Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
I t was a tuna salad kind of week, the large discounted can kind, which was what I packed for lunch. I kept my head down at work and put in extra time to catch up on my accounts.
Autumn called me on Tuesday. “Hey, carpet cleaners tomorrow. Can you meet them early and let them in? At eight?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.”
Autumn cleared her throat. “So, Dominic Lockwood. How’s it going?”
I glanced around the cubicles, mostly empty during lunch hour. “Pretty good.”
“Nice. He generated some buzz at the bachelor auction. People are wondering if he might move to town…”
“Seems unlikely.” I glanced up and saw Lori staring at me from across the room. She looked away.
“Well, mention me if it ever happens.”
“I will.” My finger adjusted the now restored resin bird statue on my desk. “Count on it.”
“Thanks.” Autumn sighed. “Think you’ll go to drinks on Thursday?”
“I want to, but I’m still broke. Maybe I’ll come anyway and see if they kick me out for drinking water.”
“Come—I’ll spot you.” What sounded like a soda can opened on her side. “Raven will probably be there.”
“Right. It’s been, what, a week now since the attack?”
“Yeah. I heard her assault case was thrown out.”
I blinked. “Wow, forgot about that.”
“I’m happy for her, but…I’m not okay with what happened. She should have pulled Beau out of the auction.”
“Hmm.” I stood up to stretch my legs. “There was a lot going on for her.” She hadn’t known her own heart, a blind spot I knew too well. Apparently, it had taken almost losing Beau in a knife fight against her stalker to bring them back together.
“I suppose. Anyway, let’s aim for an open house this weekend. There’s a new minion in the office who can’t wait to earn her chops.”
Later that afternoon, one of the investment bankers from the top floor waved at me in the parking lot. He rushed over, holding out a business card.
“Hi, Ms. Owen. I’m Brian.”
I took his card so that he could put his arm down and moved a step back. “Hi.”
“Sorry to spring it on you like this.” His face pursed like he was pained. “There’s a rumor that you’re close to Dominic Lockwood. You know, the firm would be thrilled to work with him. I can offer some amazing incentives. Would you pass that along to him?”
“Oh.” I backed away to my car. “Got it. But I wouldn’t bring up that sort of thing with him. Goodnight.”
Without waiting for a response, I got into my car and locked the doors. It was irrational, perhaps, but my heart was beating too fast.
Dominic called me that night. “When are you coming tomorrow?”
“Hello.” I hugged my mug of tea close to my chest. I was sitting out on the porch swing wrapped in an old quilt. “Well, the townhouse is getting cleaned tomorrow. Autumn can do an open house this weekend.”
“You’re hiring people for that.”
“Autumn’s helping, yes. But I need to be there with the cleaners to arrange the furniture and put away the clutter. She texted me that window cleaners and a landscaper can be there tomorrow afternoon from four to six.”
He huffed. “That damn property.”
“Yeah.” I rocked myself a little. As much as I hated to mention money to him, it was the biggest reason I wasn’t driving over to see him more often. “Between paying for it, and my new room, I’m a little tight. Just until the next paycheck.” Which would be too small since I’d been forced to take a week without pay. Ugh .
“Are you trying to tell me you can’t afford gas?” He sounded incredulous.
My teeth clenched. “It’s a little awkward. I don’t want help—I’m working again.”
There was a long silence on his end. “When I offer help, you’ll take it.”
I rubbed my forehead. “You’ve already done too much.”
He scoffed.
“I’ll be there on Friday.” I tried to clear the meekness out of my voice. “Will do my best to drive over straight from work. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Really. I miss you.”
He exhaled. “I’m sending a credit card. No arguing. You will use it for all of your vehicle expenses. And whatever else you want.”
“But—”
“Kelsey. I need to see you. This relationship won’t work if I don’t.” Then he hung up on me.