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I was the deer and he was the oncoming headlights. It took me a few seconds to gather myself and respond.
“Keller, I had no idea.”
He nodded. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner. Please think about my offer. Name a price and I’ll have my attorney draw up a contract. I’d make you happy, Shea. Whether it’s strictly a job, or more.”
I got up from my seat, eager to get out of there and process this news alone. It was the most surreal conversation I’d ever had.
“Thank you so much,” I said, smiling. “I’ll be in touch.”
I couldn’t get out of 3Bs fast enough. When I was safely behind the wheel of my car driving back to work, I laughed until my stomach hurt.
What the hell was happening? My life had quickly gone from boring to overwhelming. I had no idea what I was doing anymore, personally or professionally.
I pulled up to a stop sign and checked my phone, finding a text from Nina.
Nina: Bad news. Lenny called in with the flu, and I really hate to tell you this, but I’m not feeling well myself.
Awesome. We worked so closely in the kitchen that the flu usually hit most, if not all, of us. The only upside was that I’d be so slammed at work for the next few days that I wouldn’t have time to think about anything else.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Holt
Shea pushed open the kitchen door and stepped out, a splatter of what looked like gravy on the front of her apron.
“Holt, hey...” She smiled and wiped a towel over the stain. “When Nina said someone was here to see me, I assumed it was Spencer.”
“He and Marley are at youth bowling night with my parents.”
“Ah, I remember youth bowling. I always loved it.”
I’d spent the afternoon working up the courage to come find her. Though she’d never admit it, I knew she was avoiding me. Before Andrea showed up unannounced, Shea would usually come out of the kitchen at least once during every meal to say hello to guests and ask how their food was. Since that night, I hadn’t seen her come out at all.
“Can you get away later so we can go somewhere and talk?” I asked.
“Um...”
“Please, Shea.”
She nodded. “Okay, sure. Give me like forty-five minutes.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No, but”
“We’ll go get tacos from Taco Train.”
“Okay. Should I meet you there?”
What I really wanted was for her to meet me in my room so I could kiss her again, but this time, I wouldn’t stop. It was agonizing trying to be a dad every minute of the day, pretending I didn’t have other wants and needs.
And Shea was in between the two. I wanted her so badly it was becoming more like a need. I lay in bed at night, aching to be back in the hot tub with her, feeling her warm skin against mine.
“Meet me in the lobby. I’ll drive,” I said.
I was waiting in the lobby when she walked in forty-five minutes later, her apron gone and her hair taken down from the bun it had been in. She wore black pants and a white T-shirt, but as usual, my attention was drawn to her smile.
“I probably smell like beef gravy,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
