Page 52 of Lock 'em Down

Leif. I can’t stop the smile that curls my lips. Is he checking in on me? I like that he stopped by. I stride toward the front door and pull it open.

Leif shuffles back half a step, his eyes dropping down my frame and back to my eyes. “You look…very professional.”

I grin. “You wanted to say librarian, didn’t you?”

“More powerhouse CEO.”

I shake my head and step to the side. “Come on in. What are you doing here?”

He holds up a Tupperware. “Bringing baked goods. For your first day.”

“Oh! That was…thoughtful.”

He smiles. “Homemade too. Mom made it.”

“Please thank Stella for me.” I close the door and take the Tupperware from his hands. “Perfect timing too. I was just wondering what I should eat for dinner.”

Leif frowns. “It’s banana bread.”

“Mm. Excellent!” I hope it has walnuts. It will pair nicely with tea. Dinner problem solved! “Want some? I’m thinking banana bread and tea.”

Leif looks amused. “Sure.” He follows me into the kitchen and slides onto a barstool while I turn on the kettle. “How was your first day?”

“Surprisingly good,” I admit, turning to face him. I drop my elbows to the island and lean forward. Note that his eyes flicker to the buttons on my blouse before flying back to my face.

I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling. I like that Leif checks me out. I want him to be attracted to me.

His presence—normal and thoughtful and relaxed—puts me at ease. Jenna was right; Leif and I will make the terms of our marriage. Right now, I really am happy to see him.

“Good.” He nods. “I got worried when you didn’t reply to my text.”

I squint, recalling his message just as we ordered drinks at the bar. “Oh, sorry. Some colleagues took me out for celebratory drinks and then my sister Jenna called.”

Leif nods, tapping his fingertips against the ledge of the island. “Where’d you go for drinks?”

I frown. Is he giving me the third degree? “McCullen’s Pub.”

Leif tilts his head. “Ah, I know where that is. Well, there’s a sports pub, called Corks, that’s really good and also walking distance to your office. Just, in the opposite direction.”

I relax as he tosses out the suggestion. Nope, he’s just being considerate and making conversation. “Good to know. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

The kettle whistles and I fix our tea as Leif moves around my kitchen to find a knife and cutting board. He cuts thick slices of banana bread before pulling open the refrigerator door and rummaging around.

“You need more food,” he tells me.

I wrinkle my nose. “I’m not much of a cook.”

“I can see that by the overwhelming number of condiments and nothing else,” he mutters, grabbing the cream cheese.

I stick my tongue out at him, and he smirks.

“I’m an okay cook,” he continues, “so I can do that when we move in together.”

I arch an eyebrow. “That seems rushed, don’t you think?”

Leif shrugs. “We’re married, Cam. And I want us to do this for real.”

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