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He insisted on taking me out to lunch to thank me afterward Completely unnecessary, but I jumped at any excuse to spend more time with him And that was kind of a mystery He should have driven ht process, but I was hooked on this guy Every minute with him felt like an adventure and I didn’t want it to end

I suggested going to the beach since ere literally across the street from the Santa Monica pier, but Ash didn’t like that idea So about harmful UV rays and salt air, maybe? We drove back to Pasadena instead

When we neared our exit, he named a few nice cafés on Colorado

“Any of those are fine with oing to be too hard to find a spot And I should probably give you your shirt” I stole a sideways glance, adding, “Unless you don’tmine”

He gasped “I forgot I had this on Yes, I’ll definitely need to change Will you be able to breathe now?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine Keeping it buried with the s cracked worked”

Ash sniffed like a suspicious hound, then launched into a est I listened with half an ear as I parked rabbed his shirt, and led the way to my apartment

He was still talking when I unlocked the door It sounded like nervous chatter, but I couldn’t be sure ’cause I was nervous too

He was here Inclose to him The sweet lilt and hum of his voice, the sharp lines of his nose and cheekbones, his pretty eyes, his s about him drew me in

“…polyester holds intense odors longer than cotton I think the study was ai scents And…” Ash fiddled with his glasses and twitched his nose “You’re staring atodd?”

My heart hammered in my chest as I clearedabout food”

He nodded in his usual precisehis scented shirt on the sofa before yanking ers throughelse Letshow of self-control It throbbed insistently, begging me to make a move

“You knoe don’t have to go to lunch I have a lot of studying to do anyway I should go home and—”

“Stay,” I blurted