My Summer in London (My Summer #1)(15)
He was engaged, and hopefully he didn’t hate me for being aggressive the other night.
Retracing my steps back to my desk, I was glad to find the kitchen along the way. In there, I took a bottled juice, a banana, and a granola bar before retreating back to my post to man the machine.
The fax beeped at thirty past seven, indicating that the long-awaited files were being sent over. The mere sound of it almost made me want to dance because I was starting to get tired, and the last thing I needed was for me to fall asleep while the driver waited for me downstairs.
As carefully as I could, I followed Denise’s instructions to a T. Once finished, I held on to the folders for dear life as I headed towards the elevator and in search of the driver who would take me to Cruz’s apartment.
Oh, Lord. First assignment, here we go.
Chapter Nine
Wracked with nerves, I didn’t realize how hard I was chewing on my lip until I felt the iron taste of blood. I was sitting in the back of a Mercedes sedan with the cool air blasting high, yet I could feel myself breaking into sweat. It wasn’t necessarily about seeing Cruz again. Okay, maybe it was. As much as I tried to tell myself to get over it, it was difficult. He affected me, and there was nothing I could do about that. At least I could pretend he didn’t. I wasn’t the first woman in this predicament. I could pull it off. I knew I could. As they said, “practice makes perfect.” The more I encountered him, the easier it would be for me in the long run.
Surprisingly, his home was ten minutes away from his mother’s. If that didn’t scream overprotective, I didn’t know what did, but it was endearing to see a man like him so concerned about his mom. I supposed it was one of those things that made him unique. All right, enough thoughts of him being extra special. I wasn’t helping myself if my thoughts lingered around his praises.
The driver helped me out of the car before leading me towards the front door where he produced a key, opened the door, and then let me in, informing me he would wait to take me home. After giving him a heartfelt smile, I entered the quiet stillness of Cruz’s home.
Denise instructed me to leave it on the desk in the library. The problem I had was the fact that she didn’t tell me which floor it was, and from where I stood, there seemed to be three floors.
Not knowing what to do, I weighed leaving it on the foyer table or hunting down the library. I supposed I could look around and take it from there. Libraries and home offices usually were located on the main floor, right?
Cautiously strolling, I found a formal-looking settee that was decorated in hues of white and beige. It was nice, but it screamed standoffish to me. It would make it difficult for any guests to move around. They would be intimidated and too worried to make a stain anywhere. Across that coolness of a room was the formal dining then the kitchen.
Not finding the library, I decided, since I was already here, why not keep looking in order to do what I was told to? I didn’t want it to seem like I couldn’t follow a simple task by placing these vital papers in the library. With newly injected courage, I spun around and headed towards the stairs that led me to the second level.
Just as I was reaching the landing, I froze when I heard a sound coming from upstairs? and before long, I heard footsteps then saw Cruz descending from the stairs, fresh out of shower and with his towel loosely wrapped around his hips.
f*uk, I thought as I forgot to breathe at the sight of him almost naked.
“Serena,” he said, pausing as he looked at me, shocked just like I was.
I should say something, anything. However, I was in total panic mode, and for the life of me, my mouth wouldn’t operate.
We stared at each other for a minute then two, three, until everything seemed to disappear. The magnetic pull his intense gaze had on me felt dizzying, as if he had cast a spell, and I was enslaved to him and at his command. The air between us was too charged to ignore. Of course, as much as I wanted to bask in it, experience it once more, I knew I shouldn’t.
With everything I could muster, I broke the spell between us, shamefaced that I was almost waltzing back into temptation. Clearing my throat, I blinked a few times before gazing at him again.
“I—uh—have the papers from Hong Kong. I’ll just … umm … leave these here.” I just left it on the landing before turning around and pacing the steps as fast as I could, hoping this crazy nightmare would all be over soon.
Just as I stepped into the foyer, I heard him call after me. “Serena, wait!”
I instantly paused, counting a few times before spinning on my heels to face him. “Yeah?” I asked, barely meeting his powerful, mercurial gaze.
He opened his mouth, his frown deepening as he gazed down at me, as if he was trying to conjure the words to say.
Licking my lips, I let out a sigh. “Is there anything else you need, Cruz?”
He hastily shook his head, seeming confused at my question. “How are you finding things at work? Is everyone treating you well?”
He wanted to know how my day had gone? Seriously, he didn’t need to be almost naked while trying to engage me in a mundane conversation.
“Everyone’s been great, just great!” I said chirpily, trying to pry my eyes off his beautiful face. It was hard to. I hadn’t realized how sexy a freshly showered guy could look. Damn, but he looked delicious.
There was a long pause. It was unnerving the way he was staring at me, like he wasn’t sure what to say, yet it seemed like he didn’t want to end it, either.