I think back to Lucas telling me to call him any time and pick up my cell to do just that. Except I need to think more about our two kisses and Kaylee’s suggestion. As much as the idea appeals to me, I’m already too into him to keep things light and casual. Instead of calling or texting him, I toss and turn for most of the night.
When the sun streams through the window, waking me, I realize at some point in the early hours of the morning, I fell asleep. My eyes still feel gritty and I’m tired. After stretching, I pick up my phone to see it’s after ten a.m. and I sit upright in bed. I overslept and Kaylee didn’t wake me.
I grab the clothing she’d given me and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash up, then dress and walk to the kitchen. Kaylee, dressed in the same type of casual clothing as me, is making French toast.
“Morning. Why didn’t you wake me?” I ask.
She turns her head toward me. “Because I figured you needed to rest, so I used this morning to sleep in, too. I was going to wake you once I finished these.” She rotates back to the cooktop. Using a spatula, she takes the last piece of French toast from the frying pan and places it on a plate. “I made your favorite.”
“It smells delicious, but you didn’t have to go to any trouble.”
“No big deal. Oh! Speaking of trouble, Ashlynn arrived at the office to discover a contractor was there installing new windows,” Kaylee tells me.
I raise my eyebrows. “Did you call anyone first thing this morning to fix it?” Because how else would someone be working already?
She shakes her head, then places our plates on the table. She puts the frying pan into the sink and turns on the water.
“Leave it,” I tell her. “I’ll clean up.”
She shuts off the faucet. “I won’t argue with that.” We take our seats at the table. She already has maple syrup and powdered sugar on the table, along with orange juice and water. “You know where the coffee is,” she says, picking up her fork.
“Aren’t you concerned someone is fixing our windows?” I ask.
“Nope. Because the man said Lucas Carras arranged for the work to be done.” She pours syrup onto her plate, cuts off a piece of bread, stabs it with a fork, and pops the piece into her mouth.
I’m stunned speechless. “Please tell me you called in and gave the man your business credit card?” Because I don’t want Lucas paying for us. Especially something so expensive.
“Again, nope. That’s between you two.” She points to my plate with her fork. “Eat up before it gets cold.”
I shake my head and wonder what I’m going to do about the man I can’t get out of my head, the man who’s inserted himself into my life, all the while knowing we can’t ever really be together.
Unless… I do what my best friend suggested and sleep with him for the short time we have. Stumped and too tired to keep thinking, I pick up the syrup and drown my French toast before digging in.
CHAPTER TEN
Lucas
Despite the frighteningnight she’d had, Rainey didn’t call. I doubt she’d had an easy time or a good sleep, but at least she’d had her best friend to keep her company. I still wish it had been me taking care of her.
Instead, I lay awake, my thoughts spiraling from the brick in Rainey’s window to my past ventures with Trick and the guys. We’d been assholes, no doubt, but I’d never threatened anyone. But Trick had and he’d even gone a step further, hurting an old man. If not for the notes that seemed to explicitly target Rainey, I’d wonder if it were Trick threatening her to get to me. But the wording,you don’t deserve nice things, orbe prepared to lose everything, that’s personal.
I woke up after a few shitty hours of sleep to a surprising text from Rainey, asking if I was free to stop by her office. Even if I had plans, I’d make the time to make sure she’s okay. But I have nothing on my schedule, so here I am.
I walk into the office, and the same receptionist is seated at her desk.
At the sound of the bells over the door, she glances up. “Hello, Mr. Carras.”
“Hello…”
“Ashlynn,” she says.
I nod. “Ashlynn. I’m here to see—”
“Lucas, hi.” Rainey steps up from behind her. “Come on back.”
I follow her, too aware of the tight leggings, revealing her curvy ass. Even the top is a little tight. Since she went home with Kaylee, I assume she borrowed her clothing. I appreciate the sight and so does my dick. I adjust myself before she turns around.
We step into the room, and I see the back of Kaylee’s head at her desk.
