I hadn’t planned to ask that.
“I… Not since lunch,” she said.
“There’s a place near my apartment. It’s small and quiet. They have good food. It’s near the park.”
Recognition crossed her face. “Do you mean the place on the corner of First and Clarendon?”
“I live on First Street. I’m two blocks from the park.”
Her head tilted. “What number?”
I named it.
She sucked in a breath. “My building is across the street from yours.”
We’d been living across the street from each other since I’d moved to this city a few months ago?
Every time I’d taken Beau to the park, I’d passed her building. She’d passed mine every time she’d gone to the bakery.
We’d been two blocks apart the whole time and neither of us knew it.
“That’s convenient,” I said.
Her mouth twitched. “Very.”
We stood at the same time. She took off her hoodie and draped it over the back of the chair, then took her purse out of her right desk drawer. I got up and waited while she finished locking everything up for the day.
She grabbed her jacket off the peg on the back of the door, and we left her office, her locking the door behind us.
We started down the hall. The building was quieter now. Most of the staff and players would’ve left. The corridor felt too narrow yet too wide open.
This was the first time we’d walked out of the building in the same direction, at the same time, and with the same destination.
We reached the exit.
Evening light spilled across the parking lot. City noise filtered in from the street beyond.
“I can park in my spot in the garage at the end of First Street and meet you in front of your building if you’d like,” she said.
“That sounds good.” I’d take Beau to the park after dinner. He didn’t mind late-night walks.
I was hyperaware of Haley’s vehicle following mine. I wanted her in front where I could better watch out for her. No, behind me where I could shelter her. Her vehicle, that is.
Or maybe sitting inside my truck with me.
Yes, that. Then I could make sure nothing bad happened to her.
This wasn’t a date.
Or was it?
CHAPTER SEVEN
HALEY
We met outside my building.
I’d changed three times, which was ridiculous. This wasn’t a date. We were just two people who worked together, who happened to live across the street from each other, getting food at a restaurant that was conveniently located near our buildings.
