“Because you are. If you want to be.” I looked into her eyes. “Do you want to be?”
“I… I didn’t even know that job was available.”
“It’s what Merritt does at Little Black Hole.”
“But that’s an actual studio. With people in it.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. “You’re saying my home studio isn’t an actual studio? And I’m not people?”
“I just didn’t know you needed, or wanted, a studio manager.”
“You can give yourself whatever title you want.” I took her face in my hands and kissed her soft lips. “But I’m not gonna waste your talents on fetching coffee and sorting emails.” I kissed her again, lingeringly, and I could practically feel her swoon.
Yeah, so maybe seeing her in a room with the likes of Trey Jones, superbachelor, had shocked me to crank it up a notch.
I wanted her. So I was gonna do everything I could to keep her, as long as I could. Even if it meant trying even harder to act like a normal person than I was accustomed to.
I dragged my lips over hers again, feeling her heartbeat against mine.
Stay.
Then I let her go, because we were almost at the lobby and I needed to put my sunglasses on.
“Funny,” she said breathlessly, “I’ve had so many bosses who’ve been happy to waste my talents on those things. And worse things.”
“Well, maybe your other bosses were assholes.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
I took her hand. And this time when the elevator doors opened, I didn’t let go.
Chapter Sixteen
Cary
Rescue Me
“Just a few… more… steps.”
Taylor led me out into my backyard with a silk sleep mask over my eyes, so I couldn’t see shit. It was about ten o’clock and I’d just finished working for the night. It was quiet in the neighborhood, as usual, but she had music on in the yard. Not super loud, but I could hear Jack White singing “I’m Shakin’” all the way in the living room, and it got louder the closer we got to the pool.
I was surprised I could hear it at all over my heartbeat pounding through my bones. My limbs were fucking vibrating with the adrenalin punch. I didn’t particularly like being blindfolded and led into something I couldn’t see, even if it was just my backyard. Anxiety, for me, was often nonsensical like that. One minute I’m walking into a business meeting downtown with very little issue, and hours later I have trouble walking into my own backyard.
That unpredictability was one of the strongest arguments for just staying put in my controlled environment. Why take the risk of having a panic attack in public?
I was pretty sure, though, that Taylor had no idea how nervous I was right now, and the song wasn’t meant to be spot-on.
“If you’re about to shove me into the pool,” I said dryly, trying to keep my voice steady, “let me know so I can haul you in with me.”
She stopped me with a hand to my chest and slipped the mask off for me. I almost shuddered with relief. “Ta-da!”
I stared at the pool, and the bar cart she’d wheeled over to it.
“What is this?” I asked her as I looked around.
“It’s the scene of our pool party!” She waved her arms at the patio around us, glowing in the warm light of the golden lanterns. The pool looked vividly turquoise in the night, kinda like her eyes, and the music flowed from hidden speakers on either end of the patio. It really was a sweet setup for a party.
The backyard was half the reason I’d bought this house. Back then, I’d planned to have a lot of parties here.
“Too bad I never throw parties,” I deadpanned. I definitely looked for it, just in case, but there was no sign of anyone here but the two of us.
“I’m throwing one for you,” she informed me.
“What?”
I looked her over in her gauzy pink cover-up thing, which really didn’t cover up her black string bikini at all.
On the way home from the meeting at Brick House, I’d tried to make out with her in the back of the car—she’d stopped me out of respect for Liam, a respect that escaped me when my hand slipped between her legs and felt her heat through her jeans. When we got home, she’d deposited me in the studio to work, interrupting me only for dinner and then sending me back to work. Which was good, because if I didn’t get at least a few