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Where the hell is she going, and why are two other men following behind her?
Now is not the time for her to have a foursome in my hallway!
“Don’t you want to ask my name?” His eyes turn up with lustful hope, and some of the darker grey’s lighten to more of a silver tone.
I’ve never seen such captivating eyes before.
I nod because moving my lips to speak has become too hard to do in his presence.
“Then ask.” He grins as he dips his chin.
I look at his hard, full lips stretching across his square jaw. Why do you want to hear my voice?
“What’s your name, neighbor?” I mutter as my heart flutters like pages rapidly flipped in a book.
He pushes off the wall and extends his good hand to shake mine. “I’m Julian.”
Julian. I never met a man with that name.
I slip my hand into his, and my sex clenches. His handshake is strong yet caressing, like a security blanket in which you want to wrap yourself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Julian.” I smile.
His fingers grip mine tighter, not in a painful way, as if he were gripping something fragile yet important to him. “It’s nice to meet you too, Poppy.”
The way he says my name…
We keep our hands connected longer than we should. It's me who pulls away first. All those emotions and thoughts are scaring me. I'm ready to meet men, have friends, and date, but I expected to wade through dozens of guys to find one normal one.
Is fate finally giving me a break, or is Julian another tragedy waiting to happen?
I drink another sip of water, grateful he didn't accept the glass when I tried to give it back to him. He's still got boxes to unpack, and here I am, causing a scene and slowing down his move-in.
"I'm sorry." I blurt out after I swallow.
“Why?” He sinks and sits on the floor in front of me. “You did nothing wrong.” He replies as he adjusts his arm sling.
I stand abruptly. “Please sit.” I offer his chair. “It’s your house.” I look over my shoulder. “Actually, I should let you finish unpacking.”
Where is Harper?!
“Finish that glass of water, Poppy,” he replies gently. “And if you think I’d take a chair from a lady, you’re sorely mistaken.”
"But you're hurt," I say, looking at his arm.
His face changes as he kicks his legs out; he leans his head against the wall, jaw tight. "It's nothing. Just the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one," he says, biting off the words with anger.
I pause at his words. I’m hopeful for my new chapter, but he’s frustrated with his. Complete opposites.
“What brings you to Texas?” he asks, but his eyes look distant, still plagued by a distant memory.
I bounce from foot to foot. I can’t sit in his chair while he sits on the floor. It feels wrong. Instead, I sit on the floor beside him. "A new job." That, and I'm free from a monster, and my brother refuses to acknowledge me. “You?” I ask as I sip more water.
"A new job as well," he says, tugging on the sling and sliding it away from his neck.
“You don’t seem happy about it.”
“I have to work with my family.”
