glass as he finished his drink. “When you figure out who Bryan is, please don’t let him know you know. It was hilarious watching him trying to get you to recognize him.”
“Oh shit. He’s famous too?”
“Famous, I don’t know. He’s a singer.”
My hands covered my face as the embarrassment of not knowing who I was playing cards with took hold. Everyone made fun of my complete lack of pop culture knowledge. This was beyond a lack of knowledge. This was embarrassing.
“I’m sorry I–”
“Hold on. You have nothing to apologize for, Jurnee. Speaking for myself, it was great meeting someone that didn’t already have a preconceived opinion of me based on what People Magazine published. You kicked our asses at poker, but more importantly, you treated us like we were regular people. It was a fun night, and it’s been a long time since that’s happened.”
“I’m not really up on pop culture.”
“Clearly.” He stood just as I noticed Anderson standing in the doorway.
They shared a look. Anderson nodded, and Otis bent down and kissed me on my forehead. “Never change.”
“You called him.” I whispered.
“I did, kiddo. You’ll learn we don’t keep secrets from one another.”
“Thank you for taking care of me and the talk.”
He straightened up, “Since it looks like you’re sticking around, get my number from Anderson. If you ever need saving, give me a call.”
“Thank you, Jeffrey Otis.” Anderson’s eyebrows lifted at my words.
Anderson gave Otis a man hug, and they exchanged words that I couldn’t hear. Just like that, Otis was gone. Anderson stared down at me for a moment. Without a word, he lifted me off the sofa and carried me to the elevator.
“Next time, I’m not leaving.”
34
Jurnee
My breath caught the same way it had the night before when I looked up and saw him standing in the doorway. Anderson was the perfect combination of kindness, confidence, and swagger. Every fiber of my body was ready to mount the man that stood watching me. Somehow, his ‘I’ve been at the office all day’ swagger was working better than oysters on me.
“You better stop looking at me like that.”
Challenge accepted. “Oh yeah?”
In his hand, a white shopping bag caught my attention as Anderson stalked across the room toward the sofa. He bent down to kiss me, but he stopped two millimeters from my lips.
“I missed you all day.”
“You did?” Smiling like it was Christmas morning, I allowed the giddiness from his words bounce around inside me.
“I did.” Rover raised his head, and I resumed petting him.
“Jurnee.”
“Yeah.”
“Is that one of the steps from the gym on the floor at the end of the sofa?”
“It is.”
A tilt of his head, “Why?”
“It was the right size for Rover to hop up here.” Giving my very best Vanna White wave, I motioned over the sixty-pound pig laying with his head against my propped-up leg.
Anderson sat on the coffee table and dragged his hand gently over my bandaged ankle. Reaching into his suit’s chest pocket for his phone, we both looked at Rover when he snorted loudly. I giggled. In the blink of an eye, Anderson had an expression that I hadn’t remembered seeing before.
“Guess what I did on my way home?” His cold-flat tone distracted me from the designer logo that looked like one you’d see in the movie or on a television show.
“You went shopping?”
His jaw was set and his eyes slanted as I watched him place the bag on the coffee table on the other side of my leg. “I did. I wanted to get you a couple things because you were so good today.”
Shit.
“Why don’t you read the text message I received earlier?” The phone screen was turned directly in front of me.
“Um.”
“Um? Would you like me to read it to you?”
“I mean.” My shoulders stayed up by my ears in an extra-long shrug.
He cleared his throat like he was about to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and read our text exchange from earlier in the afternoon.
Anderson - How are you feeling?
Jurnee - Much better! Thanks for having Rover brought over to keep me company.
Anderson - Are you staying off your feet?
Jurnee - Yes. Do you have lotion here?
Anderson – I’ll get you some when I get there. Leaving in an hour.
He placed the phone back in his inside pocket. When our gaze locked, I smiled bigger as his eyebrows relaxed and his jaw softened. Please kiss me.
“Do not look at me like that because I’m unable to fulfill whatever the thoughts you were just enjoying. Let’s remember you’re