Running To Him - Forbidden Hearts Series Book 6

12| Untalkable Topics

I had no idea what he said, but the sound of him speaking French nearly had me shivering in my seat. "Translation, please. Not everyone here has an ear for languages." 

"It's a saying for wine lovers like ourselves. It means: Water makes one cry, wine makes one sing." He tapped his glass against mine. "Cheers." 

That toast was way too fitting. But I went with it anyway.

"Cheers," I replied softly before taking a sip of my wine. Well, several sips. Then I took a bite of the food he made. "Wow. This is good." I took a few more big bites. "Really, really good."

"You sound surprised. And...hungry."

Suddenly I became aware that I was stuffing my face like a big while he watched. Dropping my spoon, I covered my mouth with a napkin and swallowed the last mouthful. I tried to think of something to say. Anything, really. But I couldn't. God, I was so embarrassed. 

"Jamie, it's okay. I'm glad you like it. Honestly, I'm just happy you came down here and I can actually see you eating. I knew you were hungry."

Wiping my face, I met his gaze and chuckled a little. "Yeah. I guess I was a little more hungry than I thought." 

Ollie gestured to my dish. "Well...dig in then! I'm starving, too. So don't feel bad." 

It was his turn to start eating like a caveman. He took bite after bite. I knew it was to make me feel less like a freak, but I was still grateful. It made me laugh. The first real laugh since all of this started. I forgot how...light it made me feel. 

"Thanks for this, Ollie. Really." 

Looking up from his plate, he smiled at me. "Anytime, Lovette." 

The rest of dinner went by pretty quickly. And pretty smoothly. I expected him to ask me questions and to pry into the reason I was here in Paris. But he didn't. 

We just ate in a comfortable silence. So comfortable in fact, that it was starting to make me uncomfortable. I hated the fact that Ollie seemed to know me so well. It happened back in New York, and now it was happening again. 

Frustrated and lost in my own mind, I got up from the table and collected the now empty plates before carrying them to the sink. I said I was going to wash them if he made dinner. And it was a good distraction. 

"Jamie." 

I ignored him, hoping he would take the hint and leave me be. 

"Why can't you look at me, Jamie?"

I grabbed another dish and started cleaning it with the sponge. "What do you mean? We just had dinner together. We talked. It wasn't like I only looked at my food."

Well...I kinda looked at my food most of the time. But we did talk. A little. In the beginning. 

His footsteps got closer behind me. And even if I didn't hear them, I could feel him behind me. "That's not what I mean and you know it."

I continued cleaning the same dish. I was sure it was plenty clean by now, but I couldn't seem to focus. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ollie." Exhaled a heavy sigh. "Maybe you should go. I promised you a meal for the Danish and we ate a meal together. We're even."

Ollie was standing beside me now. God, I hated when he was so close to me. Shit. I didn't really hate it. I just couldn't handle the way it made me feel.

Excited. Heated. Wanton.

"Jamie, look at me."

I dropped the dish back in the sink and took a deep breath. Then I did it. I turned and looked at him.

"Okay," I said flatly. "I'm looking at you."

"No, you're not," he whispered. "Look at me, Jamie. See me."

For the first time since the night of Harper's wedding, I did. I saw the outline of his high cheekbones. I saw his smile, even though he wasn't at the moment. I saw his blonde hair. Blonde hair that I've brushed my fingers through before. I've never forgotten how soft his hair was. And I always loved that it was a little longer than most guys.

Then I saw his eyes. Those damn baby blues that made my heart flutter in my chest like butterfly wings. The way he looked at me should be illegal.

Ollie cupped my face with his hands. "See me, Jamie. Please...see me."

I knew the kiss was coming. We also kissed the night of Harper's wedding, so this wasn't the first time. But damn...it sure felt like it. He pressed his lips against mine, and I sighed into him. God, his lips were soft. It wasn't a hard kiss. There was no tongue involved. Just his lips brushing against mine.

Like he was asking me for permission. Not wanting to move to fast or two quickly as if to spook me.

The problem was...

"I see you," I breathed against his lips.

Startled, he pulled back. "What did you say?"

"I see you, Ollie. And that's the problem." Stepping out of his arms, I paced around the kitchen. "You don't understand why I'm here and what I'm..." My chest tightened. "Look, Ollie. Thank you for dinner. But I can't be around you if it's going to be—"

"Be what, Jamie?" 

I couldn't look at him. Not if I was going to say what I needed to say. "We're friends, Ollie. Roommates. We can't be more than that." 

He was quiet for a long time. So long that I had no choice but to look up to see if he was even still standing there. He was still there. His eyes were locked with mine, and even though he tried to hide it, I could tell that my words hurt him a little. 

"Okay, Jamie," he said finally. His tone was a little too resolved, though. "We're friends. Roommates. Nothing more. We'll hang out and do things that 'friends' do." 

Warning bells went off in my head and I frowned. "What do you mean? What kinds of things are we going to be doing as friends?"

The devilish grin that formed on his face made the warning bells ring even louder. "I want to take you somewhere tomorrow. There's a place I want to show you."

"Where, Ollie? What place?" 

He started walking out of the kitchen. "You'll see. Be ready to go at 8am sharp, Lovette." 

"Wait," I called out to him. "Where are we going!"

He didn't answer me, of course. He just kept walking until he disappeared into his room. 

Crossing my arms over my chest, I huffed and shook my head. Ollie was insane if he thought I was going anywhere with him tomorrow. No way in hell was I stepping out of this warehouse. I was going to stay inside and wallow, just like I've been doing.

"You should at least give me a hint so I know how I need to dress!" I yelled from the kitchen.

The deep chuckle that came from his bedroom was pure self-satisfaction. 

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Eek! Loving them 🖤