AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not asking you to give up time.”
“I wasn’t aware that’s what I suggested. Maybe I want to be with you. And, how about we look at the bright side,” he says, his voice sending waves of desire through me, “this might be perfect for a candlelight dinner?”
I’m weak. But I know what he’s saying.
I go to explain it’s all wrong and we’re not like that and we can’t be like that, I do, when he holds up a plastic bag.
“Indian?” I ask, sniffing the air.
He nods and I might be in love with him.
Somehow, he’s figured out my weakness for spice—especially Indian food. Sugar and spice. I’m a cliché.
And it’s not love. I’m just hungry. Not to mention exhaustion and stress. Magnus sets the bag on the counter and comes up to me, his hands on my shoulders and he massages a little. It’s pure heaven. He’s worth his weight in gold with a touch like that.
“Hey, it’s gonna be okay.”
“I just…if this keeps going, how am I going to operate?” But before he can say a word, I add, “Don’t worry. Your job, such as it is, is fine. Safe. I’m not selling, I’m not closing down. I own the building, after all. And if my grandmother could keep this place going, and hers before that, then…” I find a smile. “I can, too. It’s easier to fight fat, corrupt wolves when you own the place.”
For a long moment, Magnus doesn’t say anything. But finally he nods. “Dinner?”
“Yes, please.”
I lead him upstairs, and it’s natural his hand is in mine as the stairs are down now, and I have the flashlight. I stop at the kitchen and grab wine, mugs, bowls, and cutlery that he eases away from me.
Magnus goes to set up at the kitchen table when I shake my head.
“I want to show you something.”
His eyebrow rises and my cheeks burn.
“This way.”
I lead him out of the kitchen and down the narrow hall to the back of the apartment. I live on the top floor, but there’s a small staircase, so I lead him there. Up the narrow, steep steps and unbolt the door.
A gust of air hits as we emerge, and around us the lights of the city sparkle like their own kind of night sky.
Magnus stands perfectly still, a small smile slowly emerging, and he looks about. “Wow.”
“Way back, people who lived here, my relatives and their tenants—the floors below my apartment were also apartments.”
“The top level of the store and your storage?”
I nod and lead him to a table and chairs I’ve got set up. “Yes.” I start putting things out as he hands them to me and we work together, like an oiled machine. “They used this space for growing food, washing, and the rest. I don’t grow food, but…”
“You have a garden in the sky.”
I laugh. “It’s not like some of those curated ones rich people have, but it’s my little slice. All though the neighborhood people would find spots to make their own, to make their lives better. This is one of them. And…I don’t come up here enough.”
He takes his plate, chicken chettinad by the look and smell. I don’t know where he went, but this food smells divine. “You should.”
“There are lots of things I should do.”
Magnus takes a sip of his wine and leans back, looking so big and there and at ease. “You never talk about your family that much.”
“Neither do you.”
He sighs. “Tonight my mother was with gran before she leaves town.” He rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “A cruise.”
