Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Emma
I ready myself for the elevator doors to glide open on the floor that houses Case’s apartment.
I stopped at a market a block over to pick up everything I need to make a salad for dinner. I bought enough for two with the hope that Case will have the time to eat with me.
I have all the essentials for a spinach, strawberry, feta cheese, and pecan salad. It screams California to me, so I’m hoping my temporary roommate will like it.
I take a step forward when the doors start to slide apart.
The sight in front of me stops me.
Case is standing close to a woman with black hair. Her hand is resting on his forearm as they stare into each other’s eyes.
The instant they notice me, her hand falls to her side.
Awkward.
She turns toward me. Her blue eyes hone in on my face.
Tearing my gaze away from her, I look to Case.
He’s wearing the same blue button-down shirt he had on this morning. An extra button is open at the collar. He switched out the gray suit pants he had on for faded jeans.
This casual, untucked look suits him well.
For half of a second, I consider retreating into the elevator and pressing the button to take me back to the lobby.
“Emma.” Case clears his throat. “You’re here.”
“I’m here,” I repeat in a hushed tone.
I might as well own that fact, so I step off the elevator. The doors glide shut behind me.
“I’m Maya Bishop.” The pretty woman in the fitted red dress reaches a hand out to me.
Fumbling with my clutch and the paper grocery bag, I shuffle everything, so that I can shake her hand.
“Emma Owens,” I offer.
Dropping my hand, she looks up at Case. “I’ll be back at seven thirty.”
I guess I’ll be hanging out at Durie’s again tonight.
Wanting an escape, I glance down at the grocery bag I’m holding. “I should put all of this away.”
“It was good to meet you, Emma.” Maya bats her long lashes.
“You too,” I say before stepping around Case to head toward the door of his apartment.
“This afternoon went well.” The gruff tone of Case’s voice sends goose bumps scattering over my arms.
“I agree,” Maya says. “Pam and Rod were the happiest I’ve ever seen them. I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew once we took them into the bedroom that they’d walk out on cloud nine.”
Wait. What?
I stumble forward, almost dropping the bag in my hand.
Timing is everything in life. If I had arrived back here earlier, I might have interrupted that foursome. I’m suddenly extra grateful that I met Bella today. She unwittingly kept me occupied long enough for Case to finish having fun.
Maya continues, “It felt a little rushed, but I know they left satisfied. That’s all that matters. They’ll be back.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I catch Case looking in my direction. He shoots me one of his dimpled smiles.
The man has just as many secrets as Drake does. Maybe even more.
I shove everything in the grocery bag into the almost empty fridge. I’ll make the salad at some point, but for now, I’ve completely lost my appetite.
It makes no sense that there’s a sudden pit in my stomach.
I barely know Case. Why do I feel a knot of jealousy over the fact that he’s had more sex in the past twenty-four hours than I’ve had in a year?
“Hey, Emma. Where are you?” Case calls out.
I step out of the kitchen and round the corner toward the foyer. I catch him shoving his hand into the front pocket of his jeans to grab his phone.
I liked the suit he was wearing this morning, but I love him dressed more casually.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I’m mentally rating his outfits. I need to get a grip and get him out of my mind.
He looks up from his phone’s screen when I step closer to him. “We’re going out for dinner.”
That makes sense. I assume Maya and him worked up a substantial appetite this afternoon rolling in the hay with Rod and Pam. Can you safely roll with that many people on one bed, or will one tumble off the edge?
Would the other three people even notice if you did fall?
I have to stop with the wandering thoughts and focus.
“I hope you and Maya have a nice time.” I paste an exaggerated grin on my mouth.
“Will you be coming back here after dinner? Not that it’s my business, but I know you’d like privacy.
Or I assume you do, but maybe I’m wrong?
What I’m trying to say is that I can hang out at Durie’s if you need me to. ”
My eye twitches.
Please don’t let him mistake that for a wink.
He narrows his gaze as he studies my face. “I’m not taking Maya to dinner. I’m taking you to dinner.”
I close my eyes, not only to clear my mind because I’m sure I just mistakenly heard him say he’s taking me to dinner but to stop the unrelenting twitch that has now migrated to my other eye.
“Maya is meeting someone here this evening, and she wants the place unoccupied, so that means we both need to clear out before she gets here,” he clarifies.
I have a million questions related to that, but I just nod because where would I start?
“Aim to be ready at seven.” He looks toward the main bedroom. “I need to hit the shower.”
“I’ll do the same.”
“We’ll keep it casual tonight.” He glances at what I’m wearing. “Does sushi work for you?”
“Sure.” I shrug, not wanting to admit that I’ve never tried it.
“Good. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
He disappears down the hallway, shutting his bedroom door behind him. I wait a beat before I head to the guest room.
I drop my purse on the bed, kick off my boots, and grab a pair of yoga shorts and a long T-shirt from my suitcase. It’s enough to keep me covered when I cross the hall after my shower.
The moment I step into the main bathroom, I spot a gift bag on the counter. The logo for Matiz Cosmetics is printed on the side of the pale pink bag.
I’ve heard about their products. Almost everyone has, but I can’t afford them on my teacher’s salary.
I glance down at the simple white card next to the gift bag.
There are two words written in black ink.
Emma. Enjoy.
I pluck a few pieces of white tissue from the bag to find two bottles of bubble bath. One infused with lavender and the other a blend of citrus. Both bottles are square shaped and topped with silver lids. They look like they belong on a shelf on display.
I open one bottle and inhale the sweet fragrance. Closing my eyes, I savor the scent and the knowledge that Case got this just for me.