Page 47 of Emil

You asked me to look around for art and do some research, but Micah just invited me to breakfast and book club, and I’m not sure how long that will take.

I haven’t bought anything yet, but would it be okay if I go to breakfast and book club first?

Not only is it okay, but I insist.

Don’t worry about it. You can do it another day.

Tell Micah I said hi.

Have fun. I’ll bring dinner home with me.

See you tonight.

Permission granted, I made my way back to the table and slid into the chair beside Micah.

“If you’re sure,” I said, “I’d love to come along.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EMIL

“Hey, you. Thanks for joining me for dinner,” I said when Anders showed up on the doorstep of the main house.

I’d seen him when I pulled in. He’d been sitting on the front porch with his laptop open and a stack of files beside him. I didn’t love that he hadn’t followed my instruction about not working on the weekends, but I understood why he’d done it. He didn’t have anything else to occupy his time.

After tonight, I hoped I could change that.

“Thanks for having me over for dinner,” Anders said as he stepped across the threshold.

“You’re always welcome.”

He stood there, looking fresh from the shower—he must have taken it quickly—with his wet hair plaited into a French braid. He was dressed casually in joggers, vans, and an ancient Rainier’s College sweatshirt. He’d never looked better or hotter or sexier.

I’d promised myself I’d go as slow as he needed me to go, but when he was fresh from the shower and smelled liked coconut, it was hard to keep my focus where it should be. Anders deserved more. I’m not sure when I’d crossed the line from curiosity into need, but I was firmly in that camp now.

“Can I ask about your meeting, or is that private?” Anders’s tone was hesitant but polite.

Something about the way he held himself made me suspect the phrasing carried more weight than it should. I suspected John had continuously moved the goalposts with Anders, so he’d never known where he stood. If I was right, it would’ve been exhausting. Always on edge, never right, but always trying.

“You can ask me about anything you want. If I can tell you, I will. And it was…interesting. There are still some threads that need to be cleaned up, but I’m getting a better picture of what is happening with the firm.”

I ushered Anders into the kitchen. He immediately moved to the sink to wash his hands and then over to where I was unpacking our dinner from the takeout bags. I was torn on whether or not to intervene.

Now that I’d figured out his orientation toward service, I knew it was something significant to him. But on the other hand, everyone deserved a break. Everyone deserved rest. And he shouldn’t have expectations placed on him every minute of every day. Just because he was around someone didn’t mean he needed to work for their attention or their appreciation.

“Hey, now. You’re stealing my job. You’re supposed to be off duty tonight,” I said. I tried to keep my voice as friendly as possible while also making it clear that I wasn’t kidding. He was off the clock tonight.

“Well, I was just trying to be helpful. It’s hard to make sure everything gets out at the same time when you only have two hands.”

I drew Anders from where he stood next to the island over to the counter and gently pushed him onto the stool that lived there.

“And, I promise, I’ve got this handled.”

“Yeah, of course you do. I just…you know…don’t want you to have to do all the work. I can help too. You shouldn’t be serving me.”

“Why not?” I was genuinely curious what he’d say. Unsurprisingly, Anders deflected the question.

“Don’t you wish you had someone to pick up the slack?”