Page 17 of Then There Was You

“How are you finding it?” I ask, gesturing to the book.

“I think I owe you an apology,” he says sheepishly.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought erotica would be just sex, but it’s more than that. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there is alotof sex in it, but there’s a story too and I wasn’t expecting that.”

“So you like it?” I ask with a smile.

He chuckles. “Yeah, I like it. I probably shouldn’t read it at work, though. Not when it gives me blue balls all day.”

“Fuck!” My mouth drops open. “I think that’s a little too much over-sharing, Seb.” My eyes track over his broad chest, and I find myself wishing he wasn’t sitting behind his desk so I could see the full effect the book is having on him.

“Shit! Sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”

I laugh and wave off his comment. “It’s fine. I’ve heard far worse. It’s a hazard of the job. I have plenty more when you’re done with that one, though. If you want to keep reading, just let me know.”

“Thanks. I might just take you up on that.”

“Oh, one more thing. You wouldn’t have a hammer I could borrow, would you? Like an idiot, I ordered the hardware to hang the pictures but nothing to actually hammer them into the wall with.”

“Sure. I think there’s one around here somewhere. It’s probably in the storeroom. I’ll see if I can find it and bring it up to you.”

“Thanks, Seb.”

I leave him in his office and head back upstairs. It will be good to be able to decorate and put my own stamp on the place. Maybe I’ll ask Paisley and Ash if they want to help. We can have a painting party.

Fifteen minutes later, there’s a knock on my door. I put down the picture I’m holding, cross the space, and open the door.

“What’s that?” I ask when all I can see is Seb’s inked arms holding a large box.

“No idea. It’s just been delivered downstairs. Didn’t you say you were waiting on a desk?”

“Ooh, yes! Come in.” I take hold of his arm and guide him into the apartment, knowing he won’t be able to see anything because of how big the box is.

“Where do you want it?” he asks.

“Anywhere is good. I haven’t decided where my workspace is going to be yet. I can move it around once I’ve figured out how to build it.”

He places the box on the floor and heads back to the door.

“I found the hammer. I couldn’t carry it with the box, so I’ll go back down and grab it.”

While he’s gone, I rip off the packaging and pull out the white wooden pieces of the desk. There’s what looks like a million nuts and bolts, and I frown as I pick up the instructions and flick through them, thinking they might as well be written in a different language.

“How can there be this much hardware?” I tear open the clear plastic bag that’s holding them, cringing as they scatter all over the wooden floor. “Fuck,” I say, scrambling to grab them all.

“Having fun?” Seb asks from behind me.

“Urgh, I knew buying unassembled was a mistake. I’m going to be working in the bar forever if these instructions are anything to go by.”

“Let me take a look.”

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean for you to help. I know how busy you are. Maybe Paisley or Ash can help.”

He laughs. “Paisley, maybe. Ashlyn, definitely not. She’s the least practical person I know.”

“Wait until you know me better. I’ll be vying for that title!”

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