Page 40 of Finding Love

“What kinds of complaints?”

He shrugged. “I plan on finding out tomorrow.” He sighed and pulled her back down to lay across his chest.

“What about Edith?” she asked. “How do you plan on handling her?”

He held in a groan. “Do you have any thoughts on how I can smooth things over there?” She glanced up at him. “Make no mistake, it’s over between us. It was over when I ended things and she easily walked away. Actually, it was over long before then, if it was ever really on.” He shrugged.

“You loved her at one point. Enough to propose,” she pointed out.

He held in a burst of laughter. “No, I don’t think I ever did. It wasn’t my idea to marry her.”

She sat up again. “It wasn’t?”

“No, it was in my father’s plans, not mine. I hadn’t even met Edith before it was leaked that we were an item. We’d been pictured together at some social event, but I couldn’t even remember meeting her that night. Apparently, our fathers decided it would be good business if we were together.”

“Seriously?” Brook shook her head as she frowned at him. “Sort of like an arranged marriage?”

He nodded and pulled her back down next to him. He wanted—no, needed—to feel her against him. Her soft skin, her soft body pressed next to his own. She somehow balanced him. He’d never felt this way about anyone in his entire life. Had never dreamed he could feel so much for someone he had known for less than a week.

“Then why is she acting like a scorned lover? Someone who would fight for the love of her life?” Brook asked. She held in a yawn.

“I’m not sure.” He pulled her back down and shuffled until they were lying down. “Let’s shut off. I have an early morning meeting. And it appears a very busy day ahead of me.” He sighed.

“Willy and I were going to go exploring tomorrow,” she said with a yawn. “Ryder?”

“Hm?” he asked, resting his head next to hers and enjoying the smell of her. His entire body was lax, on the verge of falling asleep.

“I’m glad you invited me along,” she said before he drifted off to sleep.

He woke to the smell of coffee. Opening his eyes, he saw Brook standing over him, holding out a mug.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile as she sat on the edge of the bed. He must have been sleeping deeply since he hadn’t even heard her leave the bed.

“Morning,” he said, sitting up.

She was dressed in shorts and a blouse. Even her hair and makeup were done, and he wondered what time it was.

Worrying, he glanced at his phone by the bed.

“It’s still early,” she assured him. “I’m used to waking up before dawn, thanks to all those years working at the bakery.” She chuckled.

He still had an hour and a half before he was due in the office.

“Willy and I made you breakfast,” she said, “If you want to shower, we can enjoy it outside?”

He took the cup from her and sipped the hot coffee. It was so good he took another sip.

“Eva sent over a case of the coffee you liked yesterday,” Brook supplied. “Benjamin saw to stocking it in the kitchen.”

“Why is this so good?” he groaned after taking another sip.

“Because Eva knows her business.” She laughed and stood up. “Now, shower and get dressed. I have a few finishing touches to add to breakfast.” She leaned in and kissed him quickly. “And Willy is still outside doing his business.”

He watched her leave before crawling out of bed. When he noticed that she’d hung up the suit that he’d worn yesterday, his heart did a little leap in his chest.

He showered and dressed in another suit that hung on him in all the wrong places and thought about having Benjamin send them out to be tailored. Then he realized, he didn’t really want to be stuck wearing suits for the rest of his life.

Everything in his future was so up in the air. But with this one thing, he knew he wanted to make a change. The business suit attire was his father’s doing.