Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling up in front of his building. While it doesn’t get very cold here in Bellport, there’s enough ofa chill to need a jacket, and when I see he’s not wearing one, I curse. The minute he slides onto the seat beside me, I’m slipping off my coat to cover him. The sweater I have on beneath is enough since I tend to run hot anyway.
It’s him I have to worry about.
That’s probably why I subconsciously grabbed a jacket this morning when I didn’t really need one. I always have to be prepared on the off chance I need to provide something for Edward.
“Where is your jacket? Why were you standing outside?”
“Geeesh, Dad. I was just trying to be on time like you asked. And I couldn’t find my jacket. I think I left it at your place.”
He doesn’t notice how I tense at the teasing use of Dad. It’s so close to Daddy, yet it’s not close enough.
And I know for a fact he didn’t leave without his jacket. I would never allow such a thing.
“Take us to the Sushi House on 5th and Main,” I say as I fuss over the man beside me.
While I know going on this trip alone is what I need, I worry how the hell he’s going to survive without me for a full week. It’s not that I’m arrogant. I just know how much we rely on one another for things.
Guilt swims through me at the thought of leaving him unattended.
Except, he wouldn’t really be.
He has more friends than just me now. Foster and Duval would be there for him if he needed them. Besides, I really do needto get away, if for no other reason than to get rid of this stupid crush that won’t go away.
Maybe by the time I come back, I won’t be in love with Edward anymore.
Maybe I’ll actually try dating.
Maybe.
Maybe.
Maybe.
CHAPTER 2
Edward
Bram is acting strange.
The man is so easy to read. I can tell he’s got something to tell me from the moment he fusses over me in the back of the car. His worry is just to distract from whatever else is going on.
I wonder if he’s going to surprise me with what we’re doing for the holidays this year. Maybe he planned something for us like he did in the summer. Our trip to Mexico was somewhat unexpected. I enjoyed our week there, as well as the new friendships I found while there.
Duval and Foster are the perfect match for me and my grumpy bestie. Well, grumpy probably isn’t the word. He’s really more stoic than anything else. A recluse type.
If he doesn’t have to be around others, he won’t. I joke about how his office is more like a throne room looking out over the city than it is a place to conduct business.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” I ask as I snuggle deeper into his jacket. I’m not actually cold, but I won’t dare tell him that.
As subtly as possible, I sniff the fabric as he looks out the window. His scent, the one I love so much I bought a bottle of his cologne for my own uses, surrounds me. It’s rich and manly, with a bit of something that’s so Bram it makes my knees weak every time I get a whiff.
We make it to the restaurant before he answers. Not because it’s a short drive really. I think it’s more that my friend is avoiding me.
Which is odd since he called me up to hang out.
Oh, no.
What if he’s got bad news to tell me? Is he dying? Is the business shutting down? Is he going to have to move across the world to open a new satellite office?
