15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

He nods, and carefully sets my foot back on the table. “That is
correct,” he says. “I specialize in one-night stands and you’re on the
quest for your Holy Grail.”
I laugh. “You have a good memory.”
“I do,” he says. A languid smile stretches across his mouth. “But
you’re also hard to forget.”
Jesus. He has to stop saying things like that. I press my palms into
the table and pull my leg down. “Naked truth coming.”
He leans against the table next to me and says, “All ears.”
I hold nothing back. “I’m very attracted to you,” I say. “There’s not
much about you I don’t like. And being as though you and I both
want different things, if we’re ever around each other again, I’d
appreciate it if you could stop saying things that make me dizzy. It’s
not really fair to me.”
He nods once, and then says, “My turn.” He places his hand on the
table next to me and leans in a little. “I’m very attracted to you, too.
There’s not much about you I don’t like. But I kind of hope we’re
never around each other again, because I don’t like how much I think
about you. Which isn’t all that much—but it’s more than I’d like. So if
you still aren’t going to agree to a one-night stand, then I think it’s
best if we do what we can to avoid each other. Because it won’t do
either of us any favors.”
I don’t know how he ended up this close to me, but he’s only about
a foot away. His proximity makes it hard to pay attention to words that
come out of his mouth. His gaze drops briefly to my mouth, but as
soon as we hear the front door open, he’s halfway across the room. By
the time Allysa and Marshall make it to us, Ryle is busy restacking all
the crates that fell. Allysa looks down at my ankle.
“What’s the verdict?” she asks.
I push my bottom lip out. “Your doctor brother says I have to stay
off of it for a few days.”
She hands me my water. “Good thing you have me. I can work and
do what I can to clean up while you rest.”
I take a drink of the water and then wipe my mouth. “Allysa, I’m
declaring you employee of the month.”
She grins and then turns to Marshall. “Did you hear that? I’m the
best employee she has!”