He opened his mouth but then shut it.


    “Go get her cat bed. She can sleep here,” I offered.


    Alexander was shaking his head before I even finished my sentence. “I’d have to move her litter box, too.”


    “Why?”


    He gave me a look like I should know the answer. “She’s a kitten, Olivia. She’s going to have to use the bathroom at some point in the night.”


    I remained silent. He had a point there.


    “Why don’t youe stay upstairs?” he suggested. “You can sleep in the same guestroom as you stayed before. That way, you can take care of her.”


    My mouth became dry, and my mind went nk. Did his offer have more to do with me than the kitten? If I stayed in the guestroom, I’d be alone in an apartment with Alexander since Mike was out. And if he was on a date with someone, he might not evene home tonight.


    Alexander slowly walked toward me as I thought over his offer. Soon, he was close enough that his woodsy scent surrounded me, making it even harder for me to think. But my rational mind eventually took


    over.


    “No, Alexander. I don’t think it would be appropriate to spend the night in the same apartment as my boss.” I tried to sound sure of myself, but my voice came out breathless.


    0.00%


    08:42


    288 Vouchers


    He smirked and leaned down until his lips were almost touching the shell of my ear. I had to put my hands behind my back so that he wouldn’t see them shaking.


    “I think it’s a littlete for us to be worried about what is appropriate or not,” he said with humor in his tone.


    My stomach swooped. His answer made me blink up at his smirking face. I mean, he did have a point. Why was I so worried about what was appropriate when I had already made out with him? Spending the night in separate rooms in the same apartment was tamepared to what we’d already done.


    “Alright,” I agreed. “I’ll stay the night in the guestroom.”


    His satisfied smile should have pissed me off, but it unfortunately just made him more attractive. “Good. I’ll wait for you while you gather your things.”


    Five minutester, I had an overnight bag packed, and I was ready to go. Despite my rational mind reminding me that this decision wasn’t smart, as I stepped onto the elevator, my skin was tingling with excitement. My body wasing alive at the thought of spending the night in the same apartment as Alexander.


    But as soon as the elevator doors closed and I felt sweat drip down my back, my panic began to rise. Why the hell was I willingly putting myself in this situation?


    “Um…” I said and looked up at Alexander, wondering how I was going


    to back out of this.


    “Don’t overthink things,” he said and winked, somehow reading my


    mind.


    My stomach flipped as I stared into his eyes. He was so close that I


    31.65%


    009


    08.42


    288 Vouchers


    could see the little gold flecks in his dark eyes. My hands began to shake as we continued to stare at each other. It felt like there wasn’t any air in the small space.


    Thankfully, the elevator doors opened, bringing in a gust of fresh air. I breathed it in. Whenever I was alone with Alexander, I seemed to forget to breathe.


    As soon as he unlocked the apartment, I moved the kitten’s pink bed into the room I’d be using tonight. Alexander kissed the top of her soft head before he handed her to me. From the careful way he treated her, I knew that he never would have actually let her sleep outside.


    When the kitten was settled down for the night, I took my toiletry bag and brushed my teeth in the guest bathroom. Anxiety shot down my spine as I squeezed the toothpaste onto my brush. Honestly, I wasn’t scared of what might happen between Alexander and me tonight.


    I just didn’t want him to think that I was treating him like a ything. I wished that I could talk to him more about how I was feeling, but thest guy I gave my heart to shattered it to pieces. I couldn’t risk being hurt like that again.


    Ch