“No. I didn’t have time this morning.”
“Just as I assumed.” He shakes his head and disappears into the break room without explanation. When he returns moments later, he’s holding a takeout bag. “Time for a break.”
I blink. “You brought me lunch?”
He shrugs. “I figured if I fed you something decent, you might stop glaring at me like I kicked your cat.”
“If you kicked Jasper, you wouldn’t be alive for me to glare at.”
“Let’s keep it that way. I don’t want him to murder me in my sleep.”
Despite myself, I laugh. He grins at me like he’s just won a gold medal. That smile makes my chest somersault. This is the most we’ve spoken to each other since we kissed, and annoying as it is, I can’t deny how good it feels. It’s almost like our conversation in the woods never happened. He’s back to being his charming self instead of distancing himself like he did at the end of our time at camp.
“What happened to giving me space?”
“Yeah. About that.” A smirk tugs at his lips as he crosses his arms and leans against the wall. “Not gonna happen. Sorry.”
I gape at him. “Bash…”
“I’m staying in Meadow Hills whether you like it or not, so you might as well get used to it.”
Our gazes connect. A warm, happy feeling envelops me, spreading through my veins.He’s staying. He’s really staying.
“What if you lose your fight?”
He shrugs, still grinning. “Eh. There’s always the next one. Now, come on. Let’s eat.”
We sit side by side at the front desk with the food between us. Bash ordered us each a roasted chicken wrap, tomato soup, andbuttery cheese toast from Old Joe’s Diner. I know he’s probably waiting for me to address where I stand with him now that he’s proclaimed he’s staying. And I want to. But I can’t help but worry it’s all talk. What if he changes his mind? I’d be devastated.
Lord, what do I do? Should I let him in? Or wait things out a little longer to see if he keeps his word?
“Thank you for lunch,” I say, dipping my toast into the soup. “This is really good.”
“Of course.” He leans back in his chair and smirks. “And besides, if I don’t make sure you eat, you probably never will again.”
I nudge him. “Are you sure all this isn’t just an excuse to tease me? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it’s almost like you missed our little tiffs.”
He smirks at my reaction, but there’s something gentle behind his eyes. “Of course I missed you. It’s not that hard to believe.”
I open my mouth to argue, to brush it off, but the words don’t come. Not when he’s looking at me with those soft eyes, completely at odds with the rest of his hard exterior.
“But if you really hate my presence as much as you pretend to, I can go.” He grins and tears off a piece of his sandwich before popping it into his mouth.
“No, no. You brought soup. That’s the best peace offering I could have asked for.” I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.
He leans in just enough to lower his voice. “Then I’ll bring soup every day.”
My heart stumbles in my chest.
Lord, it’s getting too hard to ignore my feelings for him.
When we’re finished eating, we both get back to work. Having a full tummy makes me feel stronger as I groom each dog. I really should take Bash’s advice and think my mealsthrough better. But it’s also so cute the way he keeps taking it into his own hands.
Night finally arrives, and Bash leans against my car after work, dangling my keys in front of me like bait. “You’re coming to my house tomorrow. We have the day off. And before you say tomorrow is the men’s breakfast, Logan told me it got cancelled while the church recoups from the autumn retreat.”
I cross my arms. I already knew that, of course, but I can’t deny I’m surprised he’s been following along, too. The corners of my mouth lift, but I keep my voice steady. “And if I say no?”
“You can’t.” He rattles the keys right in front of me like a reminder. “Because Ingrid made an apple cinnamon loaf and I have your keys.”
