“Um…no…”
“Then why don’t you pack a little more than an overnight bag and meet me at my place later?” The words were out before he could stop them and yet he didn’t regret them.
“You want me to…”
“Spend the week at my house,” he finished for her. “I know we both have to work, but there’s no reason we can’t spend the nights together.”
It would mean not working late even once this week but he didn’t care. He wanted more dinners where he wasn’t eating alone. He wanted to sleep in his giant bed with Leanna beside him and start his mornings making love to her.
And he’d gladly rearrange his training schedule for all of it.
Hell, he’d skip the damn triathlon for all of it.
The thought should have scared him but it didn’t.
Then another thought hit him.
She hadn’t responded.
“If you’d rather not…”
“No, that’s not it at all! I was just thinking about…you know…how much you enjoy your alone time. Your privacy. Plus, the triathlon isn’t that far off and I don’t want to interrupt your training.”
“Leanna?”
“Hmm?”
“I would really like it if you would stay with me. This weekend was…well…it was very eye-opening and it went far too fast.”
“Eye-opening how?” she asked, and she wasn’t being coy; she was simply being herself.
“Turns out alone time and privacy are a little overrated. I enjoy the time we spend together. A lot. But if I’m pushing too hard or you’re not fully comfortable then we can keep doing what we’ve been doing. As long as I get to see you, I’m fine.”
He thought he heard a quiet sniffle and was about to ask if she was okay when she spoke.
“Brody King, how is it possible that you’re this incredibly sweet?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly. He knew there were tears in her eyes and hated that he wasn’t there to wipe them away.
“Um…”
“The day we met, I had you pegged as a cold and heartless man. But almost every day for the last six weeks you have proven me wrong.” She laughed softly. “Unlike you, I don’t mind admitting when I’m wrong,” she teased. “So…thank you for proving me wrong.”
And dammit, now he felt like he might cry!
“I’m always happy to help, love,” he teased. “So where did we land on you staying the week with me?”
“Hmm…I can go home to my tiny apartment, sleep in my tiny bed, and shower in my tiny shower, or I can go to you and be happy. Tough choice.”
Was it wrong that his heart squeezed hard at the fact that she chose him and not just his home?
“How about I sweeten the deal?”
“I’m listening.”
“Tomorrow night, we can order tacos.”
Her laughter filled his ears and his heart. “Be still my heart! I’ll be there! What time will you be home?”
“I plan on being there by six-thirty, but I can text you when I’m leaving.”
“That sounds perfect. I’ll talk to you later.”
When he hung up, he was smiling. And it felt good.
Someone knocked on the door and he was still smiling when he called out for them to come in.
“Hey, Margaret,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
She paused in her tracks. “Um…what did you just say?”
“What can I do for you?” he repeated slowly.
“Yeah. That. Are you feeling okay?”
Not this again…
“Yes, why?”
“It’s just that you normally greet me with ‘What do you need?’ and this was much more…pleasant. Cordial. Friendly. So, you can see why I’m confused.” Then she grinned at him and walked over to his desk and placed several folders down for him. “These are the inquiries and reports you asked for regarding the Paris complex. Your father set up a conference call with their people for Wednesday morning at nine. I added it to your calendar.”
“Thanks, Margaret.”
“You’re welcome.” She turned to walk away but Brody called her back. “Yes?”
“How are the muffins?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “They’re delicious. Especially the blueberry.”
Dammit. He knew they would be.
“But if Leanna takes requests, tell her I’m partial to chocolate chip muffins and cinnamon.” Then she winked and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Both of those sounded good and he made a note to definitely ask Leanna if she wouldn’t mind making them.
And maybe, just maybe…he’d try one.
Chapter 12
Sometimes you just need to eat a cupcake and get over it.
“I’m going to be a little late tonight, so here’s the security code to get in.”
Leanna looked down at the paper Brody was handing her and wasn’t sure what to say. It was one thing to stay over like a guest when he was here; it was another to be here in his massive home by herself.
“That won’t be necessary. Just text me when you’re on your way and I’ll head over then. I’ll go and grab dinner with the girls or something. No big deal.” She said it lightly and was smiling because she didn’t want him to know she was freaking out a little inside. “Really.”
He crossed those strong arms, causing his pristine suit to wrinkle slightly as he looked at her disapprovingly and continued to stare at her like that until she began to squirm.
“Brody,” she began with a weary sigh. “There’s no reason for me to be here when you’re not home. You said you wanted me here this week to spend time with me. Well…if you’re not here, we’re not spending time together.”
“I have a call with…”
Holding up a hand to stop him, she went on. “I’m not asking you not to work and I’m certainly not mad that you have to work,” she clarified for him. “This is about me and the fact that I’m not comfortable being here without you, okay?”
That clearly wasn’t what he was expecting because he dropped his arms and his expression softened slightly. “Why not?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’m just not. This isn’t my home and everything here costs like a thousand times more than anything I own so most of the time I’m walking around on eggshells!”
“Leanna, that’s crazy. It’s just…”
“It’s not crazy!” she shouted, surprising them both. “This is how I feel and you don’t get to tell me that it’s wrong. Most of the time I can go with the flow and have fun wherever I’m at, and maybe you haven’t noticed it, but I am a people person. I don’t enjoy being alone! Sure, I can do it when I have to, I mean…I do live by myself, but that doesn’t mean it’s something I’d choose to do when I don’t have to!”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and she knew he was trying to come up with something to say. She had no doubt that no one had ever spoken to him quite so bluntly or dared to argue with him when he said what he wanted.