Weekly dinner at my Grandma’s house is as loud as ever. Being one of five kids has conditioned me to function well with chaos and noise. Most of my days are quiet at the bakery and I live alone, unless one of my sisters crashes on my couch. So even though I always look forward to our big family dinners, I’m happy to retreat to my apartment at the end of the night.
Gran pesters me about my dating life (non-existent) and the construction at the bakery. (Nothing to report yet.) Lilah gives me pointed looks with her eyebrows raised so high she looks like she fell victim to a bad facelift.
No way am I telling my Gran about my lunches with Brooks. She will blow it way out of proportion and start planning a wedding. I wouldn’t put it past her to nose around the bakery trying to meet him.
“How do you like your contractor?” my brother Asher, asks. “We need some work done at the garage.”
Sipping my wine and avoiding all eye contact, I reply, “Yeah, he’s great. Very professional.” Lilah snorts over her glass and starts to say something, but I interrupt her. “How’s your last semester going? Are you ready to be a legit nurse?” I ask my little sister Julia.
Julia is only half awake, watching us with her chin supported on her hand. “One more week and then I can take the NCLEX. I’m still at the hospital with Rita, the demon nurse, but after next week I’m done. Thank god.” She moans and puts her head down on the table. Yikes. Poor kid. Nursing school seems a lot more strenuous than culinary school. Less fun, too.
Dinner is just wrapping up when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I check it under the table so Gran doesn’t get salty about phones at the dinner table.
Davidson Construction: “Hey, sorry to bug you. I think I left my notebook in the bakery. Any chance you could let me in to grab it? I need it to place some orders tonight.”
Shit. Asher drove me over and I don’t have my car. I hate to ask him to leave early, but I don’t have much of a choice. “Asher, can I beg a ride back to the bakery?”
“Why are you leaving so early?” Gran asks before Asher has time to answer.
“I’m sorry. It’s the contractor. He left some work stuff at the bakery and needs it tonight.” I avoid meeting Lilah’s eyes, but I can almost hear her raising her eyebrows. Gran pouts, but Asher agrees to drive me back. Julia bolts for the door while Asher and I hug our grandmother. Gran starts to protest, but Julia blows her a kiss.
“I love you all, but if I don’t get some sleep I’m going to die,” she says before jogging to her car.
Gran shakes her head at Julia’s retreating form. “I can’t wait until that girl is done with school. You all owe me an extra long dinner next week.”
“Extra long, I promise. I’ll even bring your favorite carrot cake,” I say as I kiss her on the cheek and we head out.
I text Brooks my E.T.A. as Asher and I chat about his car shop on the way back to my building. He and Lukas, our younger brother, opened a repair shop last year, and it’s doing well. He tells me all about the repairs he’s working on this week and 95% of it flies over my head. It doesn’t matter. It’s just nice to spend time with my brother.
“Are you sure you’re ok alone with this contractor guy?” Asher asks as we pull into the bakery parking lot. “I can stay.”
“Stop worrying,” I say. “He wouldn’t hurt me, I promise.” I give Asher a kiss on the cheek before hopping out and waving him on his way. He still waits for me to get safely inside the side door to my apartment before leaving.
I pop upstairs to drop off my purse. Pouring myself a second glass of wine, I settle in to read while I wait for Brooks.
Twenty minutes later he texts me to say he’s out front. That was quick. I sigh and toss aside my poor book. I’ll never finish it. My post-apocalyptic dragon shifters deserve better. I skip down the stairs, bringing my last sip of wine with me, and go to the front door to let Brooks in.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I guess I should have looked for his notebook while I waited. Too late now. He gives me a lopsided grin as I gesture for him to come in. Between his masculine scent, the devilishly handsome look on his face, and the sudden realization that I’m alone with him for the first time, I’m glad I didn’t look for the notebook. I’ll take a few extra minutes alone with him, even if it’s just hunting down the lost book.
“Thank you so much. You’re a lifesaver, Olive.” He says as he steps inside. His broad chest comes within a couple inches of me and my stupid nipples are trying to detach from my body to get to him. Mentally chastising them has absolutely no effect. Mutiny.
“I can’t believe I forgot my notebook. I guess I was distracted.” He tosses me a wink like I’m the great distraction. My cheeks heat up and I roll my eyes, fighting back the butterflies that seem to have escaped in my belly.
He heads over to his table. Funny that it’s his table now, but it is.
“I don’t think it will be there. I bet it’s in the lost and found box.” I tell him as I head towards the cashier station, tossing back the last sip of wine and setting my empty wine glass down on the counter. Sure enough, there’s a black hardcover notebook right on top. I pick it up and slap it against my other palm.
Brooks looks so relieved. He holds a hand out for his notebook. “Thank you so much. Seriously. I don’t know what I would do if I lost it.”
“Hold up mister, I’m going to need to make sure this belongs to you. Company policy,” I tease as I hold it behind my back. Brooks steps toward me slowly and I’m drowning in the intensity on his face.
“How am I supposed to prove it’s mine?” he asks me, taking another measured step towards me. He approaches me carefully and with purpose. The way you would approach an animal you don’t want to run away. I don’t feel like running now, though. My heart, or at least my traitorous body, wills him to come closer.
Brooks holds my eye contact and steps right into me, his hips pinning mine into the counter. His scent washes over me and the delicious weight of his body against mine makes my head spin. He’s enormous, and I have to crane my head back as I look up at him.
Maybe it’s the wine, but I’m feeling brave. For the first time in a long time, I think I could let someone in. It’s a big, scary thought. A risk I’ve never been willing, or able, to take. I shove down the little voice that’s kept my walls up and protected me for so long. I can be brave. I can do this.
He reaches around me with both arms, placing one hand on the counter and wrapping the other around my back to take the notebook from my hand. He brings the book out in front of me but doesn’t move away as he flips the cover open with one hand and shows me his name and phone number written there.