CHAPTER 14 BOWER
BOWER
This was a terrible idea.
A morning date?
There is nothing pleasant about this.
Because he has to be at the stadium at seven this morning, we’re meeting at a smoothie bar close by at five thirty.
Five thirty!
No one looks cute at five thirty, me included.
I dragged my half-dead carcass out of bed at four forty-five, blasted my face with cold water, praying my eye bags away, and then threw on some tinted moisturizer and a touch of blush, and then apologized to my eyes as I coated them in mascara.
The hair, well, it’s currently propped up on the top of my head in a mess, secured by a clip.
And the outfit, it’s the best he’ll get from me. Leggings, an oversized off-the-shoulder sweater, and—as the British would say—a smart pair of trainers.
No idea why I’m channeling the British at the moment other than the fact that I’m delirious and want my pillow.
My Uber drops me off at the smoothie bar, and I stumble out of the car with a thanks and right myself on the sidewalk. From the window, I can see Cougar sitting at a bar-height table with two smoothies. He asked for my order ahead of time, which I thought was considerate.
Adjusting my top to show off a little more shoulder, I head into the smoothie bar and right to him. He’s on his phone, but when he looks up and spots me, he lifts off his chair and comes up to me, placing a kiss on my cheek in greeting.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” he says.
I try to hide my exhaustion and slap on a smile instead. “Did you think I was going to stand you up?”
“Not many women would meet at five thirty in the morning for a date.”
“Well”—I take a seat—“I’m not like many women.”
“I see that.” He smirks and hands me my smoothie. “Berry blast with whey protein.”
“Thank you.” I take a sip and let the cold of the smoothie attempt to wake me up. Should have ordered the coffee one. What was I thinking?
Clearly I wasn’t thinking at all.
“So, what have you been up to since I last saw you?” he asks.
I swallow some more smoothie and say, “Putting together my apartment.”
“Did you just move?”
“I did. From up north, actually. I’ve been here for over two weeks now and I haven’t really set up my apartment. My boss keeps me really busy, and by the time I get home, I just want to relax.”
He nods. “Understandable.”
“But my friend is visiting me and her brother, and well, I can’t have her coming to see me living in an apartment full of boxes. She’d be very disappointed.”
“Do you need help?” he asks, shocking the hell out of me, because last time I was out with Cougar, I’d have bet my entire paycheck that Cougar is not a guy who lends a hand. Which in the grand scheme of things, with that knowledge, why would I go out with him again? The answer is…no idea.
But he’s already surprised me. Maybe he really needed to be pulled from the bar atmosphere. Perhaps, he’s more human in the morning and not so…playboy-ish.
“I’m good. Bennett’s going to help me tonight with some things.”
“Who’s Bennett?” he asks.
“From the Bombers. You know, the guy who gave me your number.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckles and sips his smoothie. “It’s early, brain isn’t fully working. That’s cool that he can help.”
“Yeah, he lives on the floor below me, so it’s easy for him.”
“Nice.” He glances in the other direction. “How close are you guys?”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “Just seeing what kind of competition I’m up against.”
“Oh.” I laugh. “He’s just a friend. Also, shouldn’t I be the one asking you about competition?”
He twirls his smoothie cup on the table. “Yeah, let’s not go there.”
“That’s what I thought.”
He smirks at me. “But to be honest, I haven’t been out with anyone since our date.”
I press my hand to my chest. “Consider me flattered, but feel free to explore. I don’t want to tie you down.”
“You don’t?” He raises a brow.
“I’m still getting to know you.” I smile. “I need to see if you’re worth tying down.”
“Oh yeah?” That seems to bring a joyful challenge to his eyes. “Tell me, how can I prove that I’m worth it?”
“Not agreeing to a five thirty in the morning date is the first thing you can do.”
“Hey, this was your idea. I told you it would be early.”
“I didn’t think this early.” I lean forward on the table and whisper, “I almost fell asleep in the Uber on the way over here.”
He chuckles. “What time do you usually wake up?”
“Not this early. I have to be at my boss’s house around eight, which means I’m usually up by seven.”
“Not bad.”
“Yeah, so four forty-five is criminal.”
“Consider me honored that you were able to make it, then.”
I take a sip of my smoothie. “You know, you’re more down-to-earth this morning.”
“It’s because I haven’t fully woken up yet.”
“Oh, is that how it works? Once you fully wake up, your inner douche comes out?”
Both his brows raise. “You think I’m a douche?”
Taking my chances, I say, “Our first date you bragged about your football stats, and for a girl who could not care less about sports, it came off as extremely douchey.”
“Women fawn at those stats.”
