AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know.” But did he know? Did he know that she was on his side for the partnership plan? He wasn’t a fool. He knew Dom’s children had just as much say in the business as the patriarch. What if she wasn’t on his side? He needed to spend more time with her, convincing her that he was the right guy for the job. He could think of one way to do that. “Come home with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Come to my home. You’re done working now, right?”
“Yes, but I’m exhausted and covered with hairspray and makeup from the show. I just want a hot shower and my bed.”
“I have a shower and a bed at my place.” He wiggled his eyebrows, hoping to make her laugh but only half joking. If she wanted to get in his shower or his bed, he certainly wouldn’t argue. Ever since she’d agreed to figure out what was growing between them, all he’d been able to think about was the next step. He wanted to spend some time alone with her. He wanted to figure out why she’d backed away from his kiss. If she didn’t open up to him, he was bound to make the same mistake again. He’d waited for her to elaborate on her “It wasn’t your fault,” but she’d remained stubbornly silent. She’d shared her words and opinions all day long with everyone on the site. He closed the door behind them and set the alarms. Now that work was done and the cameras were off, he wanted her all to himself.
“I think it’s a little soon to be talking showers and beds.”
“Simply trying to be a good host. Come to my place. We can talk, relax, watch a movie, maybe make out a little on my couch. What do you say?”
“My, after an invitation like that, how can I refuse?”
“Good. Grab your coat. It’s chilly.” He deliberately ignored her sarcasm and took her hand in his.
The night cooled around them, the scent of freshly turned earth and juniper floating in the damp spring air. It was fairly dripping with dew, waiting to paint the lawn now that the sun had dropped behind the mountains. He inhaled deeply, hoping that the blast to his lungs would help cool his blood, to no avail. They walked hand in hand out to the curb, and Adrian couldn’t remember the last time the simple pleasure had felt so right. But when he opened the door to his truck cab, she turned and headed for her own car.
“I’ll follow you. That way I can get myself home if it gets late.”
Damn it. Logic scored another point. At least the quiet ride home would give him time to think. He needed to convince her to give this flicker a chance to flame. He had spent too many years quietly waiting for it to burn out due to lack of fuel.
A girly movie. A glass of wine. A little snuggle on the couch. He plotted his strategy to give her a relaxing evening. She had earned a break from juggling basically three full-time jobs. He felt a little guilty for the extra work his paperwork had caused her and for all the mishaps on the project. First with the inspection fixes, then with the leak repairs, he’d added more to her stress than he’d ever intended. Time to fix that.
He had a twenty-minute drive to plan his strategy. When Sofia pulled into his driveway a few seconds behind him, Adrian was waiting to open her door for her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It’s just this way.”
He led the way around to the back of the house, and realized that she was a good five feet behind him. She warily walked through the back gate. He laughed.
“I promise there’s nothing weird or creepy.”
“I’m sure that’s what every weird or creepy dude says.”
“Am I weird or creepy?”
“I’m reserving judgment.”
“Ouch.” Adrian rubbed a hand where her arrows of snark hit him square in the chest. “I have the second floor apartment, and the stairs go up the back.”
She exhaled audibly, and he prayed it was good nerves and not the bad kind making her short of breath. He wasn’t really scary, was he? Was she having second thoughts about getting involved with one of the crew? To his knowledge, she had never dipped a toe in that pool, though she certainly could have. She’d always kept a careful distance. Was she going to try and back away from him, too? Was she worried about his proposal? To be so close to what he wanted and still doubt that he would ever truly belong pinched at the heart beneath his hand. But fortune favors the bold, so he pushed ahead.
“It’s just up here.”
He offered his hand and was reassured when she took it. He led her up to his deck and opened the dead-bolted door to his apartment. The door creaked as it opened, giving its best imitation of a haunted house after weeks of neglect.
“Nope. Not creepy at all.” Her laugh cut through the night air and hit him square in the throat. At this rate, he’d need a medic by morning. But she walked inside, and that was all that mattered.
“Wow! There’s a lot more space up here than you’d think, looking at the house from the outside. Did you build this?”
“I did, a few years ago. I needed my own place that wasn’t overrun with little sisters, but Mamá still needs me too much for me to move far away.”
“I know all about that headache. Dad bought an apartment building as an investment property about fifteen years ago. Frankie, Enzo, and I all have apartments side by side. It’s a freaking Valenti dorm!”
He liked hearing her joke and watching her explore his home. He’d worked hard to make it his.
