Chapter Seventeen #2
He rubbed his eyes. It was still pitch black out with zero light in his room.
He glanced over at his clock, taking in the time.
It was close to four in the morning. He slowly unraveled from her hold and got out of bed.
Getting dressed in the dark was a challenge, but he didn’t want to turn on the lights and risk waking her.
Roxanne had passed out almost immediately.
He could take some credit for that, but not all.
Her client, whom she referred to as the bride-from-hell, was taking a lot out of her and was the primary cause of her exhaustion.
He blindly grabbed a shirt from the floor and quietly walked out of his room, closing the door behind him.
The hallway was dark, with only the recessed light on the staircase offering a soft glow.
He went downstairs, heading toward the back door.
It was rare for him to spend any free time lying in bed.
Jonah had a lot on his plate and used his time wisely.
He stopped at the fridge, opening the door to grab a few bottles of water.
On the top shelf was a brown bag from the local taco joint with a sticky note attached.
J & Rox. Just in case you need to refuel.
Jonah clenched his teeth, recognizing Holden’s handwriting.
This fucking kid.
Jonah grabbed the bag, two waters and headed out the back door to his workshop.
He’d spent most of his spare time working on Kenzie’s table.
It wasn’t a rush order. In fact, both she and Bogs had been adamant he could take his time.
They were aware of his rigorous schedule.
Their understanding alone was a push for him to get it done quicker.
Jonah had been in the shop for the last hour working on the table when he heard the door creak.
He’d always listened to music while working, but considering the early morning hour, he opted to work in silence.
He leaned past the table watching the small figure peer around.
She was bundled in a blanket around her shoulders.
Her ankles were bare, but from the opening in the front, he could make out a pair of leggings.
She’d left a few things in his room over the last few weeks.
She hadn’t asked, but he hadn’t objected.
Roxanne was spending so much time at his place, it made sense.
He straightened his legs and muffled his laugh when she walked further into the shop. Roxanne’s hair was in disarray, and she wore his T-shirt under the blanket.
“What time is it?” he asked, and she covered her blanket-fisted hand over her mouth, concealing her yawn.
“Somewhere between why the hell am I up o’clock and it’s way too early o’clock.”
Jonah snickered, meeting her near his workbench. He cupped her jaw, dropping a kiss to her lips. By all accounts, Roxanne was still half asleep. It was a wonder she’d made it down the stairs, through the yard and into his shop without causing damage.
“Why didn’t you stay in bed?” he whispered, sliding his thumbs over the edges of her cheeks.
“You weren’t there.” Her voice was groggy but soft and so very sweet.
Jonah was tempted to ditch the project and take her back to bed.
“What are you working on?” She leaned past his arm but didn’t wait for a response. “Is that Kenzie’s?”
Roxanne circled around him and walked to the table. He’d made a lot of progress over the last week. Another two or three and it’d be complete.
“Jonah …” Her eyes glimmered in appreciation. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not done yet.”
Roxanne glanced up, smiling. “She’s going to love it. Bogs too.”
He hoped so. Personal satisfaction with any project was important. But knowing the buyer loved it carried more weight. Especially from those close to him.
“Let me get this cleaned up, and we’ll get you back to bed.”
Roxanne shook her head, wandering to the chair near the table. She pointed down. “Can I sit?”
“Yeah.”
Roxanne sat down and nestled in the chair. She adjusted her back into the corner, facing him. “It needs a throw pillow, but other than that, it’s perfect.”
“Accessories aren’t my thing.” He arched his brow, eyeing her as she settled in, looking like she had no plans of leaving. “You want to hang out while I work?”
She nodded. “Do you mind?”
“No.”
He didn’t mind at all. If anything, he liked her in his personal space, especially the workshop that had always been his sanctuary.
It occurred to him that while she never complained about it, they spent a lot of time at his place.
He hadn’t even been to her apartment, though she’d asked a few times.
Roxanne was uprooting her living arrangements to accommodate him. He was about to change that.
“Got a meeting with Ethan tomorrow night, but after, I’ll take you out to dinner.”
The corners of her mouth pulled down in a frown, and her shoulders sagged. “I have plans with Emory. She’s finally paying me back for standing me up. I plan on cashing in on that and ordering half the menu.”
Jonah snorted, shaking his head and grabbing the sander. “How about I come by your place when you get home?”
“And stay overnight?” A small smile played on her lips.
“Yeah.”
“I’d love that.”
It was settled.