“She does not,” Raya said. “You’re a business owner.”
“No, really. My high school best friend became a nurse, and my mom adores her.” Maybe it wasn’t the nurse thing she adored, maybe it was just everything about Tara. She was pretty lovable.
“Well, I adoreyou,” Raya said, smacking me on the butt as she walked toward the door. “You guys ready to get out of here?”
“Yes, please,” Presley said. She collected Lucas’s broom and went to the back where the supply closet was to put the thingsaway. Raya unlocked the door, and we waited outside for Presley to come back. Even Lucas waited. Then we locked up, and Lucas walked Presley to her car while Raya and I went to hers.
“Is something going on with them?” I asked quietly, nodding my head in their direction.
“I don’t think so, but I guess we’ll see. We haven’t really talked about workplace romance. Do we forbid that?”
I laughed. “Let the children love.”
“They are only like seven years younger than us,” she said.
“Babies,” I said.
“And really? No rules about workplace love? Not a single policy? You really are lovesick right now, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not… probably just love starved and being fed my first meal in a long time.”
“And he’s awholemeal.”
“I’ve missed you,” I said.
“Let’s get you to your dessert.”
CHAPTER 36
I knocked softly on the door because I’d given my keys to Elijah earlier. There was no answer. I texted him:Hey, I’m at the door.Again, no answer. I tried the handle. It was unlocked.
I let myself in and locked it behind me. “Hello!” I called out. “I’m home.”
On the entryway table were my keys and, beneath it, his shoes. At the table in the breakfast nook was an open notebook with some notes about lighting and paint color next to an empty water glass. I wondered if he was writing down ideas for the restaurant or something else completely. The curtains over the windows had been pulled closed, but my eyes immediately caught on the plant sitting on the table between them.
It was very much alive. Green and healthy and the exact plant I’d had there before.
A warmth spread through my chest. He’d replaced my dead plant. And his things were around my apartment and I loved it. I’d never lived with a man, not once. Had never wanted to. Nate stayed over a few times, but not very often because I gothome so late most nights that it seemed pointless. So most of the time I’d go to his place after work, which was the reason he wanted me to move in. I was glad I hadn’t now. Glad I hadn’t given up my apartment.
I retrieved a cup from the cupboard and filled it with water. That’s when I noticed another one of my plants on the counter that used to be dead, now alive.
I made my way down the hall, same thing for the plant in the hall. The light was on in my room, and I started to say, “You are the sweet—” when I walked inside and saw him asleep on the bed. On my side of the bed—well, his side too. I smiled. Habits die hard.
He’d changed his jeans for a pair of green athletic shorts, and he wore a black T-shirt. His phone rested on his chest, face down. I wanted to climb on top of him and kiss him awake, but a shower was calling to me. I was sure I smelled of food and sweat. I turned on the light in the bathroom and off the light in the bedroom so he could sleep better.
A damp bath towel hung on a hook, he’d obviously showered as well. I quietly closed the door behind me and turned on the shower. That’s when I saw the last plant, my shower fern, alive and well. Green and beautiful. Its leaves were still beaded with water from the shower Elijah had taken earlier. That made me happy.
I stripped myself of my clothes, depositing them into the empty hamper. I may not have cleaned out the fridge before I left, but I had done all my laundry. The thought of laundry reminded me of the used cloth napkin in my purse I needed to wash, filling my mind with thoughts of the office and Elijah. His body against mine, his groans of pleasure.
I stepped into the already-steaming shower. The heat feltgood against my tense muscles. I wondered if there would ever be a time when my muscles weren’t tense. I reached for my shampoo from the corner shelf when I realized it wasn’t there. Only a single bar of soap.
“I knew seeing you naked would revive that plant,” the deep voice of Elijah said from the doorway.
I hadn’t heard the door open, but I startled a little at his voice. “You scared me,” I said.
“Sorry.”
“I was just thinking about you and our office activities,” I said.
