Page 82 of Tempt
Jackson held up his hands. “I didn’t say anything.”
“But I know what you’re thinking, and you can just stop thinking it.”
A few other Cole Security employees entered the room, putting an end to the discussion, which I was glad about. What I’d told Jackson was true—Millie and Iwerejust friends, and our conversations the past two nightshadbeen totally appropriate.
My thoughts about her after we hung up were a different matter entirely. In fact, given how hard I was finding it to put her out of my head, I knew talking with her every night was probably a terrible idea.
And yet I called her as soon as I got home, even though it was after one a.m. her time.
“Hello?” She sounded sleepy.
“Hey,” I said, dropping onto my couch. “I’m sorry for calling so late. I just got home from a job. Did I wake you?”
“It’s okay. How are you feeling?”
“Better today. I think it was the tea and honey someone sent me.”
She laughed, a lazy, sexy sound that sent a bolt of heat through me. “Wonder who that could be.”
“I don’t know. They also sent me a box of shower bombs, which sound terrifying.”
“Did you try one yet?”
“No. But I drank some tea.”
“Next time you take a shower, use one of those bombs. They smell really good. And the steam will be good for the congestion.”
“You use those bomb things?”
“Yes. My favorite is the jasmine honeysuckle.”
“Does it smell like you?”
She was silent a few seconds. “It might.”
Now I was picturing her in the shower. Great. I cleared my throat and steered back to a safer topic—gratitude. “Thank you. Really. That was sweet.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“But when you’re sick, it’s nice to be taken care of, isn’t it?”
“By you, it would be.”
Then she went silent.
I exhaled. “I’m sorry, Millie. I keep saying shit I know I shouldn’t.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m doing the same. Being just friends is hard after you’ve...been more.”
“Let’s try again—how wasyourday?”
“Good.” She told me about speaking to a commercial real estate agent, and her voice grew more animated as she gave me some details about one of the places she was going to see tomorrow morning. “I’m also seeing some on Sunday, and a couple early next week, but I really have my hopes pinned on this one building.” She sighed. “Which is probably a mistake, because it’s got the steepest rent, and it’s not even the largest space.”
“Well, no harm in looking, is there?”
“There’s harm if I fall in love with it! What if I get in there and it’s the perfect fit, but I can’t have it?”
