Tempting Boundaries

Seven: Akward

Charlotte's pov

The morning started off with a bittersweet note. The sun had barely risen when Richard, Victoria, and I piled into the car, headed to the airport. Victoria was leaving for her two-week work trip, and while I was excited for her, I couldn't shake off the unease settling in my stomach. The thought of being alone with Richard, no matter how fleeting, made my heart race.

We arrived at the airport in good time, and after checking in, we all found a quiet spot near the gate to sit and chat. The conversation was light, filled with jokes and laughter, but there was an underlying tension that only I seemed to notice. Richard was his usual charming self, effortlessly keeping the mood upbeat, but every now and then, I'd catch him glancing my way, his gaze lingering just a fraction longer than it should.

"Take care of him for me, will you?" Victoria joked, nudging me with her elbow as we waited for her boarding call.

"Of course," I replied with a smile, trying to ignore the slight hitch in my breath. "You know I will."

Victoria turned to Richard. "And you, don't make her job too hard. She's got enough on her plate already."

Richard chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'll behave, promise."

We shared a few more laughs before the announcement came, signaling it was time for Victoria to board. The goodbye was quick, hugs exchanged, and promises to keep in touch were made. As we watched her walk through the gate, I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. I was genuinely happy for her, but I couldn't deny the sense of anticipation building up inside me.

The drive back home was quiet. The streets were calm, with most people enjoying their Sunday at home. I glanced over at Richard from time to time, wondering what was going through his mind. Was he feeling the same tension I was? Or was I just imagining things?

Back at the house, I decided to keep myself busy. Cleaning up my room seemed like a good idea,something to focus on other than the lingering thoughts in my head. I spent most of the afternoon organizing my space, trying to keep my mind occupied. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the awareness that I was alone in the house with Richard.

Later in the evening, hunger finally drove me out of my room. I made my way to the kitchen, determined to make something simple for dinner. As I gathered ingredients, I heard footsteps approaching, and a moment later, Richard walked in.

"Need any help?" he asked, leaning casually against the doorframe.

I looked up, startled. "Oh, um, sure. If you don't mind."

"Not at all,"

"Not at all," Richard said as he stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves. He moved with an ease that I found both comforting and unnerving at the same time. As he started chopping vegetables beside me, the kitchen suddenly felt much smaller.

We worked together in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of chopping and sizzling filling the room. But as the minutes passed, I couldn't ignore the way our arms would occasionally brush, or how his presence seemed to envelop me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and every now and then, I caught a whiff of his cologne,a clean, woodsy scent that made my pulse quicken.

"So," Richard finally broke the silence, his voice low and smooth, "how's your first week been? Settling in okay?"

"Yeah, it's been good," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "The precinct's nice, and Tyson's been a great partner. I think I'm going to like it there."

"That's good to hear." He turned to look at me, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he smiled. "I knew you'd do well."

There was something in the way he said it that made my heart skip a beat. I quickly turned back to the stove, stirring the pot of pasta sauce to give myself something to focus on.

"What about you?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from myself. "How's work been for you?"

"Busy, as usual," Richard replied, his tone easy. "But nothing I can't handle. It's just... different without Victoria around."

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

For a moment, we both stood there, the air between us thick with unspoken thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder if he was feeling the same pull I was, the same awareness of each other's presence that seemed impossible to ignore.

As we finished up with the cooking, our movements became more synchronized, as if we'd done this a hundred times before. When the food was finally ready, we set the table and sat down to eat.

The conversation flowed easily, but there was an undercurrent of something more. I could feel it in the way our eyes met across the table, in the way his voice softened when he spoke to me. It was like a dance, both of us careful not to step too close to the edge, but unable to deny the pull that was slowly drawing us together.

After dinner, we cleaned up together, the tension from earlier still lingering in the air. I could feel it in the way our hands brushed as we passed dishes to each other, in the way his gaze seemed to linger on me just a little too long.

When everything was finally done, we both hesitated, standing in the kitchen, neither of us ready to break the connection that had formed between us. But eventually, Richard cleared his throat and gave me a small smile.

"Well, I guess we should call it a night," he said, his voice low and warm.

"Yeah," I agreed, my heart still racing. "Goodnight, Richard."

"Goodnight, Charlotte," he replied, his eyes holding mine for just a moment longer before he turned and walked out of the kitchen.

I stood there for a few seconds, my thoughts spinning, before finally making my way upstairs to my room. As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but replay the evening in my mind, wondering what the next few weeks would bring.