Nolan, Ash and I each answered, “No.”
“Good. We’re adjourned.”
No reason to stick around. I’d made it past the first set of doors when I heard, “Brady. Hold up.”
I faced my father. “Hey.”
“Got a moment?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
He leaned against the hallway wall. “Is it serious between you and Lennox?”
Dad excelled in throwing me off balance. “What did Mom tell you?”
He laughed. “She told me to ask you that, and if you hedged, then I had my answer.”
I shoved my hands in my suit pockets. “Is this where you tell me to take a step back? Because Lennox and I haven’t been together long, so I can’t know if we’ll go the distance?”
“No, son, this is where I tell you that there is no standard operating procedure where love is concerned. There’s no timetable. No charts and graphs to help you navigate.”
“And you’re telling me this . . . why?”
“Because this is one time when your smarts won’t help you.” He reached out and poked my chest. “Listen to what this is telling you. Your heart isn’t as fickle as your dick. Your heart won’t let logic dictate like your brain will. So trust in this. How you feel about her. How you feel when you’re with her. But most importantly how you’d feel if you didn’t have her in your life every day.”
He was right. Part of me hated that he was right, because I now was at a loss for what to do next. Blow off our plans, run down to her office and declare myself?
“Son?”
“Your advice isn’t helping me, Dad.”
“It’s not advice.”
“Then what is it?”
“A warning. I know you. You overthink things. I see the wheels spinning and you’re already wondering if the next step you plan to take is the right one. Be smart, be quick, but don’t be hasty.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Keep your mother in the loop and she won’t be forced to meddle.”
I laughed.
My father grinned at me. “God, I couldn’t even say that with a straight face. Good luck.”
*
I discovered I couldn’t just sit in my loft and wait for her.
Since she defined punctual, I assumed she’d leave twenty-five minutes early, so I parked the SUV at the curb in front of her place and got out, resting against the passenger door.
My exhales created clouds of white in the cold night air. I shivered in my long coat. I hadn’t bothered to go home to change. I’d just shown up.
I was so antsy I was about to crawl out of my fucking skin.
The door opened and my beautiful Lennox stepped onto the concrete stoop.
I was happy to see the duffel bag slung over her shoulder. She hadn’t noticed me as she was intent on finding solid footing on the icy sidewalk. I must’ve made a noise, because she looked up at me.
“Brady? What—?”
I met her in the middle of the sidewalk. “I couldn’t wait.”
“For what? Dinner? If you’re that hungry, why don’t we stop somewhere—”
I framed her face in my hands, which were cold enough on her warm skin to make her gasp. “This isn’t about food.”
We stared at each other.
“Truth or dare, Lennox Greene.”
“Truth.”
“I’m falling in love with you.” I kissed her and absorbed the warmth of her mouth with mine.
“And if I would’ve said dare?” she whispered against my lips.
“I would’ve dared you to tell me how you feel about me.” I kissed her. Breathed her in. “About this.” Another press of my mouth to hers. “About us.” I looked into her eyes and saw everything I needed. But I wanted the words too. “Your turn.”
“Truth or dare, Brady Lund.”
“Truth.”
“I’ve been half in love with you since the first time I realized your outer sharkskin protects a kind heart and your adaptability is as impressive as your sexy suits.”
Such sweet honesty. “I liked the glimpses of the wild you, Lennox. But that’s not all I see when I look at you.”
“What do you see?”
“Beauty. Loyalty. A sharp mind. An honest heart. You’re exactly what I need.”
We smiled at each other for a long moment.
“Let’s go before we freeze to death or before this gets too sappy.”
“Agreed. You are feeding me, right?”
I slipped the duffel bag from her shoulder, and as I was straightening back up, Lennox scooped up a handful of snow and shoved it down my shirt.
“Act of war, baby. Remember, you asked for this.”
I tackled her. Pinned her in the snow. Kissed her. Tried to make a double snow angel with me on top of her.