Page 73 of Blindly Yours

“You did the same thing at my place.” I grin.

She pushes the napkin out of place. “I don’t have to have it there.”

“But it’s killing you that it’s not there now,” I say as she attempts and fails to look like she doesn’t care.

She rolls her eyes and looks up at me again as she slides her napkin back into place. “Fine. I might be a little bit of a control freak.”

I smirk. “I would haveneverguessed.”

Our waiter stops at our table to take our orders, and then Rose speaks again. “So, what got you into your line of work?”

“I’ve always liked working with my hands, so I knew a desk job wouldn’t be for me. My dad is a mechanic, and I thought about following in his footsteps, but I found I enjoyed the large scale of building construction and maintenance more than tinkering with a car engine.” I take another drink and sit back. “I learned plenty from my dad, and I kinda like attempting to be a Jack of all trades, so to speak, but I chose a degree in construction management.”

“Do you ever build buildings…like from the ground up? Or just repairs?”

“I apprenticed for the contractor who led the construction of the Grant Park condos by the river, and I learned a lot. But once the project was completed, I was bummed when we just left the building to the care of someone else. We put so much work into it. I think I’m sentimental. I realized I wanted to stick with a building and learn its ins and outs. Take care of it. Keep it running. So, I shifted to building management.”

“How long have you managed Astor Tower?” Rose asks. “I’ve only ever seen Joe around.”

“Three years. But Joe handles almost all the work there. That’s why you never see me.”

“So, you know my parents, then?” she asks carefully. “If you manage their building?”

I tilt my head and arch an awkward brow. “They rarely interact with me. I met your mom at the contract signing years ago. I’ve been in contact with your dad over email. I just get the work done, and that’s all there is to it, really.”

“Is that how it is with your other clients?” Her voice is hesitant. “You don’t actually get to know them?”

Remorsefully, I look down at my plate. “No, it’s pretty different with them.” It’s not a bad gig to manage Astor Tower, really. It’s simple and straightforward, and I can do my work without someone breathing down my neck. But I’ve always found it odd that I rarely—if ever—see the people who have trusted me with their hard-earned investment of a building.

“Right.” Rose clears her throat and shifts in her seat like she’s shaking off a truth that hasn’t surprised her. “Do you work in those other buildings you manage, or mostly just oversee the work?”

I shrug. “At this point, I mostly just manage and inspect the completed work on some of the bigger projects, but I like to get in there whenever I can. I was actually really excited to repair your ceiling.”

She raises a playful brow. “Thatwas you being excited?”

I raise a brow back. “Yes?”

She laughs and props her chin up on her knuckles. “I’d hate to see you angry.”

The way she’s watching me, with her head tilted down, she has to look up through her long lashes, and her eyes look bigger and bluer than ever. She’s really stunning, and quite out of my league. I don’t want to mess this up.

When the waiter arrives with our meals, Rose takes a bite and sits back to study me. “I have to ask. Why in the world did you join an app that hid your face? That kind of app is for people who are…” She trails off and looks at her plate as her cheeks turn red.

I smirk. “Are you saying I’m handsome, Ms. Astor?”

“Oh God, please don’t call me that anymore.” She clasps her hand over her eyes.

“I saw you sneaking glances at me when I was up on that ladder.”

“You didnot!”she accuses desperately.

I pop a tuna roll into my mouth and shrug.

She sets her chopsticks down and runs her finger along the edge of her plate. “Well, I wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t think you were hot.”

I raise a brow. “Hot?Wow, ok, you’re in even deeper than I thought.”

She picks up her chopsticks again and mimes throwing them at me. “Ok, Mister ‘I’ll Show You How to Shoot Pool while Conveniently Pressing Myself Against You.’”

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