Chapter Nine
Aideen
Again, all of it could’ve been an email.
Thank goodness I chose a place close to the office. Still, I left the building ten minutes after our lunch was supposed to begin.
What an impression to make. I practically sprinted to the café. I arrived panting and frantic, scanning the place. I didn’t have to look far. All three of them stood and smiled at me like I was on time and not looking like a hot mess.
“Aideen, it’s so good to meet you,” Dash said. I’d studied their pictures enough that I knew their faces.
“I’m so sorry. I had a last-minute project and all these video meetings and…” My work revolved around medical billing which was boring at best. I proceeded to apologize and scramble for any words that would make them stay instead of abandoning me like I thought they might after I’d been so late.
“Aideen,” Blitz said. He reached for me but then retracted his hand. I almost let out a whimper. I wanted him to execute that touch so badly. “Everything is okay. We all are late once in a while. We’ve only been waiting about fifteen minutes. Please, sit down.”
It usually took me a minute to calm down once I’d messed something up, but instantly his words and tone and sweet smile made everything in me loosen up.
“Oh. Thank you.”
Comet said nothing. He offered a smile, but it wasn’t as bright as the others. I didn’t blame him.
“Why didn’t you call?” he finally said. The others gave him a look, but it was a valid question.
“I forgot to charge my phone last night, and there’s some weird office rule that we can’t take our phones into meetings. Also, they don’t want us charging them there.”
“I see. Should we order? Are you hungry?” Dash changed the subject.
“Sure.” I always ordered the same thing.
Their quiche Lorraine was fabulous, and I ordered that with a side of greens and roasted carrots.
The boys chose big sandwiches and an extra plate of sweet potato fries for the table to share.
Everyone got the peach iced tea after I recommended it, whatever they’d been drinking before abandoned.
“Do you often have video meetings and frantic schedules?” Comet was the first to take a bite, but not until I started. Maybe that was a shifter thing. Either that, or I hadn’t been around a true gentleman in so long that I forgot good manners.
“No. This was a once-in-six-months kind of thing. Usually my work is tedious, if I’m honest.”
“That’s a shame.” Dash took one of the fries and nudged the plate closer to me. “Everyone should find joy in their work.”
“Do you?” I asked. “I mean, it would be impossible not to. Toy making must be nothing but fun.”
Blitz nodded. “We enjoy our jobs. Both of them.”
Both of them? “I thought you only owned the toy shop?”
“We also have a seasonal job. Enough about work. Tell us what you like to do for fun.”
While I went on about all the things I loved to do, things that made me happy, I realized I’d fallen into the habit of doing none of those things. Ever.
“What is it?” Comet asked.
“Oh, I’m telling you about my favorite activities, but I can’t recall the last time I’ve done any of them. I’ve let myself fall into a funk of sorts. Huh.”
What a time to have a personal revelation.
Dash, Comet, and Blitz shared a look. They were all so handsome. Dash and Comet had darker-brown hair, but Blitz had that boy-next-door appearance with wheat-colored wavy locks and when he laughed, some fell across his forehead in the most sexy way.
Comet’s dark-green eyes made me want to stare into them forever. It was like each one of them hit the looks lottery.
“I have an idea,” Comet said. “Something to maybe get you out of the funk.”
“Which is?” I asked, taking one of the fries. Dash looked pretty pleased about it, for some reason.
“If you don’t have plans this weekend, come to our home. Our business is out back. We can show you around, and you can make a toy if you want. Then we’ll treat you to dinner. Blitz makes one hell of a pot roast.”
I expected shock and fear. Should be a crimson flag. We’d met exactly one time, and they were inviting me to their home? The shock and fear never came. This was my opportunity to change things. To take a chance on not only these three men but on myself. “I’d really like that.”
“Good!” Blitz seemed the most pleased. His smile could’ve lit up the whole city. “We’ll come and pick you up.”
I was sure they were being gentlemanly by offering, but I couldn’t let them do that. “I can drive myself. It would be a waste for you to drive here, and then have to take me back. I can make it two trips instead of four.”
“Plus, you can have your car in case you don’t like us.” I was right. Comet was not completely sure about all of this. That made two of us. He was honest, at least.
I laughed. “I already like all of you.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll text you our address and see you on Saturday.”
I checked my watch. It was time for me to get back to work. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to.
“Saturday it is, then.”