“I’ll take mine to go. Good night.” Grace pulled Brennan down to her and gave him a tentative kiss.
“Good night, Little Butterfly.” He held her to him for a long moment.
“Thanks for the baking lesson.” Grace kissed me, grabbed her food, and left.
Brennan washed his hands, poured himself some bourbon, and sat down at the table. “That trip was a lot. But I got a lot accomplished, and I’m here now.”
“I think it’s time that you and Terrance start training people to help you,” I said as I took a bun.
“It’s the personal touches that make this company.” He frowned and grabbed one.
“Then train them to do all the other things, so that you can handle the things only you can. You have amazing people who’ve been with you for a long time. People you trust who would love, and probably deserve, the promotion. Also, no one blinks when Terrance handles things instead of you. You and Terrance should each have someone, or someones, that you slowly bring in to do the same. You two are no good to the company burned-out,” I replied.
I’d seen Terrance burn out before, back when he was keeping the company from sinking after Brennan’s car accident.
“These are so good.” Brennan reached for another. “Thank you.” Leaning over, he gave me a kiss. “You’re right. It’s time. I know the company could handle it if I step back, so I should make sure everyone is in place if I should choose to do so. Step down? Never. But step back a little eventually so I can do more with our family foundation? Yes.”
“I’m so proud of you for saying that.” I gave him another kiss. “How did everything go with the estate? Didn’t you just land your first event booking?”
“Speaking of people who deserve promotions, yes, our new acting manager for the estate and acting event coordinator wereperfect. The ballet will be hosting their gala in the gardens in September.” He took a drink of bourbon.
As we demolished the buns, he told me more about his trip, and I told him about my week. He helped me clean up.
“I love it when you stay up for me and make me food. It’s so silly, and a little antiquated, but it’s so nice to come home to that.” Brennan pinned me against the refrigerator, his lips smashing to mine.
The thing was, he did the same for me after a late night at the station or making me food after a tournament as I took a shower. It was nice to come home to someone–and it wasn’t even about the food, it was about thought and care.
Kissing him back, I told him all those things with my lips.
His kisses were that of a starving man, as he pressed into me, letting me know just how much he missed me.
“Sweet baby cheeses, get a room.” Riley came back into the kitchen. “Any food left?”
“No, sorry, we ate them all,” I replied. We hadn’t made that many.
“Oh, okay.” She took a bag of chips and left.
“Mmmm, should we get that room?” Brennan continued to keep me trapped against the fridge as he kissed me again and again.
The heat building between us was all-consuming.
I kissed him back, adding a little push as I grabbed his chin. “I’d like that very much.”
“Mmmm, I’m glad to be home.” Brennan’s head lay on my chest as we cuddled in bed.
“I’m glad to have you back.” I stroked his hair. Evan wasstillbusy. There was also some underlying anxiousness in the bond.
Brennan rolled over and checked his phone on the nightstand. He sighed. “Would you like to retrieve the tiny ball of anxiety or should I? Why is she so anxious? Why is she not asleep in someone’s room?”
Tiny ball of anxiety. Good one.
“You feel her?” I put my chin in my hand as I leaned on my elbow.
“Sometimes. Again, why is she playing the piano at this hour and not under someone?” He put his phone down and sat up.
“How do you know she’s playing the piano?” I blinked.
“Back when I didn’t want her to play, I set the piano to alert me whenever it was being played. Someone is playing it right now, and it’s not me.” He sat up and went to the dresser, giving me a good view of his tight, pale ass, even though the room was dark.
