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“I was going to sneak in and drop off the box. I thought you’d be busy with clients.”
“Lucky for me, you caught me between appointments.” The counter between them was too much distance, so he came around to her side. “I’m glad you’re here. I was just thinking about you.”
“What were you thinking?”
Another place and time, he would’ve pulled her body against his and offered up something from the endless arsenal of sexy things he’d like to do to her. “Honestly, I was thinking about how beautiful you are when you’re working. And that I wish we could find more time together, even if we’re not doing anything specifically us, just to be around you. How much I miss you. You know, normal macho guy thoughts.”
She laughed, curbing the happy sound when a club member walked past.
The man acknowledged them with a goodbye nod. What the gentleman neglected to do was scan his card on the way out, requiring Sam to manually check him out.
He could wait and do it later. With his current exhaustion level and the beautiful distraction looking deep into his eyes, he’d forget for sure. Perfection wasn’t a requirement of his job. He did his best though. As often as possible.
“Hang on a sec,” he said, ducking behind the desk to punch the necessary keys at the computer. He stood in front of her again less than thirty seconds later. Too late, the connection of the previous moment had already passed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for working while you’re at work. You’re great at your job, I’d expect nothing less from you.”
“Thanks, but that wasn’t the only thing I’m sorry for.”
Her head tilted slightly. “Then what else?”
“For being out of sync with you lately. It’s not how I want things to be between us. I know you feel the same way.”
“You’re right. That’s part of the reason I dropped off the cookies.” Judging by the pink in her cheeks and the state of her fidgety, wringing hands, she had more on her mind than delivering a few casual treats.
“I’ve got a couple minutes before my next client gets here, if you want to talk.”
“Talk. Okay.” She nodded. Took a breath. Nodded again. “I know we haven’t been trying this version of our relationship very long, but it isn’t working the way I hoped.”
There it was, the punch in the gut he’d known would come. Should’ve tightened his emotional muscles more before the hit, because it stung like hell. “Thanks for trying. And for the consolation cookies,” he said, in a last-ditch effort to be the relaxed, upbeat guy she’d wanted to be with.
She blinked up at him for several seconds, then her eyes opened wide as saucers. “You think I’m breaking up with you?”
“That’s typically what ‘this isn’t working’ means.”
“Good thing we’re not a typical couple in a typical relationship.”
He shook his head. “Maybe it’s the fatigue, but I’m not sure what that means either.”
She took a deep breath, shaking out her hands at her sides as she exhaled. “I had this all planned out—I know that must shock you,” she said, laughing nervously. “I was going to drop off the box and leave. Let the cookies do the sweet talking. Now I have to actually give a speech and I didn’t plan for that. So I’m winging it, and doing an absolutely terrible job, since you thought I brought you breakup cookies. I’m much better when I stick to a plan.”
He couldn’t help smiling. “I like you every way.”
“And Iloveyou every way.” Everything about her got lighter. And her smile—damn. The dozens of LED bulbs in the club might as well have been nightlights compared to that smile.
“You love me every way?” He was ninety-nine percent sure what she meant. Having her spell it out wouldn’t hurt though. For clarity’s sake. Also, because he wanted to hear it again.
“I love you when you’re funny, charming, serious, kind, sensitive, laidback, take-charge and every other way. I love you. As in, I’m in love with you. Wow, I’m really a rambling idiot without a plan.”
He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “Babe, you are never an idiot. And you can stop by to ramble about loving me anytime you want.”
“You know what would be easier than that? If I could ramble it to you while we’re in bed at night.”
“Sounds good to me. What night did you have in mind?”
“Actually, I had multiple nights in mind,” she said, smoothing her palms over his chest.
“Even better. When’s Lennox headed to the cottage?”
