It was more than she’d had holding her in Vermont.
“No. I’ll be closer to my kids than here. I was going to retire in a few years anyway. A few years early isn’t the end of the world. I’ve got a nice retirement fund. If you stay here for your career and are smart, you will too.”
“My father said that too,” she said.
“But I’ll continue to work part-time for now. Then we’ll figure it out as it goes. You’ll be good for Ethan. It’s going to work out, I can feel it.”
“I hope so,” she murmured.
“It’s only been a week. Ethan is easy to get along with. And you’re a fast learner. He didn’t bug you this weekend with anything, did he? He was texting me a few things yesterday, but I hope he left you alone.”
“I left her alone.” She turned when Ethan said that. He was standing in the doorway to her and Blair’s office. “You told me I had to.”
Blair laughed. “I’m sure Ethan is going to explain what is going on unless you want me to do it.”
“I’ll do it later today or tomorrow. You’re going to take care of what I need first, right?”
“I’m on it,” Blair said. “So nothing at all? Don’t say a word.”
“The minimal,” he said. “Sorry, Nora. There is a reason for it.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure I’ll learn it all when it’s time.”
She held his stare and hoped he saw nothing other than the professional work mode voice she was perfecting in the mirror yesterday.
The one that didn’t show the hurt that he blew her off even though he’d told her that his time was limited.
But if they only had two days a week, it was five more days before she could relax her guard.
Maybe it wasn’t going to be a good thing. She didn’t know if she could even handle a normal relationship and this was much more complex.
Ethan nodded and turned to his office.
“I know you’re confused,” Blair said. “He’s got a new venture. This one is different. One solely for him. It’s his first and he’s stressed.”
“Oh,” she said. “I understand. I think. I know he has other ventures outside of Bond Enterprises.”
“He does, but this is different. Like Eli and Egan have their own companies, this is Ethan’s. Only it’s not something he’d be working at full time. So, there are a lot of moving parts if it gets there. I’ve got some work to do before it happens.”
“Got it.” Which meant don’t ask questions and Blair had to spend time on that. “Why don’t you show me what you want me to do or handle and then I’ll take care of it?”
“That was going to be my suggestion.”
The two of them got to work, Nora happy that she could do things on her own.
When lunch rolled around, she grabbed her purse and put her sneakers on. She’d forgotten her lunch on the counter and just hoped the apartment didn’t stink when she returned after work.
“Hold the elevator.”
She reached her hand over for Ethan to jump in. When it shut, they were alone. It wouldn’t stay that way, she was positive.
His hand reached and touched her slightly.
She turned her head, saw his smirk, and said, “It’s Monday.”
He laughed. “Sorry. My bad. You’re more disciplined than me. Just didn’t want you to think that maybe you’re not slipping into my mind another way also.”
Her heart raced, her palms got slick, and the corner of her mouth slowly lifted.
