I let out a slow breath, still grinning like an idiot as I start the car and pull away from the curb.
Yeah, this is just the beginning.
FIVE
Hazel
It’s not evennine the next morning when I hear knocking on my front door.
“Noooo,” I groan as I sit up and shuffle out of my bedroom to answer it. I rub the sleep from my eyes and stifle a yawn. Who the hell could be bothering me this early?
I peek through the peephole. I’m not sure if I should laugh or scream when I see Hudson standing on the other side.
My body perks up at the sight of him, and I cross one arm over my chest as I unlock the door and pull it open.
“Are you aware of what time it is?” I ask, squinting against the sun as I stare up at him.
“It’s almost nine,” he says, seeming surprised that I’m still asleep.
“On aSaturday,” I stress.
“You said yes to the date yesterday,” he reminds me.
“I thought it would be dinner again!”
“I brought breakfast.” He holds up a bag of food.
I want to argue with him, but truthfully, I’m not mad that he’s here. I love that he can’t seem to wait to see me.
I lay awake for hours last night, replaying yesterday in my head. The way he kissed me. The way he looked at me. I have no idea what brought on the sudden change in my boss or why he started showing an interest in me, but I’m not complaining.
I guess that’s not true, though. Hudson has clearly been paying attention to me for a while. I still can’t believe he knew about my silent game.
I pull the front door open wider and usher him in.
As soon as the door closes behind him, he’s on me. His hands frame my face, then his mouth crashes down on mine like he’s been starving all night.
I gasp, my fingers gripping the front of his shirt as I stumble back into the door. He presses me against it, his body crowding mine, warm and solid and impossible to ignore.
“Good morning,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice rough, like he hasn’t used it yet today.
“Hi,” I breathe, completely wrecked.
His mouth finds mine again, slower this time, deeper. My brain short-circuits as his hands slide down to my waist, pulling me flush against him. I can feel how much he wants me, and heat floods through my entire body in response.
This is insane.
Yesterday, we were bickering in the office. Today, he’s kissing me like he can’t live without me.
And the craziest part? I don’t want him to stop.
“Breakfast,” I mumble weakly when I finally manage to pull back enough to breathe.
He exhales as if it physically pains him to let me go. He steps back, grasping the now-wrinkled food bag.
“Right,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “Food.”
I take the bag and head into my tiny kitchen, aware of his eyes on me the entire time.