Page 83 of Brooklynaire

The door opens. “Hi there,” Rebecca says, steppingoutside.

“Hi.” It takes me a second to realize that she didn’t even hear my rambling speech. She couldn’t have. She was busy pulling herself together and descending two flights of stairs. “That’s a new look for you,” I say, eyeing her getup and trying toregroup.

“This is Renny’s trench coat,” she says. “While you’ve already seen my tiny pajamas, I didn’t want to give the rest of Brooklyn thepleasure.”

“I meant the, uh, baby.” Her nephew must be hanging from some kind of contraption that was strapped to her body. All I can see over the jacket’s top button is his little bald head. “Did I wake him up? Are youbabysitting?”

“He’s a night owl.” Becca shakes her head. “Renny and Missy are home, too. It’s just that they’re having very loud sex right now in their bedroom. That’s why I didn’t invite youup.”

I laugh uneasily, and she smiles, too. Her expression is warmer and more relaxed than it was earlier. But there are circles under hereyes.

“Listen, I should go,” I tell her. “I’m sorry our conversation was interrupted earlier. Do you want me to say anything to thatintern?”

“No.” Rebecca shakes her head. “I’ll handleit.”

“Well. Just say the word. But I really came here to say that my dinner invitation doesn’t expire, okay? If you should decide a month from now that the idea isn’t as hateful as you originally thought, just let me know. I’m not going to ask again, though. Just to stay on the right side of the creepyline.”

“Oh, Nate!” Her face softens, and our gazes lock. I feel the pull, and it’s not just me. I’m ninety-nine percent sure. “You could never be creepy. It isn’t likethat.”

“Good toknow.”

Becca pats the baby on his bald head, and I notice that he’s sucking rapidly on his pacifier, making smacking sounds, just like Maggie onThe Simpsons. “I want to,” she sayssuddenly.

“Hmm?”

“Dinner. I want togo.”

“Really?” It comes out sounding shocked, and shelaughs.

“Yeah. But it has to be our little secret. I’m, um, just trying to feel my way here.” She tries to cross her arms in front of her chest, but the baby is in the way, so she drops themagain.

“Okay,” I say quickly. “You’re theboss.”

She lifts an eyebrow to tell me that was a stupid statement. BecauseI’mthe boss, and that’s the whole fuckingproblem.

“Of this,” I add. It’s true, too. “How’s tomorrownight?”

She blinks. “Okay. Sure. I’m still not sure this isn’t a badidea.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll sell you on all theperks.”

With a small smile, she looks away, and a hint of pink appears on hercheeks.

She is fucking adorable. I’ve got it sobad.

The baby looks up at me, slurping away. He seems to be evaluating my merits,too.

“Well, I’m going to run along,” I say. A good businessman knows to shake hands on the deal and then get the hell out of there before the other party can reconsider. “See you atseven?”

“Seven,” she says, softly. She holds mygaze.

“Sorry I’ve been—what did you call it? Mr.Darcy?”

“Yeah, you’re all…” She makes a stern, slightly cross-eyed face. “…Chilly. Or maybeconstipated.”

I snort. There are very few people in my life who’ll tease me. Rebecca has always treated me like a regular guy, not an icon. And I digthat.

We’re both smiling like idiots now, just staring at each other. And it happens in slow motion. I lean forward, just a little. She mirrors me. We’re just inches apart now. I’m not hesitating so much as giving her time to get used to theidea.