Nervous anxiety runs through me because he just met two of the most important people in my life.
“You still meeting Randy tonight?” Cruz asks me.
“Yeah, he’s going to help me work through an idea.”
“The black one?”
I nod and see another confused look on Robbie’s face. “Randy is my design mentor. He was a professor of mine and helps me occasionally when I stumble upon a problem with one of my sketches.”
He gives me a small smile.
“Since we both know you’re perfectly fine after a night of complete blotto, Alex and I will leave you two alone. See you when you get home tonight.” Cruz cleans his dishes and gives a chin jerk to Robbie on his way out. Alex does the same, and two minutes later, the front door closes.
“Now, you’ve met Cruz and Alex.” I gather my drawings.
“Ember…” Robbie’s hand covers mine, and the heat of his touch shocks my skin. “I’m really sorry about last night. Truly.”
“It’s really okay.”
“You’re really genuine, and I like that. Most girls would be holding a grudge.”
“I’m not like most girls, Robbie, and I’ll never be.”
“Can we try this again?”
“Try what?”
“Let’s talk about that date.”
“I thought we had plans on Saturday.”
“Are you going to make me wait that long?” The hand that covers mine moves over my wrist, and he turns my hand so our fingers interlink. At the same time, he lowers his forehead to press against my own.
I stop breathing at the intimate gesture. The warmth of his skin seeps through mine, and his scent envelops the small area.
“How about tomorrow night? Let me come to the shop with dinner, and maybe we can grab a beer afterwards.”
Thump, Thump, Thump. The racing beat of my heart is ringing in my ears so loudly I’m sure he hears it. “I-I-I’d like that,” I stutter.
“Are you nervous, Ember?”
“A little.” Understatement of the year. What girl wouldn’t be nervous with Robbie Hayes looking at her with such tenderness?
“As adorable as it is, never be nervous with me.” He kisses my forehead softly and steps back. “Let’s get this put away so we can talk a little more before you have to go.”
My body is frozen in place as I watch him start to clean the counters and put leftovers in the refrigerator as if we didn’t just share the most intimate moment of my life. Pathetic as it is, the skin where he placed his lips tingles and an unfamiliar sensation runs through me. My brain is scrambled. What’s happening here?
Chapter 5
Worth the Effort
Robbie
When I walk into Clyde’s on Tuesday, I’m surprised to see Cruz behind the counter. He’s thumbing through some paperwork, and Ember is nowhere around.
“She’s in the fitting room with a customer,” he tells me without asking.
“You guys busy?”