-60-
The car comes to a stop in front of Bella's building, and her hand instantly flies out to the handle.
"Don't you dare. I'm a gentleman, and gentlemen don't let women open their own door," I tell her, my hand on the arm closest to me to stop her.
She glances down at my fingers, then back up to me.
"And I'm a woman who's capable of opening her own door." I want to kiss the smirk off her lips for being such a smart ass.
Without another moment's hesitation, she's out of the car, forcing more of that strange laughter from my throat.
This girl has balls bigger than mine, and it's fucking terrifying but thrilling at the same time.
I have to race ahead of her to open the door to her apartment complex, my long legs, and the fact that I'm no stranger to running, winning out against her fast-walking pace. Her big, brown eyes slam into my chest like a goddamn freight train when she sees I have her blocked from entering.
"Remember what I told you about my mother?" I ask, a smirk pulling up the corner of my lips.
"Yeah," she nods, momentarily looking a little confused.
"Well, she'd kill me deader than you'll ever have a chance to if I don't hold the door open for a lady. I know you're capable, and you know it's not about that, but for once in your goddamn life, Swan, let me do this for you" I lean down next to her ear to deliver the last few words, delighted when I see goosebumps break out down the column of her neck. I want to find out what they'd feel like under my lips. My tongue, even.
For once, Bella doesn't have anything to say. I open the door, and she takes a deep breath and heads into the building. I follow behind her, practically floating off the ground with how she's making me feel.
Operation Cygnet. Don't forget fucking Operation Cygnet.
As if I didn't forget it the second she opened the door in that tight black dress looking like my actual demise.
Fuck, I'm dreading going back to the office. Angela is definitely gonna rip me a new one, but I think I'm charming enough to calm her down.
We make it to Bella's door, and for the first time, when she turns around, she looks a little shy. It reminds me how sweet she can be. How sweet she usually is when she's not dealing with my asshole-ish ways.
"So," she drags the word out like she's unsure. "This is the awkward part where we say goodnight?"
"It is," I offer, stuffing my hands in my pockets and leaning one shoulder against the wall by her door.
"I say I had a really good time, and you promise to call?"
She's so fucking adorable, all sweet and unsure.
"Mhm, and I tell you, I also had a good time. And promise to call."
Bella glances to the ground, then back up to me. I'm a couple inches shorter with the way I'm leaning, but she still has to crane her neck.
"Are you gonna call?" She practically whispers the words. I briefly wonder if she's bipolar. It would explain a lot. But this is not the feisty, take-no-shit Isabella that I could absolutely see ripping my balls from my body. If I hadn't seen her so often through my surveillance, I'd wonder if she's even the same woman I've been watching.
And I could put her mind at ease so easily, but it's kind of fun to watch her squirm—for me to be the cat chasing the mouse for once.
At least as far as beyond the screen goes.
"Hm," pushing myself off the wall, I step closer, watching her heart rate pick up at the base of her throat. It's just one more place I add to my mental list of where I'd like to place my lips. "I don't know. Do you want me to?"
"No," she's so sure, there's a sharp pain that rocks through my chest. But that fire is back in her eyes, different this time. Fueled by need and desire, and yeah, maybe a little anger. Irritation. Vulnerability. "Because I'd much rather you come inside and finish what you started."
