He drags himself away, and Ava comes over to my desk to give me kisses on both cheeks.
“You look good, Landon.”
“So do you.”
“You know me—I always take the best life has to offer.” She pauses. “How’s Aidan?”
I almost laugh. Aidan hates her guts, and she knows that. “He’s working on the play.”
“Hmm.” She gives me a questioning look. “Has he met her?”
“Rachel?”
“So that’s her name.”
I raise an eyebrow. I’m willing to bet she already knows everything it’s possible to know about Rachel.
“Yes, they’ve met, and they hit it off.”
“Oh.” Her lips curve downward, but the expression only lasts about a second. “We were going to talk about The Shelter Project.
I nod. “But let’s do it over dinner. I’m starving.”
Her eyes light up. “I’d love that.”
At dinner, we talk about the fundraiser, and she gracefully sidesteps all talk of her brother. Her attitude toward him is one of endless optimism, and she’s not willing to change it. Finally, I drop her off at her hotel and go home to my empty apartment.
It’s already late, and I hate that I ended up not talking to Rachel on the phone. It’s hard not to hold a grudge against all the other claims to my time. After working out, I take a shower and try to go to sleep.
I’ll see her tomorrow.
I need to see her now.
Finally, I get dressed and drive over to her place. She doesn’t pick up her phone when I call, but Laurie answers hers and lets me in.
“Hey you.” She’s grinning, most of her face taken over by large glasses with thick lenses. From the papers scattered all over the living room floor, it’s clear she’s working.
I glance at all the stacks of documents. “Is someone in trouble? A lawyer working this hard is always bad news for someone.”
“It’s just old contracts,” she replies, laughing. I want to ask her how things are going with Brett, but I don’t want to risk ruining her good mood.
“Rachel’s gone to bed,” she tells me.
I nod. “I guessed, but I was hoping to see her anyway.”
“Hmmm. All right!” She waves me toward Rachel’s room with a dramatic flick of her wrist. “Let it not be said that I, Laurie Foster, ever stood in the way of passion.”
I’m still chuckling when I enter Rachel’s bedroom and find her fast asleep in bed. Her t-shirt leaves her legs bare, sprawled carelessly across the bed.
She’s sleeping beauty, and me…I’m definitely not anyone’s prince.
The thought is sobering.
I undress and join her in bed, and her eyes flutter open. She reaches for me and I take her in my arms, breathing in her sweet, warm scent.
“Hi,” she whispers.
“Hi.” I kiss her on the lips, and she responds like she has been waiting for me all night.