Page 23 of Perfect
When Catherine’s door opens half an hour later, I hurry to the kitchen to avoid having to see Theo again. I hear the two of them chatting quietly in the front hallway and only head back into the reception area when I think he’s about to leave, but they’re waiting for me. Theo’s standing behind Catherine with his arms crossed loosely, giving me that same amused, slightly crooked smile. Catherine turns towards me, holding up a sheaf of paper and smiling.
“Hi, Alex. Are you a notary?” I force a smile back at her, hoping I’m not blushing.
“No, sorry. Bailey’s here, though, so I’ll go get her.” I set my coffee down and hurry up the stairs, popping my head intoher office and bringing her back down. Bailey’s chatty with Catherine and Theo as she notarizes the documents, and I do my best to ignore them all and look busy.
Every time I glance up, Theo’s looking at me out of the corner of his eye.
When Bailey heads back upstairs, she catches my eye and points at Theo and back at me, her eyebrows jumping a few times. I shake my head quickly and look into my coffee as Theo tucks the papers into a large envelope.
“Thanks for squeezing me in, Catherine. I appreciate it.” I watch out of the corner of my eye as he turns towards me. “It wasreallynice to see you again, Alex.” I look up at him and feel myself blushing the second I meet his eyes.
“Uh, yeah, you too. Um, I’ll see you later?” I say, smiling a little. That’s probably wishful thinking on my part. His smile broadens, his dimples more visible.
“Looking forward to it.” I look down at my hands to hide that I’m blushing, and Catherine gives me a brief, appraising look after he walks out of the office.
“Do you know him? You two seemed friendly.”
“No, we just met at a bar the other night.” She frowns.
“Got it. Did he ask you out?” Her tone is a little odd. She probably thinks I shouldn’t be dating clients.
“No, he didn’t. I’m not dating right now, anyway.” I shouldn’t be, at least. I don’t know how I’d let someone in after Danny. That’s a sobering thought, and one that bothers me for most of the afternoon.
It’s good that Theo didn’t ask me out.
I would have said yes.
***
“No inviting boys over,” Bailey says with a wink as she slips on her coat, and I groan.
“It’s nothing. Please drop it.”
“Drop what?” Dylan walks downstairs with Miles, who is carrying a well-loved stuffed orange cat that looks identical to their cat, Biscuit.
“One of Catherine’s clients was seriously eyeing Alex today. He was cute, too,” she says in a teasing tone.
“Jesus, Bails, leave the poor girl alone.” Dylan shoots me an apologetic look. “Ignore her.” Bailey rolls her eyes and opens the door, shooing Dylan out.
“Alex, you have our numbers, and my sister-in-law’s contact info is on the fridge. We’ll be back around eleven. Miles, give Mommy a kiss and be good for Alex, okay?” She kisses Miles and hustles out the door, leaving Miles and I looking at each other. He’s cute, with big blue eyes like Dylan and wild, curly black hair like Bailey, dressed in green dinosaur pajamas.
I crouch down to get on his eye level. “What do you want to do?”
He breaks into a shy smile. “Wanna play dinosaurs?”
I grin back at him. “Ilovedinosaurs.” His smile broadens, and he pulls me into the living room, chatting excitedly.
***
“I am Allie! Allie Saurus! Queen of Dinosaur Island!” I make a roaring sound and jump off the couch towards Miles, who screams in delight and runs for the kitchen, flapping his arms and jumping as he runs, making pterodactyl sounds while Biscuit looks on in annoyance from the windowsill.
We play until he gets hungry, and I make him dinosaur mac and cheese, which is just boxed mac and cheese with abag of microwave-steamed broccoli mixed in, the way Danny’s youngest nephew liked.
It’s the most cooking I’ve done since moving here, but I don’t mind doing it for Miles.
I like Miles.
***
