21. Chapter 20
Ria
“That went well, right?” I chew nervously on my thumbnail as the door clicks shut behind Grace and Cole.
“It seemed to.” Jade closes her laptop and hugs it to her chest. “Leo, care to comment?” She raises an eyebrow at Leo who seems to be in a daze.
“Hmm?”
“Are you even here?” I chuckle, shaking my head at him.
“Sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He roughly swallows as he straightens his tie. “It went really well, Ri Ri. You were amazing.”
“And you don’t think he saw through us?” I worry my lip as I replay the meeting in my head. “We didn’t act like a newly married couple. Maybe we should have been a little closer, a few more touches?”
“This was a business meeting, Ri Ri.” Leo’s kind slate-gray eyes lock on mine as he closes the small gap between us. “It wouldn’t be professional if you sat in my lap while you discussed how you’re going to make that man disgustingly rich.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“I am.” Tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear, he continues, “Not that I wouldn’t have enjoyed that.”
“You’re ridiculous.” Grinning up at him, an unfamiliar sensation travels up my spine at his proximity; he slowly trails his fingertips down the column of my neck, causing me to gasp.
“Dear God, that man is fine.” Grace storms back into the room, her high heels stuttering as she comes to a halt. “What have I walked in on?” She motions between me and Leo, and we take a step back from each other.
“Nothing.” I wave her off.
“Damn it, Grace, it was just getting good.” Jade snickers next to Grace. “There was tension building, fingertips grazing, eyes smoldering, and then in you waltz pouring a cold glass of water over the situation.”
Shit, I had forgotten Jade was here. This whole dilemma is messing with my head.
“Jesus, Jade, none of that was happening.” I roll my eyes, walking past Leo to gather my things.
“Okay, babe.” Tilting her head so her blonde ponytail drapes over her tiny shoulder, she looks at Leo. “You okay over there?”
“I’m always okay, Jade.” He gives her a megawatt smile and collects his briefcase. That reaction was obviously all in my head; he’s acting normal.
“Good, because you’ve not forgotten you’re coming to watch the game with Hunter tonight, have you?”
“Of course not. I’ll be there and I’ll bring the snacks. Last time he brought those vegetable chips and they were disgusting.”
“You said they were good.”
“They were not. I kept throwing them away.”
“Is that why you went to the bathroom so many times?” He nods. “Jesus, I thought you had, you know, issues.” Jade whispers the last word.
“The only issue I had was that those snacks were vile.”
“They were but he’s on this big health kick because of the wedding.” She moves in and lowers her voice. “I’m not complaining because have you seen his body? It’s insane.”
“Oh, babe, it’s beautiful. I just want to lick him all over.” Leo gasps.
“You’re such a dick.” She pushes his shoulder playfully, and they both let out a soft rumble of laughter.
“Oh, I need to tell you something.” Grace bounces on her heels.
“I was walking Cole out and resisting every urge I had to climb him like a tree. He smelled so good. I was drooling, I’m sure of it, when he smiled at me.
Did you see his little dimple pop when he smiles?
Ugh, just too handsome and that accent? Damn it, why is the British accent so damn hot? ”
“Is this what you needed to tell me? How much you need to get laid?” I ask.
“I get laid plenty. But that man has a look about him. He’s naughty.” Her eyebrows bounce.
“Grace, stay on track,” I prompt.
“Maybe I’ll head to Enigma this weekend with Deacon. He mentioned he and Seb had planned to go,” she muses, trailing off.
“Grace.” I raise my voice and she jumps.
“Sorry.” She shakes herself out. “Okay, I’ll deal with this”—she waves her hands around herself—“later. So yes, Cole mentioned that he is moving from his apartment in Canary Wharf to Kensington Gardens this evening.”
“I’m sorry?” My eyes widen in horror.
“Yes, he’s moving across the street from Hunter and Jade.”
“But I live across the street from Hunter and Jade.”
“I know.”
“Oh dear God. He must have bought Mrs. Daily’s townhouse.” Rubbing my forehead, I start to pace the boardroom. “She told me she had sold it to a lovely young man who worked in the city.”
“You don’t know for certain; there are quite a few up for sale down there,” Leo says brightly.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Biting my thumbnail, I turn to Grace. “But what if it is him?”
“Then you’ll be getting a new roomie.”
Ria - Let yourself in the back door.
Leo - A proposal I never saw coming from you.
Ria - My HOUSE back door. Christ I’m going to be gray by the end of this.
Leo - You Stones look good with silver strands. It works for Papa and Mama Stone.
Ria - I worry about you.
“Honey, I’m home,” Leo sings as he wanders into my townhouse, placing his laptop and overnight bag on my kitchen island.
His carefree tone should put me at ease but it doesn’t.
I’ve been pacing and spying through the drapes as the moving company emptied van after van of beautiful furniture into the townhouse next door.
So far I haven’t seen the new owner, but the moving company left half an hour ago after a smartly dressed lady in her fifties stopped by a few minutes and signed all the paperwork.
“You’re far too chirpy.”
“Would you prefer I was grumpy like Deacon?” His face transforms into a scowl, and honestly it just doesn’t look right as he slumps against the kitchen island.
“Actually, that’s disturbing.”
“I can’t win with you.” His cheeky grin creeps back onto his face, and his gray eyes glint with mischief.
“Correct.” Passing him a chilled bottle of water out of the fridge, I shrug my shoulders. “Welcome to married life with me.”
“I’m sure I’ll cope.” His eyes soften slightly, locking on mine as he gives me a half smile. “So…”—he takes a sip of his water—“have you seen who’s moved in next door?”
“No.” I sigh. “Do you think it’s him?”
“Yes,” he says with so much confidence my spine straightens.
“What? Why?”
He glances over my shoulder, replying, “Because he’s about to knock on your front door.”