“Me too. Can I buy you a cup of coffee on our walk back?”
“What? Is this a reward for being good at the doctor’s office?”
“Do you do that with Kaylee?” he asked, looking both interested and apprehensive. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
I looped my arm through his again.Why does touching him feel so natural when it’s been four years since we saw each other? Why is being with him as easy as being with Jace when we’re still strangers? In fact, why don’t we feel like strangers at all?
“I’m happy to tell you about her,” I said. “You can ask anything you want. We don’t usually stop for treats because they give kids stickers at the doctor’s office and Jace spoils her with ice cream enough as it is.”
Kayden smiled affectionally. “He really loves her, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah,” I said, my heart warming at the thought of them together.
“For the record, I feel like ice cream would trump stickers and a visit to the doctor is an experience worthy of ice cream.”
“I think if that’s your philosophy she is really going to like having you around.” I laughed and rested my head against his arm. “I would like a coffee. We can get Jace one too since apparently he hates my coffee.”
“I don’t think Jace hates anything about you at all,” Kayden said confidently.
“I mean, he said it’s terrible, but hehasbeen drinking it.”
Kayden burst out laughing. “Yep, that sounds about right.”
We walked out onto the street and decided to stop at the Starbucks around the corner from Acker Real Estate. “Thanks for coming with me, Kayden. And for distracting me. I really appreciate it.”
“Glad I could help,” he said. “I enjoy your company, Olivia. I’d like to get to know you better.”
“I’d like that too,” I said.
We stopped walking as Kayden pulled open the door to Starbucks. “I assume you know what Jace likes?” he asked.
“Sugar in a cup with a splash of coffee,” I said.
Kayden grinned. “I suspect he and I might have very similar coffee orders then.”
“Gross, not you too,” I groaned. Kayden put his hand on the small of my back again as he guided me to the register, and my skin prickled with the gesture. I gasped slightly.There’s still a spark with him.What the hell am I supposed to dowith that?
As we stopped in front of the barista, I glanced up at him and saw him looking at me with curiosity as if perhaps he felt it too and was also wondering what the hell we were supposed to do about it.
By the time Kaydenand I got back to the office, Jace was off the phone with Martin and still hadn’t touched his lunch.
“You need to eat or you’re going to get mean,” I said, leaning against the doorway as I sipped my coffee. Kayden slid by me to sit in the chair opposite Jace. He set down a coffee in front of Jace.
“Thanks, baby,” Jace smiled at Kayden.
“You’re welcome, but Olivia was the one who taught me what you like,” he said.
Jace smiled at me. “Thank you, sweetheart. I haven’t snapped at you yet, so you have no evidence that I’d be mean without lunch. That could just be something the last assistant said to justify running away from Martin’s phone calls.”
“Her name was Felicia, and she called last week and asked if you could write a reference for a new job—which I’m typing up for you today, by the way—and she specifically asked how the afternoons were going. She said when you don’t eat you turn into Grumpy Monkey. You know, the one from the book Kaylee likes?” I smiled, before noticing Kayden’s sad face. “I’m sorry,” I said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I like listening to you both talk about her.”
Jace gave him an empathetic smile and pulled the takeout bag closer. “I will eat now so you don’t have to worry. How was your flu shot?”
“Uneventful,” I said with a shrug, glaring at Kayden and willing him to be quiet. He raised one eyebrow at me but kept his mouth shut.
“So, you cried again?” Jace asked, popping open the takeout container. The smell of nachos filled the room, and my stomach grumbled.
