The knock has turned into an all-out series of bangs.
Rushing from the room, I turn the corridor and race into the foyer.
Maybe it’s Case on the other side of the apartment door. Did he forget his keys last night? Am I about to witness a walk of shame?
Sucking in a deep breath, I march toward the door and swing it open with a flourish.
“Miss Owens,” Lester greets me with wide eyes. “Oh dear. I woke you up.”
The dead giveaway is the state of my hair. I know that I toss and turn at night. My hair must look like I haven’t brushed it in days.
I try and smooth it down with the palm of my hand, but it’s useless. I feel it spring back to its unruly state the second my fingers run over it.
“I was awake,” I confess. “I was listening for…”
Nope. I will not tell Lester that I was listening for Case because I have no clue if my roommate came home last night. The man standing in front of me will sell a secret for a dollar.
Lester waits for me to finish, but I laugh. “I was listening to the chirping birds outside my window.”
“Birds?” His brows perch. “I’ve heard a siren or two this morning. A multitude of car horns as expected. I can’t say I’ve heard the sweet sound of a bird, though.”
I look down and realize that I’m still wearing the same thin tank top I was last night.
Great. Now Lester has seen me braless.
Wanting this to be over, I glance over my shoulder. “Do you need to talk to Case? I can wake him up.”
Hopefully he’s in his bedroom wearing boxer briefsor less.
I smile at the mental image of that.
“No, no.” Lester chuckles. “Mr. Abbott left for the office an hour ago. I’m here with a special delivery for you.”
My gaze drops to his hands. “What the fu…?”
“Breakfast,” Lester interrupts. “There are bagels. It appears to be a dozen. You’ll find cream cheese and a container of fresh berries in the other bag. The perfect accompaniment is this coffee from Palla on Fifth.”
He pushes two white paper bags at me, along with a large cup of coffee.
I reach for it all. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting this.”
With a bright smile, Lester tips his chin. “Mr. Abbott arranged it for you. A courier dropped the bagels at the front desk. They are from an establishment called Bright Bagels, I believe. I picked up the rest myself. The coffee contains one cream and one sugar. I hope it’s to your liking.”
How am I holding a bag from Bright Bagels right now?
Tears threaten my eyes.
No one has ever gone to this much trouble for me.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Lester.
“You’re very welcome,” he says in a soft tone. “One more thing, Miss Owens.”
I glance up at his kind face. “What is it?”
“Mr. Abbott asked me to deliver this message to you.” Reaching into his pocket, he tugs out a piece of paper. Its edges are jagged as if it was torn from the corner of a newspaper. I catch a glimpse of something written in red ink.
Clearing his throat, he takes a deep breath. “I hope you enjoy breakfast, Freckles, as much as I enjoyed dinner last night.”
