Chapter 7 #2
"Tomorrow morning, I can pick you up to go to the client’s," he offered.
"Really? Oh, that would be great. I would need forever to get there with public transportation."
He frowned, "You don't own a car?"
"No. I don't like driving."
"Fair enough. I'll be there at eight o'clock. And grab your things. I can drive you home tonight too."
"Oh, that’s not necessary." I licked my lips, trying to calm down my racing pulse.
“It’s late, Meg.”
Meg.
That’s what he called me that night. I cleared my throat, trying to think rationally. It was late, and I didn’t love walking home from the metro station when it was dark. I’d heard catcalls a couple times, though nothing more dramatic had ever happened.
“Okay, thanks. That’s really nice of you.”
I grabbed my laptop and notepad, shoving them both in my bag. I’d changed my usual tote for a 2-in-1 style. It wasn’t trendy, but I didn’t like walking around with two bags all the time, and I liked taking my laptop home.
We descended the elevator together to the underground garage. To my surprise, there were still a lot of cars here.
“I didn’t expect so many to work so late,” I remarked once we were both inside the car. He was driving a Tesla.
“Some companies require that. Not everyone’s got a boss like me.” A corner of his mouth lifted with his half smile, flashing a dimple.
Were we moving into friendly territory?
I hoped we were, because I longed for the same camaraderie he shared with the others on the team.
He had a navigation system with voice recognition, so I dictated my address.
“Do you live alone or with a roommate?” he asked.
“Alone. I love having my space. I had to cut corners, obviously. I call it the world’s tiniest apartment, but it’s all I need. I mean, I spend all day at the office anyway. I love it there. The view is amazing.”
“That’s the only reason you love it? I don’t play any part in it?” He smirked.
My breath caught. Oh God. We were already slipping from friendly to flirty territory?
“The team is great. And so is the boss.” I winked at him.
“Is he? Why?”
“Hmm… let’s see. He’s got a lot of talent. And doesn’t mind sharing it and teaching others. Ah, and he’s totally spoiling his niece. Instructed an employee to help him build her a treehouse.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Derrick and Klaus were talking about it. I could take over the research if you want.”
“Why? Is Derrick slacking?” His tone turned suddenly harsh.
Shit.
“No, no. It’s just something I’d like to do. Sounds like fun. I told you I babysat a lot of kids in my neighborhood growing up. I loved looking up ideas of presents for them.”
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, as if his reply needed careful consideration. My cheeks heated.
“That would be great, thanks. Derrick didn’t seem too happy about having to do it anyway.”
“So, what do you want exactly, and when is it due?”
“Her birthday is in September.”
I stared at him. “That’s two months away.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to rush it.”
Oh man. My heart was swelling in size. This was beyond endearing. It was adorable.
“I’ll get on it tomorrow,” I promised.
“I’ll send you the specs.”
“The specs”? He was taking this very seriously.
We arrived at my building a couple minutes later. There was a group of four guys in front of the entrance, sharing a bottle, to my dismay. I’d seen them before, but they usually lingered farther from the door.
“I’m coming with you,” Luke said in a tone that brooked no argument. Not that he was getting any from me. I wasn’t a scaredy-cat, but you couldn’t be too careful.
“Thanks.”
He parked the car behind a small red Ford. He stood right by my side as we passed the group. They didn’t seem to notice us, but still, I was happy he was here with me.
“I’m on the second floor,” I murmured, taking the stairs.
“I’ll walk you to your door.”
“Thanks.”
I felt his presence, powerful and dominant by my side, and I went a little weak in the knees, especially when I fumbled with the keys in my lock. I hadn’t been this close to him since that night. His breath against my hair felt sensual and familiar, and it was messing with me.
Opening the door to my apartment, I immediately reached out to turn on the light in the entrance area. It wasn’t working.
“Crap. This is the second bulb this week. I have to change them, or Aunt Dana will have my ass.”
“What?”
“I need to catch up with her at nine via Zoom. I’ve got two bulbs in the foyer, and one’s been broken for about a week. She was already scolding me for not changing the first one. But I couldn’t reach the bulb just climbing on a chair, and I wasn’t in the mood to move the dining table around.”
“I’ll change your bulbs.”
“What? No, you don’t have to do that.”
“Can’t let Aunt Dana have that fine ass, can I?”
I sucked in a breath. Luke groaned. We were still in the doorway.
He cleared his throat. “I apologize. That was completely out of line. I’ll just change your bulbs and leave.”
I bit my lip, opening the door wider so we could both step inside. “Thanks.”
My palms were a bit sweaty. If I thought my knees were weak before, it was nothing compared to now. My stomach was cartwheeling. Just when I thought I was getting used to being around Luke, he proved me wrong.
