Chapter 21
“Thank you, ma’am,” Hendrix replied, then ended the phone call.
“Who was that?” Emily asked, stepping into Hendrix’s office. She set the wrapped sandwich in the middle of his desk.
He leaned back in his leather chair and grinned at Emily. She had her hair neatly pinned up again. Damn, he enjoyed the fact that he was the only person who knew how long and gorgeous her hair was when it was down.
Emily cocked a dark eyebrow questioningly and Hendrix chuckled. “That was Agnes Albright. She called to tell me that her son has been sent to an institution in Germany.” He looked down at the sandwich. “What kind is this?”
“Pastrami on rye with Swiss and two pickles.” Emily sat down in one of the chairs. “What institute?”
Hendrix groaned. “This is my favorite!”
“I know,” Emily replied with a grin. But then she turned serious again. “What institute?”
Hendrix unwrapped the sandwich and stared at it. “How did you know that I like pastrami and Swiss?”
She crossed her legs, watching him carefully. “You mentioned that you…noticed me…ever since you first started working here.”
“I didn’t just notice you, Em,” he replied, ignoring the sandwich as he watched her carefully. “I think I fell in love with you on the first day I met you.” He noticed her eyes widen and continued. “That feeling has only grown over the past couple of years.”
“You…love me?”
He stood up and came around to sit in the other chair, facing her. “Yeah,” he replied, leaning forward and taking her hands. “I love you. And I’m so damn sorry for not leaving a note for you the other morning.”
He felt her thumb brush over his hand and wanted to pull her into his arms. But he was trying to take this slowly with her.
“I think,” she whispered, leaning forward as well, “I’m in love with you too.”
His heart stuttered and began to race. “You think?”
She chuckled and shifted their hands, lacing her fingers through his. “I know that you love pastrami and Swiss cheese sandwiches. I know that you prefer them hot rather than cold.” She pulled his hand closer, kissing one fingertip. “I know that you care about every person here at the club. And that you protect anyone that you care for.” She kissed another fingertip. “I know that you try to hide your caring and concern under a gruff exterior.” She kissed another fingertip. “I know that you’re a faker, Hendrix.”
“What do I fake?” he demanded, wanting to pull her onto his lap, but also enjoying these small kisses.
“You fake being grumpy to hide your concern.” She nipped his finger. “You pretend that you don’t notice things, but in reality, you notice everything.” She nibbled another finger. “And that’s why you’re so incredibly good at your job. No one can slip anything by you.”
“You can,” he replied, gruffly.
“I can?”
“Hell yes.” He reached out with his free hand, pulling her chair closer until their knees touched. “Whenever you come into a room, I don’t notice anything except you.” He reached out to touch her hair. “When you smile, my concentration is shot.” He stroked her cheek. “Remember last year when that new waiter dropped his drinks tray?”
“Yeah. He was new. He’s gotten much better.”
Hendrix shook his head, keeping eye contact with her. “It wasn’t his fault. I bumped into him because you laughed at something Maggie said.”
Emily stared at him, her mouth forming a delicious “O” of surprise. “Are you kidding?”
“Nope,” Hendrix replied. “Afterwards, I gave him a gift certificate to a coffee shop to keep him from ratting me out.”
Emily laughed and Hendrix gave into the impulse that had been gnawing at him since Emily had walked in. He lifted her from her chair, setting her down on his lap. “So…will you marry me?”
Emily wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into his muscular chest. “That depends,” she whispered, her lips less than an inch from his.
“On what?” He couldn’t keep his hands from straying. One hand rested on her derriere and the other on her knees, as he manfully resisted the urge to slide his hand between her legs. Later, he promised himself.
“On whether you’re going to give me half of that sandwich.”
Hendrix blinked at her. It took him several moments to process her statement. When he realized that she’d just agreed to marry him, he groaned. Both of his hands moved to her head, holding her close so that he could kiss her and seal the deal.
“Damn it, woman! You drive me wild!”
She laughed and kissed him again. “Back at ya, big guy!”