Page 26 of Midnight Kiss

This is all wrong. What am I doing? I don’t even know this guy.

A door slammed, and the frantic sound of growling and barking filled the cramped hallway.

Michael stood nearby, holding the end of Reginald Tailwag’s lead. The labrador, usually so friendly, snarled at us, as if he wanted to rip right past Michael and attack.

Alexander didn’t remove his arms from around me but tightened his grip, helping me stand upright, pressing me to the hard planes of his chest. “Good morning, Michael,” he said.

“You’re back,” Michael replied, bringing Reginald to heel. The dog didn’t wag its tail or whine, but stared at us, its fangs bared.

“Hi Mike,” I said. “We were just about to—What were we about to do?” I blinked. “I mean, sorry. I was feeling sick, and Alex was helping me.”

“Sick?” Michael’s thick blond brows drew inward. “Sick? Sick how? What’s bothering you? Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better.”

“She’s fine now,” Alex said. “I’m helping her.”

Michael opened his mouth then shut it again. “I’ll text you later, Em. Be safe.” The last comment was sharp. And then he guided Reginald away.

Weird. The whole interaction had been weird, but I couldn’t place my finger on why. There was something about the way that Michael’s dog had behaved that set me on edge, and I wasn’t sure what it was.

I gnawed on the inside of my cheek, my hands resting against Alex’s chest. I stepped away from him, blushing now that I wasn’t on the verge of collapse any more. It was almost as if I wanted to stay with him. Stay in his arms, even though that had to be the most ridiculous thought I’d ever had.

I’d never felt this way about a guy. It wasn’t like I hadn’t had experience. I’d dated. I wasn’t inexperienced, but there was something about the way Alex looked at me, the way he felt.

“Emily?”

The question brought me back to the present and how silly I had to look just standing in front of him aimlessly. “Hi,” I said. “Sorry. Like I mentioned, not feeling great. I should probably go back inside and?—”

Alex caught my hand and held it. “What you should do is get out of the house. Get some fresh air.” Again, he glanced into the apartment. Why? “It would be good for you to go out.”

“I can’t go out. I called in sick to work.”

“It’s New York City, Emily. Nobody from work is going to see you,” Alex said, and he gave me a smile that sucked the resistance right out of me. He was gorgeous. Even more gorgeous than when he was brooding.

“Point taken,” I said.

And I was feeling a lot better now that I wasn’t in the apartment.

“I should get changed,” I said. “I’ve been sweating—” Why did you just tell him that?

“You look perfect the way you are,” Alex said.

Swoon.

“I—”

Footsteps came back up the hall, and both Alex and I glanced around. Michael was back, and he walked toward his apartment without Reginald Tailwag. He gave me a nod.

“Where’s Reginald?” I asked. “Is he okay? He?—”

“You’re sick and you want to know if my dog is okay?” Michael laughed under his breath. “Seriously, Em? He’s fine. He’s just in the car. I forgot my wallet.” And then he slipped into his apartment.

Alex tensed beside me, and I frowned.

Morgan claimed that Michael was just being nice to me because he was interested in me romantically, but Alex didn't know that. And even if it had been true, it wouldn’t matter.

Michael came out again and shut the door. He locked it then waved to me again. “See you later, Em. I hope you feel better.”