"If you'd let me live with you, I'd always be safe."
I hold up my phone. "Text me, Till."
She nods before she darts down the street toward the subway.
I start the walk down Third Avenue. Since I've moved to New York, I've become accustomed to the unique nuances of every neighborhood. It was an important part of the learning curve for my job. It's near impossible to help anyone find a property if you don't know the type of community they crave.
I stop to look in the darkened windows of shops and I read the posted menus on the windows outside two restaurants.
It's when I reach the third that I stop and stare inside.
I'll never get over how handsome he is. Julian is sitting at a small table with two other men. They each have a bottle of beer in front of them and a plate of food. They're dressed casually and it's easy to see that it's not a business meeting.
These must be his friends. This is a part of his life I want in on.
He looks happy and all I want to do is stand here all night and soak in that smile, but I bundle my coat around me and take off so I can go home and dream about him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Julian
"Do you have a minute or two?"
I look up to see Maya standing in the doorway to my office.
I wasn't expecting to see her. I'd spent last night with Griffin and Sebastian eating Greek food and talking about our days playing high school football.
I was tempted to call Maya on my way to the subway after dinner, but I didn't. She'd left me a voicemail telling me that she was going to spend time with her sister, so I didn't want to interrupt that.
She takes a step forward before I can scramble to my feet. I push back from the desk and round it quickly. "I didn’t expect to see you here."
She looks back into the common area outside my office where a few employees are gathered with laptops.
I brush past her to close the door. "Do you want anything? Coffee? Water?"
She shakes her head. "I'm fine. I'm good. I can't stay long. I'm meeting Charles Warton in a few minutes."
I take a step closer and tug her into my arms. She's dressed as stylishly as always in a blue dress and nude heels. She takes care in presenting herself to her clients in a soft and approachable way. It's just another reason why I'm so insanely attracted to her.
"Did you have fun with your sister?"
"I did. Her blind date was a bust, but we hung out for a bit. I told her about you."
I step back so I can look at her face. "You told her about me?"
"Not every detail." Her eyebrows dance. "I mentioned I was seeing someone and that his name happens to be Julian Bishop."
I feel something I can't place. Maybe it's pride or excitement, but I like that her sister knows that we're together. I want more people to know but that time will come after I've closed the last chapter of my life. "I'd love to meet her sometime."
The corner of her mouth curves into a small smile. "I'd like that too."
"Maybe the three of us can grab a bite sometime?" I don't push to make plans now because I want Maya to set the pace for this. I'm more than happy to spend every second we do have together alone, but I won't pass the opportunity to get to know someone who is important to her.
"We can make that happen." Her eyes drop to her hand when her phone chimes. She swipes her finger across the screen before she lets out a deep sigh.
"Is something wrong?" I study her face, watching her brow knit.
She makes a frustrated noise. "I saw a man I used to date yesterday. Jason. This is him texting me now."
