“Okay, I can do that.”
Share calendars. Now there was a thought. One he found he didn’t mind.
They’d advanced several spaces in this relationship game just this morning. They admitted they were happy. They had both confessed they loved each other. And now, they were in a real relationship.
Kelsey shimmied into her jeans and hell, he could get used to this too. Watching her get dressed. Watching her get undressed was even better, but he’d take this too.
He smirked at her before turning around and strutting into the bathroom. He sent a quick text to Garrett and then splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would be enough to cool him down. The anticipation of seeing Kelsey tonight would be sure to keep him agonizingly erect all day.
Davis spread toothpaste across his brush before shoving it into his mouth and stepping out of the bathroom. He wanted to take advantage of every opportunity he had to gaze at her before she left his house. And he needed a promise from her that they’d see one another that night. It would be the only thing to get him through his last day of shooting.
But when he entered the bedroom, he found Kelsey sitting on the chair in the corner, concentrating on the papers in her hands. She glanced up, brows raised and confusion blurring her eyes.
“What is this?” She held the papers out to him.
His mouth went slack, the toothbrush dangling and threatening to plunge to the floor. He caught it just in time, taking it out of his mouth. There wasn’t time to come up with an excuse. He needed to rip off the Band-Aid.
“I was waiting for the right moment to discuss that.” He approached her, rounding the bed cautiously. The look on her face told him, there would never be a right moment.
“Like when? After we slept together?”
The hurt shining in her eyes penetrated into his soul. It sucked the breath from his lungs, stole the words from his mouth.
“These papers are dated two weeks ago. In the last two weeks you couldn’t find the time to bring this up?”
“I’m sorry, okay? But it never felt like the right time. Was I supposed to bring it up when I thought you had mistaken me for my brother? Or when a sleaze ball out-of-town investor offered to buy you out? Or when you were finally opening up to me? Maybe when you were dealing with your alcoholic mother?”
“That’s not fair. Don’t try to put this on me.” She snatched her gray sweater from the dresser and yanked it on over her camisole.
His chest lurched as he felt her urgency to flee. He took a hold of her hand, stilling her. “You’re right. And I’m not meaning to. I should’ve talked to you right away. But our relationship shifted so quickly. When we crossed that line of friendship, I wasn’t sure how to approach this.”
“That’s just it, Davis. We may have crossed the line of friendship, but that doesn’t mean we stop being friends. I hoped that meant our friendship would deepen. Instead, it’s like the sex gave you brain fog.” She wrenched her hand from his holding and rushed past him and out of the bedroom.
Cooper was waiting at the door and lunged at Davis excitedly. “Would you wait a minute? You don’t even know what the offer is.” He nudged Cooper so he could pass and chased after her, his undone belt dangling as he went down the hall.
She whipped around and he nearly ran directly into her. He stumbled to a stop, Cooper on his heels.
“What’s the offer?” She stared him down, her eyes brimming with challenge. The confidence he always admired about her was present, but taking on a different meaning now.
“My plan was never to change anything. You’ll get to run the bar however you want. You still make the decisions. I’ll be like a silent partner.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared into his for a moment, her lips pinched together. Until finally, “Why?”
“I want to help.”
His words were like a blow to the chest, as if she deflated before his very eyes. Her shoulders caved in, her tears fell, and her chin descended. He waited for her reply for what felt like forever; the seconds ticking by agonizingly slow.
When she finally spoke, her voice came out scratchy. “While your offer is generous, it’s too generous and I’m afraid I can’t accept.”
“C’mon, Kels, stop being stubborn,” he said, but realized too late he should’ve only said that in his head.
“When I asked youwhy, maybe if you would’ve said, you believe in the bar, you think it will be a good investment, then maybe I would’ve seriously considered your offer. But doing it because you want to help me.” She paused and her body looked smaller, frailer somehow. “That isn’t a valid reason.”
“You’re right. I didn’t mean that. Not just that. When the contract is done withRenovation Dudes, I want to do something different. And I want an excuse if they try to extend the contract.”
It was too little too late. But he had to at least try.
“I have to go,” she said, petting Cooper on the head before turning around and heading to the front door.
