Read Online LoveLines by S. Walden - Free Book Online

him! Well, technically he ran into me.
    “Gosh, I’m sorry, Bailey!” he said, helping me to my feet. Yes, I forgot to mention that I fell on the floor, the papers I was delivering strewn about the hallway in a disorganized mess.
    “It’s okay,” I replied. I was so frazzled that I didn’t even take note of the way my hand felt in his. I’d have to imagine it was perfect. “Seems we have a knack for falling in front of each other.”
    He smiled down at me and adjusted his collar. “Yeah, but the difference here is that I bulldozed you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
    I nodded, and he sighed relief.
    “You helped me up and left the papers on the floor,” I pointed out. I worried it came out accusatory instead of playful. So I grinned, and he seemed to like it.
    We knelt on the floor together and collected the pages. He even helped me organize them before taking my hand and pulling me to my feet once more. This time I paid attention. He had a warm, solid grip. Protective. It sent a rush of fiery orange all the way up my arm and into my heart, making it beat faster and stronger.
    And then came the really awkward part—that weird silent moment of smiling and shuffling feet because we weren’t sure what else to say. I mean, there was certainly something that could be said, but I didn’t take Reece for the type of guy who would embarrass me by bringing it up. “It” as in my highly-sexualized exhibition last Thursday.
    “I think I saw you at The Reel Café,” he said after a moment.
    Okay. Apparently Reece is the kind of guy who brings shit up to embarrass you.
    “Really?” I asked, furrowing my brow. “I don’t know that I was there Thursday night.”
    “You were dancing with your friend. You had on a little blue dress,” he said. I guess he felt the need to jog my memory.
    “ Ohhhh,” I replied, smacking my forehead with the heel of my palm. “That’s right! I was there. I had a lot to drink. Hard to remember where I was or what I did.” I giggled nervously.
    He affected disappointment. “Oh, so that whole show wasn’t really about me.”
    I couldn’t believe he actually said it! Yes, he went there. Went there .
    “What are you talking about?” I asked. I knew the jig was up, but I wasn’t ready to admit I flirted with him so blatantly. And anyway, I didn’t know it was him at the time.
    “The dancing,” he said. “When you danced for me.”
    He stared directly at my face, just like he did when he visited me at my cubicle for the first time. This guy had balls. Well, I mean, obviously he had balls. I hope he had balls. Bailey, stop thinking about his balls.
    “I . . .” What could I s ay? I didn’t know if I should feel aggravated that he was so clearly embarrassing me or jump his bones because he looked really hot in that tailored striped button-up.
    He leaned over to get eye level with me. “I’m just messin’ with you,” he said softly.
    I smiled and relaxed a little. “My friend, Erica.”
    “What about her?” he asked. He was still bent over, inches from my face.
    “She put me up to it. She said there was a hot guy looking at me.” I couldn’t believe my boldness. I also couldn’ t believe that my statement came out as a question. On purpose. I wanted to know if he’d been looking at me all night.
    He stood up and inhaled deeply. “Well, that’s awfully flattering of your friend. And yes, I was looking at you. You caught me.”
    “Well, I shook my ass for you, so I guess we can both be a little embarrassed,” I said lightly.
    Reece chuckled.
    “That won’t make things weird here at work, right?” I asked.
    “Not at all,” he replied. “I do wish you wouldn’t have run out of the bar, though.”
    I hung my head. “That was really immature, I know. But I was humiliated. You don’t understand. I’m talking instantly sober. And everything looks different when you’re instantly sober.”
    “Yuck. I hate instant sobriety. My friend got punched in a bar once.