Brandon (Anderson Billionaires #3) - Melody Anne Page 0,74
He grabbed another biscuit and slathered it in goodness before eating it in two bites.
“I think I could eat everything in your fridge,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m famished.”
“We did get a workout,” she told him. She ate about half of her food, then scooted the plate over to him. He didn’t hesitate to finish it off for her.
“Yes, we did,” he said, licking his lips. “The best workout ever. I plan on it happening again tonight,” he warned.
Her stomach tingled. It was Christmas Eve. She should tell him tonight wasn’t good. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“I have to do some cleaning when I close tonight, so it might not work out,” she said instead.
“I’ll come help you, and we’ll get done twice as fast. Just tell me what time you close.” He was buttering another biscuit. It was a good thing he’d made a double batch. She loved to make biscuits from scratch, but she also had a thing for the ones in a can and always kept them in her fridge. He’d found them.
She didn’t hesitate to give him the time. She was enjoying herself too much to tell him not to come. Maybe something would come up, and if it did, she’d try not to be disappointed, but for now she was enjoying this too much to turn him down.
His phone rang, and he sighed as he looked at the caller ID. “I have to run. I promised my brother Noah I’d meet with him at the center. But I’ll see you at four,” he said. He answered the phone. “One second,” he said. Then he pressed the mute button and grabbed her.
He gave her one heck of a kiss that nearly had her falling off her barstool before he let her go and ran from the room as he began speaking to Noah. She got up on wobbly legs and walked to her teakettle and refilled her cup.
She was moving slowly this morning, but that was okay. The night had been heaven, the morning just as good, and she had a feeling this night was going to be the best of all. Each moment with Brandon surprised and delighted her. She was really starting to get used to it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Joseph sat at Chloe’s bar and grinned while he sipped on a glass of her finest scotch and munched on some freshly baked blueberry scones. It was an odd combination, but the man would never be one to be placed in a category. That was for dang sure.
“You realize it’s Christmas Eve, don’t you?” Joseph asked her.
“Yes, I do. Why aren’t you at home with your hordes of family members?” she asked.
“I had to do a little last-minute Christmas shopping,” he said. “I was surprised to see you were open. I figured you’d be with that nephew of mine.”
She smiled as she leaned over the counter and looked Joseph in the eyes. She was more comfortable with the man now, which shocked her. He certainly still intimidated her, but she now knew he was a good person no matter what his net worth was.
“You aren’t matchmaking, are you, Joseph? I’ve been warned of your antics.”
He spluttered and set his glass down as he gave her a firm look. She could see in that moment how he’d been such a fierce force to be reckoned with in the boardroom. She wouldn’t admit she was intimidated, but she was.
“I’m offended,” he said. “I’d never do anything against anyone’s will.”
She smiled. “But you might try to nudge people along?” she pushed.
He smiled as he lifted his drink again and took his time answering. “Let’s just say that I sometimes see things others might miss,” he conceded.
“And did you happen to see something between Brandon and myself?” She really wasn’t sure where this brave new her was coming from. But she was feeling pretty good. She’d fought having anything personal to do with Brandon and had failed miserably, so she might as well go with it now.
“I’m pleading the Fifth,” Joseph told her with a sly look in his eyes.
“Then I am, too,” she assured him as she refilled his glass.
She was shocked when he laughed. “That’s why I like you so much, Chloe. You’re a spitfire, and I love it.”
The praise was pretty amazing coming from a man like Joseph. “I can’t sit here and chat all day. It is Christmas Eve, after all, and I have a lot to get done before I can leave.”