“I’m really glad you’re visiting us, Brooklyn. It’s about time we had some roses up here to balance out the thorns.”
Maybe it was the smell of butter in her hair or the wine floating in my veins. Either way, that hug felt like a million bucks, and I softened into her so that she could hug me even tighter. It’d been over eight years since my parents had passed away and even though that ache in my heart had lessened slightly over the years, it still felt really good to be hugged by LuAnne.
“See you in the morning,” I said as she released me.
I made my way upstairs. The house seemed even quieter since the sun had set, and each one of my high-heeled steps on the hardwood floor echoed through the house. There were no signs of Jason in the hallway, but I could see a soft glow from the third floor as I made my way to my room.
When I got to the doorway, I stopped in my tracks. I hadn’t even noticed the absence of my bags in the foyer on my way upstairs, but they were up in my room now. Not only that, but there was an empty metal garment rack pushed up against the wall next to them. I guess when Jason had carried my bags, he’d realized that the closet wouldn’t be big enough.
I couldn’t process the sweet gesture, so I closed the door and stripped into some comfortable pajamas so I could try to call Cammie. California’s time zone was an hour behind Montana, so I knew she wasn’t asleep yet.
When she answered on the second ring, a giant smile broke out across my face.
“Hey, I can’t talk for long. I’m still in the studio.”
“Are you serious? It’s so late,” I complained, grabbing my watch from the nightstand to check the time. 8:00 P.M. California time.
“Yeah, and I’ll be here through the night probably. I have a presentation later this week on a design project.”
I felt bad for leaving when she was so busy. “I’m sorry, Cammie. If I were there I could have brought you dinner or something.”
“No worries, I’m subsisting on caffeine and granola bars. Food is for weak babies and invalids.”
Something clanked to the ground on her end of the phone line and then she cursed under her breath.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes, sorry. I’m trying to finish this damn model and a few parts don’t want to stay glued together.”
“I’ll let you go so you can finish working.”
“Okay, love you.”
“Love you, too,” I laughed.
Immediately after I hung up, I dialed Cammie’s favorite Thai restaurant and ordered a few dishes to be delivered to her studio’s address. There was probably a group of ravenous grad students ready to consume anything that smelled remotely like food.
After that, my phone’s service started cutting in and out so I couldn’t call Summer and get an update about how things were going in LA. I didn’t mind. I was exhausted from traveling and the longer I lounged on the bed in my cotton nightshirt, the better sleep sounded.
The pile of pillows and the soft duvet cover called my name and when I laid down I realized they were just as good as they’d looked. I was nearly asleep when my eyes flew open at the sound of a knock at my door. I laid completely still, wondering if I’d imagined it before another soft knock followed a moment later. I pushed off the bed and crept toward the door before turning the handle and checking to see who was on the other side.
Jason.
He was standing at the threshold of my bedroom, rubbing the stubble on his chin with his right hand. He looked significantly more tired than he had a few hours earlier and I wondered if he ever took breaks from working.
“Oh, you were asleep,” he said, taking in my blinking eyes and nightshirt.
I tugged the hem down my legs instinctively and shook my head.
“Just dozed off for a second. What’s up?”
He cleared his throat as his gaze hit mine. “I just wanted you to know that I’ve set aside some time tomorrow morning to work with you if you have the time.”
Of course I had the time. My schedule had literally been cleared off so I could come to Montana. I had a Skype meeting with a clothing line in the afternoon, but even that could be moved around.
“That sounds good,” I said with a warm smile.
He knocked twice on the door frame and then stepped back.
“We’re even now,” he said.
I scrunched my brows. “About what?”
The right side of his sensual lips turned up. “You woke me up the other night and I just woke you up.”
“Ah.”
He turned to head back toward the third story and I was left standing there with the image of his little smirk hanging in my mind. We were so far from even. I’d woken him up with a brief phone call, but the idea of Jason Monroe was going to keep me up the entire night.