scream but the way I jumped must have caught his
attention, because he looked up.
Eric looked up at me with a smile and slipped his
headphones from his ears. I heard the tinny, faraway chant
of a song I'd have known if I'd been able to pay attention
of a song I'd have known if I'd been able to pay attention
to it, rather than him. His eyes, specificaly, which were a
deep, dark liquid brown.
'Hi,' he said. 'Sorry, did I scare you?'
'I didn't see you behind the washers.' I set down my
basket and put a hand over my rapidly beating heart.
'Yeah, the layout's not so great in here.' He looked
around, then shifted the papers off the chair next to him.
'Sorry, though. You want to sit?'
I took the chair two spots away from his and pushed my
basket to the side with my foot. He stil smiled at me, so I
smiled back. 'Thanks.'
'Fancy meeting you here,' he said.
'Here, there. Everywhere.' I tapped a finger against my
chin, feigning thoughtfulness. 'Are you stalking me?'
To my delight, his cheeks pinked. Just a little. But enough.
'It would seem like that, huh?'
I shook my head and bent to pul a handful of laundry from
I shook my head and bent to pul a handful of laundry from
my basket. 'Missed you around the gym lately.'
I looked up and caught a flash of something in his gaze.
Guilt, maybe, though why Eric should care if I kept track
of his workouts, I didn't know. He shrugged and ran a
hand over his shaggy hair.
I stuffed a load of whites into the nearest washer as we
spoke. I was conscious of my panties and bras among my
T-shirts and blouses, but I didn't draw attention to them by
blushing, even when I caught him looking.
Eric had a smile as slow and easy as honey dripping from
a spoon. I wanted to lick it the same way. 'Did you?
Damn. I'm sorry.'
We looked at each other, surrounded by the scent of
fabric softener and moist, hot air.
'Were you…looking for me?' Eric asked. 'For any reason in particular, I mean?'
Heat flushed my cheeks, and I answered with laughter and
a duck of my head. Eric laughed, too, after a second. His
voice joined mine like a duet, and when I looked up at
voice joined mine like a duet, and when I looked up at
him, his deep brown eyes were shining with good humor
and undisguised interest.
'Were you?'
'Yes,' I admitted. 'It's not quite the same without you there.'
'Sorry. Work's been insane.'
I stuffed my quarters in the slot and dumped half a cup of
