m good enough.
Doing my best to sound confident, I look him in the eyes. “I know you like me.”
His expression is still sceptical. "Are you sure you’re not trying to prove yourself to me?"
I bob my head with certainty. "I'm sure. I have nothing to prove."
His eyes sweep my face again, looking for any hint of doubt. I hang on to my game face. "Good.” His voice is low and deep as his hand settles on my hip. “Let’s get this unpacking out of the way…and then, I’m gonna lay you out on the carpet and show you just how good a friend I can be.”
My tongue moves slowly across my lips and my voice turns sultry. I lock my arms around his neck. “I love the sound of that.”