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With so many themed huts to work through, I also had a list of the styles and what I had for each one so far, planning ahead as much as I could while trying not to have loads of furniture lying around with nowhere to go. Sarai was just as excited about finding some of the smaller pieces that added the detail and finished off each room, and as this was where a lot of a budget could end up being spent, I was grateful when she decided on something and added it to our cart.
When she was the one making the final decision on what we bought, I couldn’t be blamed for going over budget. If we did. Sarai had done this sort of thing often enough that she had a better idea than some of what it cost. My budget wasn’t small, that was for sure.
By the time we were done, my feet ached, and we had a cart so heavy and full that it took both of us to guide it around corners. I definitely appreciated her help. If I had tried to do this alone, it would have been impossible to get everything. I also would have struggled to decide if some of the items Sarai had chosen with no hesitation were worth it.
As we loaded the car, my stomach rumbled. I hadn’t had time to grab much for breakfast, and Lukas had definitely put me through my paces the night before. I was starving.
“I know the perfect place to grab lunch on the way back to the site,” Sarai said. “And I’m sure there’s a good chance we’ll bump into a certain good-looking bachelor if we go as soon as we have finished up here.”
She winked at me, and I could only assume that she meant Lukas.
“Do you know why he’s single?” I asked as we put the last bigger item in together. It was a large trunk, and it needed to go on the back seat since it was too wide for the car trunk.
Sarai shrugged. “Everyone says he has been for a few years. Not even a date that anyone knew about. That’s why there’s so much interest in you and him, I’m afraid.”
I tried not to show my response to this news. Although I knew I was likely to be safe with Sarai, I still didn’t like talking about myself and what was going on in my world very much.
Being good at appearing comfortable didn’t mean that I was.
“It’s only rumors, so take it with a grain of salt, but he once worked with a lady friend. I think they even got engaged at one point, but it didn’t last. Business conflict of some kind. He has seemed reluctant to ever date in any form since. At least, until you.”
It wasn’t the first time that I’d been told he didn’t normally date, but it was hard to hear that business wasn’t normally an element he allowed in relationships. Not that I wanted to have him involved in business exactly, but it certainly made it easier to mix business and pleasure when we were already working together.
If I’d known that it was likely to put him off, I was pretty sure I would have considered turning the job down. But I had only gained a second chance at a relationship with him because I had taken the job. Maybe I just needed to make sure I didn’t work with him again.
Although Sarai and Richard seemed to make it work. They adored working together and playing to each other’s strengths. And I couldn’t blame them. It was working for them in a way I actually envied. Maybe Lukas had been waiting for a relationship like Richard and Sarai’s. Someone he could work with as well as spend time with outside of work.
Either way, I knew I couldn’t let it impact this project again. I might have gotten away with it today, but it could cost me another day.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Lukas
The world seemed dreary today. At least, it seemed to be dragging out. I wanted to be where Kit was and see her again, but I knew I had to wait. She was simply amazing, and I couldn’t quite believe how quickly she had made me feel at ease.
She had also brought the dominant side out of me far sooner than I’d have expected. It was as if I didn’t have to hide when I was around her. None of me would be rejected. And the transformation had happened so fast.
I was standing by the window looking out over the city again, something I didn’t usually do this late in the afternoon, but I couldn’t think of anything else right now. Was all this too fast?
The question was impossible to answer. I did know that I was ashamed of my past behavior. When on the island, I had been so dismissive of her and scared. But I didn’t feel that fear right now. It was unlikely to ever entirely vanish. Fear wasn’t like that.
Now, all I wanted was to see her and talk to her some more, run my fingers through her hair, take care of her. Anything to see her cheeks flush or have her look up at me with those eyes. She made me want to be the best version of myself already. And she made it feel easy.
I sighed and turned to go back to my desk, but jumped as I saw Henry.
“How long have you been there?” I asked, wondering what he was doing and why I hadn’t heard him coming in.
“Long enough to know you’ve got it bad,” Henry replied before he sat on the small sofa by the back wall.
I frowned and moved over to the desk, almost wanting to put it between us so I could have time to think and not feel so exposed. “I was only looking out the window.”
“For a good ten minutes without noticing that I was here. Yeah, you had to be distracted by something.”
There wasn’t much point denying it. I sat and pulled my laptop toward me. “Ten minutes?”
Henry nodded. “About that, give or take a minute or so. Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether to disturb you at first. Then, it got kind of funny to see how long it would take you to notice me. I was starting to get bored of even that and considered coughing or something else to let you know I was here.”
I groaned at hearing his description of the situation, but he appeared to be amused about it.
