mind?"
"My
place upstairs?"
Jace’s eyes
softened and his smile waned. "I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Not
tonight. I’m sorry." Then, as if he was trying to keep me from running
off, he said, "We could catch a late dinner if you want? Most of the restaurants
should still be open." He glanced down at his watch. "It’s only past
eight, plenty of time to grab a bite and maybe a movie?"
Is it really only eight o’ clock? Hell, I
could’ve sworn I’d been down in the bar longer than two hours. I waited for you, Mr. Jace Evans, and that’s all you have to offer? I was obviously losing my mind. He
wasn’t Orion. Relationships didn’t work like that. Give it time. Patience was never one of my strong points, which probably
explained why Master Orion had me practice it every chance he got.
"Actually,"
I said, rolling my shoulders back. "I think I might call it a night."
Now it was
his turn to look hurt. We’d both made an offer, but instead of meeting halfway,
we went two different directions entirely. I could’ve had dinner and even a
movie, but Jace already said how he felt. Not tonight. It didn’t mean not any
night in the future, but even so, the formalities and the effort it would take
to use small talk during dinner wasn’t worth it just to go to bed alone.
"Didn’t
sleep well," I explained when he didn’t say anything. "Maybe
some other time?"
He nodded. I
could see it was bothering him, but he said nothing. "Another
time."
I turned away
before I could see him go, and when Simon glanced up at me, his face was a mix
of excitement, followed by worry and concern.
I shook my
head at him and he nodded, knowing better than to press the subject.
Drawing in a
deep breath, I took my time climbing the stairs to my room. Simon had already
mentioned how he’d be working until early in the morning. And while David was
home, I didn’t feel right bothering him about the fan in my bathroom. It could
wait. More than anything, all I wanted to do was fall into bed and get to sleep
as fast as humanly possible. At least
Orion will be on time. It was my foothold, something to look forward to
even on my crapier days.
A part of me
expected Jace to come up after me, but he didn’t. Who needs him anyway? Fishing for my
keys, I shoved them into the deadbolt and stumbled into my apartment. I could
handle myself for one night.
Chapter Seven
Simon met me
out in the hall the following Monday. His hair was ruffled in places, possibly
from a restless three hours worth of sleep. He held something out to me, then said, "That guy gave this to me after you left the
other night. I meant to give it to you, but David and I were out of town most
of yesterday."
I accepted
the folded note and shoved it in my pocket.
"Aren’t
you going to read it?"
"It’s
killing you, isn’t it?" I forced a smile, but I didn’t open the letter.
"I’m
just concerned, is all. Let me know if you need a bum buddy, okay?"
I snorted. "I
think you already have one." I gestured to his apartment where David was no
doubt still asleep.
"Wise
woman. But really, if you need anything, remember we’re here. We’ve had our fair share
of nasty breakups with hotties like that one you had
last night. Been there, done that and all that crap."
This time my
smile was sincere. "Thank you, Simon. I think I’ll be okay, but even so,
I’m thankful for the offer." I double-checked my door to make sure it was
locked before heading for the stairs.
"You
have work today?"
"All
day," I called back to him, stopping at the top of the steps leading down
into the back of the bar. "I really hate Mondays."
"You
and me both, chica . Have a good one."
Simon
disappeared into his apartment, and I let him sleep. No doubt he had another
night shift, either with the bar, David, or both. Poor guy. I sometimes wondered how he ever got any sleep. Or why all the
good guys were either taken or gay. Because if Simon were straight… I shook my
head. Don’t
"My
place upstairs?"
Jace’s eyes
softened and his smile waned. "I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Not
tonight. I’m sorry." Then, as if he was trying to keep me from running
off, he said, "We could catch a late dinner if you want? Most of the restaurants
should still be open." He glanced down at his watch. "It’s only past
eight, plenty of time to grab a bite and maybe a movie?"
Is it really only eight o’ clock? Hell, I
could’ve sworn I’d been down in the bar longer than two hours. I waited for you, Mr. Jace Evans, and that’s all you have to offer? I was obviously losing my mind. He
wasn’t Orion. Relationships didn’t work like that. Give it time. Patience was never one of my strong points, which probably
explained why Master Orion had me practice it every chance he got.
"Actually,"
I said, rolling my shoulders back. "I think I might call it a night."
Now it was
his turn to look hurt. We’d both made an offer, but instead of meeting halfway,
we went two different directions entirely. I could’ve had dinner and even a
movie, but Jace already said how he felt. Not tonight. It didn’t mean not any
night in the future, but even so, the formalities and the effort it would take
to use small talk during dinner wasn’t worth it just to go to bed alone.
"Didn’t
sleep well," I explained when he didn’t say anything. "Maybe
some other time?"
He nodded. I
could see it was bothering him, but he said nothing. "Another
time."
I turned away
before I could see him go, and when Simon glanced up at me, his face was a mix
of excitement, followed by worry and concern.
I shook my
head at him and he nodded, knowing better than to press the subject.
Drawing in a
deep breath, I took my time climbing the stairs to my room. Simon had already
mentioned how he’d be working until early in the morning. And while David was
home, I didn’t feel right bothering him about the fan in my bathroom. It could
wait. More than anything, all I wanted to do was fall into bed and get to sleep
as fast as humanly possible. At least
Orion will be on time. It was my foothold, something to look forward to
even on my crapier days.
A part of me
expected Jace to come up after me, but he didn’t. Who needs him anyway? Fishing for my
keys, I shoved them into the deadbolt and stumbled into my apartment. I could
handle myself for one night.
Chapter Seven
Simon met me
out in the hall the following Monday. His hair was ruffled in places, possibly
from a restless three hours worth of sleep. He held something out to me, then said, "That guy gave this to me after you left the
other night. I meant to give it to you, but David and I were out of town most
of yesterday."
I accepted
the folded note and shoved it in my pocket.
"Aren’t
you going to read it?"
"It’s
killing you, isn’t it?" I forced a smile, but I didn’t open the letter.
"I’m
just concerned, is all. Let me know if you need a bum buddy, okay?"
I snorted. "I
think you already have one." I gestured to his apartment where David was no
doubt still asleep.
"Wise
woman. But really, if you need anything, remember we’re here. We’ve had our fair share
of nasty breakups with hotties like that one you had
last night. Been there, done that and all that crap."
This time my
smile was sincere. "Thank you, Simon. I think I’ll be okay, but even so,
I’m thankful for the offer." I double-checked my door to make sure it was
locked before heading for the stairs.
"You
have work today?"
"All
day," I called back to him, stopping at the top of the steps leading down
into the back of the bar. "I really hate Mondays."
"You
and me both, chica . Have a good one."
Simon
disappeared into his apartment, and I let him sleep. No doubt he had another
night shift, either with the bar, David, or both. Poor guy. I sometimes wondered how he ever got any sleep. Or why all the
good guys were either taken or gay. Because if Simon were straight… I shook my
head. Don’t
Similar Books
