“Okay,” he said and pulled on the handle. The door didn’t open, it rattled in its frame.
I stared at the door, confused. “Is it locked?”
“It’s locked.”
I tried the handle, like I could produce a different result. I did not.
“Is she sick or something?” I asked. “Did she call you?”
“I don’t have her number. Michael is the one who forwards me messages. He did not forward me anything.”
I turned at the sound of a car pulling into the parking lot. Dr. Franklin. She parked in the nearest spot and got out of her car. “Sorry! Sorry!” she called. Unlike her normal pantsuit, she was wearing jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail that made her look even younger. “I got held up across town. I’m so sorry.” She fiddled with her keys as she approached and opened the door quickly.
“It’s okay, we just got here,” Elijah said.
“Give me one sec to get the office ready,” she said, rushing through the door.
We stepped inside and stopped in the lobby. “Get the office ready?” I whispered with a smile. “What does she have in there?”
He laughed, then rested his arms on my shoulders and kissed my forehead.
I breathed in his scent and gripped the sides of his shirt. I nodded toward the small door to the right. When this office was an actual house, it was probably used for a coat closet. I wondered what was inside it now. “You’re right. I think I could need someone so bad that I’d have the urgent desire to shove them into the nearest small, private space and have my way with them.”
His eyebrows popped up nearly all the way to his floppy hair. “Really?”
“No,” I said, straight-faced. “I could wait until at least the car.”
He laughed. “You couldn’t even do it in the car. Too many windows.” He kissed me once, then twice.
“I could do it in a car,” I said. “Probably,” I added after analyzing it for a moment.
“God, you’re adorable,” he said.
“I am a strong, capable, intimidating woman.”
“That too.”
“Okay!” Dr. Franklin called from down the hall. “Come on in, guys. I’m ready for you.”
CHAPTER 29
“You two seem… different.”
Shit, we really were making it obvious that we had practically slept together a few nights ago. His arm was tight around me instead of on the back of the couch, where it usually was. My finger was drawing shapes on his leg. And we’d just barely sat down!
If anything, this would just cement the idea in her head that we were an engaged couple. Right? Or she’d think her premarriage program had done its job of bringing us closer together. I felt bad that I had done such a terrible job for Tara in this quest of ours. Maybe Elijah and I were never good candidates for the task. Our chemistry was too strong. I internally rolled my eyes at my silly schoolgirl romantic thoughts.
“Different how?” Elijah asked. His voice seemed sincere, but I could hear the humor behind it. Did I feel a little bad that we’d been tricking this poor therapist who was only trying to help us? Maybe. I knew I’d be embarrassed if I foundout someone had fooled me for four weeks straight. Hopefully she’d never find out.
“You seem closer,” she said. “Happier.”
“It’s all your killer homework and advice,” Elijah said. I squeezed his knee. Now he was taking it too far. Although maybe, at the end of the day, her homework really was what brought us closer together. Forced us to get to know each other.
“Speaking of advice,” I said, “I could use some.”
“Oh?” she said, maybe surprised at my proactive question.
“Unrelated to this.” I cocked my head toward Elijah.
