Chapter Eleven #2
“On it,” he repeated, leaving the room.
Sweet little dove, still so fucking broken.
Juliet
One Week Later
“To a B.” Ash lifted his Diet Coke float that was mostly vanilla ice cream with only a few drops of Diet Coke.
Sitting on the kitchen counter, I raised my float that was heavy on the Diet Coke and ice cream. “To being done with ratios!”
Vera and Freddy added theirs, clinking the glasses.
“Units of measurement and fractions will be better anyway,” Ash said, holding in a smile that his dimples betrayed. “We’ll get started tomorrow.”
I dropped my head back. “Whhhhhy? Just let me enjoy my treat and pretend we’re done with math forever.”
“Just think,” Freddy said, making quick work of his float instead of savoring it like I was. “Once you learn those, you’ll know how to double and triple ingredients to bake cookies with me.”
Few things could get me excited about math, but cookies did it. Especially if they were sugar cookies coated with sprinkles.
My gaze shot to Ash. “Want to dive in when we’re done? Maybe we can knock off the whole section in one afternoon.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Fine,” I drawled.
Conversation moved from math to the much more exciting topic of favorite cookies. I didn’t speak as I soaked in the happiness surrounding me.
Vera, Ash, and Freddy had busy lives. They had better things to do than to hang around the kitchen, drinking Diet Coke floats with me.
But they took the time to do it anyway. They noticed my hard work and celebrated my accomplishments, even if it was only a B. I’d never had that before, and it made me feel like Freddy’s hot coffee was in my veins, warming me from the inside out.
Conversation cut off as the kitchen door opened suddenly.
Wearing his signature suit and cold expression, Maximo walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water before leaning his hip on the counter near where I sat.
I wasn’t expecting to see him. I actually rarely saw him. If he wasn’t at work, he was locked away in his home office.
But at his nearness, shame and arousal bloomed through me in equal measure.
“What’s your favorite cookie, boss?” Ash asked.
I figured he’d say none since he wasn’t big on snacks, but after a long moment, he said, “Chocolate chip, but only the chewy kind.”
“A classic. Though thin and crunchy is superior.” Freddy set his empty cup in the sink and checked his watch. “I’ve got to run. I’m training the chefs not to butcher my beautiful risotto recipe.”
Ash scraped the last of his ice cream before adding his cup to the sink. “I’ve gotta get going, too.” He paused to give my shoulder a squeeze. “Good job again, Juliet,” he said before following Freddy out the door.
Even Ms. Vera was suddenly hellbent on escape, putting down her barely touched float. “That laundry isn’t going to fold itself.”
Oh no, I wonder if they’re in trouble.
I was sure Maximo paid them a lot to do their jobs, not drink floats with me. Maybe he was mad they were sitting around on the clock.
But when I caught a glimpse of Ms. Vera’s profile, it wasn’t fear or nervousness on her face. It was her sly smile.
What’s that about?
Before I could ask, she rushed out like the safety of the world depended on her folding laundry right that second.
Leaving me.
With Maximo.
Alone in a giant kitchen that suddenly seemed the size of a broom closet.
Before I could make my escape, Maximo asked, “You like the dress?”
Suddenly forgetting what I was even wearing, I glanced down at the casual skater dress. It’d been left on my bed a few days before with a note from Maximo congratulating me on the A I’d gotten on a Geography test—one of my strengths thanks to having moved so much.
It wasn’t the first time I’d been surprised with a gift for a good grade. Like the float celebration, it wasn’t the items themselves, but the thought behind them that meant so much.
“I love it,” I told him, “but you don’t have to—”
“Say thank you, Juliet.”
At his tone, my body tightened in a not unpleasant way and a tremor ran down my spine. My hands grew so clammy, I worried my drink would slip from my hold. I did as he ordered, my voice airy and softer than intended. “Thank you.”
He didn’t respond as he eyed me with an unreadable expression.
The room no longer felt like a broom closet. It was even smaller. And someone had sucked all the air from it. There was none left. That was why I was suddenly lightheaded and breathless.
I needed to get out before Maximo heard how embarrassingly loud my heart pounded.
Or before his too sharp eyes noticed the effect he had on me.
Gripping my cup, I started to slide off the counter. “I’m going to get started on—”
His tattooed hand came down on my bare thigh, his fingers curling around to keep me in place and send a rush of emotion—and inappropriate arousal—through me.
My wide eyes shot to his arctic dark ones.
“Stay and finish your ice cream,” he ordered—calm, collected, and unaware of the riot he’d started within me. “You earned it.”
His hold tightened before he removed his hand and stalked out.
Holy.
Shit.
I had work to do, but I wasn’t sure I could walk on my Jell-O legs or focus on anything other than the phantom sensation of his hand on me.
Staying where I was, I grabbed Freddy’s handwritten recipe book and flipped through to the baking section.
And then, for reasons I didn’t want to acknowledge, I searched for chewy chocolate chip cookies.