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He shrugs that off. “It was caught.”
“After three days.” I wave three fingers in the air.
He mimics my movements but with four of his fingers. “It’s better than four days.”
I can’t argue that point, so I don’t. “What are you doing tonight?”
That draws his gaze to my face. “Why?”
It’s been years since I’ve arranged a blind double date for us, but his mind always wanders back to the night we had our last one. It was a shit show. The women we met up with were thirty years our senior.
They spent the bulk of dinner schooling us in good manners even though we were as polite as possible.
“I’m cooking dinner for a few people in my building,” I tell him. “You’re welcome to join us.”
He shrugs that off with a shake of his head. “I’m hitting the gym.”
“That’s going to take all night?”
He flexes his bicep under the sleeve of his suit jacket. “If you wanted to look like this, you’d know it takes commitment, Saint.”
“Go to hell.” I laugh as I turn to exit his office.
“Only if you lead the way,” he calls after me as I shut the door on my way out.
Chapter Twenty-One
Callie
My mom taughtme to never show up to dinner at someone’s house without a gift in hand.
That’s why I’m carrying a potted cactus.
I had no idea what to bring to Sean’s apartment for dinner.
The man is rich, so it’s not as though he needs anything. I know that he pinned dessert duties on Mr. Durkman, so something as innocuous as a plant seemed fitting.
Sean doesn’t strike me as the type of person who has a green thumb, so I suspect the cactus will thrive in his presence. I’ve caught sight of a two-person cleaning crew exiting my neighbor’s apartment early every second Saturday, so I’m hopeful they’ll mind the cactus when they’re there.
I take one last look at my outfit. I opted for a yellow sundress and low-heeled sandals. I wanted to look casual yet respectful, given that most of the dinner guests were born more than eighty years ago.
I knock on Sean’s door.
I’m five minutes late. I felt that was acceptable since I didn’t want to be the first to arrive.
The door swing opens, bringing with it the scent of something mouth-watering, along with the image of something just as appetizing.
Sean has lost the suit jacket he was wearing earlier. The sleeves of his light blue dress shirt are pushed up to his elbows, and his tie is nowhere in sight.
The two undone buttons at the top of his shirt show the smooth skin that hides beneath the fabric.
“Champ,” he greets me with the nickname I’m growing fond of. “Welcome.”
I smile. “Thank you. I brought you something.”
His gaze drops to my hands and the gray clay pot that contains the small cactus. “How did you know?”
“Know what?” I ask as I shove it at him.
