“I’ll be right there.” He hangs up the phone, his jaw clenched in displeasure. “I’m sorry. I’ll bring you home and you can order some food.” The words leave his lips as if it’s hard for him to voice and I’m not sure if it’s because he didn’t want me to know or because his requested presence falls heavy on his heart.
“You don’t have to,” I offer. “It sounded urgent. I don’t mind coming with you.”
He twists his head to mine with a surprised expression. “You sure?”
I reply by shooting him an understanding smile. “Of course.”
He pushes out a breath that makes me want to believe it’s from relief, and he gives me a slight nod before we continue the rest of the ride in silence.
When we get to what looks like a retirement home, I follow behind him, feeling unsure. It’s already dark out and the building is poorly lit, indicating most of its residents have already called it a night. We walk to the back of the building toward the elevators and he gives me a tight smile while pressing the button to go up.
“I don’t know how he’ll be. Maybe you should wait down here.”
I don’t want to impose myself, so I do my best to give him a friendly face without any expectations. “Are you saying that for me or for you?”
I want to respect his wishes, understanding he might not feel comfortable with me around when he doesn’t exactly know his dad’s condition.
“For you.” He doesn’t have to think of his answer and somehow that makes a butterfly move through my stomach. My eyes scan the now empty common area, feeling like someone could be lurking in the dark.
“Can I come up?” I’d rather be close to Bodi before some walking dead zombies come out of the hallways to eat me. As much as he keeps turning down my advances, I do expect him to protect me during an apocalypse.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a lopsided grin. “Are you scared?”
“No,” I scowl. “Maybe.”
The elevator doors open, and we get in.
“And here I thought nothing could scare Kayla Lockheart.”
I love his teasing tone, and I push him to the side with a playful glare.
“I might not be a pussy like you, but I’m not fearless either, baby.”
Chuckling, his fingers enclasp my wrist and he rapidly pulls me against his chest.
The fresh smell of his cologne quickly attacks my senses, and I look up while I breathe out through my nose. I can feel his breath fan my face when I see his nostrils flare, his lips dangerously close to mine. Normally, I’ll have a teasing comment sitting on my tongue, but this time, I got nothing. The desire that’s burning inside of me prevents me from voicing anything. I just want him to kiss me. I want him to kiss me so bad.
His nose brushes against mine, and I palm his chest, feeling his heartbeat pound into my fingers while the other grips his shirt. I can almost taste him when his upper lip touches mine, and I wait with a racing pulse. The thick air makes it hard to breathe, but really, I don’t need oxygen to stay alive right now.
I just need him.
The ding of the elevator breaks the magic, and he presses his forehead against mine with a deep sigh, then straightens his neck and plants a lingering kiss on my forehead. The heat of his lips against my skin is sizzling, and I close my eyes to completely savor it.
“Let’s go,” he says when he finally lets go and gets off the elevator.
Frustrated, I throw my hands and feet in a fit behind his back like I’m losing my mind, accompanied by a silent scream.
“So close, Kayla. So close,” I whisper, aggravated, while I follow his trail.
“You know I can hear you, right?” His grin is audible, yet he doesn’t turn around.
“I don’t care.”
“Come one, little minx.”
“Minx. I can live with that.”
We stroll through the hallway to the right side of the building until we reach an open door. Without hesitation, he struts in while I wait in the doorway.
“Mr. McKay. Thank you for coming.” The doctor offers his hand and Bodi takes it.
“Evening, Dr. Grant. I hope my father didn’t make you work late, doc?”
“I’m on the night shift. I just started.” He smiles before his features turn serious. “We had to sedate your father. He was being aggressive. We hope you can get him to settle down a little before we put him to bed.”
I watch how the muscles in Bodi’s back tense, then he nods to the doctor, moving farther into the room. His father sits in a bordeaux red armchair, a nurse holding his hand in comfort. The look in his eyes is vacant, lost. Completely worn out.
The wrinkles on his face make him look old, but I can imagine him being a strong, handsome man like Bodi when he was younger.
“Hey, Dad.” Bodi squats down, resting a hand on his knee.
A frown forms on the old man’s face.
“Who are you? I want my son,” he sneers, ferociously.
“I’m right here.” Bodi tilts his head. The calmness in his voice makes me look at him in awe, my respect for him growing by the second. It must be hard to accept that your father doesn’t recognize you, but he handles it with love and patience as if nothing is wrong.
The recognition seems to hit and his dad’s eyes advance from angry to grateful.
“You’re here.”
“I’m here.” Bodi rubs his palm over his father’s leg.
I lean against the doorpost, my arms hugging my waist with my head resting on the wood.
The man is an enigma.
Bodi is hot enough to shine on the cover of Men’s Health with his sexy crest and mesmerizing green eyes. But he’s not just a hot piece of man. His soul is just as beautiful, shown when he looks at his dad with a comforting smile or when he compliments Agnes on her outfit of the day. He’s smart and intelligent, looking like a hot nerd when he’s reading a book, but a total macho man when he’s watching a hockey game.
He’s the full package.
“How are you feeling?” Bodi questions, yet he’s ignored when his dad’s gaze travels over Bodi’s shoulder, his kind moss-green eyes now locking with mine.
“Who’s that?” I offer him a tight smile for his question while Bodi follows his father’s gaze.
“That’s Kayla.”
I give him a short wave. “Hi.”
“She’s pretty.” He nods in approval, a playful glint now noticeable, reminding me of his son. “You did good, Son.”
Bodi shakes his head. “We’re not to—” He trails off, but stops himself, not wanting to voice whatever is on his mind, before his gaze meets mine with a troubled look. I give him an encouraging smile, silently telling him it’s fine, before saving him from awkwardness.
“I’ll just wait outside.”