Page 42 of Covert Operation
He already told me he liked it, but knowing he likes it enough to light the candle? Even when I’m not here? That makes me feel...
Something very confusing. Something I probably shouldn’t be feeling. Something way worse than the heat that rushes through me when I think about how much I liked touching him. Lustingafter Zeke is one thing. Letting myself think there could ever be more than friendship between us is another.
Zeke straightens, expression serious. “Savannah, you can bring anything you want into this room.” He steps toward me, making my heart rate pick up. “Fill it with pillows and flowers and blankets if it makes you happy.”
I take a shaky breath, because I don’t know why Zeke would do this. Why he would let me infiltrate his life the way I have. This has gone far beyond helping me, and it gives that rebellious little part of me trying to hope there’s more between us ground to stand on. “But this is your office.”
“I disagree, but even if that was true, I would still be more than happy for you to decorate it however you want.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I just stand there. Confused on so many levels my brain has shorted out.
“Here’s that desk.” One of the maintenance guys snaps me out of my stupor with his arrival behind me. I step to one side, letting him pass.
Zeke helps him get the second work surface in place as I continue to do little more than blink.
“Hey.” Elise joins the already crowded room with a smile. “Looks like you guys are getting situated.”
“We’re getting there.” Zeke shifts around the newly delivered desk.
Elise turns to me, her eyes widening. “Will you be able to work with someone else right there?” She says the words slowly, enunciating each one as she continues staring at me with wideeyes. “Because I can find you your own space if that would be better.”
It’s almost funny that she assumes I’m freaking out over Zeke sharing an office with me. Technically, I am, just not in the way she thinks. “It’ll be fine. I don’t mind sharing.”
Elise steps closer, lowering her voice. “If anything changes, all you have to do is let me know. I’ll get you a new office so fast it will make your head spin.”
I smile even though I’m still sort of freaking out. “I promise it’s okay.” I love how Elise is looking out for me. Not enough to want to get in a car with her again, but enough to work extra hard.
She gives Zeke one more look, narrowing her eyes in a way that could be construed as a threat, before leaving to go back to her office.
Zeke lifts his brows at the empty doorway before turning to me. “I think she’s worried you don’t like being around me.”
I laugh. “Maybe she’s worried you don’t like being around me.”
Again, Zeke meets my eyes with a serious expression. “Everyone likes being around you, Savannah.”
I press my lips together, smothering out my smile. It wasn’t brought on by his compliment— though that was appreciated. I’m smiling because Elise obviously doesn’t know him as well as I do.
Yes, Zeke is stern and serious and intense. It’s possible he comes across a little grumpy and abrasive. But inside, he is the sweetest cinnamon roll that has ever existed. And for some reason, no one seems to see that but me. And I like it. I like that his true colors are my little secret.
“Then I guess today is your lucky day, because you get to spend it with me.” I move to the chair I occupied the week he was gone, setting my bag in the seat before finally taking off my coat to hang it on the hook behind me.
Zeke’s is already right next to it, and I stare at it for a second. “Why is your coat here?” He lives in the rooming house, so there’s no reason for him to have worn it this morning.
“I had to go get Dr Pepper, remember?” He says it like it was a normal errand instead of one of the most thoughtful things a man has ever done for me.
I’ve dated, but found the pool to be a little more shallow than I wanted. Full of men who were full of themselves, and gave little thought to my wants or needs. They certainly never helped me hang curtains or unpack boxes. Never complimented my cooking and decorating.
And they sure as heck never went out in the freezing cold to get me Dr Pepper.
“I should probably go do inventory.” I need a little air. Air that doesn’t smell like Zeke’s warm skin.
I flash a smile as I back toward the door. “I’ll be back.” I dart away, not giving him time to offer a response, because there’s a high likelihood that would make me even more infatuated with him.
That’s what this has to be. Infatuation. I just feel safe for the first time in a year, and naturally I would develop some sort of an attachment to the man who has given me that. Perfectly normal. Doesn’t mean anything.
I still practically run to the medical wing. Unfortunately, once I get there, all I can think about is what happened the last time I was here. When Zeke was injured and covered in blood. And I touched him. In lots of places. For a long time.
Maybe I’ll do this later.