“And what was the first thing you learned this morning? I’m not like other women.”
“I guess you’re not,” he says with a smirk.
“This is stunning,” Adalade says as she marvels at a burgundy cashmere sweater I found that I knew she’d love. “The color is so rich.”
“I thought it would look perfect on you with a pair of brown boots and your brown silk skirt.”
“Yes, oh, beautiful. I love it.”
“I’m glad,” I say as I take a seat on the couch next to her, pleased with the shopping I did for her today. “So then I just have to take the tweed jacket back?”
“Let me think on it for the night and I’ll let you know.”
“Great.” I glance at my phone, noticing the time and a text from Bennett saying that he’s done with his game and should be heading home soon. “Your dinner is on its way—steak salad with pickled onions.”
“Thank you, dear.”
“And if that’s all, I’ll pack these clothes back up and then head out.”
“Yes, that should be all.”
“I’ll just put them back in their bags and take care of them in the morning while you decide on that jacket, if that’s okay with you?”
“Yes, please just put the bags in the entryway closet.”
“Of course,” I answer as I start packing things up.
“While you do that, I was hoping to talk with you.”
“Oh?” I ask as I gently fold the cashmere sweater and put it back in the tissue paper the store wrapped it in.
“Yes, I’ve been invited to a dinner, a quaint one, no more than twenty people, and I was hoping that I could bring you along.”
“Sure, what day?”
“It’s Thursday night, but I have an ulterior motive for going.”
“You know I love the drama.”
She chuckles. “There is going to be a man there, his name is Draco Humphrey, and I was hoping to catch his eye.”
I pause and look up at Adalade, who is blushing. “Excuse me?”
She dismissively waves her hand at me. “Oh please, do not make a big deal of this.”
“Adalade, I thought you never wanted another man in your life ever again.”
“That was until I found out Draco would be at this dinner.”
“And how do we know Draco?”
“I went to high school with him. He took me to a dance once, but his family ended up relocating and I never saw him again. My dear friend Gert said that he moved to San Francisco and that she invited him to the dinner party.”
“So, do you want me to go to talk you up?”
“Yes.” She nods. “But I don’t want it to be obvious, so I asked Gert if you could come and bring a date.”
“A date? Why would I need a date? I could just go as your assistant.”
Adalade shakes her head. “No, that would look pretentious, and Draco, well, he’s quite down-to-earth.”
With a name like Draco, I’d think he’s running a Fortune 500 company in a high-rise, but okay.
“So bringing your assistant wouldn’t be down-to-earth?”
“No, it would seem desperate, and I’m a lady if anything.”
“You are,” I say. “Okay, so you want me to bring a date so it looks like I’m part of the dinner party and not an assistant following you around, trying to talk you up.”
“Exactly.”
I nod. “I see what you’re trying to do. I think I could maybe ask Cougar.”
“Who is Cougar?”
I finish packing up the last piece of clothing and say, “This guy I’ve been sort of seeing. We’ve only had two dates, one of them being this morning.”
“A morning date?”
I roll my eyes. “Please, don’t get me started. It was my idea and it was terrible because I had to meet him at five thirty to make it work. Bad choices all around. Either way, he might be available.”
“What does a guy with the name Cougar do?”
“He actually plays for the San Francisco Foghorns.”
Adalade straightens up. “My dear, do you only know professional athletes?”
“Does seem that way, doesn’t it? Bennett actually set me up with him.”
“And how do we feel about Cougar?”
I shrug. “I think he has good moments.”
“‘Good moments’? That doesn’t seem too convincing.”
“We’re still trying to get to know each other. We were both so tired this morning that I don’t know if I was able to get a good assessment of him. Then again, I thought he was more normal this morning than he was the other night. So, we will see.”
“Do you think he’d be embarrassing at the dinner? Because that is not something I can afford.”
I shake my head. “No. If anything, he might be able to help out because he’s a professional football player and that’s intriguing.”
“That is true. Well, if you think he’ll do, then I say we go for it.”
“Great. I’ll get the details from you tomorrow and start working on preparations. I’m assuming you’re going to want to find something nice to wear?”
“I think that cashmere sweater might be exactly what I need.”
Proud, I say, “Good, I’m glad.” I grab the bags and offer her a smile. “See you in the morning.”
“Yes, see you in the morning, dear.”
“Why do I smell tacos?” I say as I enter my apartment.
“Because I got some for us,” Bennett says, popping out of the kitchen and looking so freaking cute in a pair of joggers, a plain black shirt, and a backward hat.
We exchanged keys to each other’s apartments, which has been incredibly useful, especially when he’s out of town.
