Page 29 of Love Without Demands

As we drove, I watched the apartment buildings pass by and daydreamed about living in one of them.One day…

“You’re awfully quiet,” Cruz commented, and I turned away from the window I’d been staring out of.

“Sorry. I just found out that I’m losing my apartment at the end of the month. The replacement one the landlord showed me is hideous. Everything in it is painted as black as night. I mean, everything. Walls, floor, ceiling, furniture. It’s so depressing.”

“Can you move to a different building?”

“I’m going to have to try and find something. The new apartment isn’t much bigger than the Bentley. Hey, do you think our boss would let me live in one of his cars?”

Cruz chuckled. “That bad, huh?”

I gave him a flat stare. “It’s a single room, the couch is in the kitchen, and the toilet and shower are less than a step from the bed. I guess I could use the toilet as a nightstand.”

“If you find something, let me know. I can help you move.” He whipped the car into a parking space as soon as another car pulled out. “That’s the place right there,” he said, dipping his head toward a storefront.

“Be back in a jiffy.” I climbed out and walked into the printer’s office with the sticky note held between two fingers.

“How may I help you?” a lady with a stern face asked when I approached the counter.

“I’m supposed to pick up some Christmas party invites for Mr. Bouvier.”

Her chilly demeanor instantly warmed at the mention of his name, and she practically gushed. “Of course. Just let me grab them.”

Five minutes later, I had checked the sample over multiple times, referencing the note to make sure the time and date were correct. The invitations were gorgeous, a deep red with a translucent vellum overlay that was affixed by a tiny white satin bow.

“Is everything satisfactory?” the woman asked, and I went over everything once more before nodding. I didn’t want to screw up my first task from Tony.

“It looks fine. Thank you.”

She smiled and called to the back for someone named Atticus to come and carry the box for me. A man appeared. He was short and plump, with gangly arms that looked like they were made for someone else’s body. I was afraid they were going to snap in two when he lifted the box, but he managed to get it outside and placed safely in the trunk.

Cruz was on the phone when I re-entered the car, and he wrapped up with a, “Sounds good. Thanks,” before placing his phone back in the console.

“Tell me your happy thing,” he prompted as we headed back to work.

My teeth sank into my bottom lip, and I tried to camouflage my smile. “I have something, but I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say anything about it yet.”

“Is it about taking over as Auburn’s PA?”

I blinked in surprise. “How did you know that?”

“Tony mentioned it to me.”

My shoulders shimmied in excitement. “That’s it. I think I’m going to go for it.”

“You should.”

“I hope I can do it. Tony’s job is complicated.”

“You’ll be great,” he said, smiling encouragingly at me and nudging me with his elbow. “You’re very bright, Lehra, and I think you could get along with anyone. Even Auburn Bouvier.”

Warmth spread through me at the simple touch and his sweet sentiment.

We arrived, and Cruz lifted the invitations from the trunk before I could grab them. “I’ll carry these up for you.” He hefted the box on one shoulder, and I watched with rapt attention as the sleeves of his jacket threatened to pop right open as his biceps bulged.

“What’s your happy thing?” I asked once we were in the elevator.

He smiled shyly at the floor and then lifted his eyes to look at me from beneath his dark fringe of lashes. “I got to see you today.”

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