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It’d been easier than I’d expected to get Cici’s address from Peter. Either the man was totally uninterested in protecting his boss, or he was distracted by Peyton. I smiled to myself as I walked down the neat sidewalk outside Cici’s building. The dark-green stucco exterior was charming, and I could definitely see her here, strutting around in those high heels.
I walked down the arched hall to the second door on the left. Unit number three. Cici’s home. Clearing my throat, I knocked twice. After our meeting with Peter, I’d only lasted about an hour before I’d skipped out for a late lunch. Or really, it was just an excuse to drive over here and bring Cici a little gift package.
Stepping back, I waited. She’d sounded pretty miserable yesterday. But Peter claimed she’d been up and answering emails earlier today. So hopefully she wasn’t still in the throes of it.
I could hear footsteps, and I nervously sent a look down my body. Dark-blue pants, white shirt, matching blue jacket. I looked like me. I wasn’t even sure why I’d checked. It wasn’t like my appearance had changed much between us. Whatever happened that night at the engagement party, it was something mental. But the appreciation she’d shown me, the way her eyes had glowed with heat and need…
I shivered. I would do whatever it took to make her look at me like that again.
The door suddenly swung open, and Cici Grove stood there staring at me with enormous, blinking eyes. Slowly, I let my gaze sweep over her face, down her neck, and over her body. She was wearing this lace-edged purple tank top and the tiniest pair of sleep shorts I’d ever seen.
I felt like I’d been hit by a bus.
She looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Brady?” Her voice was incredulous. Her gaze swept the hallway before coming back to rest on my face. For some reason, I fought the overwhelming need to apologize.
Gritting my teeth, I forced the doubt from my mind. “I brought you some goodies.”
“Goodies?”
I held up the tote bag, which I’d stuffed full of electrolytes, bananas, and every type of cracker that the corner store had had in stock. Cici stared, but I could see the pleasure on her face as she reached out to take it from me. Immediately she peeked in, her hands spreading the bag open.
“You brought me a get-well package?” Cici smiled up at me, looking more like herself than ever before. “That’s so decent of you.”
I could feel the heat in my neck. When had I become this guy? I slept with this woman once, weeks ago, and now I was bringing her presents while she was sick. Even after she’d basically ignored me since our last encounter.
“You’re welcome. Peter said you were feeling a little better. I thought crackers might taste better now.”
“Did he also tell you why I was so sick?” Cici looked embarrassed, her toe dragging along the doorjamb.
I forced my lips into a line as I looked her straight in the eye. “I may have heard.”
“I’m a monster.”
“You are not,” I protested, grinning. “Regardless of your monster status, I wanted you to have something.”
“I love them. Thank you, Brady.”
I couldn’t stop myself. “Back to Brady, then?”
She laughed softly. “Back to Brady. You know, when you’re not grumbling at me from across a conference room table, you’re really quite charming. Sweet, even.”
“You should have dinner with me, then. You know, after you feel like real food again.”
She didn’t even blink. “Sure. Next week?”
“You pick the time and place. I’ll pick you up.”
“Deal.”
“I’ll let you get some rest. Goodbye, Cecelia.”
“Bye, Brady,” she said softly, that dark-blue gaze following me as I turned and moved back up the hall. I didn’t turn, but every part of me wanted to. I wanted to know if she watched me, or even if she was smiling like an idiot, exactly how I was.
Just before I would lose sight of her door, I threw a look over my shoulder. Cici was still standing where I’d left her, one hand on the bag I’d brought, the other planted over her chest.
I didn’t stop the grin from taking over my entire fucking face.