I might have snuck into his place once and spent the night because I love his bed so much, but shhh, let’s not tell him that.
Not that he’d mind.
I fear if I did tell him, he’d just give me his bed.
I walk up to him and wrap my arms around him, giving him a big hug. “Thank you, I’m starving.”
His hands slowly slide down my back as I start to pull away, but not fully as I look up into his eyes. The scruff on his face is thicker than normal and his eyes look tired, like he hasn’t slept really well.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Great,” he says, his thumb rubbing over my back.
“You look tired.”
“Can’t hear that enough,” he says with a laugh.
“Sorry, didn’t mean it like that. Just want to make sure you’re good.”
He nods. “Yeah, should be an early night for me so I can catch up on some sleep. Which, speaking of sleep.” He takes my hand in his and pulls me toward my bedroom, where he opens the door and reveals a brand-new midcentury modern bed.
“Oh my God, Bennett, what did you do?”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course I like it,” I say, moving in closer and running my hand over the white oak that matches the two nightstands on either side perfectly. “This is gorgeous. Why did you do this?”
“Because you needed a bed and I know you would have been embarrassed if Gabby saw your place without one.”
“Bennett, this is…this is really sweet.” I close the distance between us and cup his face before lifting on my toes to place a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you so much.”
He clears his throat. “Of course.”
“Have you tested it out?”
“No, didn’t want to get my scent all over your bedding.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” I wink. “I like your scent.” Then I throw myself onto the bed and mold right into the blankets and mattress. “Oh my God, Bennett.”
He tugs on the back of his neck as he says, “Can you refrain from saying, ‘Oh my God, Bennett,’ while lying in your bed?”
I laugh. “Don’t be a prude.” Then I tap the bed next to me, welcoming him in.
He joins me, moving in close so our shoulders are touching.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“It is.” His fingers brush up against mine. “Almost feels exactly like mine.”
“It does.” And then I pause for a moment. “Wait…” I turn toward him and prop my head up on my hand as I stare down at him. “Bennett…”
“What?” He can’t hide his smile.
“Did you give me your bed?”
“No.”
“Bennett…”
He laughs. “I like you, Bower, but I don’t like you that much. I might have purchased some things to resemble my bed, though, because after I slept here the other night, it was no match to what I have going on in my apartment.”
“I know this, but you didn’t have to purchase things for me.”
He shrugs as if it’s not a big deal. “If I can’t spend money on the people I like, then what the hell am I going to spend money on?”
“I’ll pay you back.”
“The hell you will. This is a housewarming present, and if you pay me back, I’ll be thoroughly insulted.”
Ugh, stubborn man.
“Fine, then at least let me pay you back for the tacos.”
He rolls his eyes. “Sure, Bower, you can pay me back for the tacos.”
“Ha, I knew I’d crack you.”
Chuckling, he gets out of bed and then tugs me along with him. “Speaking of tacos, they’re getting cold. Come on.”
His fingers tangle with mine as he tugs me toward the kitchen and I allow it, because…I’m hungry.
He brings me to the counter and then to my surprise, lifts me up and places me on the cold quartz.
“I have a table, you know.”
“Yeah, that’s full of boxes. This is easier.” He hands me a to-go box and then picks one up himself, flipping open the lid to reveal five shredded-beef tacos.
“Oh my God, it smells amazing.” I flip open my lid as well and my mouth starts to water. I take in the three tacos he got me and silently laugh, because he knows I wouldn’t have consumed five, like him. “Where are these from?”
“One of my favorite places, about a mile away. The dipping sauce is fucking phenomenal.”
“Is that what this is?” I ask, pointing to a container that’s next to my tacos.
“Yup. It’s messy, so be warned.” I watch him dip his taco in the sauce and then take a huge bite, nearly devouring half of it.
Jesus.
After he chews, he says, “I also got some pastries for dessert.”
That makes me laugh, because I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.
“Surprised you didn’t start off with dessert.”
“We have to earn it by putting this apartment together.” He glances around. “Which, by the way, what did you do while I was gone?”
I scoff. “Uh, I did a lot.”
“Uh-huh, and what exactly did you do?”
“I organized my clothes, which was a big job, and I put away kitchen stuff.”
He nods. “Okay, that’s progress.”
“See? I did things.”
“Well, we can finish everything else tonight.”
“I just need some help hanging some things. Don’t worry about the boxes. I can handle that.”
“Why don’t you let me decide what we do and what we don’t do?”
“When did you become the boss?”
“When you decided to ask me for help.”
He winks and it’s so…not adorable, not cute…Good God, is it…is it hot?
When he smirks I feel my stomach erupt in butterflies.
Yup.
Yup, it’s hot.