AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, it’s a girl. Just met her, taking things as they come.”
“Wow, she must be something. It has been months since you have been out with anyone. I was starting to think you were losing your game,” Tennyson half jokes.
“I have not lost my game,” I scoff. My brothers are assholes, but I love them.
“Nice work, bro. How is my best friend Brian doing?” Tennyson asks, and I balk.
“What do you mean, best friend?”
“He gave me a fantastic recommendation for a new client for Willow, so I had cupcakes from Willow delivered to him the other day. His favorite is chocolate, just so you know,” Tennyson tells me, and I shouldn’t be surprised that Brian is friends with my brothers. My scheming staff member probably has a black book full of names and numbers. He is a born networker, and I wonder if I should be utilizing his skills in other areas of the business aside from the front desk at Harborside.
“He gave me a fantastic recommendation for a spa that I sent Emily to the other day,” Ben acknowledges. Brian has wormed his way into my family pretty easily, it seems.
“Yeah, well, get your own Brian and leave mine alone.” I start walking again toward the cabanas where I left her earlier. I look around and spot her lying back on the sun bed in the cabana I told her about. She is gazing up, straight through the glass ceiling, looking at the Baltimore night sky.
“I need to run. See you at golf,” I say, hanging up on their voices and pocketing my phone, my eyes and mind now on only one thing.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I say without looking. I come here a lot. I love my place, my apartment, my residential building, but I spend a lot of time here as well. It is almost like a home away from home.
“This is so pretty,” she says, turning her head to look at me.
I take a seat, then lie down next to her. “It is a great place to come and think. On really clear nights, the stars sparkle like they are now. During thunderstorms, you get an excellent night show, and in summer, the sunsets are breathtaking.” My hand reaches out for hers, our fingers interlocking together by our sides.
“It is very relaxing,” she says, grinning at me.
“About last night…” I say, not able to forget about it easily. She was spooked, and I want her to know she is safe with me.
“Oh, it’s okay. Like I said, I am sure I was overreacting…” She scoffs at herself, but I know it is an excuse. I can tell by the look in her eye.
“I want you to know that the building security looked around but couldn’t see anyone either outside or on the cameras. But they will be implementing nightly building surveillance for the next few weeks, on the hour, just to ensure no one is lingering around,” I offer her, hoping it gives her some peace.
“I don’t want anyone to go to any trouble because of me.” Her brow crumples in a way that makes me want to flatten it again with my fingers. So, I do. I reach out and gently stroke her forehead with the back of my hand, before trailing it down her cheek. Her skin is soft, delicate. I feel her rapid hot breaths on my skin as she looks at me intensely.
“No one is getting in here. Whether you saw someone or not, you felt unsafe; I know you did. So I have asked the building to take every precaution to ensure all our tenants remain safe,” I tell her, swallowing roughly as her big blue eyes lock on mine.
“Thank you, Eddie. I feel like I need to keep saying thank you for everything that you are doing for me. I am not sure I will ever be able to repay you.” Now it is my turn to frown.
“I don’t want anything in return.” I don’t want her thinking she owes me. She doesn’t owe me anything. I keep my hand on her cheek, my thumb brushing against her soft skin.
“Nothing?” she asks me, her free hand grabbing my wrist with the lightest of touches, keeping my hand on her as she moves her body toward me more, our torsos now only inches apart. I don’t miss the look she gives me. Her lips dance upward, her voice filled with innuendo.
“I have no expectations,” I say, wanting to make it clear.
“So… I should kiss you because I want to, right?” she teases again, and I cough out a laugh.
“Do you?” I really fucking hope she says she does.
“Yes. Desperately,” she whispers softly, and I cup her face fully and pull her to me. My lips brush hers, and I immediately feel centered. Almost anchored to her as her lips part and our tongues tangle. Her hands run up my arms and settle at the back of my neck, pulling me closer, my body itching to be closer to her too.
I run a hand down her body, feeling her small curves, getting familiar with her shape, and loving every minute of it. We kiss slowly and deliberately for what feels like forever, and even then, I am not ready to come back up for air.
“Oh my God!” she says, panicked, pulling away quickly and jumping to her feet.
“What?” I jump up too, looking around for the threat.
“I left dinner to warm. It might be nearly ruined!” she cries out, and I let go of the breath I was holding and chuckle. She races out, and I grab my things, following her back downstairs to her apartment for dinner. I keep her hand firmly in mine, her body next to me, my thoughts only on her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN - KATIE
