Avenging Angel (Pounding Hearts 5)

“You’re giving out free cookies?” Emmett asks behind me, and my heart jumps back up from my stomach to land in my throat.

Just hearing his voice ramps up all my senses, instantly putting my body on high alert.

“Free cookies and sandwiches,” Casey grins smugly over my shoulder before taking a big bite out of his cookie, sending crumbs flying everywhere.

“Damn,” Emmett says, “I’m missing out.”

I smell him before I can bring myself to turn around and look at him. Smell that clean, crisp, male scent that tells me he’s also freshly showered.

A big hand comes down on the desk beside me and my world begins to shrink down as I sense him moving into my personal space.

All the little nerves in my body light up as if they’ve suddenly come alive. Afraid I might start to hyperventilate, I focus on keeping my breathing steady even though the beat of my heart is racing so fast I want to gasp for air.

I knew that I’d have to face him today, but I was hoping it would remain from a distance.

Slowly, oh so slowly, I turn and tip my head to look at him.

His face is mere inches away from mine, so close my lips begin to tingle, remembering his kiss.

This close, his face becomes my entire world. My entire existence.

It would take no effort at all to lean in closer and see if he still tastes like I remember him…

The corners of Emmett’s mouth pull up as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking and his lids lower.

Those eyes of his, those damn beautiful, intense eyes of his begin to suck me in, drawing me closer to the point of no return.

Then he asks, “You got any cookies left for me?”

I blink in surprise, the question yanking me out of my trance.

Realizing that I’m leaning into him, I jerk back.

Now it’s Emmett’s turn to look smug, as smug as Casey looked a moment ago.

And he’s not done yet.

Leaning in, he follows me.

I begin to panic, afraid he’s going to kiss me right here, out in the open.

Flustered, I ask, “You want my cookie?” and thrust my hand out to stop him.

Emmett finally breaks eye contact with me, glancing down at my hand before he chuckles. “Yes, I want your cookie.”

Fucking hell, I walked myself into that one.

My entire face burns with mortification as he plucks the cookie out of my hand and carefully lifts it up to his mouth.

Before his teeth sink in, I cut my attention back to Casey, using his presence to plant me firmly back in reality.

“So, you got any plans after this?” I ask, hoping to dissolve the tension in my bones with small talk.

Casey shrugs his shoulders and looks to Emmett.

I resist the urge to glance back and look at him too.

Yeah, I’m not falling for that trap again. I’ve already made a fool of myself enough today, thank you very much.