Who Falls Hardest (Clearwater University)

This won’t be my forever career. It’s not the same as getting back into school. But it’s a win, and I really need one of those right now.

After the initial awkwardness of our phone call, the interview went amazingly well. Everything felt like it just clicked into place, and the more I talked to Devon about the job and what it entailed, the more confident I became.

I can do this job.

And I will be doing it. I’ll start early next week, working part-time with an eye toward going full time in the future if everything goes well.

The grin on my face doesn’t fade as I ride the elevator back to the first floor, and I even spare a smile for the security guard who was so entertained by my private drama earlier.

I step out into the cool, wintery afternoon, already reaching into my pocket to grab my phone and text the guys. But before I can do that, my gaze catches on a figure striding toward me from across the street.

My brows draw together. “Reese?”

The man with the gorgeous emerald eyes and rich brown hair beams at me as he heads up the sidewalk toward me. “Hey, Ems. How’d it go?”

“Good.” I nod. “Really good. What are you doing here? Don’t you have class?”

He shrugs. “Yeah. But I ditched. I wanted to be here to congratulate you.”

My heart beats a little faster in my chest, but I grin at him to cover for the wave of emotions that rises in me. “How did you know you’d be congratulating me?”

Reese stops in front of me, one arm snaking out to wrap around my waist and pull me closer to him.

“Because Devon’s not an idiot. And only an idiot would be dumb enough not to hire you.” His expression shifts slightly, becoming uncharacteristically serious. “And if he was stupid enough to turn you down, I wanted to be here for you.”

My hand rests on his chest, and the steady thrum of his heart beneath my palm seems to sync up with my own pulse as I gaze up at him. A memory flashes through my mind of the night I screamed at him in the laundromat. Even after the harsh words that flew from my mouth like poison darts, he held me in his arms as grief overwhelmed me.

He was there for me that night too.

He’s here for me today.

If I was waiting for proof that he’s on my side now, that he’s truly trying to make up for what he did in the past, I don’t think I could ask for better than this.

Still, I can’t help the shake of my head as I breathe in his woody citrus scent. “You shouldn’t have ditched your classes. I could’ve told you all about it tonight after you got home.”

Amusement glimmers in his eyes as he raises a hand and runs one knuckle down the curve of my cheek, his touch feather-light. It’s the barest of contact, but I swear I can feel the ripples of that small touch spreading through my entire body.

“I didn’t want to wait that long, Ems.” He dips his head and presses his lips to mine in a chaste kiss that weakens my knees. “I’m proud of you. I wanted to be here for you. Will you let me take you out to celebrate?”

My hand tightens, my fingers clutching a fistful of his shirt as he pulls back enough to look at me, his eyes bouncing between mine. Then, instead of answering him with words, I just tug him closer to me, going up on my tiptoes to kiss him again. And this time, there’s nothing soft or chaste about it.

This kiss is hunger and fire, desire and possessiveness.

I’m well aware that the security guard can still see us through the glass doors of the building, and that we’re probably giving him the best entertainment he’s had all day.

But I don’t fucking care.

Reese is here. I got a job. And nothing can ruin this moment for me.

When our lips finally break apart, I can still taste Reese on my tongue. We’re both breathing a little harder, and his arm is like a steel band around my waist, holding me pinned to his body.

“Is that a yes?” he asks with a teasing grin.

I nod, grinning right back. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

“Good.”

He takes my hand and leads me down the sidewalk, leaving my bike and his car where they are. I’m not very familiar with this part of downtown, but Reese doesn’t hesitate as he steers me toward a little hole-in-the-wall sushi place. It’s so tiny I probably wouldn’t have even known it was here if he hadn’t taken me, but the minute we step inside, I know it’s going to be amazing.