6. Vivi

six

vivi

I breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly as I pushed the oversized mop along the floor in the back break room. The familiar scent I'd been noticing more and more in places I went wafted into my nose. As soon as it appeared it left, and I wanted to smell it again. I shook my head. I was being weirder than usual. I looked around the empty break room, pulled my phone out, and looked at the screen.

Nothing.

No texts or missed calls.

And just like that, my heart squeezed with sadness.

Nix hadn't tried to reach out after I hung up on him.

I'd gone to bed early in an effort to rest, but no matter what I tried, I tossed and turned all night, worried I'd messed things up. Had I been too mean? Sounded crazy? Did it matter? Maybe Nix had a huge phonebook of women he could call and get his rocks off with?

You know that's not true. He's not like that, my hopeful side quipped. I shook my head. I pulled my headphones out of my other pocket and popped them into my ears. Music helped to make work go quicker. Pushing the mop back and forth, I concentrated on getting the floors done.

My thoughts drifted to the tall, dark, and handsome detective I'd seen before. He was in the office again. I had spotted him when I walked in and could almost swear I'd felt his eyes follow me as I walked toward the cleaning supply closet. I giggled to myself and the crazy thoughts I had when it came to that man. I didn't know his name, but the way he wore a black button-up with dark cargos was too damn good not to appreciate. Appreciate. That's all I was doing. It was harmless.

I wondered if Nix looked good in cargo pants and a button-up. Would he be as muscular and tall as the man I had been imagining him as? No. Probably not. The guy I'd been talking to wouldn't even send me a picture over the phone. He was probably some middle-aged weirdo with a gut who sat behind a computer screen.

Or phone in my case.

Even then, I wouldn't have minded. I liked talking to Nix. Getting to know him and hearing the stories he had to tell. That we liked completely different movies. I had a feeling I wouldn't have cared what he looked like if it meant sitting next to him, cozied together on a couch while watching movies we otherwise would have brushed off as something that didn't interest us.

Oh, well. I sighed. I stretched my neck from side to side trying not to wince at the tight muscles that pulled and ached. I had definitely pushed myself a little too much this week. I shut my eyes and let the darkness behind my lids relax me. If I sat down, I would fall asleep. Two minutes with my eyes shut standing wouldn't hurt.

Becky G's sultry voice started to play in my ears. But before she reached the bridge, a big hand touched the small of my back and a heat unlike anything I had ever felt radiated against my back. My eyes popped open, and I turned a little too quickly to look over my shoulder.

"You," I whispered. His dark green eyes widened. The hand he had on my lower back felt firm.

"Me?" The sexy detective was a big man. Tall and broad chested with muscles I knew came from his job and more than likely time he spent at the gym so he could be prepared for anything his job might toss his way. The depth of his voice shouldn't have surprised me, but it did.

"Sorry, umm…" I shook my head and stepped forward, losing the small caress. I popped my earbuds out and shoved them into the pocket of the scratchy jumpsuit I had on. "Was I in your way?"

"Hardly," he muttered under his breath, and my traitorous body reacted. My nipples stiffened beneath my clothes, and I was thankful for the layers and apron I was wearing. "Just wanted to make a new pot." He pointed at the counter. My face felt hot .

"Of course," I whispered, stepping away. "Just be careful. It's wet."

"Is it?" His lips twitched, and I felt my face start to burn. His eyes dropped from mine down my body, taking their time on the way back up.

And I shivered.

God, I was like a blushing virgin in front of him.

"I mean the floor!" I blurted and winced. "The floor is, umm…" I forgot what I was saying when our gaze connected again.

His eyes were beautiful.

Deep and a shade of green I needed a moment to really soak in. They were just a smidge darker than moss.

"Wet?" he repeated, and I nodded.

I moved to the side, pretending to wet the mop again and strain it. But honestly, I couldn't seem to focus on that. For a moment, I watched him. Well, the back of him. The man was seriously handsome.

And for some reason, my gaze moved to his left hand. It was bare. No ring. How the hell had some lucky woman, or man, not roped him up? Maybe he's a jerk, the cynical side of me perked up, but I batted away the thought. A man like that would most likely, most definitely be a jerk. A huge one. But with the right person? Maybe not. Maybe he'd be sweet? Kind? Attentive? Like Nix? The thought made me frown and move my attention to the mop.

We didn't say anything else as the coffee pot percolated and I kept cleaning the other side of the break room so as not to be in his way. And when he left, I popped my earbuds back in and kept working.

Never noticing that the air smelled familiar. Stronger. The spicy, woodsy notes I'd been catching here and there the last couple of days, so familiar now, didn't hit me. And if they had, maybe I'd have been able to save myself, because nothing else would have prepared me for what happened later.