Page 30 of Rise & Fall

“Well, she had to go into work early today so I picked her up today and decided to hang out here till she got off.” Nolan’s eyes find their way over my body as he talks to me.

I can’t seem to focus on his words as he searches from my legs to my eyes, heat following the path of his dark glare.

“I didn’t see you at pick up.”

“I met Aria at her bus stop. Am I in trouble or something?” he questions, raising a beautifully groomed brow at me. I see his dimples peek out from his facial hair and I forget that he asked me a question, so instead I ask him another of my own.

“So, she’s meeting you here?”

“No, I’ll head back to my place in a few and she’ll meet me there.”

“Right.” I sigh, turning my attention back to girls instead of looking at Nolan any longer in his hot-as-fuck construction outfit—torn, light wash jeans with dirt stains up and down and a just-as-dirty t-shirt that clings to his abs like a second skin. Holy mother of pearl, his attractiveness should be illegal. Especially with his sun-tanned skin and almost-black hair giving him the most charming, tall, dark, and handsome look I’ve ever seen a man flaunt. And let’s not talk about his hands. His calloused, big, hard-working hands.

“Dakota?”

Shit.I zoned out again.

“Yep.” I manage as smoothly as I can pull off.

“I asked if you’re available for that date tomorrow?” He’s standing next to me, about five feet between us, as we both watch the girls, but his presence ignites me with heat.

“You know?” I turn on my heel to stand directly in front of him, my back to the girls, and I take a few steps backwards keeping my eyes glued to his. “I think I’ll be busy tomorrow. Maybe another day?” I quip, knowing damn well I’m free tomorrow night, having asked for the rest of this week off for Emsley’s birthday which is in four days, on Sunday. But he doesn’t need to know that.

“Bullshit,” he whispers.

Did I take too many steps backward and trip on a rock as he called me out on my shit? Yes.

Did my breath hitch when Nolan reached for me to catch me before I fell on my ass? Also, yes.

It happens so fast, I don’t even think I have time to realize that I’m falling before he reaches down, wraps one arm around my waist and holds me there.

He reaches his other hand out, using his fingers to brush my hair behind my ear as he whispers, “You’re adorable,” and I flinch in his arms, chills spreading down my spine, then he pulls me back up to my feet.

“Shit, sorry,” he breathes.

The closeness of our bodies is still unbearable as the feeling of warmth spreads across my face but chills layer the rest of my skin. My whole body reacts to the way I feel in his big, strong, arms.Safe.

“Don’t be sorry, you just saved me from falling on my ass.” I dust myself off, trying to act like I did not hear him call me adorable or that my body betrays me when I’m near him, before looking over at the girls who didn’t seem to notice a thing.

“You good?” he asks with about as much coolness as a bag ofDoritoscool ranch chips.

“I’m good. Thanks,” I say, swallowing my pride because I’m not too good to admit that I almost made myself look like a complete idiot.

“Listen, if you really don’t want to go on a date with me, you don’t have to.” Nolan shoves his hands in his pant pockets, his arms flexing even more than they were before.

“No, no. That’s not it. I’m just…” I trail off. What should I say? I’m playing hard to get? Pretending to only be half interested because deep down I’m nervous to date again. I’m scared of getting hurt again. And I may have unresolved issues with my broken heart, if I’m being brutally honest.

“What?” he questions.

“I’m available tomorrow and I really do want to go out with you. Sorry for being difficult but you have to know…I’ve never met someone as blunt as you’ve been.” My admission sends jolts of nerves to my belly, exciting and relieved all at once.

“That’s a good thing.”

“Why’s that?” I raise my brows at him, the wind starts to pick up around us and clouds start rolling in slowly. So much for a day without rain.

Lowkey, I’m glad because I need to get out of this park. Any time I’m in the presence of Nolan…I can’t think straight and the tension building inside of me gets closer and closer to exploding.

But his next words about knock me on my ass.