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He passes me a tablet to plug in my details. “We’ll email you later today,” the younger one says to me.
Once I’m done, we all stand. Chairs scrape, papers shuffle, and the two assistants walk out, in deep discussion with Daniel.
Just like that, the meeting is over. Except my brain hasn’t quite caught up.
I turn toward Theo who’s standing beside me, looking completely unruffled. Like he hasn’t just handed me the opportunity of my life.
“I thought sleeping outside my apartment was the apology,” I say to him. “Or throwing your phone away. This feels very over the top.”
He grins. “I’m allowed more than one apology, right?”
I nod, because he can have as many as he wants. And maybe I’ll throw a few in, too.
“Do you have other things to do, or are you free for the afternoon?” I ask him.
“I’m completely and utterly free,” he replies.
“Good,” I reply. Because suddenly the only thing I want is to be alone with him.
As soon as we’re out of the building, I hold up my hand and try to hail a cab.
“What are you doing?” Theo asks me, looking amused. God, he’s so stupidly hot in that suit.
“Taking you home with me, if only I could get a damn taxi,” I mutter.
“Wouldn’t it be easier if we just got my driver to take us?” he asks me. I turn to see a black town car waiting.
“Oh. Yes.” I nod, feeling like an idiot. “That would definitely be easier.”
We slide into the back of the car, and because I’m feeling overwhelmed and needy, I curl against Theo. Not that he seems to mind. His fingers tangle in my hair as the driver weaves his way toward my apartment.
I look up at him. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“It’s for you as well as for me.”
“And you managed to organize everything without a phone. Isn’t that almost impossible in this day and age?”
He dips his head into my hair, breathing me in, like he needs to touch me as much as I need to be touched. “I got a new laptop and phone from the Apple Store yesterday,” he admits. “Please don’t hate me. But I changed my number if that helps.”
I laugh. “Won’t it be registered in New York?”
“I figure having a New York phone number will come in useful, since I intend to be here a lot.”
I swallow hard, taking in the meaning of his words. “Forward planning,” I murmur. “I guess you’ll be flying over here for me to grill you often.”
“Grilling has never sounded so appealing.” He grins.
“And your family?” I ask him. “Do they know you’re going to spill your guts to a reporter.”
“They do.” He nods.
“And what do they think about it?”
A smile pulls at his lips. “I don’t care. It’s my story, my reputation. And for what it’s worth, my mother said the same thing.”
I’m guessing his father and his brother didn’t. But if he’s not bothered, then nor am I.
When we pull up outside my apartment, I climb out too quickly, and he has to steady me as my heel catches on the curb.
