Chapter 93
Naomi’s lip slammed against the button of his shirt, sending a twinge of pain shooting through her mouth. She furrowed her brows at this, so overcome by the pain that she did not even notice that she was lying against Scott’s chest.
Scott could feel Naomi’s entire body stiffen. He lowered his head to glance at her and noticed the pained expression on her face. He immediately let go of her and lifted her chin so that he could take a good look.
Her rosy lips were pursed, and a bead of blood was clinging to her bottom lip. She accidentally bit herself. Scott frowned at this, then, with one hand still on her waist, he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it against her lip.
Naomi was yet to register what exactly happened, but all of a sudden, she felt Scott’s hand against her lip, cushioned by a soft fabric that she never felt before. She froze, then stared in shock at the man
before her.
Scott was staring straight at her broken lip as he dabbed the handkerchief against the bleed. His head was lowered and his face was buried in the darkness, unable to ascertain his exact expression.
Naomi’s heart leaped into her throat. She quickly shoved him away. “I…I’m fine.
Π
She instinctively took a step backward, but she forgot that she was perched right on the ledge of the staircase, and so her entire body was propelled backward once more.
As she fell backward, she instinctively reached out and grabbed hold of Scott’s shirt.
Scott’s muscles grew taut underneath his sleeve as he grabbed hold of Naomi’s waist, pulling her back Loward him.
Naomi’s heart was racing. She was still unhinged from her near–fall. If she fell and hit her head, consequences would be dire.
the
Scott’s grip around her waist tightened, and he drew his other hand with the handkerchief back to stare at her. “Do you want me to fall too?”
Naomi stiffened, then shook her head. “No, I…”
She wanted to explain that she did not do it on purpose, but the moment she lifted her head to meet his gaze, her words got stuck in her throat.
Scott’s tone was rather accusatory, but at the same time, laced with a hint of playfulness. He was staring at her with a strange look–a look that was laced with tenderness and a hint of something else that Naomi could not put her finger on.
Scott stared back at her beautiful, twinkling eyes. Her expression was one of panic, fear, guilt, and even a bit of hostility.
Scott gave her just a minuscule tug that pulled her closer to his lean, taut body. However, this lasted
Chapter 93
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only a few milliseconds. Before Naomi knew it, Scott spun her around and planted her firmly on the step beneath him. “You should go first.”
His hand disappeared from her waist, and the familiar scent of his perfume was gone. Naomi instinctively let out a sigh of relief and nodded. She was unusually aware of how fast her heart was beating. “Alright.”
With that, she continued walking up the stairs, but this time, she was careful of where she placed her
foot.
Scott stared at her, moving cautiously with every step, with a rather amused look. Naomi was making every step very careful and thought out, as though she was worried she would fall again.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and followed her.
Five floors were not that much, and Naomi could usually accomplish the climb in no time, but for some reason, the climb felt excruciatingly long and hard that night.
Thankfully, they soon reached the fifth floor, where the balcony light illuminated Naomi’s front door. Naomi felt as though a weight was lifted off her shoulders. She took out her keys from her purse and unlocked the door.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Donna fell asleep while watching television on the couch, her hand still clutching the remote control. However, the sound of the lock turning stirred her, and she opened her eyes to see Naomi standing at the door. She sat up and said, “You’re home, Naomi.”
Naomi glanced at the television, and then at her mother’s sleepy face. It was clear she fell asleep while waiting up for her. “Yes, Mom.”
She placed her keys aside, slid into her slippers, and then brought out a pair for Scott.
Scott followed her into the foyer and glanced down at her as she placed the slippers in front of him.
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Naomi’s hair spilled past her shoulders, and her blue blouse shifted, revealing the rosy skin of her neck. She was wearing a collared blouse that night, and although the shirt was not particularly revealing, her collar gaped open the moment she bent down to place Scott’s slippers.
