By the time we finally get the inventory done and emerge from the closet, the sun has already set in the sky. When we reach my desk, I grab my phone and notice a text from Heather saying that she’d stay with Claire until I get home from work.
I hastily pack my bag, shoving the loose folders and my laptop inside before slinging it over my shoulder. Turning, I startle slightly when I see Levi standing a couple feet away, staring at me.
“Let me walk you out,” he says, extending his hand toward the main doors. “I need to make sure you find the lobby okay.”
I laugh and shake my head, walking past him as he keeps a stride behind me. “Those elevators sure can be tricky sometimes, I suppose.”
Levi holds the main doors open for me and I walk by, my heels clicking on the tile floor as I approach the elevator. He puts a hand on my shoulder and reaches around me, pushing the down arrow before I can.
Once the elevator doors open, I step inside with him following behind me, three other people in the space as we ride down to the lobby. Stepping off the elevator, Levi falls into step beside me, but I slow down to wave at Russell as we pass the front desk.
Making our way out into the cooling May air, I turn to look up at Levi with a small smile. He’s already looking at me, his hands shoved in his pockets and his suit jacket tucked under one arm. He had loosened his tie while we were chatting earlier and hadn’t bothered to fix it.
“Thank you for your help,” I tell him, breaking the comfortable silence that has settled between us. “Even if it took twice as long.”
“Of course.” He shrugs, and for the first time, he looks nervous. “Thank you for allowing me to help. I never knew that sitting in a closet could be so fun.”
“It’s because you’ve never sat in one with me before.”
Levi smiles, but a small furrow appears between his brows. My left eyebrow raises in silent question, and I watch as he shifts his weight between his feet.
“I’m going to be out of town for the next few days,” he informs me before he pulls out his wallet and slips a small white card out of it. “But I don’t want to wait until I see you next to talk to you. Would you be okay if I texted you? Or even called you?”
“I’d love that.” I rest a hand on his forearm. “But I don’t need your card. I still have the one you left me. I’ll text you when I get home so you have my number, okay?”
“You promise I’ll hear from you this time?”
I nod, a genuine smile covering my face. “I promise.”
CHAPTER TEN
A TUESDAY IN MAY
“Ihave a delivery for Marlowe Reyes.”
My head shoots up, falling on a delivery man standing near the main door to our office. He’s carrying a gigantic bouquet in an equally large blue vase as he glances around at the few staff that came into the office for the day.
“That’s me,” I say as I stand, smoothing down my skirt as he approaches. He gives me a smile and sets the vase down on my desk as I stare at the yellow roses.
“If I can just have you sign for me,” he states as he extends the tiny screen in my direction. I scribble my signature on the line and thank him before he turns and exits the office.
My eyes land on the card sticking out of the top of the flowers and I reach for it as I feel multiple sets of eyes on me.
I know you have your event coming up and I wanted to make you smile—since flowers bring you joy—and what better way than flowers in your favorite color?
I can’t wait to see you in a couple of days.—Levi
I beam at the card before placing it on my desk. Reaching into my purse, I pull out my phone and open the camera app to snap a picture before I send it to Levi.
Me
It looks like I have a not so secret admirer.
Levi
It’s a good thing it’s me, otherwise I’d be quite jealous.
Me
