“Jake, I’m sorry to ruin your day off,” she said before hanging up.
For a moment I couldn’t move, and I realized how much I was looking forward to spending today with Spencer if he didn’t have any other plans. Warm arms wrapped around me where I sat on the floor and legs appeared on the outside of mine as he wrapped himself around me. “How can I help?” he asked.
Reaching for his hand I pulled it close. “That was my sister. Apparently, a pipe broke and flooded the kitchen. I need to get over there and help clean up. We’re closed today but tomorrow will be busy. Spencer—”
“Shh, come on, let’s shower and get dressed. I’ll need to go home and change but then I’ll meet you there,” he said like it wassomething we did every day, and he was just waiting for me to ask him for help. But I didn’t even need to.
“I can’t let you do that,” I finally managed to say.
“Oh, you’re not letting me do anything. I’m doing it all on my own.” He stood and held his hand out to me. “Come on. You have work to do.”
My eyes bounced between his face and his outstretched hand. He was serious, and all I had to do was accept what he was offering. I gripped his hand, and we hurried to the shower. This time it was all about efficiency and getting out of here as soon as we could.
“I wish I’d brought a toothbrush,” he mumbled as he stood at the mirror with a towel wrapped around his waist showing off his toned abs while brushing back his hair with his fingers.
“I think I saw one in that basket,” I said and pointed at the little basket that held soap, hand lotion, and two toothbrushes and a small tube of toothpaste.
“Oh, thank god,” he said before taking one of the brushes while handing me the other. He grinned at me in the mirror as the two of us brushed our teeth side by side.
This I could get used to, kept repeating on my mind while I tried not to grin too big.
Nine
Spencer
“I’m just going togo home and change, and I’ll meet you at your place,” I said again, as Jake and I walked across the street from the hotel to the parking garage we’d both parked at.
“Are you sure? I mean we can use the help, but I don’t want you to start the new year cleaning up my kitchen.” I stepped closerto him and even though we both were dressed in the clothes we wore yesterday, he still looked as hot as he had last night. His black bowtie hung around his neck untied, his tuxedo jacket was now casually unbuttoned, and his crisp white shirt had seen better days. A far cry from how perfect he’d looked last night, but somehow even sexier.
“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure. Now, let’s go. I don’t want you to have more damage to deal with than is already there.” He started to walk away before turning and rushing back to me. Taking my face in both his hands and nearly knocking me off my feet, he kissed me. Our tongues swirled together and the heat between us built before we pulled away, panting.
“I will never get tired of that,” Jake murmured in the space between us.
“Me either and I fully expect more of it after we clean up the mess of your kitchen,” I said, as he laughed.
“Go home and change. I’ll meet you there,” he said.
A little over an hour later I was parking behind his restaurant right where he’d told me to. There were several other cars there and the door was wide open. Two panel trucks were there with the back opened and supplies already loaded into one.
“Put this in the other truck,” a woman said as I walked up to the door. “Oh hey, are you here to help?”
“Yes I’m—”
“Spencer,” Jake said and rushed past the woman who folded her arms and smirked when he walked over to me. “Thank you. Oh, this is my sister Ruby. Ruby, this is Spencer,” Jake said and bobbed around with a little too much energy.
“Nice to meet you,” I said and held out my hand to her. She glanced at it before narrowing her eyes.
“Where do you know Jake from?” she asked, and I tried to ignore Jake rolling his eyes right next to her.
“We met last night,” I said, making her smile and Jake groan. Her eyes widened as she stepped closer to me.
“At the mixer? I knew he’d meet someone there,” she said and looped her arm with mine. “So, Spencer, how do you feel about cleaning up a kitchen?”
“Don’t tease me with a good time,” I said as her eyes widened. I chuckled at her and grabbed Jake’s hand as she guided me by him. “That’s what I’m here for. I wanted to help Jake out.”
“Ignore her, I told you she’s a little bossy,” Jake said and after unlooping his sister from my arm he led me inside. “It isn’t really that much damage. Lucky for us it was the pipe that goes tothe dishwasher, but it still made a big mess. We need to take as much as we can out and wipe it all down,” Jake said.
The kitchen was average sized, and very organized. The only things that were stored on the floor were items that the water wouldn’t damage. A few other people were picking up various items and walking back outside to put them in the truck. “Where do you want me to start?” I asked.
