“We’re still going to be here together when you get home,” she said, feeling a little calmer. Reaching out, she took both his hands in hers and gave them a gentle squeeze. “All you have to do is text me when you’re leaving. Please.”
Before she could even blink, he tugged her forward and wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I guess I got caught up in the idea of coming home and you being here to greet me. I didn’t mean to push, I…”
She silenced him with a kiss.
Did he have any idea how much the things he said meant to her? A declaration like that was…hell, it was the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her–which is what she told him when they broke apart.
Her hand gently raked through his hair as she looked up at him with all the love she felt. “I’m still going to see about an early dinner with the girls, but I promise to come here right after and use the code to get in. And if you’re not home yet, I promise to change into something sexy to greet you at the door. Deal?”
“Sweetheart, I really love the way you negotiate,” he growled before kissing her again. This time when they broke apart, breathless, he must have realized the time and reluctantly released her. “I really need to go, but I’ll see you back here tonight.”
They each quickly moved around gathering their things because Leanna really needed to get going too. They walked out to their cars together where he kissed her goodbye again before she pulled away.
When she walked into the office thirty minutes later with coffees for everyone, she wished they didn’t have to work at all today because she seriously needed some girl time to help her figure out how she could tell Brody she was in love with him without freaking him out. And after the conversation they’d just had this morning and the admission he made, Leanna knew she had to tell him how she felt.
Now.
Okay, maybe not right now, but sooner rather than later.
“No bagels this morning?” Josie asked when Lea put her coffee down.
“You know that started out as just a Monday morning thing, right?”
“Yeah, but…then you did it a little more often and now we’re spoiled.”
Truth.
“Where’s Skylar? Is she feeling okay?”
“Actually, she called a little while ago to let us know she was going to the doctor this morning.”
“Oh no! Is something wrong?”
“Everything’s fine. They’re going for an ultrasound and she didn’t want anyone to know, but…you know she can’t keep a secret.”
“I don’t know about that, but I guess she figured we’d notice when she wasn’t here,” Lea reasoned as she sat down at her desk. “Is she taking the whole day or just coming in late?”
“She’ll definitely be in–if for no other reason than to show off those grainy pictures the doctor gives you and no one can really tell what they’re looking at.”
So it was going to be just the two of them for a little while, she thought. But Josie wasn’t exactly relationship-minded and wouldn’t be quite so sympathetic without Skye there to guide her.
I guess I’m waiting until later to talk…
“What’s going on with you?” Josie asked, sitting down on the corner of Lea’s desk.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ve sighed like…three times in the last minute. What’s up?”
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. Too quickly. Reaching for her planner, she read her notes. “Do we have anyone coming in this morning?”
Josie pulled the planner from her hand and tossed it aside. “You know we don’t have anyone coming in. It’s a Wednesday and it’s always our quietest day. So I’ll ask again–what’s going on? Is it about Brody? Did you guys have a fight?”
Ugh…here we go.
“We didn’t have a fight. If anything, things are good. Really good.” Then she told her about the conversation the two of them had this morning.
“That’s all great stuff, Lea. It sounds like he’s not the alpha jerk we all thought he was in the beginning.”
“I know and that makes me so happy.”
“But…?”
“But…I’m totally crazy about him. Like…in love with him.”
“Okay, and…?”
“And? Aren’t you going to tell me it’s too soon or how I can’t possibly be in love with him? Or…or…how maybe I don’t know how I feel and should keep it to myself? Or that I should wait for him to say it first and how I’ll probably be waiting forever because a guy like Brody King will probably never say ‘I love you’ to anyone or want a serious, long-term relationship? How I’m wasting my time and energy and maybe it’s just the incredible sex making me feel like I’m in love when really it’s just the endorphins from all the orgasms? Not that I would know that because this is the first time in my life that I’ve had so many orgasms and now I don’t know what’s real and what’s not!” Breathless, she paused and noticed the serene smile on Josie’s face. “Well? Say something!”
“I wanted to wait out that little train to crazy town and see where it ended up.” She took a leisurely sip of her coffee. “And I have to admit, it went a lot further than I thought it would. You were really on a roll there.”
Groaning, Leanna slumped down in her chair. “I know. I’m a mess.”
“No, you’re not a mess. You’re in love and it’s the first time and it’s completely overwhelming.” She paused. “Have you told him how you feel?”
She shook her head. “We don’t talk about things like that. And it’s not like it’s a rule; it’s just never come up.”
“O-kay…but what do you think would happen if it did?”
“I have no idea, Josie. That’s why I’m freaking out! What if I blurt it out and he freaks out and asks me to leave? Or breaks up with me? Or…”
“Well, technically, if he asked you to leave because you said you loved him, he’s breaking up with you.”
“Do not throw logic at me right now! Can’t you see I’m having a breakdown?” She groaned again. “When is Skylar getting here?”
“Hey! I take offense to that! Skye’s not the only one who can give relationship advice, you know. I may not know exactly what to say right away, but if you give me a minute or two, I will!”
“Fine. Think about it,” Lea muttered. “I’ll just be sitting here ready to curl up in the fetal position.”
Jumping to her feet, Josie spun and pointed her finger at her. “See? This is why I don’t do relationships! Because of stuff like this!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Yeah, you all go on and on about how much you want to be in a relationship and how much you want to meet a great guy. But you know what happens? This! This kind of mess! And before you try to tell me I’m wrong, I’m not. We watched it happen with Skye and my brother; she’d been in love with him for so long and then they finally got together and it wasn’t perfect or even remotely close to it! He broke her heart, Lea!”