She got close enough that he picked her rollerblades up. “You’re still skating?”
She tugged them back and pulled out the key to her apartment from her pocket. “And? I haven’t seen you in ten years and you’re waiting outside my apartment?”
He pointed toward her door. “Can I come in for a minute?”
In college, Rocco had cheated on her and then quit school. She never saw him again until now. She gazed at him and wondered what in the world he was doing here, but finally shrugged. “I guess, but don’t get any ideas. You’re not staying and I have to be at work in half an hour. My boss is expecting me.”
“I won’t keep you.” He followed her inside once she opened the door.
Her apartment was clean and tidy with her beige couch and tiny glass dining room table that overlooked the window, where she ate breakfast on weekends. She put her skates in the hall closet. “So, what do you want?”
He leaned against her door and stared at her with those emerald eyes of his that had once hypnotized her. “I came to see if you’re willing to forgive me for what happened.”
Forgive? She hadn’t remembered, to be honest. Her gaze narrowed and she wished she hadn’t let him inside her space. “Are you in a steps program or something?”
He shrugged, but then held out his hand to hold hers, like they were friends. “Kind of. And I cheated on you with your best friend.”
True, but then Maria had shown her true colors that day. Natalie crossed her arms. None of this mattered anymore. “Former best friend. I’ve not talked to either of you in a decade.”
“I’m sorry,” Rocco said with his head down.
She walked him to the door, not caring what step he was on. “Okay, good to hear. Thank you. I’ve long forgotten so it’s not a big deal.”
He nodded and brushed her arm. “Okay, well, I’ll let you go.”
Good. She felt nothing like how she felt with Galen and it was time to get to work. She opened the door and waved as she said, “Bye.”
He winked at her and headed toward the elevator. Then she closed and locked her door.
It was time to dress and see Galen again.
Today for the first time she didn’t need to wear the baggy outer layer. She went into her closet and selected a skirt and shirt in her size though she opted for the sweater as well. The office air conditioner could chill her bones off.
She quickly showered, changed and didn’t bother with the bad makeup. She glanced at the clock and then called herself a car.
A few minutes later she was at the office and strutted down the hall with a wave to the other employees who all fixed on her with big bug eyes. She ignored them and fired up her computer, slipped off her high heels and put on her more sensible flats and wrapped her sweater around her shoulders.
The computer turned on and she hit print to the Dover building report as Galen walked out of his office, buttoning his shirt. She quickly averted her gaze so she wasn’t caught gawking at him. He joined her at her desk. She glanced up, but his huge muscles in that navy blue suit of his that blocked her view of the window. “Ga… Mr. Morgan, I’ll have the report on your desk in two minutes.”
He smiled at her, showing off that dimple she’d never noticed before last night. “Thanks, Ms. Parker.” He then glanced up and down her body. “You look different today.”
Her clothes fit her she wanted to say. She touched a finger to the gold cross hidden beneath her neckline. “You now know I’m not forty-six so I guess I don’t have to wear three layers of clothes—I’ve settled for just two.”
He folded his arms and widened his stance. “Why two?”
Perhaps he never felt it, but she tossed her hair behind her head like she was in high school again. “The air conditioning gets to me in the afternoon.” This was work. She shouldn’t flirt. Keeping it professional, she picked up the report and stapled it. “Is there anything else?”
“No, not at all.” He stepped back as the elevator door opened. She turned and saw a delivery man with flowers walking in the office. “Flowers for Natalie Parker?”
Galen said, “You’re getting a delivery.”
No one would send her flowers. This made no sense. She stood, signed for the delivery and placed the red roses on her desk. She glanced at them and then back at Galen. “Strange.”
He picked up the card, read the outside label and handed it to her. “Rocco Dubois?”
Her heart raced. Had there been more to his apology? She never should have let that man into her apartment. She took the card and quickly read ‘Nice to see you again.’ She wrinkled her nose as she put the card on her desk. “Rocco seriously? Why?”
Galen stood still. “Who is he?”
