“And the shop?” Brody asked. “Do you like it?”
“I must be insane. I bought a flower shop without ever setting foot inside.”
“We can rip up the paperwork.”
I shook my head. “It’s perfect. I want to put my own mark on it. Change the style a bit. But I want it.”
“Then it’s yours.” He opened the car door for me, something he’d done earlier today when we’d left the house.
“You wouldn’t open the door for me before the wedding, when I was in death heels, but now that I’m in tennis shoes, you do.”
“Forgive me.” He feigned a dramatic bow as I took my seat. “I hadn’t appreciated the precious cargo.”
My cheeks flushed as he shut the door and walked to the driver’s seat, getting behind the wheel. He’d been teasing too, but the comment still tasted sweet.
“You didn’t need to drive me. I could have come down myself.”
“In what car?” Brody asked, driving us through downtown Welcome.
“The Cadillac.” It was currently parked in Clara’s garage, collecting dust.
As much as she loved the idea of the handoffs, she’d stalled planning her trip to California. I hadn’t asked her why. I didn’t need to.
Returning to California would bring back a barrage of emotions, and she was psyching herself up for it.
“Tomorrow you’ll be on your own,” Brody said. “Today, I wanted to come along and make the introductions.”
“Thank you.” It had been nice to have him at my side, to not do this alone. And though we were still adjusting to sharing a roof, I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else at my side, not even Clara. Brody’s confidence was contagious, and it had given me that extra boost to dive in. “I think this is a record, Carmichael. We’ve managed to get along for nearly two days.”
“Give it time. I’m sure you’ll do something soon to piss me off.”
I fought a smile. “Count on it.”
Brody rolled down the road, taking every block deliberately, like he was giving me time to inspect each and every storefront.
The coffee shop three doors down from Welcome Floral had green metal tables on the sidewalk and a chalk sandwich board that boasted the daily latte special. An attorney’s office had silver letters stenciled on a large plate-glass window. Brian’s Pub had an orange neon sign that glowed even in broad daylight.
The black streetlamps stood tall, hoisting their clear glass globes. The brick storefronts alternated in shades of classic burnt red and limestone cream. They reminded me of the desert rocks along Route 66, faded and worn but unique.
“It’s real here,” I said. “Every street.”
“Refreshing, isn’t it?”
“In Heron Beach, the local neighborhoods were real. You could count on your neighbor for more than just a cup of sugar. But everyone catered to the tourists. You wore a smile at all times. You put on your best show. I never minded because I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing. It’s easy to smile when you like your job. But I always made sure to wash my hands before going inside the hotel and clean dirt from my cuticles. I’d tuck in my T-shirt and wipe clean my shoes. I won’t have to do that here.”
“No. What matters here is who you are.”
“Then why do you dress in a suit every day?” I shifted in my seat for a better view of his face. I’d always wanted to know why he dressed so impeccably, especially after seeing him in jeans on Saturday. The image of those long legs in denim was as fresh as the mental picture of him at the gym this morning.
They’d been nice jeans, more expensive than any pair I’d owned in my lifetime, but they’d fit Brody so perfectly. Loose, but not baggy. Fitted, but not tight. They’d showcased his strong thighs and narrow waist.
Unbuttoned, the man was irresistible. If he had leaned in the other night at the pool, I probably would have kissed him.
“I have a meeting with my grandmother,” he said.
“Oh, is she here? Because if she is, I’m going to hide at Clara’s.”
Brody chuckled. “No, she’s in Vegas. The meeting is virtual.”
“Oh. Do you have meetings with her every day?” It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Coreen required he be in a suit.
“Not daily, but often enough.”
“But you still wear a suit every day.”
“This is really bugging you, isn’t it?” The corner of his mouth turned up. “My suits?”
Yes, it was. Because when it came to Brody Carmichael, my curiosity was piqued. “Humor me.”
“It’s something I started doing years ago. Any day that I’m working, I wear a suit. And I work every day. People expect a certain image from their leader.”
“Not Clara. You don’t need to dress up for her.”
“Yes, I do. She deserves me at my best. All of my employees do. It was something my grandfather always did. He wore a suit every day. He showed up for his company every day.”
“And you’re showing up too.” I took in his handsome profile and the strong cut of his jaw. “You wore jeans on Saturday.”
“That was different.”
“Why?” Because we were hauling boxes?
“Because that was for you.”
One sentence. One answer.
And the world fell away from my feet.
Did he realize what he’d just confessed? Did he realize how special he’d just made me feel?
I was the exception to his rules.
One sentence, one answer, and we were back to that night. He was in a tux. I was in a green gown. And electricity sparked between us.
Brody’s hands tightened on the wheel as he picked up speed, racing down the highway toward his house.
Maybe he hadn’t meant to let it slip, but it was too late. It was out there, living and breathing and changing everything.
What did this mean? Did he want a relationship? Did I?
I’d been so absorbed in this pregnancy, I hadn’t let myself consider my feelings for Brody. I hadn’t realized until just this moment that there were even feelings there.
Feelings more than the obvious sexual attraction, because Brody was gorgeous, and I wasn’t blind. I liked the man behind the suit. I liked the man who showed up for his people every day. I liked the man who let down his guard just for me.
God, this was so messed up. Any other guy and we’d date. Any other guy and we’d have sex and fun and see if this was the lasting sort of fling.
The baby changed everything.
My mind spun as fast as the Jaguar’s wheels. When Brody slowed to open the gate and ease down the driveway, I still hadn’t figured out what to say, probably because I didn’t know him. I was walking on eggshells around Brody because he was practically a stranger.
And that was a problem we were going to fix.
“Would you make me a deal?” I asked.
“Depends on the deal.” He kept his eyes focused on the road. His spine was ramrod straight. He’d shown me a hint of vulnerability and now he was erecting those walls.
“Have dinner with me. Every night.”
“Why?”
“We should know each other. I’d like to know you, Brody.”
He glanced over, and in those green eyes, I could so easily lose myself. Brody gave me a single nod, then returned his gaze to the road.