CHAPTER58
LARISA
Afew days went by after our date, and Tanner had been sleeping at my apartment every night. It wasn’t too far from his place for him to come and go, and it was closer than the house was to everything we needed access to in the city. I’d asked if he wanted me to come stay at his apartment sometimes, but he said that it was easier for him to stay over here since I worked mostly from home and wouldn’t have to cart my stuff around this way.
It had been surprisingly considerate of him, since it meant he had to live mostly out of an overnight bag, but he didn’t seem to mind. Every morning, he still ordered us fancy coffee but I’d started cooking our breakfast. I’d also pointed out that I had a perfectly good coffeemaker, but I guessed some habits were harder for him to break than others.
Besides, I’d never complain about good coffee. He didn’t need to spend the money on it, but I’d get him there eventually. He’d realize the coffee from my machine was just as good, and then things would probably start getting more settled with us.
Last night, I’d surprised him with a space of his own in my closet in the bedroom, a drawer, and an open cabinet in the bathroom. Seeing him so often had been amazing, and I wanted to keep doing it, but I also wanted to stop feeling like I was inconveniencing him by making him pack a bag every damn day.
In general, though, I couldn’t remember ever having been happier. For someone who had been so sure that he was going to make a ton of mistakes, he was turning out to be an absolute dreamboat of a boyfriend. He was still very alpha about it all, but I kind of liked him that way.
What was more was that my business had really been taking off. I’d been getting more inquiries about availability from well-to-do clients than ever before, and my schedule was becoming packed because of it.
Tanner grinned at me after swallowing a bite of the pancakes I’d made for breakfast this morning. “These are delicious. If I keep eating like this, I’m going to have to start working out more often. Fuck, I might even have to buy a gym. What do you think? It’s a potential business idea and it’d be good for my health.”
I laughed. “Your health is fine. You already spend a couple hours working out every day, so you’re good. If you want to buy a gym, though, go for it. I’m not sure how much you’re going to like it, but you could always give it a try.”
“I’ve been playing around with the idea of starting a baseball scholarship and opening a practice center. That might be more my speed than an actual gym.”
A slow smile spread across my face and warmth erupted in my chest. “That’s perfect for you.”
“I’m just trying to get my head wrapped around the logistics and how I can coordinate with other programs in the area, but I might just do it if I can figure it out. I’d still need the freedom to dabble in other stuff, and we still need to look into the housing project and if we can make it work, but this feels like a good fit.”
“It’s a great fit,” I agreed. “We’ll do the housing project, too. All we need is some time to sit down and hammer out details, but for right now, I need to get ready. I’m meeting with another new client. Can you believe it?”
“Yes,” he replied without hesitating for so much as a second. “You’re great at what you do, babe. It was only a matter of time before your name got out there.”
“Thanks.” I was still smiling as I finished my breakfast and gulped down the last of my coffee. Before I went to take a shower, I kissed him goodbye, as had become normal for us, and then promised to see him tonight before we went our separate ways.
Once I was finished getting dressed, Tanner was gone and I gathered my things, excited about the upscale apartment I was going to for my meeting. It was in a very nice part of the city and Mike Townsend, my client, had recently purchased it.
From the start, he’d been a little too flirty with me over the phone, but I was trying my best to keep everything strictly business. He’d sent me some pictures and the apartment would be a real work of art once I was done with it. I just had to keep my wits about me if he was as flirtatious in real life as he was on the telephone.
When I arrived at the recently remodeled building, a handsome guy about my age was waiting for me in the lobby. He was dressed in an expensive charcoal suit and he smoothed out his jacket as he got up, doing up the button before extending a hand toward me.
“Larisa, right?” he said, looking me over very obviously before bringing his forest green gaze back to mine. A lock of his dark hair fell across his forehead and he grinned. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.”
“Thank you,” I said politely. “Congratulations on the new apartment. This is quite a building.”
He laughed. “Thanks. Let me show you the place. You’re going to love it.”
I am? How does he know? “I’m sure I will. What do you have in mind for it?”
Putting his hand at the small of my back, he led me to the elevator. His gaze was stuck on mine while we walked and a huge grin was on his face. “It’s pretty modern, and I want to stay true to that. I’m all about clean, sleek lines and I hate clutter.”
“Will it be your permanent residence?” I asked as he pressed the button to call the elevator.
He nodded. “It sure will. Who knows? It might become your permanent residence someday, too.”
I blinked in surprise, and he laughed, stroking his thumb across my back as we climbed into the car. “I apologize if that was too forward. Beautiful women make me nervous and I end up saying exactly what’s on my mind.”
“It’d be useful if you could keep doing that where the design is concerned,” I said lamely, but I had no idea how to respond to his advances without losing him as a client. “The more you tell me, the greater our chances of success with the apartment.”
We rode up to the penthouse level in one go, without stopping on any of the other floors. He’d barely started speaking when we were sped up and the doors were opening again. “My top priority is that it’s comfortable but practical. Minimalist but warm. I don’t want to feel like I’m walking into a clinic when I get home after a long day at work, but I also don’t want to feel like I’m arriving at my grandma’s place, you know?”
“Okay. I can work with that.” I waited for him to unlock the front door, then preceded him inside when he motioned for me to do it.