“Despite the dollar signs they keep sending my way to entice me, I’m still committed to the firm as it is,” Zachary said. “But I couldn’t sit on this without trying to pull our strongest fighter in for another round in the ring.”
I cursed under my breath and realized there really wasn’t any way around it. “I can’t get away until Friday night,” I said, “but I’ll get there for the weekend. Clear your schedule, and I’ll have my assistant send along my flight details.”
I looked up and saw Xavier, wandering down the hallway. His hair was sticking up in every direction, and he looked like he was struggling to keep his eyes open.
“That’s the corporate shark I know and love,” Zachary replied.
I gave him a quick nod. “Keep your head down until Friday,” I said. “We’ll figure this out.” I flipped the computer shut, then rose to my feet to greet Xavier.
“Everything all right?” he asked sleepily. He was wearing a pair of pajama bottoms I had loaned him, but they were practically falling off of his hips. “You sounded worried.”
I stepped forward, then brushed a quick kiss across his lips. “Just a little problem at the home office back in New York. Nothing you need to worry about. You’re up early.”
I gestured to the counter, and Xavier took a seat. “I probably could have stayed zonked out all afternoon, but I woke up to the use the bathroom.”
“Espresso?” I asked.
He nodded. “Sure! Thanks.” He scrunched up his face in thought. “I thought you were taking a break from work in New York. Isn’t it the Denver project that you’re always working on?”
I punched around with the espresso machine, and steam shot out the side while black liquid squirted into the tiny cup. I turned, handed it off to Xavier, and then started to make myself another in preparation for a long day. “I am, supposedly. But there’s a crisis back home, and the firm where I normally work is at risk of being taken over by some people with sketchy intentions.” I hit a couple buttons and filled my own tiny cup. “Taking out the competition is kind of my specialty.”
“You say that,” Xavier said, leaning forward on the counter, “but you still seem like a nice guy to me.”
I cracked my knuckles and shot him a grin. “Only nice when I want to be. You remember that from last night.”
Xavier’s eyes got wider, and he glanced down at the espresso shot before taking a sip from it. “That’s true.”
“Are you feeling good today?” I asked, resting my elbows on the counter. “You were able to sleep?”
“Very good,” he said. “Outside of the fact that I’m never up this early.”
“And you’re not in too much pain?”
He blushed again, just like I knew he would, and rested his hand on his butt. “Just the right amount,” he said shyly.
“Good,” I said, winking. “I want you to remember what happened. I know I’m not going to forget.”
“I guess that means you liked it, too,” he said. “I was worried the baseball uniform would be too much…”
“Trust me, nothing you could bring to the table could be too much for me.”
Xavier smiled to himself, apparently relieved to hear me say it. I had told him as much the night before, several times in fact, but I knew it was important to reassure him after going through something so intense. “Does that mean you want to see me again?” he asked. “I thought maybe this weekend we could do dinner again? I mean, if you’re free, that is.”
My heart sank a little. I hated telling him no, especially after all he had given me. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I have to go to New York this weekend to deal with the crisis there, and I doubt I’ll have a free minute here, considering how it’s going to turn my schedule upside down.” I furrowed my eyebrows, thinking. “I’ve already told my grandfather that I’ll visit him on Monday and Thursday. Otherwise, I might be able to make something work then, but I’m pretty certain it’s going to be too tight.” Xavier frowned and ran his finger along the edge of the espresso cup, making my heart sink a little further. “I do think we have time for one more meal, though,” I said quickly.
“Oh?” he asked, looking up.
I turned to the fridge, pulling it open and glancing at the assorted foods. “I’m not the best cook in the world, but we’ve got enough for here for a solid stack of strawberry pancakes. How’s that sound?”
Xavier laughed. “A surprising move for the senior on the college baseball team, to make his teammate strawberry pancakes in the morning.”
I turned, shooting him a wink. “Gotta eat like a champ,” I joked.
“I’m sure it will be delicious,” he said with a lick of his lips.
I knew I should have been rushing to the office. If I were going to slip off for the weekend, there was a lot I needed to get done first. But for once, I was going to let myself think about something other than work. After all Xavier had given me the night before, I couldn’t deny that he was one of my responsibilities now, too.
And I always took care of my responsibilities.
