Jannie blinked, stunned by her own reaction. Just yesterday, she’d been irritated to see him, but in less than twenty-four hours, she found herself upset at the thought of him leaving.
He motioned toward the mess of food, paper plates, and plasticware. “You done eating?”
She nodded, watching him begin to clean up. “You don’t have to do that.”
He smiled. “I know. Do you have a trash bag?”
She did. Several sizes. She opened a drawer and pulled out a white Hefty bag, her mind racing. Soon, he’d be out of her house and maybe out of her life. He’d fly home, and she …
She’d be alone.
Unless Blake showed up again. Her stomach turned at the very thought. Once, she had looked forward to his fly-by visits, but now …
Jannie watched Nick make short work of gathering up the leftovers, tying off the bag, and wiping the counter with a microfiber cloth he found by the sink. A man who cleaned up without being asked. She didn’t know they existed.
Now that she had someone here with her again, she realized she missed the company. She could practically feel the emptiness and heavy silence that would descend as soon as Nick walked out that door, and she’d be alone in this huge house full of memories, dashed hopes, and broken promises.
Well, OK, and with Rolf, but he couldn’t talk.
Nick abruptly stopped polishing the counter, his gaze catching hers. “I have an idea.”
“And what is that?” She waited.
He put down the cloth, then braced his hands on the counter and leaned forward. “Come with me.”
“To Vegas?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?
She stared at him. “I can’t just up and leave. I have to work.”
“You can’t take some time off?”
“Well …”
Technically, she could. But—
“Would you agree you need a reset?”
She couldn’t disagree. Jannie looked into Nick’s handsome face and saw no pity in his eyes, only hope and something so powerful, it sent a jolt through her middle.
“Can you take some time off?” he asked again.
“I don’t know.” She’d returned to work two weeks after her miscarriage, wanting the distraction. Maybe it was too soon? Maybe … “I do have some vacation time,” she said.
“How much?”
“Four weeks.”
“Then how about using some of it to get away for a while?” He resumed wiping the counter. “If you need a place, you can stay with me.”
Was he serious? “With you?”
He nodded.
