He faced me, looking like a billion dollars in that gorgeous suit. It wasn’t the fabric or the designer that made it stand out, but the rock-hard man underneath, the man with cut arms, broad shoulders, and facial features that were just as chiseled as the rest of him. “Yes.”
“Let me know whatever time is good for you.”
“I’ll be home by seven.”
“Alright. I’ll come by at seven thirty.” I headed to the front door, eager to get out of his hair and move on to the next project so I could forget that whole thing. While I was a servant to all the clients in the building, most of them didn’t treat me that way. When we first met, they were a bit skeptical, but after a while, they viewed me as a colleague, someone who could get things done.
Deacon followed me out the door and joined me in the elevator.
When I stood beside him, I could smell his cologne, smell the subtle scent as it recycled in the elevator. His hands were in his pockets, and he stared straight ahead, relaxed but also poised at the same time.
We reached the bottom and the doors opened.
I waited for him to go first.
He pressed his arms over the doors so they wouldn’t slide closed then nodded to the lobby, wanting to hold the doors so I could go first.
It was so different from how it used to be that I stared at him for a few seconds, seeing the way he respected me, the way he cared about me, and then my heart started to swell, so I stepped into the lobby.
He glanced at his car waiting at the curb then faced me.
“Have a good day, Deacon. I’ll see you later—”
“I really am sorry about before.” He looked me in the eye as he apologized, like he was still embarrassed he’d allowed such a terrible person into his residence, allowed her into his bed, allowed her to be anywhere near me.
“You don’t need to apologize, Deacon. You did nothing wrong.”
He remained in front of me, as if he might say something else, but then he turned away and headed out the lobby doors.
I turned to watch him go, watched his powerful frame move through the lobby and get into the back seat of his blacked-out car. I caught a glimpse of him before the door shut, and his expression had hardened again, like he was back to his irritated self the second we parted.
I stayed late at the office after everyone else left for the day. Since I was waiting for Deacon to come home, I decided to do all the invoicing to the clients, sending them a bill for all the dedicated time the staff put in outside of business hours. The clients had to pay a monthly bill for our services, and all that money went into the owner’s pocket. But all the extra hours and tips went to us.
The lobby doors opened, and Deacon stepped inside, looking just as regal as he had that morning. His satchel was over his shoulder, and he headed to the elevator doors. As he stood there and waited for the doors to open, he gripped his tie and loosened it, like he couldn’t wait to get out of the stuffy outfit. Then he stepped inside and disappeared.
I returned to work, taking advantage of the time to catch up on a couple things.
My phone vibrated with a text from Tucker. Wanna join me for Taco Tuesday? Tucker and I continued to see each other, go on dates here and there. It was casual, and he didn’t try to rush it. It almost seemed like we were friends rather than potential lovers. Apparently, he wasn’t the hit-it-and-quit-it kind of guy like his brother—which was surprising.
I’m working late tonight. Do they have a Taco Wednesday?
Well, they have the dollar menu at Taco Bell.
We still hadn’t gone there even though it was an early part of our foundation. Alright. Let’s do it. Tucker was funny and easygoing, simple to talk to, but when he asked me personal questions about my life, I didn’t go into many details. I felt like I was sharing my life with a stranger. When Deacon wanted to talk to me, I told him every single detail…without thinking twice about it. While Tucker was the more normal one of the two, and just as attractive, Deacon was the one I had a soft spot for. I guess Deacon was a friend…and Tucker still had to earn my trust.
I didn’t give that away easily anymore.
Deacon texted me. I’m ready.
Be there in a min. I locked up my computer and then my office before taking the elevator to his floor. I knocked before I stepped inside.
He wasn’t at the dining table like he usually was, but his laptop and paperwork were spread out like he’d been there minutes ago.