“Hi, Hun. We haven’t liked the strife between us since the cameras were installed. I was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
This was the emergency? “I appreciate that, Miss Carol.”
“I made brownies. We’d love it if you joined us for dessert.”
Freddy glances up at me quickly, then lowers his head again. I’m not sure Freddy has any opinions that aren’t his mother’s.
“Thank you for the apology and offer. I will have to decline dessert, though. I have a date tonight,” I say, so that she doesn’t entertain any wacky notion of becoming my mother-in-law. “In fact, he’s on his way over.”
A thin, tight smile slices across her narrow face. “I thought you said that young man, Edward, I met was just a friend.”
She means Eduardo, but I don’t bother correcting her. “He is. This is a new relationship.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone.”
“No reason you should. Anyway, I really have to get ready. Enjoy your brownies.”
I leave them staring after me and rush back to my apartment to shower. When the buzzer sounds, I’m naked and in the middle of moisturizing my legs. I pull on the easiest thing at hand, an aquamarine terry cloth cover-up that is strapless and secured by Velcro across the chest. I’d wanted to knock his socks off with sexy lingerie, but that would have to wait for the next time. Assuming there would be a next time.
I answer his knock and find him looking good enough to gobble up. What Stiles does for jeans and a T-shirt should come with a warning label. I press a hand to my chest, feeling my heart pound. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He takes in my attire.
“I was running late.”
“You don’t hear me complaining,” he says with one of his panty-melting grins. “How was the game?”
“We won.”
“Congratulations.” He’s holding a brown paper bag from Royal’s in one hand, and from behind his back, he produces a bouquet of flowers.
Smiling, I take them from him and bury my face in the fragrant blooms. I’ve never had a man give me flowers before, if you don’t count my dad. “What if we’d lost?”
“They’d be sympathy flowers.” He grins again and closes the door behind him. “Still mad at me?”
“Ah-ha, so that’s your real angle. Butter me up with flowers and dinner.”
“And not just any dinner. A double stack with Canadian bacon, special sauce, and fries.”
“I’m impressed that you remembered.”
“I figured the best way to your forgiveness was through your stomach.”
“It’s not the only way.” I bob my eyebrows, making his grin widen.
“So, am I forgiven?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. I don’t believe Talon is a detriment to the work. He just wanted to watch me squirm to salve his ego. But after my anger subsided, I realized that you were just doing your job. I can’t fault you for that.”
“Thanks.” He looks into my eyes. “I should have given you a heads up on what I said to Friar. It wasn’t my intention to cause issues for you at work.”
“I know. It’s all good. You probably heard that Brett agreed to keep Talon on the project.”
“Yes. But I’ll be watching Hunt.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I poke his chest playfully. “I’ll go put these in water.”
He sets down the bag on the table and comes up behind me at the sink.
