Lexie sighed and went back to looking. She didn’t know how long she’d been at it when the doorbell rang. Maybe Kendall had forgotten her keys. She strode over and opened the door.
“Kade!” He was the last person she expected to see, and damned if her heart didn’t pick up speed at the sight of him.
In his khaki pants and green Army shirt, he was every inch the sexy tech god she adored. She pushed back the flood of desire, knowing it had no place between them. Not anymore.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Can we talk?”
She deliberately squelched the spark of hope in her chest because nothing had changed. She’d decided that earlier today. “Of course.”
Waffles jumped up on his hind legs, his front paws on Kade’s jeans, begging for attention. “Hey, buddy.” He petted the dog’s head, talking to him in silly tones that made Lexie smile and warmth fill her at the sight. Of course he would be good with dogs too.
“His name is Waffles,” she said.
Kade groaned. “Thanks to who?”
“My sister.” Lexie laughed. “I suppose you’d have a manlier name for a dog?”
He shrugged. “Never gave it much thought. I didn’t have a pet growing up.”
“Maybe you should get one now. Dogs are soothing.”
He glanced at the furry thing still begging for attention. “I’ll take your word for it.”
She hoped he’d consider it. There were therapy pets meant just for people with anxiety and other unique needs, and she wanted to know he had company at night. Furry canine company would be her preference, but she also wanted him to have a full and happy life. She didn’t want to consider just what that meant.
“Come sit.” She led him into the family room, and they settled beside each other on the sofa. “We’re alone, in case you’re wondering. Kendall is at a doctor’s appointment, so feel free to talk.” She gestured around the empty apartment.
“I wanted to discuss your job. Things are changing at Blink, and I won’t be needing an assistant.”
He didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t ask, no longer feeling like it was her business to push him for answers. It hurt her, that she could no longer speak her mind or know what was in the deeper recesses of his.
Still, she appreciated him letting her know in person, considering he’d already technically fired her. “Don’t worry about me. I was looking for a job before you got here. See?” She pointed to the open laptop on the ottoman in front of them.
He frowned at the screen. “You don’t need to worry about employment ads. I promised you that no matter what happened between us, you’d have a job at Blink. Whenever you’re ready, go back and Derek will have a position for you.”
She blinked back tears. “Kade, I don’t deserve that kind of generosity. Kendall shouldn’t have been in your apartment. She shouldn’t have had the chance to take your watch in the first place. That’s on me.”
He shook his head, his gaze warm and understanding. “Julian being able to get close to your sister? That’s on me. So maybe we call it even?”
“Yeah. Even sounds good.” Maybe she could say good-bye knowing he didn’t hate her for how things had turned out between them. Heaven knew she didn’t hate him.
He reached out and touched her hair, curling one strand around his fingers. “I’m glad I had you in my life for a little while, because in that short time, you taught me a lot.”
“I did?” She couldn’t imagine what.
He nodded. “You’re everything I never had in my life. You’re loyal, caring, honest. You accept people for who they are, and you’re there for the people who need you. You were there for me.”
Because she loved him.
She reached up and clasped his wrist, pulling his hand down and holding on. “You deserve someone who can do that for you. Someone who can give you one hundred percent, and that’s not me right now. It may never be me.”
“I’m selfish enough to want to pull you away from your twin, but I’m smart enough to know who needs you more. I wish I’d had someone who was there for me when I needed them, so I won’t ask you to choose.” He pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers.
She sighed, breathing in his masculine scent, soaking in as much as she could of him in this short time she had left. It wasn’t a lot and it wasn’t nearly enough.
So she was surprised when his lips trailed down her cheek. Unable to help herself, she tilted her head, giving him a silent okay for his lips to press against hers. And when they did, there was no doubt the chemistry between them was still strong. Just as there was no doubt this was an emotional moment, one she wanted to drink in and remember.