“Well,” I say, suddenly very aware of the quiet street around us.“I should probably—” I gesture toward the stairs, but my words trail off when Rune takes a small step closer.
He’s so tall that I have to tilt my head back to look at him properly.
“You had a good time?”he asks.
“I did,” I confirm.
“Good.”His voice drops a little lower.“I did too.”
The words make my chest feel warm.We stand there, that same charged silence stretching between us.I swear I can hear my own heartbeat.
Rune lifts his free hand, hesitates for a second, then gently brushes a strand of my strawberry-blonde hair away from my face.The touch is so soft that it almost doesn’t feel real.
My breath catches as he stares down at me.
“You’re beautiful,” he says quietly.
My cheeks heat instantly.“Rune?—”
I don’t even know what I’m about to say.Luckily, I don’t have to because the next thing I know, he leans down and presses a quick kiss to my lips.
It’s soft, gentle, and over almost as soon as it begins, but it still steals the air right out of my lungs.
His lips are warm and firm, and the brief contact sends a rush of heat straight through me.Then he pulls back, just like that, like it were no big deal.Meanwhile, I stand there staring at him like my brain has short-circuited.
“Goodnight, Jem,” he says.
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.I blink a few times, trying to remember how words work.
“Goodnight,” I finally manage.
Rune squeezes my hand once before letting it go.Turning, he walks back to his truck as if he hasn’t just completely scrambled my entire nervous system.
I stand on the sidewalk, watching him climb inside and start the engine.When his headlights flash on, I finally snap out of it enough to climb the stairs to my apartment.
My lips still tingle, my heart is still racing, and as I unlock my door and step inside, one thought keeps repeating in my head.
This fake boyfriend thing might be a bad idea because if that kiss was any indication, I’m already in trouble.
SIX
Rune
My stomach growlsas I enter the last of the expense numbers for this month.I know I need to take a break and have some lunch, but the thought of heating another frozen meal sounds miserable.
My crew is eating lunch.I hear them laugh now and then from the small building next to my office that we use as a break room.I look at my phone, wondering if I should call Camden and have that lunch with him today.Before I can reach for my phone, though, I hear a car pull up outside.
I frown as I stand, wondering if it’s my boss, Trevor, coming to talk about selling this place in person.When I glance out the window, though, I’m surprised to see my Shortcake climbing out of her car in front of my office.
She looks nervous as she peeks around and then ducks back into her car for something.I’m already rushing to meet her as she closes the car door and heads my way.
“Careful!”I call out to her.“You’ll get all muddy.”
The ground is muddy and slick after the rain last night, and she’s about two steps from stepping into a puddle.Jem pauses, looking down at the casserole dish in her hands, and I jog down the front steps and scoop her up in my arms.I carry her into my office easily, setting her down in my chair.It’s more comfortable than the two across my desk reserved for guests.
“What are you doing here?”I ask her as I drag one of the other chairs closer to the desk.
“I, uh, I made you some lunch,” she says, setting the casserole dish down on the desk.