Page 18 of Miss Understanding

She gave me a small smile. “Maybe someday, but for now I need to get a bachelor’s degree.”

I wanted to ask if she intended to search for another job since her true passion was cooking. But I tamped down on the urge. I’d already found out more about her in the last few hours than I’d known in the four months she’d worked for me.

“Are you truly okay with staying here at the house? Or do I need to make a reservation at the two-and-one-half-star motel with the reputation for bedbugs?” she asked.

Taking a look around the house, I realized it was clean, homey, and spacious. “I guess this will do. But I don’t want the wrong impression to get around the office because we shared a house.”

Again with the eye roll. “Yeah, because nothing improper could possibly happen in a hotel.”

She had a point.

“I have no intention of advertising our accommodations if you’re worried about that part. And if you’re still concerned about the other, as previously established, you’re not my type.”

If I heard those words one more time, I was likely to ask something stupid like what was her type.

“Given the limited options in town, this place looked the cleanest,” she said. “And it had an office. Did you get on the Wi-Fi?”

“I did. And the printer seems to be working.” I finished up my dinner, washed it down with water, before standing up. I should offer to do the dishes since she went to the trouble of cooking.

As if she read my mind, she spoke first. “Leave them. I’ll do the edits real quick and do the dishes later.”

“I can do them later.”

“You’re billing on a case. And I’m charging overtime, don’t you worry.”

Chapter Eleven

Kendall

My muscles relaxed the moment I eased into the hot water. My apartment only had a shower, so soaking in a bubble bath was a luxury I hadn’t enjoyed in quite a while. With a couple drops of the lavender bubble bath I’d found under the sink left from the last occupant, I was finally winding down from the weirdest day in the history of strange days.

I chuckled as I remembered the expression on my boss’s face when he’d thought I was turning into Suzie Homemaker in the hopes of catching myself a husband. I don’t think I’d ever laughed so hard. If only he knew how many times over the last four months I’d written in my notepad document of ways to have him suffer. He hadn’t a clue. Instead, his expression when I’d said he wasn’t my type had been almost offended. To be honest, he was my type in all ways physical—I couldn’t deny how handsome he was. But everything else was a deal-breaker. He was too uptight, too controlling, and way too much of an ass.

But today, I had to admit that in addition to his normal dickish behavior, I’d also seen glimpses of a gentleman. He’d taken my luggage to load it up into the truck. He’d gotten out of the truck to take the grocery bags and brought them in the house. He’d even offered to do the dishes. Well, sort of. He’d offered to have them sit until later. But one thing I couldn’t stand was a dirty kitchen. It was a pet peeve of mine, so I’d taken on the task myself.

God, I was tired. And as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, I was also a bit chilly. I should’ve purchased a pair of flannel pajamas while at Walmart tonight. But I’d already spent enough money on winter gear I wouldn’t need after this week. I opted to dress in my long-sleeved UCLA shirt along with my yoga pants.

I decided to go through the house in order to ensure it was locked up before I went to sleep. I didn’t expect to see Liam at the kitchen table.

His head was in his hands. His laptop to the side, obviously not something he was looking at. Shit. He almost appeared vulnerable.

Enough for me to make a mistake in asking, “Are you okay?”

He instantly stiffened and sat up. “Fine. Go to bed, Ms. Tate. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

We were back to Ms. Tate and his dismissive tone. It was just as well, I supposed. It was becoming apparent we weren’t meant to be on friendly terms. I turned without saying another word and went back to my bedroom.

The next morning, my alarm went off way too early. I think my body was still on California time and hadn’t yet adjusted to the three-hour time difference. But it was seven o’clock Virginia time, which meant I should probably start the day. Especially since I didn’t know what it held. As I hopped out of bed, I realized how cold it was even with the bedroom heater on.

I made quick work out of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and dressing. I wasn’t quite sure what attire was called for on a working weekend, so I settled on slacks and a blouse, covered by my cashmere sweater. Looking at myself in the full-length mirror, I realized I managed to appear fashionable. I even had my boss thinking I never shopped at places like Walmart or Target. But the fact was most of my clothing was secondhand. It’s what I needed to do in order to get my wardrobe to an acceptable level for my corporate job.

As I walked out to the kitchen, I didn’t see anything out of place. Maybe Liam wasn’t up yet. Picturing him asleep upstairs was unsettling. Guess he was right about the house having a different vibe than a hotel where we’d be in distinctly separate rooms. But damn if I’d admit it to him. I went about starting the coffee first. Then, as I was whisking up eggs with some milk, I heard the front door shut.

Because of the open layout from the kitchen to the living room, I was able to see him there in the foyer, bent at the waist. He was wearing basketball shorts, a sweatshirt, and running shoes. He appeared to be catching his breath before standing up and lifting his sweatshirt to wipe the perspiration from his forehead.

Holy shit.

My boss had a six-pack.