I watch him go with my hand pressed to my cheek. The place where he kissed me tingles and I can feel my whole body warm up. When he walks away, he takes something of me with him. I wanted to turn my head and press my lips to his so badly, but I chickened out. His big body moves from me, and the snow begins to fall. Just when I’m about to walk away he turns to give me one last look. My breath catches as he smiles at me, and somehow, I know he was hoping I would still be standing here watching him.

It took everything in me this morning to make myself get off his sofa and leave the comfort of his home. I knew I needed to be out of there before he woke up, and anyone else in the building for that matter.

Patterson is the kind of man that would want to walk me to my car if he was awake; that was clear by how he treated me last night. I wasn’t some conquest he’d picked up and tried to get into bed. He hung on my every word when I spoke, and I could tell he was tired but refused to call it a night. I didn’t want to leave, and I know he didn’t want me to either. I also wasn’t prepared to tell him no. He was too charming and sweet when he gave me everything, he thought I might want. And all he seemed to want in return was my attention. How was I supposed to turn that down?

He didn’t make one move on me all night and barely touched me. I’m not sure if he was doing it on purpose because when I tried to lean in closer, he wouldn’t respond to it. I guess it wasn’t about that for him last night, but after the way he touched his lips to my cheek there is so much more simmering below the surface. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

When I closed my eyes last night, I was only going to pretend to be asleep until he finally went to bed, but the comfort of his home was too much, and I had the best sleep I’ve had in months. I jerked myself awake when the sun came up and I knew I had to get out of there. I tempted fate as I kissed his cheek before I left because I thought it would be the last time I’d ever see him again. It was the same place he’d kissed me moments ago.

When he turns the corner out of my sight I get into my car.

I told myself this morning would be the last time I saw him, but now look what’s happened. I’m completely full of shit because the second I left his place I had my phone locked in my hand hoping that at any moment he’d text me. It didn’t take him long. I planned to ignore his call, but I was lying to myself, not only texting him back but agreeing to everything the man said.

I crank up the car because I need to get going. I have to go home at some point or Cara will blow up my phone asking about the cash I made from last night. My phone goes off, and when I look at the screen butterflies flap their wings in my stomach. I smile before I read the text just enjoying the feeling of having something exciting in my life. I’ve been so wrapped up in other things that I didn’t realize it was missing until now.

Patterson: It’s starting to snow. Drive safe.

His concern is something else I’m not used to. Having someone worry over me has never been a thing. My parents didn’t even worry about me when they were around. I was always an afterthought, and I didn’t know how good it could feel to have it until this moment. Am I getting in over my head?

"Don’t ask stupid questions," I mumble to myself in the rearview mirror.

I’m all too aware that life can change in an instant, but I can’t let my mind go there. I just have to focus on the money and get through this. It’s not like I can text or call him and tell him I can’t do this because I already know the outcome. I’ll cave as soon as he opens his mouth because he has this power over me that I can’t control. First, I have to get myself on my feet and then I can think about the future. Patterson is helping me with that by giving me this job today. Maybe he’ll have more work for me in the future and I’m already coming up with ways to be near him more.