Catch - Deborah Bladon Page 0,48
into my eyes. “I’d carry you down a thousand flights of steps if it meant you wouldn’t be in pain.”
Emotions I haven’t felt before rush through me. I’m speechless. I stare at him. “Keats…”
“Let me do this for you, Maren,” he says, oblivious to the people watching us as he starts to descend the steps.
Settling my arm over his shoulder, I reach down with my free hand to hold the bottom of my dress in place to cover my ass. “Thank you.”
His lips curve up into a wicked smile. “You’re welcome.”
***
Once we’re in the lobby of my building and I’m settled on a cream-colored bench, Keats smiles at Ricky.
“I like that guy,” he says to me.
I do too. I like everyone who works in this building. They’ve been good to me. This didn’t feel like my home when my parents first handed me the keys, but I’ve come to love it here.
Keats reaches to move my foot into his lap.
I resist with a slap on his forearm. “You can go. I can make it upstairs on my own.”
He didn’t offer to carry me into the elevator. I think he felt my body tense up as he entered the lobby, and Ricky asked if he should call an ambulance.
I assured him that I didn’t need that, so he directed Keats to set me down on this bench.
I know I can limp to the elevator and then again to my apartment door.
“I’d like to have a look.” Keats raises a brow. “Humor me, Maren, and then I’ll take off.”
I give in and let him carefully cradle my sore foot in his palm. He rests it on his thighs. I tense again, but this time it’s because this feels more intimate than when he was carrying me in his arms.
He tenderly touches my ankle. “How’s the pain level on a scale of one to ten?”
“Four hundred and seventy-two?” I chuckle. “It really hurts.”
He rubs it softly. “I’m going to pull off your shoe.”
I nod. “Be careful.”
He is. He slowly removes my broken shoe. His hands move gently over the swollen skin of my ankle. “You might have sprained it.”
I sigh. “I’m ashamed to admit this has happened to me before. It will feel a lot better by morning.”
He tilts his head. “Have many heels have you broken?”
“This is the third.”
He rests my foot in his lap. “I hope I’m around the next time it happens.”
I hope for that too. I hope he’s around every time it happens.
“I should go up now.” I point to the elevator. “Thank you for helping me, Keats.”
He leans closer to me, his eyes gliding over my face. “Anytime, Maren.”
I stay in that moment, soaking in how handsome he looks. There’s a vulnerability in his eyes I haven’t noticed before.
As he moves even closer, my body is drawn to him. We both lean in until our lips are mere inches apart.
His tongue skims over his bottom lip.
I watch the movement, mesmerized by how naturally sexy he is.
He tilts his head a touch. It’s a silent invitation to kiss him. Just as I close my eyes, the sound of someone clearing their throat pulls us apart.
“Maren?” Arietta stands next to us with Dudley on a leash at her side. “What’s wrong? Ricky called to tell me you were hurt.”
Ricky stands a foot behind my roommate.
“I’m fine,” I whisper, disappointed that the moment with Keats is lost.
Keats smiles at my roommate. “Hey, you must be Arietta.”
“That’s me,” she affirms with a nod of her head.
“I’m Keats.” His hand drops to my ankle. “Stellar recommendation on the pizza the other night. Thanks for that.”
Her eyes travel over my face before they hone in on Keats. “You’re welcome. What exactly happened to Maren?”
I notice the tremor in her hand as she grips Dudley’s leash tightly. I reach out to touch her. “The heel of my shoe broke. I twisted my ankle. Keats carried me home.”
She lets out a deep breath. “He carried you home?”
“Down a flight of stairs to his car and then inside to this bench.” I grin.
With the slightest smile on her face, she looks at my boss. “Thank you for taking care of her.”
“It was my pleasure,” he says in a low tone.
I glance at him. He tilts his chin in my direction. “Rest well, Maren. Thank you for tonight.”
I slide my foot from his lap and reach to Arietta for support as I stand. “Goodnight, Keats.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “If you need anything, call me.”
I need