The Blush Factor by Deborah Bladon

Chapter Thirty

Faith

I groanas I glance at the screen of my phone again.

Only fifteen minutes have passed since the last time I looked at it. I still have another two hours before I can go home.

The maintenance man in my building chose today, of all days, to finally fix the leaky window and bathroom light fixture.

I need to hammer the details of one of today’s lectures into my brain. I wasn’t paying attention the way I usually do because I was preoccupied with thinking about Matthew’s mouth and how it felt when he kissed me.

As hard as I tried to focus on biology, it didn’t work.

I kept running my fingertip over my lips, imagining what it felt like when his lips touched mine for the first time.

“Can I get you a refill?” A barista with a carafe in his hand wanders over to the table I’m sitting at.

I chose this café because it’s within walking distance of my apartment and coffee refills are free of charge.

I need the extra caffeine boost each cup provides if I expect to make it through my planned study session.

“Yes, please.” I smile up at him. “The coffee is great.”

He tosses me a wink as he fills my cup. “I didn’t brew it, so you can tell the truth.”

I laugh. “I’m not lying. It’s good.”

He lingers next to me. “It looks like you’re hitting the books hard. Where do you go to school?”

“NYU,” I answer proudly.

It’s always been my dream school. The day I was accepted, I screamed, cried, and screamed again. My parents joined in on that celebration with a few tears of their own.

“I go to Fordham.” He gazes at the counter and the line of people waiting for their late-day caffeine fix.

“Nice,” I say with a smile.

“What’s your end goal?” He shifts from one foot to the other.

He’s definitely attractive. He’s not nearly as hot as Matthew, but if he weren’t in the picture, I might up my flirting game with this guy.

“Doctor,” I say simply. “I’m going to be a doctor one day.”

“Lawyer for me,” he counters. “I’m going to be a lawyer one day.”

It’s impressive.

“I’m Christopher.” He wipes his palm over his apron before he extends his hand to me.

I take it in mine. “I’m Faith.”

“Faith,” he repeats. “That’s a beautiful name.”

I tug my hand free of his. “I should get back to it.”

“Me too.” He glances at the counter again. “If you need anything else, let me know. We’ve got some freshly made sandwiches. It’s on the house if you’re interested.”

I’d take him up on the offer, but I hurriedly ate a salad before I left my apartment earlier.

“Faith? I thought that was you.”

Goose bumps pepper my skin when I hear that voice behind me.

I turn in my chair to see Matthew standing less than two feet away from me. He glances at Christopher before his gaze settles back on me.

“It’s me,” I say nervously because I haven’t seen him since his hand was almost inside my panties.

“May I join you?” he asks as he takes a seat next to me.

I smile. “Of course.”

Christopher’s gaze volleys from Matthew to me. “The offer still stands, Faith. I’m right over there if you need anything.”

Matthew drops a hand to my jean-covered thigh. “Faith has everything she needs.”

For the first time in forever, I feel like I do. I have everything I need sitting next to me.

* * *

Matthew’s gazeflits over the front of the black T-shirt I’m wearing before he reads what’s stamped across it, “I heart NY.”

I nod. “I do.”

He traces a fingertip over my forearm. “Only tourists wear those shirts, Faith.”

I shake my head. “Tourists and students with friends who think gag gifts are fun.”

“So a friend bought this for you?” His fingers inch up to my shoulder. “Thank your friend because I’ve never seen one of these T-shirts look better.”

I drop my gaze to the shirt he’s wearing. It’s a blue button-down that he’s paired with a pair of dark jeans.

“I like your shirt too.”

He huffs out a laugh. “So did a cat who found a way to cling to the front of it while I was trying to examine her teeth.”

I grimace. “Ouch.”

He drops a hand to the center of his chest. “Big ouch. I suspect there’s a pretty deep scratch under here. I’ll find out when I shower.”

I look to my lap because the thought of him in the shower is too much.

I’ve never seen a man full-on naked before.

I’ve seen cocks, but those were yanked out of jeans in anticipation of me blowing them.

Matthew reaches down, grabs the wooden leg of the chair I’m in, and tugs it even closer to him. It skids across the tile floor.

He edges his lips over the skin of my neck. “You’re thinking about me naked.”

I bow my head again. “I’m not.”

“This has to be a blush factor of at least a four out of five.” His hand finds my chin to edge my head up. “Let me get a good look.”

I try and shield my face with my hands. “I’m not blushing.”

“You’re lying,” he whispers. “If you want to see me naked, say the word. I’ll drop it all right here. Right now.”

I let out a laugh. “You wouldn’t.”

As my hands fall to my lap, he smiles at me. “For you, I’d do it, but let’s take this to my apartment unless you’re waiting for someone. Maybe it’s the barista who couldn’t take his eyes off of you.”

I want to accuse him of being jealous, but that’s ridiculous.

“Maintenance is fixing a few things in my apartment,” I tell him. “I’m hanging out here until they’re done.”

He scratches his upper lip. “You can hang out at my place until they’re done.”

It’s a tempting offer, but I have to study. I can’t risk falling behind.

“I need to study.” I sigh. “I have to focus on that tonight.”

He moves to reach for my tablet to shut the cover. “You’ll study. I’ll update some patient charts on my tablet, and when the maintenance man is done, you can head home.”

Disappointment bites at me because he didn’t mention even one kiss in that plan.

“There are fewer distractions at my place.”

I almost laugh aloud at that. He’s the ultimate distraction, but I know I’d be more comfortable there. It would be quieter than this place.

I push back from the table. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”