Near To You by Asha King Read Free Book Online

with her, at least, and she might ask if she could see him again. It was selfish to expect him to stay, perhaps, but she wanted more.
    She wanted him .
    At last she opened her eyes again and checked the clock. 11:30. She didn’t even have a phone number to reach him and for all she knew, he left at dawn. Her chest felt carved out and hollow, missing his warmth and his smile already. If she checked her phone, she’d probably find messages from Deena—she’d need to tell her friend everything. And Deena would expect her to be happy. Last night, she had been. Now?
    Nia sighed, dragged the blankets back, and rose. The scuffed up hardwood floor was warm from the sun creeping around the blinds, and she immediately padded for her fuzzy pink bathrobe resting on a pile of boxes marked BEDROOM. Coffee. Maybe breakfast. Or hell, maybe leftover wine. That sounded like a good plan.
    Down the hall she went toward the stairs, yawning with each step, running her hand back through her tangled hair.
    A noise caught her attention and she paused.
    The floor downstairs creaked under heavy steps.
    Oh shit, the contractor. He wouldn’t come in her house uninvited, would he? She thumped down the stairs, her fuzzy robe brushing her bare legs, and whirled around the corner.
    And stopped.
    A familiar figure stood in her kitchen over the stove. He was dressed, pacing back and forth with a spatula in hand, humming softly. Coffee brewed in the corner and butter sizzled in a pan on the stove.
    What the hell?
    As if sensing her attention, Brady paused and turned, glancing over his shoulder at her. “Morning.”
    She blinked. “You’re still here.”
    He set the spatula down and turned, frowning. “Yeah...?”
    “But you were supposed to be leaving.”
    His jaw set and eyes hardened. “I didn’t realize ‘one night’ was literal and not involving morning.”
    “But the guy said you were leaving today—moving across country.”
    “Guy...?” His lips pressed tight and he shook his head, looking away. “So that’s why you asked. You didn’t think I’d be around today.”
    She was still tired and confused as hell. “Well, no—yes—but it’s not—”
    Muttering under his breath, he turned and stalked from the kitchen.
    “Brady!” She started after him, around the corner, to see the porch door swinging in his wake. She burst outside after him, shouting his name, but he was already at the road and turned toward his van.
    Jesus, what the hell had she just done?

    ****

    With considerable effort, Brady slowed his van down, easing off the gas though he’d practically stomped down on it when he left.
    She knew. Must’ve heard something when she went to the grocery store—fucking small town. That was why she asked. Why she wanted him there for the night. Like she’d said, she was still kind of messed up. She wasn’t looking for anything more. And probably never with someone like him.
    His fault. All his fault. He’d thought there was something there. That she might want him to stick around. But then why would she? He was no one important. Not some rich, powerful lawyer like her ex-husband—the type she apparently went for. Fine for a quick fuck but not relationship material.
    Holy shit, he was fucking stupid.
    His hands tightened on the steering wheel, going white-knuckled, and he ground his teeth. That was just fine, then. He’d pick up the things he’d already packed and leave. Four or five hours behind schedule, sure, but soon the goddamn little town—and everyone in it—would be miles behind him and forgotten.

    ****

    “Just don’t even start with the, ‘What’s the big deal?’” Niara said immediately, phone pinched between her shoulder and her head while she dashed around her room getting dressed.
    “Wasn’t going to,” Deena insisted.
    Nia shoved her legs into jeans and dragged the material up. “He was making me breakfast. Pancakes! What if he decided to stay because of me and I fucked it up? Jesus, I’m such a