Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
And the way he had been looking at me lately? Like I was made of candy and Brady was really hungry?
Yeah, that had been pretty hot, and had made it even more difficult for me to remind myself that Brady was not an option. Well, probably not an option.
Mostly.
But whatever.
Available or not, he was still my boss.
And even though fantasizing about him wasn’t necessarily the best use of my time, either, it was a hell of a lot better than moping about what was going on upstairs.
I glanced at the clock. It was close enough to lunchtime that I could probably go next door and whine to Luca without anyone caring.
Just as I was standing up, though, Brady walked through the front door. And as if he’d been summoned by my thoughts and had read my mind, he was carrying two cups and a bag from next door.
I could immediately feel all of my crankiness from just a few minutes before start to fade away. Even if I’d wanted to hold onto some of that, to still be annoyed with Brady for… whatever reason… I just couldn’t. It was impossible, because I knew deep down that he wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, he was a much, much better guy than any I had ever dated.
“Oh hey,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant as he approached with a grin. “I was just about to head over there. I didn’t even see you come down.”
“I figured. I was starving, and I thought you might be hungry too. I grabbed us some sandwiches and some little pastry things that, um, your friend said you might like.”
I smiled. No matter how many times I tried to turn down the sinfully delicious treats, Luca always managed to force at least one on me every couple of days.
Not that it was that big of a sacrifice.
“He knows me a little too well, I’m afraid. And maybe you do, too,” I added.
Was there a hint of embarrassment on Brady’s face? I wanted to think so, but it was hard to be sure.
“I thought maybe we could eat over at the worktable. Or, um, that I’d join you there? If you don’t mind, I mean.”
I tried to suppress a laugh as he stumbled over his words. Yeah, there was definitely a little extra redness in his cheeks.
Good thing he doesn’t realize how cute that is.
There was something else I had noticed in Brady’s expression, though. Something that had been temporarily hidden behind the smile and the flush of heat but had become clearer as he let his guard down and started pulling food out of the bag.
Watching him, it was easy to see that he was tired.
I had spent all morning thinking about how moving Henry’s stuff was making me feel, but I hadn’t really considered the impact it might have on Brady.
“Has it been busy down here this morning?” my boss asked as he divided up the little sandwiches and pastries between us. “I’ve been so caught up in deciding what stays and what needs to get thrown out or put in storage that I haven’t even had time to check.”
“It’s been pretty slow, actually. It’s felt busy, with those movers coming and going.” I paused for a moment, wondering if I should ask the question that was on the tip of my tongue. It wasn’t too personal, and I was legitimately curious. “So, do you think you’ll be staying upstairs instead of at the hotel, now that things are… different?”
Brady picked at the crust of his bread for a few moments before answering. “I’m not sure. I should. I can’t really justify spending more money on a hotel room—especially not for another month—when there’s a perfectly good apartment right here. That would just be dumb.” He shrugged. “But it still feels like his space, you know? Like no matter what I do, I’d still be spending the night in his apartment.”
I studied his face as he spoke. Spending time among Henry’s things—in Henry’s space—clearly wasn’t an idea that Brady was comfortable with. And that was… sort of understandable? But the place was his now, like he’d said. He’d have to come to terms with that at some point.
“Yeah, I get that,” I said, trying to decide whether or not to keep the rest of my opinions to myself. But I felt like I understood Brady a little better after working with him so closely for a few weeks, and the things that were on my mind sort of needed to be said. “I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but I think it might actually help the way you feel about the place—the shop, the apartment, all of it—once you stay upstairs for a couple of nights. I mean…”
I swallowed hard, second-guessing myself a little under Brady’s intense stare.