I shove my board in the back of my truck as my mind comes back to Dee. When I think of her and remember her voice, there’s comfort there. A yearning I can’t explain.
I intended to just walk her home, shake her hand, and tell her to have a nice life. Instead, I asked her out, knowing damn well she’s the exact opposite of the type of woman I normally hook up with.
Now all I can think about is making our date special as the wheels in my head start turning.
Chapter Eleven
Delilah
“Oh, Lucy, I’m home,” Sydney calls out, impersonating Desi Arnaz’s voice from I Love Lucy. The kitchen screen door swings open and Serena perks her head up from her large doggie bed and runs to her.
“In here!” I yell, looking around the living room floor littered with sketches spread all over and balls of crumpled paper tossed haphazardly around me.
“What’s all this?” Sydney drops her suitcase on the floor then plops on the couch next to me. “Did you work all weekend?”
“Mrs. Cole is back from New York. I’m meeting with her tomorrow and I need to show her my drafts.” I rise and pace our small living room to stretch out my legs, cautious so I don’t step on the mock-ups. “I’m nervous to meet her.”
“You mean you haven’t met her yet?” There’s shock in her voice. “How did you land a job without speaking with the head of the company?”
“Beats me. According to Mr. Grisham, I impressed her enough, and she didn’t need to interview me.” I shrug then lean against the wall. “Maybe she saw my stuff that I did back at home. Who knows?”
“Well, that’s neither here nor there. You got the job and that’s all that counts.”
“I guess you’re right.” I push off the wall and sit next to my friend. “Anyway, how was your conference?”
“It was okay.” Sydney rolls her eyes, then leans her head back on the couch. “Had to learn about new educational policies and how to be more sensitive to our students’ needs and in the workplace. And what did you do other than work all weekend?”
“Let’s see,” I say, tapping my finger on my chin, “I unpacked some of my stuff, talked to Mama, had lunch at the café, and . . .” The corner of my lip turns up. “Got asked out on a date.”
Sydney whips her head up, eyes wide. “Dee! Are you serious? When? How? Who?”
“Calm down. It’s nothing fancy. Just a bite to eat at the diner, that’s all.”
“So, you and Landon, huh?”
“Landon?” I’m shocked she brought his name up. “What makes you think it’s Landon?”
“You said the diner.”
I shake my head. “It’s not Landon.”
She angles her head, waiting for an answer. “Don’t keep me waiting. Spill it, sister.”
“Brody.” I press my lips together, trying to hide the giddiness behind my smile.
“Who’s Brody?”
“The guy from the club,” I remind her. “The bodyguard.”
She narrows her eyes with confusion. “You didn’t tell me he asked you out while he walked you to the car.”
“He didn’t. He was at Tawney’s on Friday,” I tell her. “And he walked me home.”
“Walked you home? What happened to your car?”
“The battery died, and I ended up walking to work.”
“Whoa. Am I missing something? I spoke to you yesterday and there was not one mention about any of this.” Her hand is up, ticking each finger as she goes down a list. “Your battery dies. You walk to work. Brody sees you. Walks you home. And now a date?”
“And he surprised me by changing the battery in my car too.” I stifle a laugh but can’t keep the grin from spreading across my face.
“I’m quite impressed.”
“It’s no big deal. I mean, yes, it’s a date with a really hot guy. But it’s very casual.”
“There’s nothing casual about it, Dee. It’s fate.”
“Not you too,” I say, remembering Brody’s words.
“You didn’t want to go to the club, but I dragged you with me anyway,” she says, raising a brow as she smiles. “And let’s face it, if you didn’t come with me, you would have never met Brody. And he wouldn’t have walked you home.”
I stand and begin stacking my story boards in a pile then gather the balls of paper strewn all over the floor. My imagination goes elsewhere and I remember the walk home with Brody.
The soft call of my name, how safe he made me feel and when he touched my skin, it was hard not to react. This time in a good way, no flinching, no recoiling. Just a simple touch sent an intense warmth to my heart.
“I’m starving. And from the looks of it, you probably didn’t make any dinner,” Sydney continues as she stands and grabs her suitcase.
“No, sorry, Syd. I got caught up and lost track of time.”
“Tell you what, let’s order from that Thai restaurant and have it delivered. Then you can tell me all about Brody and his battery.”
“Syd!” I throw the couch pillow at her. “I said he changed my battery, you twit.”
“So, Levi’s having a barbeque at his house this Saturday,” Sydney says, pointing her fork.
“A barbeque?” I pick up my empty plate and place it in the sink. “I don’t know, Syd.”
“He has a beautiful home in Malibu. Please come. He’s been asking about you.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“That you are well. Nothing else.” She takes a sip of her wine. “He misses the old times.”
“So, what’s the deal with you two?” I turn on the faucet and start washing the dishes.
“We talked. And we’re taking things slow. I know I jumped to conclusions when I read what they plastered in the gossip section about him and his co-star, Reeza. But he assured me nothing happened. It was a publicity stunt to get the ratings up.”
“And you believe him?”
“I do,” she counters as she scrapes the food off her plate into the garbage then hands me the plate to wash. “The night at the club, we left his party. Took a drive and talked. Then he cried. Begged even for me to come back to him saying how miserable he’s been. Said he’s been screwing up his lines almost to a point that he was going to get replaced by a look-alike.”
“Oh, Syd. He still loved you this whole time,” I say. “Well, I’m happy things are working out for you.”
“Why don’t you bring Brody with you?” Sydney suggests as she waggles her brows, effectively changing the subject.
“Not a chance,” I snap as I place the dish on the rack to dry. “Why would I invite him? I hardly know anything about him.”
“Well, that’ll change when you meet him on Friday.”
“It’s only at Tawney’s. It’s no big deal.”
“From what you have told me, he seems like a big deal.”
“Whatever.” There’s hesitation in my voice as I dry my hands on the dishrag.