I realize we’re still holding hands and snatch mine back like he’s one of New York’s unique animal residents. “As you did hold up your end of the bargain, we’ll be at your place bright and early to pick you up. Be outside on time, or we’ll leave without you.”
I start walking toward the office. I get out my phone to start taking care of the hundreds of things that need to be done before I can leave.
Gavin falls into step next to me and I give him the stink eye.
He holds up his hands in supplication. “You know this is the way to my office as well. I need to get some stuff there before I can go home to pack.”
Great, more awkward moments with Gavin. And I was hoping to have the walk to clear my head.
“And when I do go home, I’m going to take a car.” He narrows his eyes at me.
“Baby steps. We’ll have you biking to work in no time.”
“If he’s not outside waiting for us, we can leave,” I say to Tom as we drive to the Upper East Side.
“Got it, Priya.”
I stifle a yawn, then realize there’s no one in the car, so I let it out full force. I lean my head against the soft leather interior and hope we run into traffic so I can get some sleep.
No one is happy that I’m leaving for the week. Sonia and Ajay freaked out at the amount of work I dumped on them, and Dad doesn’t understand why I’m going to a “strange man’s house in the middle of nowhere.”
I tried to explain that we’ve worked with or around Harrison for years, and that his house near Huntington isn’t exactly remote, but Dad doesn’t trust any place where you can’t see into your neighbor’s bedroom window. He’s lived in cities too long.
Between telling everyone the same justifications for going and trying to pack for this party where I don’t know the dress code/theme/events, I had a very late night.
We stopped to get some coffee, and I hope the magic liquid does its work so I can be up to fighting form by the time Gavin gets in the car.
I think I might need a refund, because when the car stops in front of Gavin’s building and I see him, I’m distracted out of the fight by the image of him in the morning, signature tousled hair looking even more just-got-out-of-bed than usual, a T-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes rounding out the outfit. I haven’t seen him this casual since elementary school PE. Well, aside from all the bathing suit shots he posts to his socials.
I stare at him, unable to look away or think of anything else besides that bed he just rolled out of. Especially how warm it must be in the chilly New York morning.
When he finishes helping Tom get the luggage put away in the trunk and enters the car, his broad shoulders block out the light for a second. He fills the small space with his effortless energy. It’s infectious, making everyone around him feel like they just had a shot of caffeine. It’s one of his best weapons, and the reason he’s a favorite with clients.
“Did you get that for me?” He points to my coffee, which is resting in one of the car’s cup holders.
“No.” I pick up the cup in defiance. “But feel free to watch me enjoy it.” I add some moans of enjoyment as I take a sip in front of him.
“Excuse me,” Gavin calls out to the front seat without taking his eyes of me. “Could we stop at another coffee place?”
“Depends on if you want to get left behind in the wilds of Long Island,” I say before Tom can answer.
“Scratch that. I’m good.”
I get out my iPad to do some work. I have no idea how much time I’ll actually have this week so I need to take advantage of every available moment. Gavin has other plans, if his passive aggressive sighs are anything to go by.
“Is there something I can help you with?” I don’t take my eyes off the first draft of the catalog that Ajay’s team sent me. It’s good stuff. Thank god, because I don’t have time to do serious edits on it right now.
“Entertain me?” Gavin asks.
I reach into his inside jacket pocket, fishing out his phone. When the back of my hand brushes his chest, I tell my hormones to cool it and that we aren’t going to explore that chest any further.
Treasure obtained, I hold up the phone in front of Gavin, jiggling it a bit when he doesn’t take it right away.
“Spoilsport.” He finally takes the phone. “So you don’t want to play the license plate game?”
I look at him and reach into my Mary Poppins purse to get my headphones and put them on my ears, maintaining eye contact the entire time. Before I turn on my music, I hear him sigh and say, “Cold.”
Halfway through the drive, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Since Tom is still in the front seat, it can only be Gavin.
