“Don’t be sorry.” I glance down at the dog who might be the only thing that kept me from going out of my mind on the long lonely nights. “She’s been good for me. Kept me company and gave me something to do with my time.” I clear my throat at the sudden fist of emotion tightening my windpipe. “I could have done without all the humping, but I’m not sure I could have done without her. I figure, if the worst she does is assault a throw pillow or ruin a pair of boots, I still came out ahead.”
Brooke’s brows slant in question as she quietly asks, “Have you really been single this whole time?”
I lean back in my seat, needing a little space to keep me from reaching for her. “I’ve really been single this whole time.”
Brooke’s eyes hang on my face a second longer before skimming down my frame. They pause on the spot where my dick is perking back up after finally calming down after all the talk about eating. I know what she’s thinking about, and I need her to stop.
Because if I’ve learned one thing tonight, it’s that Brooke is nowhere near ready for what I want from her.
And I want everything.
I want her at my side. In my life. In my house. In my bed.
As my wife.
And becoming a wife didn’t go so well for her the last time she considered it.
So my new goal is to make her decide I should be her husband. That she wants me at her side. In her life. That she wants to live in my house and sleep in my bed.
Permanently.
Pushing back from the counter I stand. “You ready for some of this dessert?” I round the island, deciding I can eat a second helping of dinner later as I set down my plate and open the freezer. There’s a container right at eye level, and I stare at it a second, shocked by the way it makes me feel. “You got chocolate chip ice cream?”
I turn to find Brooke watching me. She lifts one shoulder, like it’s not a big deal. “I just remembered you used to love it, and thought maybe you might still.”
I hold her gaze, the most serious I’ve ever been when I admit, “I still love a lot of things I used to.”
18
Brooke
“Why has that guy been sitting outside your office all day?” Maren leans to peer out my open door at the giant, black-clad man who’s been occupying a chair a few paces away since I came in this morning.
“Are they not posted around the property?” I sort of assumed the team strategically picked a set of locations so each wing would be equally covered.
Maren snorts. “Uh, no.” She eyes the man again. “This is the only spot where I see them sitting like that. The rest of the time they’re in the security office or walking around outside.”
Now it’s my turn to look at the Alaskan Security guy. “So he’s the only one sitting around like that?”
“Yup.” Maren pops the P. “I’ve also noticed all the owners are acting a little squirrelly today. Makes me wonder if something happened.” She shrugs. "Or maybe that’s just their new normal.”
I could see Tobias and his brothers being a little jumpy after an explosion. I know what it’s like when you have no idea what’s coming next, and no way to plan for it. It’s like yourbody gets stuck in fight or flight and considers everything a threat.
Even when you know it’s not.
Maren finishes dishing out everything I needed from the supply room, then promises to return for lunch. We eat together every day now since Tobias clearly thinks I need enough food for two people. And I’m starting to think my new friend pinches pennies as aggressively as I had to when I first came to town, so I’m happy to save her a few bucks on lunch. Only I’m not sure there’s an end in sight for her. Even if Maren gets hired on once her contract is up with the temp agency, I know what the wage is for most base-level hires. While it’s more than she makes now, it’s not a life-changing amount more.
Unless…
Titus appears in my office door, cutting off the idea brewing in my brain. He flashes me a quick, lopsided smile. “You ready?”
“Yup.” I grab my computer, tucking it under one arm as we make our way through the building to one of the large rooms Titus’s team uses for weekly meetings. Normally, he’s the one who runs them, but today it’s my show.
And I’m equal parts terrified and excited.
After observing the way his employees work together and individually—as well as meeting with each person one-on-one—I think I have a plan for helping the group function more effectively. It’s the main reason Titus brought me on, so I don’t want to fuck it up. It’s also what I do best, so I’m riding high on finally being fully back in my element.
The meeting takes a very long two hours, but by the time we're done, Titus looks thrilled and the employees are mostly on board. Change is hard, so I wasn’t expecting everyone to beexcited right out of the gate. Some people are, but there’s also bound to be some pushback. Which is okay. Once people see that things are improving, I have no doubt they’ll also be happy with the changes I’ve suggested.
