Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 117201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Burgess started to take a step toward Tallulah—to hug her? She never found out, because he changed his mind and remained in place, sweeping the rooftops with helpless eyes. “I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through. The fact that you walked into my apartment at all with that hanging over your head is a testament to how strong you are.” He waited for her to look at him, his voice heavy with sincerity. “For what it’s worth, Tallulah, you won. You waited for your moment, you kicked his ass and got as far away as you could. And you didn’t let him make you bitter. That’s better than I could have done.”
She couldn’t locate her voice for a moment, because that gruffly delivered assurance had lodged itself between her lungs. How did Burgess know it was the exact thing she’d needed to hear? Even she hadn’t known until now.
“And I’m also so glad you’re here now,” Burgess said, taking a long, measured breath, as if picturing how the outcome could have been even worse. “Give me a chance to show you that you’re safe with me.”
Earlier in the hallway, when she’d gotten off the elevator and heard Burgess and Lissa arguing, she’d sensed herself standing at a crossroads. She’d knowingly taken the route with a lot of complications, and in truth, she’d already traveled at least a quarter mile, hadn’t she? She’d already involved herself. Did she think bailing now would be so easy? It wouldn’t. Especially now, after she’d shared so much with him. Shared everything.
“Do you have practice tomorrow?”
He seemed to hold his breath. “Yeah. From two to five.”
“And Lissa gets off the bus at . . .”
“Three thirty.”
“Okay.” Despite nerves that were still raw from the traumatic story she’d told, Tallulah held out her hand. “I’ll see you around dinnertime, during which I will not be cooking. I just feel the need to reiterate that.”
He stared at her hand in disbelief. “Are you accepting the job?”
“Can you have the lock installed on my bedroom door by tomorrow?”
“I can,” he said, without hesitating, letting the barest hint of sympathy leak into his expression, before putting it in check. As if he could read her and knew it wouldn’t be welcome.
“Then yes. I’m accepting the position.” She tried to keep her tone brisk and businesslike, but the utter relief blanketing his features turned her words sort of halting. “I’ll bring my, um, course schedule over tomorrow and we can make sure there are no conflicts with Lissa’s.”
Beneath the canopy of lights, with the wind gently blowing their clothes and hair, Burgess’s mouth spread into one of those rare and devastating grins. “Was it the garden?”
Why did those four words make her heart elevate toward her throat?
No, it wasn’t the garden. Surprisingly, it was . . . him? Despite being a giant, growly hothead, he’d somehow reassured her. Which didn’t make a lot of sense, but Tallulah’s gut told her to trust him. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a water fixture.”
His answering laugh was deep, quick, and just as quickly, he sobered. “Thank you.”
Was she fidgeting? She never fidgeted. Her hands and actions always had purpose, but right now, they didn’t know whether to rest on the perimeter wall or smooth her flyaways. Maybe it had something to do with the very, very brief way his gaze touched on her lips. And the restrained hunger that resulted on his face, echoing in her own belly.
A vibration traveled downward from there, leaving an ache somewhere she had no business hurting for this man. This was her employer now. A kid was in the mix. And he was thirty-seven to her twenty-six. Not always a deal-breaker, but one to think about, because she wasn’t ready to settle down. No, her goal was to start taking flight again.
Therefore, no more romantic rooftop strolls with her boss.
“I’ll just grab my purse from the apartment and head out,” Tallulah said. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” He seemed to realize he’d been caught staring and coughed into a fist, crossed his arms. “See you tomorrow.”
She pretended not to feel his eyes on her the entire walk to the stairwell.
And she doubly pretended not to like it.
Chapter Six
Burgess skated full speed after the puck, biting down hard on his mouthpiece in frustration when Gauthier got there first. By a hair, but still. They crashed into the boards together, battling it out for the control, a maze of elbows, shoulders, and sticks as more Bearcats entered the mix, resulting in more rattling of the plexiglass and a whistle being blown. “This is practice, assholes.” Coach McCarren’s voice ripped across the ice like metal being sawed in half. “Try not to get injured three weeks before the season starts, would you, please?”
Everyone shoved at each other at once, breaking up the suspended scuffle.