Rush

A persistent louder knock starts up.

I trek across the room and open the door to peer out.

The knock has turned into an all-out series of bangs.

Rushing from the room, I turn the corridor and race into the foyer.

Maybe it’s Case on the other side of the apartment door. Did he forget his keys last night? Am I about to witness a walk of shame?

Sucking in a deep breath, I march toward the door and swing it open with a flourish.

“Miss Owens,” Lester greets me with wide eyes. “Oh dear. I woke you up.”

The dead giveaway is the state of my hair. I know that I toss and turn at night. My hair must look like I haven’t brushed it in days.

I try and smooth it down with the palm of my hand, but it’s useless. I feel it spring back to its unruly state the second my fingers run over it.

“I was awake,” I confess. “I was listening for…”

Nope. I will not tell Lester that I was listening for Case because I have no clue if my roommate came home last night. The man standing in front of me will sell a secret for a dollar.

Lester waits for me to finish, but I laugh. “I was listening to the chirping birds outside my window.”

“Birds?” His brows perch. “I’ve heard a siren or two this morning. A multitude of car horns as expected. I can’t say I’ve heard the sweet sound of a bird, though.”

I look down and realize that I’m still wearing the same thin tank top I was last night.

Great. Now Lester has seen me braless.

Wanting this to be over, I glance over my shoulder. “Do you need to talk to Case? I can wake him up.”

Hopefully he’s in his bedroom wearing boxer briefs or less .

I smile at the mental image of that.

“No, no.” Lester chuckles. “Mr. Abbott left for the office an hour ago. I’m here with a special delivery for you.”

My gaze drops to his hands. “What the fu…?”

“Breakfast,” Lester interrupts. “There are bagels. It appears to be a dozen. You’ll find cream cheese and a container of fresh berries in the other bag. The perfect accompaniment is this coffee from Palla on Fifth.”

He pushes two white paper bags at me, along with a large cup of coffee.

I reach for it all. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting this.”

With a bright smile, Lester tips his chin. “Mr. Abbott arranged it for you. A courier dropped the bagels at the front desk. They are from an establishment called Bright Bagels, I believe. I picked up the rest myself. The coffee contains one cream and one sugar. I hope it’s to your liking.”

How am I holding a bag from Bright Bagels right now?

Tears threaten my eyes.

No one has ever gone to this much trouble for me.

“Thank you,” I whisper to Lester.

“You’re very welcome,” he says in a soft tone. “One more thing, Miss Owens.”

I glance up at his kind face. “What is it?”

“Mr. Abbott asked me to deliver this message to you.” Reaching into his pocket, he tugs out a piece of paper. Its edges are jagged as if it was torn from the corner of a newspaper. I catch a glimpse of something written in red ink.

Clearing his throat, he takes a deep breath. “I hope you enjoy breakfast, Freckles, as much as I enjoyed dinner last night.”

Chapter 29

Emma

Two hours later, I’m satiated, showered, and standing on the sidewalk outside Sweet Bluebells.

Even though the bookstore Bella wants to take me to is just a few blocks from where she lives in Brooklyn, she insisted on meeting here. She told me in a text that she’s been craving a chocolate chip cookie from the bakery since she woke up, so I happily agreed to make my way here.

The text message I sent to her was my second of the day.

I sent a quick one to Case first to thank him for the feast of a breakfast he arranged.

I slide my finger over my phone’s screen and reread it.

Emma: Thank you for the surprise, Rush.

He hasn’t responded yet, but I know that he’s busy, even if it is Saturday morning. Drake has never followed a strict Monday to Friday schedule since he started working at Cabbott. I doubt that Case does either.

I swing open the door to the bakery to find it bustling with people.

I can’t say I’m surprised. In addition to the display case full of cupcakes, there are a few wicker baskets near the cash register filled with a selection of muffins and cookies.

I spot Delaney behind the counter.

With a quick turn of her head, she sees me. I’m greeted with a big smile and a wave of her hand.

I reply in kind.

“Emma!”

I turn to the left when I hear my name.

“I’m here,” Bella calls out from a table in the corner. “I got you a lemonade and a blueberry muffin.”