SADIE
I staredout the window as I rode in the passenger seat of Charli’s Lexus hybrid and wondered if she could hear my heart beating. It was beating so hard I was sure it was trying to escape my chest. A glance in her direction only confirmed that that might be a very real possibility, she was grinning from ear to ear.
“What are you smiling about?” I asked.
Her expression instantly sobered. Charli’s mouth might not be curled up at the edges anymore but her eyes were still sparkling with obvious enthusiasm. “I’m not.”
I sighed. Yesterday at this time, I was seated at my bistro table doing a tasting for a couple who were tying the knot in three months and today that table was ashes. Yes, I was the first one to admit that I tended to lean toward the dramatic, but thiswastheworst dayof my life and my best friend, my ride or die, my sister from another mister was acting like a giddy schoolgirl.
“My bakery and apartment burned down. I have no home and no business,” I reminded her as we pulled up in front of Bay Towers.
I’d been on the phone with my insurance company and the ball was rolling to get me compensated, but I had no idea how long it would be before I could reopen. Or if I’d even be able to reopen in the same location. I’d made several attempts to call Mr. Wilcox but he hadn’t returned any of my calls. I wasn’t even sure if he was going to rebuild or not. I might need to look for a completely different location and place to live. The entire situation felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
Sincerity replaced Charli’s excitement as she leaned across the console and pulled me into a hug which she held for a few moments before releasing me and leaning back, her lips now pursed. “I know. And it’s all so horrible. It is...”
I could tell from her expression there was more she had to say. “But...?” I prompted.
“But, I mean,come on!” She waved her hand toward the building. “You’re going to live with Mr. Smolder aka San Francisco’s Most Eligible Bachelor aka Sexy Single Dad Ovary Tingler.”
“Sexy single dad ovary tingler?” I repeated.
Her brows lifted as she stared at me with challenge. “You’re going to tell me that manhasn’tmade your ovaries tingle?”
He had. Whenever he showed up my ovaries drove straight to Tingle Town. Still, that’s not what this was about. Me staying with Alex hadnothingto do with my tingling reproductive system. “This is a mutually beneficial business arrangement.”
Charli’s lips once again pulled into a wide smile. “Oh, I’m sure thebenefitsare going to bevery mutual.”
I ignored her insinuation. “I’m only staying here to take care of Lexi until he finds someone else. And he offered me his kitchen so I could still fulfill my orders.”
“Yeah, I bet he wants tofulfillyourorders.”
“How do you make everything sound so dirty?”
“It’s a gift,” she stated proudly.
From the backseat, Achoo meowed. She hated car rides, especially when she was in her crate, which she’d been in all morning because we’d spent the morning at Charli’s apartment. I’d had to keep her in the crate because of the allergies that had led to Achoo thinking her name was Achoo.
“See, I’m not the only one, even Choo-Choo’s excited about the living situation.” Charli allied herself with the feline as she wagged her brows before stepping out of the car.
I opened the door and my head tilted back as I stared at the imposing, luxury iron and glass building that housed millionaires. My chest felt tight as I took a deep breath suddenly feeling extremely out of my depth. Alex had replied to my text that the concierge would be expecting me. Let me repeat, the concierge—I’d only seenthemin movies.
This was all too much.
But what choice did I have? Despite my dad’s insistence, I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and head back home. I couldn’t stay with Charli, or I’d have to find a new home for Achoo. This was my best option.
Also, if Alex was telling the truth, and I had no reason to doubt him, he needed someone to watch Lexi. I definitely had experience in that department. So, despite the panic attack knocking on the door, I needed to suck it up buttercup and deal with this situation like the functioning adult I was, or at least was really good at pretending to be.
Shaking off the doubts and insecurities that were hovering over me like a dark cloud, I grabbed the pet carrier from the backseat and Eeyore’s leash as he hopped down onto the street. Charli opened the trunk and got the Target bags from the run we’d made to purchase clothes and toiletries for me.
“Ladies.” The doorman dipped his chin in a nod as he held the door open for us.
There was a doorman, too. Or maybe the doorman was the same as the concierge. I truly had no idea.
Charli and I walked in and I suddenly felt like Julia Roberts walking into the fancy hotel in her street clothes. After taking a shower at Charli’s to try and get the smell of fire out of my hair, I’d borrowed a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt, but I still had on the Crocs I was wearing when I ran out of the building this morning. This place was fancy with a capital F. It was swanky, as my dad liked to say, and I stuck out like a sore thumb.
Trying not to think about my inappropriate attire, I held my head high as I walked up to the desk where a six foot plus, thin-framed gentleman who looked to be in his fifties with a manicured salt-and-peppered beard and a smooth olive complexion that was envy-inducing was holding court. “Hi, I’m Sadie—”
“Burke. Yes, Mr. Vaughn was expecting you. I’m Emilio Rodriguez the head concierge at Bay Towers.”
