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“Do you need me to do the Heimlich?”
A bark of laughter follows a cough. “I’m fine. The last time you tried to administer first aid, you broke one of my ribs.”
“I was twelve,” I point out. “I hadn’t gotten first aid training yet.”
He takes a full step into my office. “And you have now?”
I tap the corner of my laptop screen. “I’ve watched a few videos. I’m confident I can save you without breaking anything.”
“I’ll pass.” His arms cross over his chest. “Do you want to meet up tonight? There’s a new restaurant opening in Tribeca. I scored a couple of invites to their soft launch.”
“I can’t,” I say directly. “I’m taking Calliope out for dinner.”
His brow furrows. “Really?”
“Really,” I echo. “I like her.”
It’s an admission I didn’t have to make, but I know my brother. He’ll probe and prod until I tell him how I feel about my neighbor. Tossing him a crumb will satisfy him for now.
“Look at you crushing on a girl.” He laughs before he quickly corrects himself. “On a woman.”
“She’s an incredible woman,” I stress his point. “Intelligent, kind, and she thinks I’m charming.”
His smile carries to his eyes. “Try not to mess it up, Saint.”
“I won’t,” I say with conviction. “I’ll do everything within my power to not fuck this up.”
Chapter Thirty
Callie
I glanceat the young couple sitting at the table near us. “Do you think they’re on their first date too?”
Sean’s gaze doesn’t leave my face. “Absolutely.”
I let out a stuttered laugh. “You didn’t even look at who I’m referring to.”
His head shakes slightly. “I don’t need to. I saw them when they first arrived. She’s blonde with black-rimmed glasses. A pink hair tie is wrapped around her ponytail. He’s sporting the beginnings of a mustache. His hands are shaking like we’re in the middle of a magnitude six point nine quake.”
I steal a glance to see the dark-haired guy’s hands quivering as he reaches for his water glass.
“It’s about to get a lot more relaxed over there,” Sean comments.
My gaze drifts back to his face. “How so?”
He leans forward. “I ordered them a bottle of champagne. A few sips of that, and those first date nerves will disappear.”
My eyes widen. “When did you order them champagne?”
“When you were in the washroom trying to chase away that blush on your cheeks.”
I dip my chin to hide the sudden rush of heat I feel.
“Champ,” Sean says my name softly.
I glance up. “What?”
“Tell me about your first date.”
