and my lungs restrict air.
What?
What is happening right now?
Travis takes a step toward me, and on instinct, I take a small, tentative step back. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Olivia. I just…fuck. I want you to tell me you feel this, too.” He closes in on me some more, and my heart lurches into action, doing its best to pound out of my chest. Something uncomfortable swirls in my belly, and I suddenly can’t stop my body from shaking. The shivers wrack through my limbs, continuously, as I try to process.
My mouth drops open, and a squeak leaves me but still no words. Cool sweat seeps from my pores, when Travis steps closer. In my head, I’m screaming at myself to say something. To say no. Do anything I can to get him to stop this.
Please don’t kiss me.
Please don’t kiss me.
Please don’t kiss me.
I think this is the first time a sane woman has ever wished a handsome man would not kiss her.
“Wait—” I pause, putting my hands up to stop him. He freezes, looking down at me expectantly. “Look, Travis, I think you’re a great guy. You’re insanely talented and handsome, but I just got out of a relationship, and you’re my boss. I don’t feel comfortable exploring anything between us.”
Something flashes behind his eyes. There’s a slight tic in his jaw, and it looks like he wants to say something, but decides not to. Slowly, he steps back, giving me a wide berth, and I finally feel like I can breathe again.
“All right.” He rakes a hand through his hair.
Guilt is swift and all-consuming, as it slams into me. I feel bad that I had to turn him down. My heart tightens painfully at the dejected look on his face. I know it had to have taken a lot of confidence and courage to tell me this, but I just…I can’t.
“I’m sorry, Travis.”
He grimaces. “Don’t be.”
With that, he turns, taking his heavy presence with him, and I collapse against the wall, staring up at the ceiling.
What the fuck was that?
My bladder twinges, reminding me I still need to pee. Turning on my heels, I fly into one of the open bathroom stalls, and the entire time, I replay what just happened in the hall.
I hope to God it won’t be awkward between us at work now. And Lucy. Christ, poor Lucy. If she finds out he made a pass at me, she’ll be crushed. I can’t do that to her. When I’m finished, I rest my hands on the porcelain edges of the sink, looking at myself in the bathroom mirror.
“Get it the hell together, Olivia,” I hiss.
Squaring my shoulders, on the way out of the bathroom, I try summon all the confidence I certainly don’t feel. I run my hands through my hair, brushing it out, so I don’t resemble someone who’s been in the bathroom ripping out their hair in frustration.
“Rendezvous in the bathroom. Real classy.”
My steps falter at the deep timbre, and a tingle travels down my spine. When I look up, I’m startled when I spot Roman, leaning against the wall. My hands curl into fists, as frustration bubbles in my gut. My chest grows tight with emotion.
“What did you just say?”
He rolls his eyes, brushing past me, without a word. My frustration reaches new heights, and I snap. I rush after him, gripping his solid arm to stop him from turning away from me.
“Okay, what the hell is your problem? You’ve been acting like an ass all night long,” I hiss, yanking Rome toward me.
He dips down, getting in my face. “My problem? He wants to fuck you. How can you not see it?”
I purse my lips. This conversation would be so much less awkward if Travis hadn’t just done what he did in the hallway. “I never said I didn’t see it. I just…ignore it.”
“So, what? You want to fuck him?”
“God, no!” I blurt, darting my gaze around us, to make sure no one’s around to hear. “And what’s it matter to you? You hate me. You shouldn’t care about anything I do, or who wants to fuck me.”
“It fucking matters, babe.”
My stomach flutters, and my chest squeezes. That stupid, god-awful emotion—hope—invades my rational thoughts. “Why?” I search his ice blue gaze for answers. “Just tell me why.”
We have a standoff, glaring down at each other, our chests heaving, working to accommodate our hatred.
I scoff with a disappointed shake of my head. “That’s what I thought. You’re such a fucking