Stealing Harper (Taking Chances #1.5)(69)

“Rachel,” he ran a nervous hand through his hair and paused for a second, as if trying to figure out what to say, “the school year is about to end and you’ll be going back to Cali over the summer. I feel like I’m about to miss any chance with you I may have. And I don’t want to. I know you liked me when we were growing up. But Rach, you were way too young back then.”

“I’m still five years younger, that hasn’t changed.”

He smirked. “You and I both know a relationship between a thirteen and eighteen-year-old, and a twenty-one and twenty-six-year-old are completely different.”

So? That doesn’t help my argument right now. “Well you and I have both changed over the last eight years. Feelings change –”

“Yes,” he cut me off and his blue eyes darkened as he gave me a once over. “They do.”

I hated that my body was responding to his look. But honestly, I think it’d be impossible for anyone not to respond to him. Like I said. Adonis. “Uh, Blake. Up here.” He smiled wryly and dear Lord that smile was way too perfect. “Look, honestly? I have an issue with the fact that you’re constantly surrounded by very eager and willing females. It’s not like I’d put some claim on you if we went on a couple dates, but you ask me out while these girls are touching you and drooling all over you. It’s insulting that you would ask me out while your next lay is already practically stripping for you.”

His expression darkened and he tilted his head to the side, “You think I’m f*cking them like everyone else?”

Ah frick. Um, yes? “If you are, then that’s your business. I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry. But whether you are or not, you don’t even attempt to push them away. Since you moved here, I’ve never seen you with less than two women touching you. You don’t find that weird?” Seriously, am I really the only person who finds this odd?

Suddenly pushing off the wall he’d been leaning against, he took the two steps toward me and I tried to mold myself to the door. A heart-stopping smile, and bright blue eyes now replaced his darkened features as he completely invaded my personal space. If he weren’t so damn beautiful I’d karate chop at him and remind him of personal bubbles. Or go all Stuart from MADtv on him and tell him he’s a stranger and to stay away from my danger. Instead, I tried to control my breathing and swallow through the dryness in my mouth.

“No, Rachel. What I find weird, is that you don’t seem to realize that I don’t even notice those other women or what they’re doing because all I see is you. I look forward to seeing you every day. I don’t think you realize you are the best part of my weekdays. I moved here for this job before I even knew you and Candice were going to school here, and seeing you again for the first time in years—God, Rachel you were so beautiful and I had no idea that it was you; but you literally stopped me in my tracks and I couldn’t do anything but watch you.

“And you have this way about you that draws people to you . . . always have. It has nothing to do with how devastatingly beautiful you are –though that doesn’t hurt–” he smirked and searched my face, “but you have this personality that is rare. And it bursts from you. You’re sweet and caring, you’re genuinely happy and it makes people around you happy. And you have a smile and laugh that is contagious.”

Only men like Blake West could get away with saying things like that and still have my heart racing instead of laughing in their face.

“You’re not like other women. Even though these are the years for it, you don’t seem like the type of girl to just have flings; and I can assure you, that’s not what I’m into, nor what I’m looking for with you. So I don’t see those other women, all I’m seeing is you. Do you understand that now?”

Holy shit. He was serious?

“Rachel?”

I nodded and he smiled.

“So, will you please let me take you out this weekend?”

For the first time since he came back into my life, he actually looked unsure of himself. I was still in complete shock, but I somehow managed to nod again and mumble, “Sure, where do you want to go?”

He smiled wide and exhaled in relief, “It’s a surprise.”

I frowned. How did he have a surprise planned if he hadn’t even known I was going to say yes? “And by surprise, do you mean you have no clue?”

“No, it’s just a surprise.”

I started to turn into Candice and whine that I wouldn’t know what to wear, but was interrupted by a huge yawn making me sound more like Chewbacca. I covered as much of my face as possible with the hand that wasn’t holding the rose and laughed awkwardly. “Oh my word, that’s embarrassing.”

His laugh was deep and rich, “It’s late and I stopped you from going to sleep. If for some reason I don’t see you for the rest of the week, I’ll pick you up at seven on Friday. That sound all right?”

“That sounds perfect. I’ll see you then, and uh, thanks for my rose.” Before he could say anything else, I turned the knob, gave him a small smile and backed up into the room and shut the door in his still-smirking face. “Holy hell.” I whispered and let my forehead fall against the door.

“Tell. Me. Everything!” Candice practically shrieked and I turned to narrow my eyes at her.