Page 71 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

“It's not much use if I've got no traction with the tires. If you'd gotten back earlier, I could have gotten on the road while it was still clear.” Her shoulders slumped and I knew I'd won. I should have felt bad for manipulating her that way, but I didn't. There was no way I was letting her and our newborn daughter stay there alone during a snow storm. It just wasn't happening.

“You must be starving after being out in that cold for so long,” I said. “How about an early dinner?”

Sophie, who'd been fussy ever since she'd been returned to her mother's arms, let out a huge cry. Aubrey kissed her cheek and bounced her. “Sounds good. I'll just feed her first.”

“Sure,” I said. “I'll sit with you.”

She scowled, but didn't argue. She settled into her usual spot on the couch and I sat next to her. I'd tried keeping my distance, I'd tried being her friend, and she just kept pushing me away. It was well past time for me to push back a little. I knew she cared for me, I knew she thought of me as more than a friend, she just needed to trust me.

“It must be pretty out there,” I said, once Sophie was situated on her breast. “With the snow covering the trees.”

She smiled. “It really is. And once the road was covered, it felt like I was truly in a winter wonderland, far from civilization.”

“Have you ever lived anywhere with snow before?”

“Not at all,” she said. “I've lived most of my life in Atlanta, but I also lived a couple of years in Florida. Nowhere with this kind of snow. I guess I'm going to have to learn to drive in it.”

“Me, too,” I said, laughing at myself. “I'm more than a little relieved I didn't have to learn tonight.” And that was the truth. Atlanta got snow occasionally, but not often enough for me to learn how the hell to drive in it.

She focused intently on Sophie. “It's got to be a huge culture shock for you, moving from the big city to this tiny little town. You'll probably miss the city life and figure out pretty quickly that you hate shoveling snow.”

Damn, she was transparent. And adorable. “Nope. I love the snow and I don't miss the city at all. I grew up in the middle of nowhere. I like the peace. I found a great apartment with a view of the mountains, and the local university has an amazing landscape design curriculum. I'm staying.”

She huffed out a breath and my irritation with her insistence on not believing I was going to stick around ratcheted up. Nothing I could do or say seemed to convince her that I was all in. I considered my options as she watched the snow falling and the sky darkening through the window. I could argue with her or I could leave. I could waste my breath with words that would convince her of nothing, or I could stay and keep staying until she believed I was there for good, that I loved her.

“It's a relief,” I said. “To not be responsible for Dad's legacy anymore. I thought I'd miss it, but I really don't.”

She looked at me, eyes wide. “Aren't you bored? You always worked so hard, I assumed you'd be bored out of your mind without it.”

I considered her words. I should be bored, but I was having too much fun getting to know her and Sophie and looking forward to a future of doing what I loved. “I'm okay for now. I'll have classes soon and a job at some point.” The truth was I needed to find a job in the next couple of weeks or I wouldn't be able to pay my rent, but Aubrey didn't need to know that. It wasn't her problem to worry about. “But I'm enjoying the down time. I haven't had it since I was a kid.”

She moved Sophie to her other breast, and I averted my eyes. If I saw her perfect breasts and the soft, smooth skin of her belly, I didn't trust myself not to make a move, not to reach out and touch her. “I'd be bored,” she said. “In fact, I am bored. I know my job as an assistant wasn't exactly rocket science, but it kept me and my brain busy and active. I'm going a little bit crazy without something to do, without somewhere to go every day.”

“You're still investing, right? And you have your rental properties to take care of.”

She shrugged. “That's a hobby, something to occupy my downtime, it doesn't feel like work to me. I like to work. I like organizing someone's day and rushing around, feeling that adrenaline rush when I've got a hectic day and there's a chance I won't manage to get everything done that needs to be done. When I worked for you, I was like your co-pilot, making sure everything was in place, all your meetings were scheduled so that your day and your deals worked out smoothly. Here, there's nothing like that for me to do. I tried to type up an agenda for my day yesterday, but all there was on it was read parenting books and keep Sophie fed. I even organized the kitchen pantry this morning.”

I thought I knew everything there was to know about Aubrey, but her words surprised me. “I don't miss any of that craziness,” I said. “Not even a little bit. I feel like I have space and time now to figure out what I want. I feel like I can use my brain more, that I can find a problem and dig deep for a solution.” Right now, my problem was convincing her to give me another chance, but I knew better than to mention that. She was actually relaxing with me, smiling and opening up a bit.

She shook her head. “I guess we're just different that way. I can't wait to get back to work. I hate that May had to quit her job to help at Nora's Inn. I'm surprised you haven't been over there more.”

I probably should have been over there more often. May was completely overwhelmed and I knew she could use more help. I hadn't abandoned her completely. I'd helped her with breakfast that morning, but I had to devote most of my time to Aubrey and Sophie. That's just the way it had to be.

Aubrey pulled a sleeping Sophie away from her breast and adjusted her shirt. “Sophie's out. We can eat. Unless you think we should wait for Nora?”

Shit. “She's staying at Carrie and Cody's place tonight. She didn't want to risk anyone on the roads.”

Aubrey narrowed her eyes and I knew she was on to me. I just wasn't sure I cared. I had every right to stay there and make sure she and Sophie were safe. “I see,” she said, her tone cool, her expression shutting down. She put Sophie in her bouncy chair. “Sleep long enough for me to eat, okay?” she whispered to our daughter.

She didn't speak much over dinner and I knew I was losing ground with her, ground I wasn't sure I'd be able to regain. I just kept slipping with her, farther and farther away. Aubrey ate fast, like she knew Sophie wouldn't sleep long. She was right. I cleaned up the kitchen while she played with Sophie, and then I went out to the living room to join them.

Sophie was awake and alert like she was ready to stay up all night. Her big eyes were bright and her chubby little cheeks were puffed out as she looked up at Aubrey, who was making funny faces at her. She waved her chubby hands like she was trying to touch Aubrey, but she didn't quite make contact.

I watched them for a bit, awed by Aubrey's beauty and the love she poured into our daughter, a gorgeous, perfect little human that we'd created. Not that I'd done much, I'd just gotten drunk and made a move on a woman I'd promised myself I'd never touch. I couldn't remember why that promise had ever seemed so important. I'd blown my chance with Aubrey the first time she'd walked through my door and I hadn't told her she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.

Sophie got bored with Aubrey's game after about ten minutes and Aubrey looked up at me, something like a plea for assistance in her eyes. Or maybe I imagined that, because I wanted so badly for her to need me, to want my help.

I smiled like I had everything under control, and turned on some Christmas music with the help of the Alexa in the corner of the room. “Let's show her how to dance. Teach her to love Christmas music.”

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