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CHAPTER 38
CASSIE
The next morning, Leo was busy making coffee while Cassie explored the library. They woke up early because Leo had received a text message from Ben that the Walker Foundation Grant recipients would be announced this morning.
“What are you reading?” Leo asked, entering the room, bare-chested and wearing a pair of athletic shorts low on his hips.
“English poetry,” she answered, distracted by how mouth-wateringly sexy he looked.
He came to her with a smile and wrapped his arms around her waist, sliding his hand under the T-shirt she wore.
“Next to your bedroom, I think this is my favorite room in your apartment.”She leaned her head against his chest. “Why aren’t these books in a special library somewhere? Some of them are first editions.”
“There’s an enormous library at the Sutton estate in Sussex. These books were personal favorites of Charles, so they’ll stay here for now.”
She considered all the books and antique furniture.
“Do you like living here surrounded by all these antiques and old books? I would have expected you to live—”
“Like a rich playboy?” he asked, squeezing his arms around her waist. “I love the connection to my family history. My father recognized my interest and gave me this apartment as part of my trust fund.” He kissed her cheek. “You’re wearing your glasses again. I thought you didn’t need them.”
“They have a progressive lens with a mild prescription to help me read small print.” She waved the book she held in her hand.
“I wear contact lenses.”
“Really?”
Leo leaned in and removed her glasses. “They’re corrective, but I don’t need them to see.”
How could they be corrective if not for eyesight? “For what?”
“It’s not a big deal.” He took her hand. “Let’s go eat breakfast. I’m making toast.”
“Toast?” she asked with a laugh.
“Not just any toast. It’s raisin bread toast,” Leo said, pulling a stool out for her at the breakfast bar. He put two slices of bread into the toaster and poured the steaming coffee into two oversized white mugs.
She leaned on the bar, enjoying how his strong muscles flexed with every movement in the most delicious ways.
He handed her a mug of coffee. “Black, right?”
“Yeah,” she answered, taking a sip. “So, have you heard anything about the grant?”
Leo picked up his phone. “Let’s see.” He touched a few buttons. His eyebrows rose. “It’s here. The Walker Foundation sent me an email.”
“What does it say?” She held her breathwhile he read the email. This grant would ease the way for the Rose Village project, so there was a lot at stake for him.
Leo stared at the screen before lifting his eyes to her.
Please let him get the grant, she prayed. He’s worked so hard for it.
“Good news?”
“Notgood.”
“Oh no.” Her heart sank for him.
“It’sgreat!” He picked her up and spun her around. “The foundation gave us more funding than we’d hoped for.”
