I smile. She's one of the only people in this world who's ever genuinely worried about me. Been there at the drop of a hat when I need her. I know she would drive here right now if I asked her to. And not just because she's the one who helped me get this job. Janie would come rescue me simply because she loves me.
The same way I would go rescue her because I love her.
"No. You don't need to come here." My smile holds as I move through the house into the kitchen. I'm feeling uncomfortably idle now that Titus’s room is clean and he's wrapped up in a project I don't want to interrupt. "I was just calling to see how you’re doing. Make sure you and Devon and the girls are all okay."
I open the fridge, looking for something to occupy my time. Food is always the most natural option—even when I can’t stomach the idea of actually consuming it myself—and I find myself pulling out a very familiar set of ingredients.
"We’re doing great." Janie snorts. "The weather is kind of shitty, but what else is new."
"It's not any better here." I pull out the mixer Titus ordered for me shortly after I arrived, setting its heavy weight down onto the counter. "I tried learning to drive one of the side-by-sides around, and I'm pretty sure that's never going to be my favorite pastime."
"Lucky for you, there's a whole bunch of hot dudes there who I'm sure are more than willing to chauffeur you anywhere you want to go." There's a grin in Janie's voice.
And suggestion in her tone.
I knew when I explained the full situation here in WillowBend, my friend would latch onto all the available bachelors in my orbit. Especially since none of them are asshole ranch hands.
"I'm pretty sure Titus will lose his shit if one of his brothers tries to drive me around." I don't realize how it sounds until I hear the words coming out of my mouth. It makes it seem like Titus is possessive of me. Like he doesn't want to share me with his brothers.
It makes it sound like there's more between us than there is.
Yet another thing my friend latches onto. "Interesting." She drags the word out. "So if Titus doesn't want his brothers driving you around, does that mean he's willing to leave his house to drive you around himself?"
"He drove us to his parents’ house for dinner tonight." I frown down at the bowl as I drop ingredients in. "It's not that hecan'tleave." Even as I say it, I wonder how correct that assumption is. A person doesn't just stay in their house the way Titus does if it's easy to leave.
"Interesting." Again, my friend drags the word out.
“I called so you could entertain me while Titus is working. If all you're going to do is keep sayinginteresting, I'm gonna let you go."
"Interesting."
I roll my eyes, but a smile curves my lips. "Whatever." I lift the bowl of the mixer into place. "I should probably let you go anyway. It's about to get loud here."
"Okay, but seriously thatisinteresting. Why's it about to get loud?" Janie gasps. "Are you fucking your boss?"
"He's not my boss. He's my employer." I switch the mixer to low. "And no, I'm not fucking him." My thighs clench together as a pulse throbs between them at the thought. "I'm making him a caramel cake."
Stepping away so I can hear her, I say my goodbyes to Janie, hanging up before returning to finish assembling Titus’s favorite dessert. I haven't made it since I attempted to lure him out of his rooms, but tonight seems like a good time. I expect he's going toneed something to take the edge off once he gets everything handled.
By the time I finish the cake and have it packed up and safe and chilling in the fridge, it’s late and I’m exhausted. I climb the stairs, expecting Titus to be passed out, and pause outside his door. Peeking in, I find he’s still working, dark brows low as he hunches over his keyboard.
I’m so sleepy, but I don't want to abandon him. Not when he’s so visibly tense and stressed out. I also don't want to distract him. Going into his room, I sit myself on his bed. There's no television to watch in here, so I pull out my phone, queuing up my favorite streaming service app. After getting comfortable, I prop it into place and set my show to play.
Then promptly fall asleep.
16
Titus
Idon't know how long I've been working. Probably a hell of a lot longer than I should have, but the safety of the company my brothers and I run is more important than anything.
Well…
Pushing back from my desk, I dig the heels of my hands into my burning eyes. Normally after a night like this, I would be starving and dehydrated to the point of a headache. I'm not. And that is due to one person and one person only.
I turn in my chair, spinning the seat as I seek Mariah out. I don't find her. What Idofind is an office that looks vastly different from the way it did when I walked in.
"God dammit." I turn in my seat again, opening up a secure window so I can transfer more money into Mariah's account.
