Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Justin ignores Jasper, which earns him another chuckle. “See? Among the four of us, you have two grumps and two charming men. Our parents strove for balance, you see.”
Jameson has a hint of a smile before he asks, “Tea or coffee?”
“Oh, uhm. Coffee.”
“We have Americano, macchiato, latte, cappuccino.”
In the presence of these guys, I even forget how I take my coffee. Fortunately, I didn’t forget my own name. “Latte. No, wait. Americano. No, it’s too late and I might not be able to sleep. Just cappuccino, please.”
“Am I going to throw you into another round of confusion if I ask what kind of milk you prefer?”
“Alec keeps different milks?” I throw an accusing stare at him, just as both Jasper and Jameson roar with laughter.
“Oh, you assholes.” Alec glares at his brothers, but while that may have intimidated others, it has the opposite effect. Jasper and Jameson glare back, then laugh again.
I feel myself relax. I’ve only just met them, but I already feel comfortable around them, except Justin. He doesn’t really talk that much, but when Jasper sets the cupcakes on the coffee table, he grabs one and shoves it into his mouth. The biggest compliment is probably him grabbing two more.
Alec sits across from me, but his eyes never leave my face. When Jasper stands in front of him and motions for him to move beside me, Alec’s lips flatten before he ambles toward me and slumps beside me, putting himself between me and Justin.
My entire body tenses as I remember how it feels to kiss him. Alec stiffens too, and we both sit side by side, our backs ramrod straight, not talking to each other. All he has to do is reach out and grab my hand and I’ll melt into a pile of lusty mush.
Jameson notices the tension because he shifts his gaze from me to Alec and back to me. “This is seriously good, Zara. Is this what you do for a living?”
I lift the cup of coffee and take a sip before answering, “No. Just something I like to do in my free time.”
“You should open up a bakery,” Jasper says between mouthfuls of cupcakes.
“Can you at least swallow before talking? It’s disgusting.” Alec frowns and grabs one cupcake from the plate. He finishes it in two bites and turns to me. “It is good.”
My insides lurch, and I hide my smile by sipping more coffee.
“So how did you meet my brother?” Jameson asks. He’s the only one not stuffing his face with the cupcake. “Not because you’re neighbors because I’d bet Alec here doesn’t make friends with his neighbors.”
Two pairs of blue eyes stare at me intently, and I feel so conscious of their attention. “He helped me carry my books when the elevator broke down.”
“Has the elevator ever worked?”
“It did when I first moved here.”
“Damn. I keep telling him to move somewhere else, but he likes it here.” Jameson tilts his head to Alec. “Why do YOU like it here?”
We all look at Alec in unison, who pinches the bridge of his nose. “I just do. It’s peaceful and quiet.”
“Maybe because the elevator’s not working?” Jasper raises his eyebrows and wiggles them, making me laugh.
We chat for an hour more before Justin stands and stretches. If I thought he was huge, nothing could prepare me for how massive he looked standing. He may be just a bit taller than Alec, but he’s as wide as a door. “Okay, I’ve seen enough of your faces for today. Let’s go.”
One by one, we file out of Alec’s apartment. Jasper keeps on chatting with me about anything and everything. He even asks about my job and if I like the hospital I work at. For the first time, I feel envious of Alec. I’ve always wanted siblings.
I move to walk downstairs when Jameson touches my arm. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, Zara. Thanks for the cupcakes again. Alec will walk you to your door. He’s just cleaning up our mess.”
“See you next time, Zara. Your cupcakes were really good. If you decide to open a bakery, I’ll be the first in line.” Jasper takes my hand and kisses my knuckles before he strides toward Jameson, who’s waiting by the stairwell.
Justin just tips his head to me without smiling. “Nice meeting you, ma’am.”
I don’t know how to respond so I just bobble my head like an idiot.
As I stand in the hallway waiting for Alec, I can still hear their chatter—mostly just Jasper’s and Jameson’s. Man, they’re so fun to be around. I can imagine how their holidays are.
“Hi. Just had to throw the wrappers or else I’ll come back to a house full of ants or worse.” Alec smiles apologetically and locks the door behind him.
Now that everyone’s gone and it’s just him and me, I feel the now-familiar thickness in the air between us, wrapping around us. This raw need for him isn’t funny anymore. I feel like I’ll die if he doesn’t kiss me again, but I’m so confused about what he feels for me. Does he want me, too? What did that kiss mean to him? What do I mean to him?