25. Chapter 24
Ria
Yawning, I make my way into my kitchen to turn on the coffee machine.
Today I will most definitely be fueled by coffee.
Eventually, after some deep breathing exercises, I managed to switch off my brain and get some sleep.
Last night, after how open and vulnerable Leo was, my mind was racing.
I couldn’t ignore how drawn to him I was.
I resisted the urge to climb into his lap and hold him.
The lost look in his eyes broke me, and I don’t know what to do with these new developing feelings.
Add that to what Jade told me and my head is a complete mess.
Leo is Hunter’s best friend, and if I’m truly honest with myself, one of my closest friends too.
Working with him in London has only strengthened that easy friendship.
But I never imagined he saw me in any other way.
He’s always been there, and I’ve thought I was just a big sister to him the same way Hunter and Noah are like his brothers.
As an only child, he clung on to us like family, but have I really been that blind?
Have I missed the little glances, the way he’s always looking out for me, or the lingering touches?
Am I overthinking everything and overanalyzing all his movements?
Today is going to be rough.
“Morning, Ri Ri.”
“Sweet baby Jesus.” Clutching my chest, I practically jump out of my skin at Leo’s voice.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you jump.”
“It’s okay. I’m just not used to anyone being here and I was in my head.”
“Understandable.” He stands from his place at my kitchen island, and I’m rooted to the spot as I realize the man isn’t wearing a shirt.
He’s in nothing but gray sweatpants. I’m rolling with all the clichés right now because I look.
My eyes follow his well-defined abs straight down to where his pants hang loose on his hips, and I shamelessly check out his bulge before he turns and walks over to the counter.
“I made you a coffee. I know you don’t function until you’ve had that first sip.
” He chuckles, and I slowly move to the island to take a seat, watching his back muscles flex as he busies himself with making my drink.
Jesus, Ria, get your head out of the gutter.
“Yeah, I’m utterly useless. Thank you.”
“You could never be useless, Ri Ri,” he says softly, placing my coffee down in front of me, and I swallow the lump forming as he gives me a genuine smile before sitting next to me. His woodsy scent wraps around me, and I force myself not to curl into him.
You’re a billionaire CEO, Ria. You do not curl into any man.
“Always the charmer.”
“Of course. Now, without this sounding like a pickup line because it most definitely will, how do you like your eggs?”
“Please tell me you haven’t used that line on a woman before.”
“A gentleman never tells.”
“Gentleman?”
“I’ll have you know I’m a gentleman.” I raise my brow at him and his lips twitch into a smile. “Okay, I may have used it before, and it worked. Now, eggs? Poached? I spotted some sourdough while I was searching for the coffee.”
“Perfect. I’ll make it though.”
“Nope, you sit and drink your coffee. I’ve got this.” He effortlessly stands and moves through my space like he belongs, like this is normal, and it shocks me how it doesn't feel wrong.
“So come on then, tell me some of your pickup lines.”
“Why?” He fills a pan with water, placing it on the stove and flicking a cloth over his shoulder as he turns up the heat.
“Just curious because most pickup lines are so cringy.”
“Some are, I agree, but think of them as conversation starters.”
“In what way?”
“Women are intimidating as fuck when you’re all together in a group, or alone if I’m being truly honest. Sometimes we need a way to start a conversation, and I find humor works best.”
“Leo Brent isn’t intimidated by women,” I tease as he continues to seamlessly gather everything he needs. He has his back to me, and I pray he doesn’t go and put a shirt on because damn, the picture he’s painting right now is pretty spectacular.
“Trust me, some women intimidate me more than others.” He shakes his head, focusing on cracking the first egg into the now boiling water. “But if you must know, my favorite pickup line is cringy, but it hasn’t failed me yet.”
“How? Because the cringy ones would definitely make me want to run as fast as I could.”
“Depends what you consider cringy, but this is nothing like ‘did it hurt when you fell from heaven’ or some shit like that.” He laughs, the muscles in his forearms flexing as he sprinkles some salt into the water.
“That would one hundred percent have me running away.”
“I have no doubt.”
“So come on, tell me.”
“You want me to pick you up, Ri Ri?” He puts the bread in the toaster and leans against the counter, legs crossed. Fuck, the man doesn’t need pickup lines posing like that, and I get why he doesn’t have trouble. Have I been walking around blind all this time?
“Try me,” I say a lot more confidently than I feel as it takes all my strength not to allow my eyes to wander now that he’s staring straight at me with intense gray eyes.
The toast pops behind him, and he gives me a small smile before finishing preparing our breakfast. “Drink your coffee, Ri Ri.”
After a moment, he turns everything off and places a perfectly prepared poached egg in front of me. “Impressive.”
“I’ve heard that many times.” Sitting back next to me, he hands me my silverware.
“Always so cocky.”
“Not cocky, Ri Ri, just confident. Always be sure of yourself, and everyone around you will be confident in you.”
“Your dad always says that.”
“He’s a clever man. But don’t tell him.” He winks.
“Your secret is safe with me.” Smiling, I tuck into my breakfast, moaning when I take the first bite of the perfectly seasoned poached egg. “Leo, this is perfect.”
“I enjoy cooking. It’s always been something that allowed me to organize my thoughts, you know? Because yes, you have a recipe to follow, but you’re given creative tools to change what you don’t think will work, and sometimes you create something sensational—other times not so much.”
“You keep surprising me.”
“Really? How?”
“You’re deeper than you let people see.” He just shrugs as he continues to eat. I think I’ve hit a nerve as he doesn’t say anything until he finishes his meal and turns to me.
“So I have a question.”
“Okay?” Pushing my plate aside, I turn to him. Our knees brush together and goose bumps erupt on my exposed thighs. I mask the shiver rushing through me by grasping my coffee cup.
“How heavy is a polar bear?”
“A polar bear. Are you serious?”
“Deadly.”
“I have no idea.” I sip my coffee, frowning, not knowing where he’s going with this random question. “How much does a polar bear weigh?”
“Enough to break the ice.” He winks, extending his hand to mine, and I reluctantly grip it. “I’m Leo. Can I buy you a drink?”
Laughter bubbles up out of me before I can stop it. “That’s your line?”
“Has you laughing, though, and you haven’t run away.” He still holds my hand in his but is running his thumb across my knuckles tenderly.
“You’ve got me there.”