Trust (Temptation #3)(51)
When he’d taken on his second jobs, he’d always done it with the intention that the second income went straight in the bank. He’d been saving every spare dollar he could since the day he’d started work for this very occasion. Even Diana had known not to touch that—he’d worked damn hard for that money, and this was the reason why.
“Can I see the loft area?” he asked.
As the woman hurried off toward the end of the bar, Rachel came up on the other side of him.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
Tate gave her a crooked smile. “I like it. Depending on what’s upstairs, I may really like it. If that’s included in the price, then I can get out of the place I’m in and take it.”
“You think Logan would…” she ventured, but she trailed off as if she didn’t think it was her place to ask.
“Would what? Move in here?” Tate asked as he walked to the end of the bar. “No. I’d never ask him to do that, but…”
Rachel followed, asking, “But what? You can’t just stop your thought there.”
He approached her, and she wrapped her arm through his.
“But maybe it’s time to say yes to him. And this will be here for the really late nights if I need to just crash.”
Rachel squealed and clutched his arm tight. “Eek! He’s gonna die when you tell him! I can’t wait.”
“Don’t get too excited. A lot has to happen first. I have to see upstairs. I have to like it. Then I need to go to the bank and see if this is all possible.”
“I know. I know. But just hearing you say it… I’m so happy for you both.”
Tate looked down at her infectious smile and saw tears welling in her eyes. “You’re a romantic fool, Rachel Madison.”
“No, just a hormonal one. Let’s go and see upstairs.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, he and Rachel were standing in front of his bike. He unhooked his helmet and shoved it on his head as Rachel continued to tell him the different baby names she was thinking about.
“And if it’s a boy, Cole wants something proper like Benjamin. Benjamin Madison. But let’s face it, then he’d get Ben his whole life and that’s not bad. It’s just… I don’t know.”
“Common?”
“Yes! I want something like Ignacio.”
Tate stopped buckling the helmet under his chin. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” She giggled and then slapped his arm. “Or I could just go through a fruit bowl and pick out a piece. Not an apple though.”
Tate smiled. “Nah. That’s so overdone.”
“Oh look. Here’s my taxi,” she said and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you so much for letting me come with you today. It was nice to get out and think of new possibilities.”
Tate couldn’t agree more. “Yeah, it was fun. I really like this last one.” So much that he couldn’t wait to pick up dinner and stop by Logan’s to tell him.
After one last hug, she stepped back. “There are at least a dozen more for us to check out. But you definitely need to talk to Logan about this. Maybe even bring him by.”
Tate nodded and watched her walk down the sidewalk to the cab behind him. When he was happy she was safely inside the vehicle, he got on his bike and started the engine.
Once he’d checked behind him, Tate pulled out into the street, unable to wipe the grin off his face. It wasn’t until it was too late that he caught a glimpse of the red hood of the car hurtling down the wrong side of the street toward him.
That was the last thought he had—before time ceased to exist.
Part Two
Dependability
Being able to trust someone to do or provide what is needed.
Chapter Fourteen
As Logan took the elevator down from LPCW, he let out the breath he’d been holding the entire time he’d been in there. Thankfully, Chris had been out of the office today, and his meeting with Lance Powell had run on time and smoothly.
Not that it stopped me from watching the door like a fucking hawk.
He’d been paranoid the whole time that Chris would walk in and he’d have to deal with his passive-aggressive shit in front of his partner, but apparently, he’d inadvertently timed his visit well.
Thank God for that.
When the elevator came to a stop at the parking garage, Logan walked out to his car and climbed inside. After inserting the key into the ignition, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and shook his head. The damn thing had died about an hour ago.
He plugged it into the charger and sat for a minute with his head resting back against the seat, wondering how Tate’s day with Rachel had gone. He figured he’d have a few choice texts or voicemails about being out of reach when his phone came back on, and when it finally lit up, he wasn’t disappointed.