“Why? Have you taken a woman out all the time?” he asked, smiling.
I rolled my eyes.
He set his card on the tab.
“Well…thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
We sat in silence, and he stared at me.
I looked away, the eye contact a little much. “Did you get anything for Deacon’s birthday?”
“How did you know his birthday was coming up?”
“It’s part of my job.” I did something special for all my clients when they were in residence, whether it was a cake from a special bakery or a vase of flowers, I left them some kind of surprise when they came home from work.
“I was just going to buy him a beer or something. He’s not big on celebrating his birthday.”
“I wonder why.”
He shrugged. “Says it’s stupid.”
Maybe he would feel differently about it this year. It was hard for me to keep the secret from Tucker. I knew he wouldn’t blab to his brother about it, but he might accidentally drop a hint that would tip him off.
“So, Deacon told me some guy yelled at you in your office. Who the fuck is this guy?”
I couldn’t believe Deacon had told him. “It was just a misunderstanding…”
“What kind of misunderstanding makes a woman cry?”
I was going to kill Jake. I couldn’t believe he’d confronted me at work like that. He hadn’t contacted me since, so I hoped he’d gotten the hint. “He was just having a bad day. It happens. Our emotions get the best of us.”
“Whatever. If you want to kick his ass, I can. I don’t live in the building.”
I gave him a slight smile. “Thanks, but it’s really fine.”
The waiter took the tab and processed the card before he brought it back.
We left the restaurant and walked together to my building, which was just a few blocks away.
“You want to stop for ice cream?” He walked beside me then grabbed my hand, our fingers interlocked.
“I’m pretty stuffed.”
“Yeah, me too.”
We walked into my building, took the elevator, then said goodbye outside my door.
He stared at me with his arms by his sides, giving me a focused look similar to Deacon’s. Tucker was a handsome man, probably the most handsome man I’d ever dated, and while he had all the qualities I liked in a man, I hadn’t really felt that passionate heat that I’d felt when I met my husband. It just wasn’t there. “Can I come inside?”
I’d invited him inside before, and we’d watched a movie on the couch, making out for most of it. But the few times he tried to escalate it, I turned him down.
He’d been more than patient, and I’d put out for other guys much sooner than this. We’d been seeing each other for three weeks. There was really no reason to wait at this point. But I still wasn’t ready. “I’ve got an early day tomorrow.”
He didn’t hide his disappointment. A guy like him got laid with the snap of his fingers. He probably thought I was some kind of prude. “Alright. Goodnight.” He leaned in and kissed me goodnight, cupping my face as he did it. He was a good kisser, great with his lips. The affection was definitely there…just not the other stuff. He pulled away.
“I know you must think I’m a prude—”
“I’ve been with a lot of women. I’ve had a lot of sex. But I’m not looking for that with you. I actually like you, so whenever you’re ready…I’m ready.” He gave me a nod before he walked down the hallway and entered the elevator.
I stepped inside my apartment and leaned against the wall, sighing loudly now that I was alone.
My flight was leaving pretty early, so I went to the office before sunrise and took care of a few last-minute things before I took off. I could do my emails on the flight, but the physical stuff, like the packages and the flower arrangements needed to be handled in person.
Hours later, it was time to go, so I grabbed my purse and headed to the lobby. I wasn’t bringing a carry-on except my purse and laptop, along with some snacks for Derek, so I didn’t need luggage.
Just as I passed the elevator, Deacon stepped out.
He was in jeans and a shirt, probably in the lab for the day. His eyes immediately went to mine, his gaze softening like he was happy to see me. His reactions weren’t stark and obvious, but they were noticeable if you knew him well enough. “You’re still here.”
“I’m about to head to the airport now, actually.”
“Which airport?”
“JFK.”
We both stepped outside, where his car was waiting.
I would wave down a cab once he was gone, so I stayed on the sidewalk and waited for him to leave.
The driver walked around the car to open the back door for him. “Morning, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Change of plans.” Deacon gripped the strap of his bag over his shoulder. “You’re going to take Cleo to JFK.”