It was well past dinnertime, considering how long we’d already spent in bed. The lights of the city were twinkling through the floor-to-ceiling windows in his apartment.
I had worked up an appetite, so I was sure he had as well.
He spun around from the open fridge with his arms full of food. “How about I whip up some omelets while you tell me about you and Gage?” he asked. He had pulled out eggs, cheese, and a ton of veggies.
“That sounds delicious.”
Watching him work around the kitchen, shirtless, was a sight. A sight I could get used to. It was these everyday type things, couple things, that I loved and wanted with him.
As he cooked, I told him how his brother surprised me with his reaction to us. Gage had said my work had always been exemplary and that he knew it wouldn’t change because he understood my work ethic. I explained my concern about us being together and working for the same company and he put my worries to rest, saying it was not a problem because it’s an outdated rule and no one really cares.
Then I told Chase how the conversation turned toward us outside of work, and what we’ve done together. I explained how I’d been too nervous and had asked that we keep us a secret but that we went out as friends, with friends, to Iggy’s and how fun it was.
“That was when you told him I’m singing there next week?” he asked.
I nodded, still unsure if he was mad at me for that.
In the end, Gage made it clear he was happy for the both of us. He said he could see how much his brother cared about me and that’s what was important. He did express his concerns if we broke up.
Chase stopped cooking and looked my way.
“He said that?” Chase asked.
“Well, yeah. I get it. And not just as the boss, but as your brother. We’d have a lot of issues at the office if we ever did break up. Have you not thought of that?”
Chase went back to trying to flip the omelets, his brows pinched as he did. I wasn’t sure if it was the cooking or thinking about my comment that caused it. A few minutes later, two omelets on plates and juice were on the island in front of me. He came to sit next to me, and we ate in silence. At first.
“This is delicious, thank you.”
He smiled when he looked at me, but the smile disappeared.
“I don’t like how he’s already thinking about the end of us,” he said as he stared at his plate.
“Hey, that’s him being the boss of a billion-dollar company. Don’t read into it.”
My hand gripped his leg, urging him to face me. He spun on the stool, spread his legs, and pulled me against his body, as his arms encircled me.
“He really was happy for us, Chase,” I whispered against his chest.
“I’m glad, I knew he would be. C’mon, let’s finish eating.” He spun back toward his food, glancing at me sideways with a sly smile. “We need to get back upstairs.”
He started shoveling the rest of his omelet into his mouth.
“Eat,” he said.
“I am,” I laughed.
I cleared our plates, but he dragged me away before I could load them into the dishwasher. As he pushed me up the stairs, he playfully tried to undo the knot of the robe I wore.
“I’m gonna use the bathroom,” I said once we returned to his bedroom.
The sound of him jumping onto his bed made me chuckle as I closed the door. Looking around the spacious room, I was struck once again by the stark differences between us. The sleek graytile that covered the walls from floor to ceiling with black grout made the room appear bigger than it was. The fact was that his bathroom was about the size of my living room. He had a double walk-in shower, a water closet, plus a huge jacuzzi tub. The vanity included two sinks and enough drawers to give it double the storage of my kitchen.
Plus, there were three other bathrooms in this penthouse.
He would make light of it all if I brought it up. He was never flashy with his money or belongings. The family owned a private jet, and I don’t know if he’d ever even flown on it.
As I walked toward him, I noticed he was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his hands, completely naked. He watched me undo the robe I wore, letting it fall as I continued walking toward him. He raised an eyebrow at me when I stopped a foot from the bed.
