Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“This is so embarrassing,” she said, burying her face in my neck. Something about the action struck me with the urge to keep her in my arms, never letting her go. Avoiding her the last few days had required discipline. Not seeing her was a testament to my ability to resist the things I desired most. It was evident that my feelings for Ada surpassed whatever she might feel for me. I’d never been so out of control in my life, unable to express how I felt without losing the run of myself. The birthday gifts were a prime example. I still bristled when I remembered our phone call where she’d told me she couldn’t accept the things I’d given her.
“You don’t ever need to be embarrassed in front of me, Ada,” I told her gently. I hated that every time she had a busy day at work or didn’t get enough sleep, her leg failed her.
“That’s easy for you to say,” she responded. “You’re not the one being carried up to your apartment right now.”
“I have no problem carrying you. Besides,” I said with a dose of self-deprecation, “You’re not the one who misread the vibe and bought someone diamond earrings for their birthday.” She blinked at me, a faint blush staining her cheeks as I pulled open the door and stepped inside the entrance lobby. I smiled down at her. “Probably should’ve stopped with the flowers.”
Ada’s gaze softened. A new guy was manning the security desk, and he glanced at us curiously as I strode toward the bank of elevators, no intention of explaining to him why I was carrying this beautiful, tired woman upstairs to her apartment.
“I loved the flowers. The earrings are beautiful, too, and the painting, but it’s just far too much.”
“Well, like I said, the damage is already done, and I’m not taking any of it back.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re incredibly stubborn?”
I smirked. “A few might’ve.”
We entered the elevator, and I became aware of Ada’s soft fingers at my neck. She absentmindedly stroked near my hairline, and I shuddered.
“Best not to do that,” I murmured quietly, and her hand stilled.
“Oh. Sorry.”
My palms flexed around her legs and waist, fighting the urge to carry her to my own apartment, where I could tend to her every need until she felt better. In my past relationships, I’d been attentive, but I’d never been struck by such an irrational need to care for someone as I did Ada.
“The surgery you had,” I said as we exited and I carried her towards her door. “It didn’t completely fix the issue?”
“Nothing was going to fix it entirely. My injury was far too complex, but the surgery gave me more mobility than I had previously. I just can’t overdo it like a normal person can. When there are weeks at work when everyone calls in sick, and I can’t get temps to cover for them, I have to pick up the slack. There’s no other option.”
“You shouldn’t have to do that.”
“No, but if I didn’t, there would be a bunch of elderly residents missing out on vital care.”
“It’s ridiculous that your bosses don’t have better contingencies for situations like this.”
“Yeah, well, they might not be my bosses for much longer,” she muttered as she rifled through her bag that still hung from my shoulder. Retrieving her key, she handed it to me, her delicate fingers brushing mine, and I slotted it in the lock.
Once inside, I settled her down on the sofa then went to take off her shoes.
“You don’t have to—”
I cast her a censorious look—a look that said I was taking care of her and would hear no protests—and she fell silent. “Why might they not be your bosses much longer?” I queried.
Ada sighed, falling back into the cushions. “The company that operates Pinebrook is considering offloading some of their assets. If they sell and the next owners decide to shut the place down and turn it into something else, I’ll be out of a job, not to mention all my residents will have to find new homes to accommodate them.”
When she finished speaking, she closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples as though to soothe away the stress.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Ada tiredly opened her eyes. “It’s a hurdle I’ll deal with if and when it happens. No point worrying too much right now.” She paused when I had both her shoes off, and I rose to sit beside her. I lifted her feet and settled them on my lap before proceeding to massage her ankle and heel. Her breath hitched when I found an achy spot, and her eyes closed again as her head fell back.
“That feels … so good.”
“Have you eaten yet?”
She shook her head, still focusing on my hands massaging her aching feet. A more delectable sight than a tired, messy haired Ada lying before me didn’t exist. I’d never wanted a woman this much, a woman I couldn’t have. She’d asked me to be her friend, and I was holding on by the thinnest thread.