Chapter 15: A Silly Idea

I didn’t greet the morning with a stretch and a yawn—because I hadn’t slept a wink. My mind was a racetrack, replaying the events of the day and Belle’s words over and over.

I dragged myself into the shower and slipped into the dress I’d worn on the first day. All my other clothes were already packed away. Clearly, I hadn’t thought through my clothing needs beyond the weekend.

As I left my apartment, I crossed paths with the movers in the hallway. I’d have to find a motel for the night. My apartment would be stripped bare by the time I got back.

Arriving at the office, I wasn’t exactly prepared to face the day, or Brennan. We’d left things on such an odd note, and we hadn’t even discussed what had transpired.

Maybe it would have been easier to let him ship my things to me.

But it was too late for second thoughts. I was here, waiting for the elevator, and soon this chapter would be closed.

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped in. My heart pounded in my chest. With each floor the elevator climbed, I was one step closer to Wolf Industries and ~him.~

When the doors opened onto the Wolf Industries floor, I stepped out and walked down the familiar corridor.

The receptionist’s eyes widened as I passed her desk. I swallowed my embarrassment and forced myself to keep moving. I pushed open the office doors and stepped inside.

Brennan was in conversation with a woman seated across from him. His gaze shifted from her to me. He flashed a smile, said something to the woman, then stood and walked out with her.

“I’ll be right back, Mr. Wolf,” she said, maneuvering around me and out the door.

“New PA?” I asked softly.

“Temp,” he replied. “It’ll take some time to find someone who can fill your shoes.”

I nodded and moved to the desk that used to be mine. There was an empty printer box on the floor, so I picked it up and began packing my things.

A photo of my parents at my graduation. A small dolphin ornament. My clothes from the Friday before ~our~ weekend.

“Can we talk?” Brennan asked. He was still standing by his office door.

I paused and set the box down next to the desk.

“Of course.”

Brennan retreated into his office and took a seat. I sat in the chair the woman had just vacated, the same chair I’d occupied countless times. The chair that, after today, would no longer be mine.

“I thought you might want to know that my parents called me this morning. I took the call.” He chuckled. “They’re coming to visit this weekend before they fly to England.”

I smiled genuinely for the first time since we’d left his parents’ house. “That’s good. I’m glad.”

“I’ll tell them we broke up,” he said softly.

Before I could respond, the door to Brennan’s office opened and the temp PA walked in, carrying two cups of coffee.

“Cappuccino for you, Mr. Wolf, and chai latte for you, Ms. Reynolds.”

“Oh, thank you,” I said. “Your name is…?”

“Melody.”

“Thank you, Melody.”

She exited the room, and I took a sip of the latte. “She seems more promising than the other temps.”

“She’s not you,” Brennan said without missing a beat.

I looked down at the floor.

“I’m not that great, Brennan. I just had the advantage of being here from the start. I know how things work and how you...” I stopped. “Anyway. Your parents.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it, okay? I’ll let them down gently. We won’t go backward.”

He was probably right. A new door had opened; his father had a better understanding of his son. Maybe a sudden breakup wouldn’t cause too much of a stir.

I looked up at Brennan and tilted my head slightly. Crazy ideas started to swirl in my head, ideas that Belle would have a field day with.

“I have to vacate my apartment tomorrow. Actually, it’ll be empty except for my suitcase by the time I get home today. I’m staying in a hotel tonight, but maybe I could stay at your place this weekend.”

Brennan’s eyebrows shot up and he leaned back in his chair.

“So you don’t have to break the news just yet.”

“You’re offering to keep up the charade of being my fiancé,” he said slowly. He took a sip of his coffee and set it down on the desk.

“Yes.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because we’re friends,” I replied honestly.

“Friends,” he echoed. “Won’t it be awkward? After everything.”

~Everything.~ I closed my eyes, remembering the night before last. The way he’d touched me, his lips on mine. I longed to go back, to feel that again. Awkward wasn’t the word for what I was feeling.

“I think I can handle it. Can you?”

“Oh, I know I can.” He laughed. “I’ll take you up on the offer. Truth be told, I’m not quite ready for my parents to go back to being disappointed in me just yet.”

“They wouldn’t be, but just in case.”

Brennan smiled and picked up his coffee again. “Okay then. Stay at my place, in the guest room. Don’t stay in a hotel.”

~All week?~ Was he suggesting I stay in his apartment all week? I stared at him, my stomach churning, while he appeared completely unfazed.

If I needed any more proof that Brennan wasn’t into me, this was it. Inviting me into close quarters without a hint of emotion.

I couldn’t say no; the word was on the tip of my tongue but refused to come out. Why did I want to stay at his place longer than necessary? What twisted part of me enjoyed this?

“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll go back to my apartment and grab my suitcase and come to your apartment after you finish work.”

Brennan picked up his phone from the desk, pressed a few buttons, then held it to his ear.

“Hey, this is Brennan Wolf. Yes, that’s right. Listen, I’ve got a friend who’ll be staying over for a while. Could you arrange an access key for her? Yes, her name is Grace Reynolds. Great. Thanks.”

He hung up the phone.

“Once you’ve got your suitcase, you can head straight to my place. There’s a spare parking spot for you. The reception will have a key card ready. Make yourself comfortable.”

“Are you sure? I can wait.”

Brennan chuckled, leaning forward as close as he could get to me with the desk still between us.

“You just spent the entire weekend pretending to be my fiancée. Plus, you’ve been working for me for three years. I trust you.”

“Okay. I’ll head over soon then. I need to grab my suitcase.”

I got up and started towards the door. Brennan beat me to it, holding it open for me. I walked over to the box of my belongings, juggling my coffee as I tried to secure everything.

“Let me bring the box to you,” he suggested, stepping closer. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and memories of our night together threatened to resurface.

~Damn.~ Being close to him was a problem.

I blinked, hard. We weren’t alone. Melody was typing away at her keyboard, but her keystrokes were sporadic. I was almost certain she was eavesdropping and enjoying the spectacle.

“Um, that kind of defeats the purpose of me coming in,” I managed to say, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.

“Does it?” Brennan shot back with a grin. He placed his hands on the box and I let him take it.

He was alluding to the unexpected extension of our weekend charade, as if he’d planned it all along. But I knew he hadn’t. He’d given me the green light to come back and collect my things before he even knew about his parents’ surprise visit.

“Be careful... You sound like you’re enjoying this,” I teased.

“Maybe I am,” he retorted, a spark lighting up his brown eyes. He walked back into his office without another word.