Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Leo paced his apartment. Back and forth. Back and forth. He fit his ear to his door, but no sounds came from the hall, not that he often heard much. He checked the peephole, but the narrow vision yielded much less. He tried his bedroom wall, but the odds of that giving him any clues were slim to none. He couldn’t stand still—or sit still.
He needed to know how the drop-off went. Needed to see Andie’s face and know she was okay.
The wait killed him, but he waited. Dean and Glen would stop by and update him soon. Time ticked past. Either his concept of it passing had gone completely off the rails, or Andie and Glen had more to talk about than he anticipated.
He couldn’t blame her for that.
Exhaustion finally won out and he sat down, fatigue settling into his bones. Only one thing was certain: he’d never forget this Chanukah.
The knock at his door had him out of his seat so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet. He reached for the handle, wrenching it open.
“Took you two long enough, did you stall in order to torture me …”
His voice trailed off as he saw who had knocked on his door. He would have bet money, a lot of money, on it being Dean and Glen.
Andie stood there. Wide-eyed, pink-cheeked, and somehow more beautiful than she’d been the day before.
“I assure you any delay was not done to torture you.”
Leo swallowed but the fist-sized lump in his throat remained. “Did you, uh.” He cleared his throat—or tried to. “Did the desk meet your expectations?”
“It did. I hadn’t known there were items in that drawer.”
“I suspected as much. I was terrified that they might have been lost before they could be returned to you.” He took a gamble, stepping closer to Andie, foot crossing the threshold of his apartment. “I really am sorry. I never intended for your desk to be in any harm’s way. Though with the level of conflict at work with Dean and I and our father, I guess an issue like this was bound to happen.”
“It seems like your father has made amends.”
This was Andie. Heart so big she’d check in with him regardless of her own emotional state. He wanted to touch her, instead he put his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, he has. I almost can’t believe it. Turns out mistakenly selling irreplaceable family heirlooms presents an opportunity to clear the air.”
“Clear the air?”
“We’re going to sit down and have a meeting, but the business will be passed down to his sons.”
Andie’s face lit up. “Leo, that’s great!”
“Yeah. We even fixed the grandfather clock together.”
“See, things do work out.”
This amazing woman took care of others, even now, and she needed someone to be taking care of her. “Turns out I needed that kick in the rear that you gave me. But I’m more interested in you. Did you take the Ohio job?”
The wall that had been built between them had begun to crumble, replaced by a live wire. He wanted to reach out, touch her, pull her in. But he didn’t have the okay to do so.
“I decided to pass on the Ohio job.”
Hope bloomed so fast his heart nearly stopped. “Why?”
Her eyes flitted up, lost in thought. “When I checked my email I found an offer from the temple and I realized that everything I had learned about that job matched my wants and needs. Add the bonus of remaining close to my friends and memories with my father helped sway the decision.”
“And your annoying neighbor who nearly lost your desk?”
She looked at him, her gaze colliding with his. “Turns out I may have been a bit too harsh on him.” She held up her hand, her thumb and pointer finger close together. Her leather cuff came into view, so Andie, so charming.
“No. You were the exact dose of reality I needed.”
They stood there, staring at each other. The wall had been removed, but they still had begun as a temporary Chanukah thing.
“Andie, would you like to light the candles with me tonight?” He swallowed. “And give me the chance at spending next Chanukah with you as well?”
Her smile grew large and wide. He’d take a picture but it would break the moment. “Are you asking me something, Leo Dentz?”
He stepped further into the hall, until their toes touched. “Date me, Andie Williams. I can’t get enough of you.”
She rose on her toes and he leaned down but a voice down the hall stopped them. “Kiss him already!”
They turned to Dean, standing by the elevator. Glen stood behind him.
“What? You expected me to leave and not witness this beautiful moment.” He pretended to wipe a tear.
“Dad?” Leo called out.
Glen stood taller. “Yes?”
“Take the stairs.”
Andie chuckled, resting her head on Leo’s shoulder.
Glen nodded and grabbed Dean by the neck, the two exiting the hall.
“Do I need to remind you I come with them?”
Andie’s soft chuckle hit his ears. “Then you haven’t been paying attention.”
He reached down, tipping Andie’s chin up to him. “That they are part of my charm?”
Andie’s face turned serious. “They are something I’ve been looking for, but I realized families are never perfect and I would have wanted a chance at this thing with you without them.”
“I’m going to kiss you now.” He needed to feel her against him.
Andie wrapped her arms around his neck. “I believe I was going to kiss you.”
“Either way, as long as I can taste you.” He pressed his lips to hers, absorbing her touch and warmth. Somehow, through everything, he’d gotten his ultimate wish for Chanukah: a chance with Andie.