In Sheets Of Rain - Nicola Claire Page 0,59

as if I was fragile and could break apart in the next moment. He pulled back, blue eyes staring intently at me. He ran his fingers along my jaw.

“It’s OK, Kylee,” he said. “Just breathe.”

And then he started counting. One. Two. Three. His words soft, just for me. His eyes never leaving my face. His hand cupping the side of my jaw, carefully.

I felt the tears on my cheek. He kissed them dry. I counted in my head, and he counted aloud. Grounding me.

I could fall madly in love with this man, I realised.

I wondered if he could fall for me.

51

You Can Thank Me Later

There was a parcel sitting on my desk. Small, box-shaped. It sat in the centre of my blotter. All other things were pushed away from it as if it needed the space to exist; took up too much of it.

I stared down at the white paper wrapped gift before me. At the blue ribbon that curled around it.

My heartbeat sounded too loud in my ears.

I glanced up at the cubicles nearest me, but none of the other reps were in the office. I bit my lip and then sat down; staring at the box as if it might bite me.

Reaching out a shaking hand, I picked the box up. It was lighter than I expected. There was no gift card attached. I pulled on the blue ribbon before my courage failed me. Then ripped off the paper.

The box was hurriedly placed back down, and I stared at the jeweller’s name on the top of it. Michael Hill. Not some bespoke, super expensive jewellery. But one I had shopped at many times.

I let out a breath and ran a hand through my hair, letting the count of three ground me.

Shaking my head, I quickly flipped the lid open and stared at the contents.

A white-gold, diamond-encrusted heart on a white-gold chain stared back at me.

My fingers covered my mouth, and I leaned closer, inspecting it.

There was a small piece of paper stuck in the side of the soft sponge. I pulled it out and unfolded it.

I stared at the words and stared at the necklace.

Then stared at the words again, my breaths coming too fast.

You have my heart, it said. Please keep it safe for me.

It was signed simply, SG. Suit Guy.

I reached up and fingered my cross. The cross I’d worn since Sean gave it to me as an apology for being away so much. It was larger than the heart, which somehow made it easier. It was heavier too, at a guess.

But it wasn’t as pretty.

I reached back to unclasp it and felt warm fingers touch mine. I gasped and looked over my shoulder.

“May I?” Michael asked.

I stared at him. He stared at me. I could see his heart in his eyes. He wasn’t breathing.

I nodded my head and pulled my hair over my shoulder, baring my neck. He leaned forward and kissed my nape softly. I tried to catch my breath but then decided it didn’t matter.

I liked this breathlessness; it wasn’t at all dark.

The cross came away from my chest. Michael placed it carefully on the blotter in front of me. He picked the jewellery box up and removed the heart. I closed my eyes and kept my head bowed, my neck bared.

His fingers were warm when they touched me. I felt something expand inside. Taking up more and more space within me. It was frightening and also exhilarating. I couldn’t get enough of it.

The heart came to rest on my upper chest; it sat higher up than the cross had. It would be noticeable, no matter what I was wearing. It would be one of the first things people saw when they stopped to talk to me.

It was small and yet so big. Rather like the emotions swirling inside of me.

I reached up and touched it; laid my fingers on it reverently. Turning in my chair, I looked up at Michael. He looked down at me and winked.

I couldn’t help smiling.

“There,” he said softly. “That’s better.”

And I realised it was. So much better. Infinitely better.

A rep in the cubicle next door walked past us. My eyes flicked to his face, but he just said a perfunctory greeting and then slapped his laptop down on his desk.

Michael hadn’t stopped looking at me.

I wanted to say something; anything. Thank you would have been enough and yet not quite enough, either. We stared at each other as the rep started a conversation on his phone.

I wanted