I turned on the light in the living room, bringing two light bulbs from the box of supplies I kept on the shelf. Luke came in too, grabbing a chair from the kitchen table and taking it to the foyer.
“Where does your aunt live?” he asked, stepping up onto it.
“In Maine, where I grew up. I’m showing her how to navigate some tutoring websites.”
I took a step back, trying hard not to look at his ass. I’d never seen it from this angle. It was glorious.
“How come?”
“She’s an accountant and was laid off three months ago, then only found something part-time.
I offered to lend her money a couple times, and she nearly bit off my head, so I figured I’d help her find a side hustle.
Aunt Dana is a great tutor. She helped me with all my SATs.
And online teaching is very in demand right now.
A lot of websites don’t even require you to have any official training.
I’ve been showing her every evening how to set up profiles, things like that. ”
Luke glanced down at me. “You’re a great person, Megan.”
“I just want to take care of my aunt.” Considering she shut down my offer to lend her money, I wasn’t sure how I would convince her to let me pay her mortgage, but first things first. I didn’t even know if I would be part of the competition. I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.
Luke moved the chair under the second bulb, changing it in minutes.
“Let there be light,” I chanted once he stepped down, flicking the switch. It worked.
“Thanks, Luke.”
“Anytime.”
“Do you want a drink or something?” I didn’t want to kick him out after he’d changed my light bulbs.
He looked so incredibly sexy right now. I was close enough to notice that his shirt had creases along the top button.
Was it a nervous habit to tug at it, or did he keep it open when he was alone?
Another intimate detail I was better off not knowing.
He stepped in the direction of the door. “I think we both know it’s best if I leave, Megan.”
My face felt on fire. I clasped and unclasped my fingers behind my back, unsure what to say. This was awkward. I couldn’t take the tension in the air anymore. Heat simply radiated off him.
“Good night, Luke,” I said as he opened the front door.
He looked me straight in the eyes, swallowing hard. “Good night.”
The second he closed the door, I let out a long breath. Luke and I seemed to do fine at the office, but once we were out of the building? Not so much.
I ate leftover chicken with rice while setting up my laptop at the kitchen table. I didn’t want to be late. Aunt Dana was a stickler for being on time.
She connected with me on Zoom at nine o’clock on the dot. The software wasn’t necessary for us to catch up, obviously, but I wanted her to get used to using it.
“Darling, I’ve got news,” she said the second we connected.
Aunt Dana and Mom were originally from the South. She’d lost her accent a long time ago but never her style. She was always put together. She had platinum blonde hair and currently had on bright red lipstick. I missed her so much.
She and Mom were twin sisters, but they looked nothing alike.
Mom had brown eyes, not green, and thicker lips, like me.
Aunt Dana and Mom both moved to Maine for college.
Aunt Dana had been the one pushing Mom to come to Maine, because she had a boyfriend there.
They got married, but he left her a couple years before my parents passed away.
She’d been single ever since and always mistrusted men.
I missed hanging out with Aunt Dana and her friends.
As a kid, she told me I was an “old soul.” I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d lost my parents or not, but she was right.
I’d always been more mature than everyone at my school.
Hell, I’d been ready to start a family with my ex—right until the moment he’d shattered my dreams.
I was determined not to make that last mistake again. I wasn’t going to jump into a serious relationship anytime soon. I couldn’t—even if I wanted to.
“Let’s hear it.”
“I’ve got three students. All seniors about to take their SATs.”
“Congrats! That’s amazing. Do you still want me to sign you up on the other platforms?”
“I think I’ll stick to the ones we already have. They’re all different, and I have a hard time remembering which are the steps for each.”
“You can always call me if you get confused.”
“Nonsense, I wouldn’t want to bother you at work. I’m so proud of you, darling. I’m happy you’re focusing on your career. It’s a blessing that good-for-nothing Carson isn’t in your life anymore.”
Aunt Dana had never been a fan of Carson. She’d actively discouraged me from putting his company first and my career in second place. I’d always told her things weren’t like that and that we were working for our dream. I’d been so naive.
“I’m glad I found this internship.”
I ignored the jab about Carson, or she wouldn’t stop talking about him, and I didn’t want that.
Being told after six years together that he needed more excitement in his life had been not only heart-crushing but also a blow to my self-esteem.
I wasn’t sure I’d recovered yet. How could someone’s feelings change so much after six years?
“Men are fickle. You can’t count on them,” Aunt Dana had said when I’d asked her that. I didn’t bring up the subject again. I figured it might trigger unpleasant memories. She never spoke of her ex-husband.
“Tell me everything about your team.”
I spoke about Donna, Klaus, and everyone in my room. I avoided mentioning Luke because sometimes Aunt Dana could tell when I was hiding something, and if she ever found out about Luke and me, she’d have my ass for sure.