AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ChapterSeventeen
“When do we get to eat?” Adam tickled Bee’s ear. For the third time in half an hour.
She tried to sigh with exasperation, but it came out as a chuckle instead. Because, after all, Adam was tickling her ear for the third time in half an hour.
“All right.” She put aside the stack of letters and rose from the desk. “It’s almost the witching hour, so that means it’s close to dinnertime.”
“Yes.” Adam pumped his fist in victory. “I’ve been craving those watercress sandwiches and mushroom-chive quiches like you wouldn’t believe.”
Bee laughed. “Don’t let the gods of testosterone hear you say that.”
“When I get home, I’ll eat pork rinds, drink moonshine, and burp a lot to make up for it.”
When I get home.
“So…where, exactly, is home?” she asked as they went upstairs and crossed the main floor.
“I have an apartment in Westwood.” He pulled open the break room door for her and stepped aside to let her enter first. “I didn’t buy a house when I moved to LA since I didn’t know how long I’d be living there. Turns out it was longer than I’d expected.”
“Do you like LA?” She retrieved the dinner basket from the kitchen and picked up a stack of linens.
“I don’t dislike it.” He shrugged, reaching out to take the basket from her. “I probably wouldn’t choose to live there, but there’s plenty to do.”
Together they set the table with the tablecloth and candle, and Bee arranged the food while Adam put out the silverware. He’d also brought his own contributions—an array of salads and charcuteries from the local deli. He retrieved the box of matches from the kitchen and struck one, holding the flame to the candlewick.
Bee started to sit down when the flame flickered and died. Her heart dropped an inch.
“The wick is probably charred,” Adam muttered.
He scraped the burned bits off the wick with the edge of his fingernail and lit another match. The wick flared. Bee breathed a little easier.
Adam tossed the box of matches aside and pulled his chair out.
The flame diminished. They both watched as it grew smaller and smaller before sputtering out.
Bee glowered at the air. “I told Captain Marcus that…what are you doing?”
“Not staying here.” Adam was already putting all the food back into the basket. “I’m not spending all of dinner trying to trim a candlewick and scrape away excess wax just to keep it lit. Let’s go.”
She hurried after him as he strode to the door. “Don’t youhaveto stay here?”
“I’m actually required to take breaks, so this is part of my contract.” He held open the front door for her.
As much as Bee loved the Gardenia House, as she and Adam descended the steps and crossed to the parking lot, a faint cloud seemed to lift from her.
She’d been giving so much of her energy to the house and the library that—until right now—she hadn’t realized it was starting to feel like a bit of a weight.
Adam unlocked the door of his trailer, and Bee preceded him inside.
“Wow.” She looked around, her eyebrows lifting. “This is a lot neater than I remember.”
“I might’ve been inspired to clean by a pretty librarian.” Adam set the basket on the table, indicating for her to sit on the bench seat across from him.
As she slid into the seat, her gaze caught sight of a worn paperback resting on the counter. Warmth fluttered around her heart.
“You’re reading this?” She held upAlice in Wonderland.
He gave her an abashed smile. “Figured I’d better fill the gaps in my fantasy novel education.”
