Mel’. I want some alone time.”
It was the way he said it. No wait. It was the look in his eyes when he said it. Whatever it was, I believed it and I wanted it.
He picked up his duffel bag and handed Chase his suitcase.
“You ready to go big guy?”
Anton hit defcon four. I stood up and was turning to follow Austin and Chase out the door. Anton grabbed my upper arm and turned me around.
“You’re taking them BOTH home with you?”
I shrugged and winked at Amy who blushed. Then I turned back to Anton and patted his cheek lightly.
“What can I say? They’re both yummy and I can’t decide. Have a nice evening you two. Bye now.”
I sauntered out giving it a bit more wiggle than normal because I could feel his eyes on me. I had no idea what kind of “catching up” they’d be doing back at her place, but I was willing to bet his heart wouldn’t be in it. Not tonight anyway.
Chapter Four
I walked them through the downstairs, explaining what I used each room for. They were impressed with the organization and my ability to run my business from my home. I showed them Ayla’s office, then mine, and showed them an empty room that had a desk and computer in it, as well as a locking file cabinet with the key dangling from the lock.
“If either of you needs an office while you’re here, feel free to use this one. The computer is new and has nothing on it other than Office and the operating system. There’s packages of new thumb drives in the desk drawer, use whatever you need. There’s a printer and fax machine behind the desk and the door locks for privacy. Any questions so far?”
Austin walked around the desk to check out the computer and Chase turned to me.
“Why do you have a spare office that’s obviously not being used?”
I was smiling and watching Austin boot up the computer like a kid at Christmas.
“It’s my version of planning for expansion. I’d rather set certain rooms aside in case we need them, than have to scramble for space later. As you can tell so far, the place is big, but I don’t have expensive art or chandeliers everywhere. This is a home and a business. I want it to be comfortable for everyone that occupies the space.”
“And that’s it?”
“That’s it. There’s another office just like this one upstairs. If you need something in the middle of the night or just want to surf the net when you can’t sleep, you don’t have to come downstairs if you don’t want to. Every computer here has high speed internet and a secure server that’s located here in the building. I had an expensive team of experts check everything out before I bought the place. If my designs are leaked, it would compromise my company. It’s all locked down tighter than the White House.”
I turned to Chase because I could feel his eyes on me and I’m all about eye contact in conversations.
“Chase, you have a key now. I want you to know that you’re welcome here anytime you want or need to visit. You’re one of Ayla’s oldest and closest friends and that makes you alright in my book. Please feel free to come and go as you please. I don’t know what’s going on with her and Austin, and it’s none of my business unless they want me to know, but it doesn’t change the invitation. Alright?”
He did something I never expected. He smiled, relaxed and hugged me.
“Thanks Mel’. I appreciate the offer and the open door. I’ll probably be taking you up on it, at least until this thing is settled one way or another. Their apartment is okay for two people, but we were noticing the pinch with three and I hate staying in hotels. You’ve saved all of us a world of trouble.”
He released me and I smiled up at him.
“It’s my superpower. That, and causing worlds of trouble.”
He laughed and Austin looked up from what I had a feeling would be his new favorite place in the apartment.
“Can I play
It was the way he said it. No wait. It was the look in his eyes when he said it. Whatever it was, I believed it and I wanted it.
He picked up his duffel bag and handed Chase his suitcase.
“You ready to go big guy?”
Anton hit defcon four. I stood up and was turning to follow Austin and Chase out the door. Anton grabbed my upper arm and turned me around.
“You’re taking them BOTH home with you?”
I shrugged and winked at Amy who blushed. Then I turned back to Anton and patted his cheek lightly.
“What can I say? They’re both yummy and I can’t decide. Have a nice evening you two. Bye now.”
I sauntered out giving it a bit more wiggle than normal because I could feel his eyes on me. I had no idea what kind of “catching up” they’d be doing back at her place, but I was willing to bet his heart wouldn’t be in it. Not tonight anyway.
Chapter Four
I walked them through the downstairs, explaining what I used each room for. They were impressed with the organization and my ability to run my business from my home. I showed them Ayla’s office, then mine, and showed them an empty room that had a desk and computer in it, as well as a locking file cabinet with the key dangling from the lock.
“If either of you needs an office while you’re here, feel free to use this one. The computer is new and has nothing on it other than Office and the operating system. There’s packages of new thumb drives in the desk drawer, use whatever you need. There’s a printer and fax machine behind the desk and the door locks for privacy. Any questions so far?”
Austin walked around the desk to check out the computer and Chase turned to me.
“Why do you have a spare office that’s obviously not being used?”
I was smiling and watching Austin boot up the computer like a kid at Christmas.
“It’s my version of planning for expansion. I’d rather set certain rooms aside in case we need them, than have to scramble for space later. As you can tell so far, the place is big, but I don’t have expensive art or chandeliers everywhere. This is a home and a business. I want it to be comfortable for everyone that occupies the space.”
“And that’s it?”
“That’s it. There’s another office just like this one upstairs. If you need something in the middle of the night or just want to surf the net when you can’t sleep, you don’t have to come downstairs if you don’t want to. Every computer here has high speed internet and a secure server that’s located here in the building. I had an expensive team of experts check everything out before I bought the place. If my designs are leaked, it would compromise my company. It’s all locked down tighter than the White House.”
I turned to Chase because I could feel his eyes on me and I’m all about eye contact in conversations.
“Chase, you have a key now. I want you to know that you’re welcome here anytime you want or need to visit. You’re one of Ayla’s oldest and closest friends and that makes you alright in my book. Please feel free to come and go as you please. I don’t know what’s going on with her and Austin, and it’s none of my business unless they want me to know, but it doesn’t change the invitation. Alright?”
He did something I never expected. He smiled, relaxed and hugged me.
“Thanks Mel’. I appreciate the offer and the open door. I’ll probably be taking you up on it, at least until this thing is settled one way or another. Their apartment is okay for two people, but we were noticing the pinch with three and I hate staying in hotels. You’ve saved all of us a world of trouble.”
He released me and I smiled up at him.
“It’s my superpower. That, and causing worlds of trouble.”
He laughed and Austin looked up from what I had a feeling would be his new favorite place in the apartment.
“Can I play
Similar Books
