AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I want to call the words back the second they leave my mouth, but they’re out now and I look up with one eye closed and find him watching me with what looks like wonder and delight on his face.
“I like you, Amelia.”
“I like you too, Xander.”
“Good, so where do you need me?”
“Need you?”
He moves back toward the elevator and lifts his arms, kissing an impressive bicep. “I’m great at moving boxes, so put me to work.”
I rush after him as he enters the elevator and presses the button for the ground floor.
“You don’t have to do that. I have help coming. Your sister and Harrison for starters.” I wave my hand around in the air and then drop it. “Surely you have superstar stuff to do, like signing someone’s breasts or butt or something?”
God, I need to shut up. I’m a poised, intelligent woman and despite what the last twenty minutes would indicate, I have a filter.
“Do you want me to sign something for you, Amelia? Because that is awfully specific.”
“As if.”
He flashes those baby blues at me and winks, and my stomach does a somersault as desire ties my tongue again. Jesus, this man is dangerous.
“You’re a wonder. And to answer your question, I have no body parts to sign presently and it’s a good excuse to play with my nephew and fuck with Harrison.”
I pause but I have no real answer except to accept. I just have to hope he and Beck can behave. “In that case, I’d love some help.”
We carry two more loads of boxes up to my place, working side by side in companionable harmony. He jokes and asks me a few questions that are harmless and fun, and I answer and it feels easy. Before I know it I’ve almost forgotten who he is to the rest of the world. I’m no stranger to high-profile personalities growing up as I did. My family wealth is old, going back to my great grandfather who set up the Stone Brothers Liquor Company, and to this day is one of the biggest producers and distributors of vodka. It means I could never work again and still not spend all the money I have. I grew up around wealth too, with Beck’s family being of even bluer blood than me. Yet even that seems different from how star-struck I was around Xander earlier.
“I see you got yourself some help.”
I turn and Norrie rushes up to me with a look of delight on her face. Norrie is utter sunshine and the beautiful little boy in her arms turns my heart to mush. I take him from her and blow raspberries in his neck until he giggles with the total abandon that only the very young can manage.
“So, you roped Xander into helping, huh? Good move. That pretty boy needs to do some real work.”
I roll my lips to stop myself from laughing as Harrison comes up behind Norrie and slides his arm around her waist. These two are adorable and I couldn’t be happier that they finally got their shit together.
“I didn’t realize Xander lived here.”
I eye Norrie who’s looking around as if the lobby is suddenly the most exciting place in the world.
“We should probably get a move on. Linc and Lottie are bringing pizza in a bit.”
I frown at her and she scurries off. “What is your wife up to?”
Harrison is watching the direction she took off in with a dreamy grin on his face. God these two are too much. “No clue.”
As the moving van turns up a few minutes later, I feel a tingle at the back of my neck and turn to see Beck striding toward me. His head is down, but when he looks up and sees me, his face lights up and it’s all I can do not to run and throw myself into his arms. I’ve missed him. Not being around him is like losing a limb. Even being in London wasn’t like this because at least we talked every day.
“Hey, Tink.”
His arm comes around me and I lean into him and close my eyes. Will this man ever not be home to me? I hope not, but then I also know that one day he’ll find someone who he can love like Harrison loves Norrie. His lips find my hair and he squeezes me tight, forcing me to glance up.
“I’m sorry, Tink. I was a huge dick. Can you forgive me?”
I nod, because hewasa dick, but it’s not worth losing what we have, which is years of friendship and love.
“Missed you, baby girl.”
