I steal a bite of another cookie and then text Jenny: Kace is headed into a meeting. This is Aria. I’m eating cookies for breakfast. I’m on the mend and need the gym for sure! Thank you for the wonderful soup, bread, and cookies. Message sent, I glance at the clock that now reads nine AM. Eager to get to work, I exit my apartment and head downstairs, but I make it to the last step and freeze with a shiver of unease. A second later, my nostrils flare with a sweet scent, something floral, almost like perfume. I ease further into the hallway leading to mine and Gio’s offices. “Hello?” I call out.
The creak of wood, of an old building settling, is the only reply. I inhale and the scent is lighter now. Maybe it’s not even real. Maybe it’s my imagination? A bit tentatively, I walk to my office door and peek inside, to find it peaceful. Turning toward Gio’s office, the thundering of my pulse is instant, and for no good reason. I actually tiptoe in that direction, glance around the entryway, and then with sharp disappointment, discover that he’s not here.
I knew he wasn’t here, I chide myself. Like he’d just show up after all this time, and get to work, without saying a word to me.
Shifting back into the hallway, I inhale, and the smell is gone, which has me really doubting myself and this silly unease. Regardless, I need to put my mind at rest. I hurry forward, facing my fears and rushing through the rows of books and collectibles in the store, to find it all clear. Just to be safe, I check the front door and find it locked. Kace even figured out how to re-arm the security system when he left. Clearly, I’m losing my mind. I turn and scan the store. No one is here. Still, I walk behind the front desk with the intent of checking the security feed. I’ve just keyed the computer to life when my cellphone rings with Jenny’s number.
I settle onto a stool and answer her call. “Morning, Jenny.”
“How are you, Aria?” she asks, her voice warm with an offer of friendship and support.
“I’m much better, thanks to you and Kace. I’m convinced the soup, bread, and cookies took away my pain.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t Kace’s kisses,” she teases.
My cheeks burn with the unexpected brazen remark from his godmother, of all people. “The delicious dumplings,” I say. “Absolutely it was the dumplings.”’
She laughs a sweet laugh. “I’m sure it was. How did you cut your hand?”
“A piece of wood in a drawer at Kace’s place.”
“He had wood sticking out? That boy. What was he thinking?”
“Don’t be too hard on him. It’s in his vault so it’s not like many people go in there.”
“Wait. What? He let you in his vault?” She doesn’t give me time to reply. “Well, now that answers any questions I have about how serious you two are.”
Serious? I think. Are we serious? “We’re dating,” I say. “We’re not getting married.” It’s out before I can stop it. Married? Good grief, where did that come from?
“Yet,” she says, and while my mouth hangs open at her fast reply, she adds, “Kace hasn’t dated in a very long time. I’m eager to get to know the woman who brought him back around. You two need to come by and have dinner. When can you fit us in?”
He hasn’t dated in a long time. I’m having a hard time getting past those words, but manage a reply of, “I’m quite sure seeing you and Jerry is never ‘fitting you in.’ He loves you two. That is obvious.”
“As we do him, but you didn’t answer the question about when you can see us. I’ll just decide for you. I’m pushy like that, but I promise to pay for your forgiveness in cookies. Sunday brunch. We have a favorite spot. Kace knows it. Tell him I insist. Eleven o’clock.”
“As long as you’re paying in cookies,” I laugh. “I’ll tell him.”
“Fabulous. And if you want more soup, I can drop it by late afternoon. I’d love to check out your collectibles.”
“You are welcome here any time and I’d enjoy visiting, but I’m headed to Kace’s place later today.”
“An excellent reason to turn me down. Feel better, honey.”
After a brief goodbye, we disconnect and I wonder about that comment she’d made, about me bringing Kace back around. Back around from what? His parents’ death? That was years ago though, and it just doesn’t seem right. He wasn’t close to them, but our conversation from this morning comes back to me. Some of that past you won’t like. In fact, I’m certain you’ll want to run away, he’d said.
I wonder if that comment has anything to do with why he hasn’t dated. I wonder so many things about Kace August.