Ready for You (Ready #3)(26)

I couldn’t be, not after everything I’d done.

He deserved so much better.

The default ringtone on my phone startled me out of my scattered thoughts, and I reached into my pocket to retrieve it. It was a phone number I didn’t recognize. Normally, I wouldn’t answer, but the area code was from Atlanta. I’d left friends behind with little explanation for my quick exit. I didn’t want them to worry, so I took a chance and answered it.

“Hello?” I said.

“Amelia,” the male voice said in relief.

I was momentarily stunned. How did he get this number? I’d changed my number, and I’d only given it out to a handful of people before I left. A chosen few had known where I was headed, and I purposely hadn’t included him.

“Aiden?”

“It’s so good to finally hear your voice. I was starting to think I might forget the sound.”

“How did you get this number?” I asked.

But I hadn’t meant to sound rude. He didn’t deserve that.

I immediately reworded my question. “I mean, how did you find me?”

“Maggie gave me your number. It wasn’t easy. She was very persistent for a long time, but she finally caved. You have a loyal friend. I’m a wreck, Amelia, an absolute wreck.”

“I’m sorry, Aiden. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll come back.”

Visions of our last night together came crashing back—candles, flowers, and tears. That was what I remembered the most, except for the part where I’d run and never looked back.

“I…I’m sorry, Aiden. I’ve got to go.”

I ended the call before he could say another word. He tried calling back once and then twice before he gave up. I couldn’t give him what he wanted. He didn’t see that now, but he would eventually. He just needed time and space.

Another hour or so passed, and I continued to empty out the boxes that had been gathering dust in my office. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use an office for—considering I worked in a hospital, filing patient records and avoiding pregnant women—but it was an extra room, and I didn’t know what else to use it for. I took a quick look at the computer stacked up in the corner and thought about setting it up, but I decided to put it off for another day.

My stomach started to grumble right around the time Sam’s ears perked up. He jumped up and started barking seconds before the doorbell went off. I guessed Garrett was right about one thing. No one would be able to get past Sam.

I glanced down at my watch and realized dinnertime had long since passed, and it was now eight o’clock. A quick sweep around the room proved I hadn’t done nearly enough. There were still several boxes to go through, and the ones I had opened up just made more of a mess. I had hoped to find places for some of this, so when the floors went down, I’d have less to move around. I was starting to think that was a really stupid idea.

I brushed my hands back and forth on my black yoga pants, trying to get rid of some of the dust that had accumulated there, and I went to join Sam at the door. He was jumping up and down and wagging his tail like it was Christmas. Dogs had the best enthusiasm. Humans could learn a thing or two from our four-legged companions. There was very little left on this earth that brought such excitement to our faces.

I opened the door, and I really shouldn’t have been surprised by what I found. Garrett was standing in his work clothes, holding a bag of takeout and a duffel bag.

“Are we having a sleepover?” I asked, pointing to the large bag slung over his shoulder.

His lip twitched. “No, I brought clothes to change into. Can’t lay down floors in a suit.”

“Who said anything about laying down floors tonight? It’s late.”

He let himself in, which was quickly becoming a habit of his, and breezed past me. He dropped the bags of food and his duffel on the kitchen counter and turned. “It’s late? How old are you?”

I folded my arms over my chest and gave an exasperated sigh. “I have to get up early for work tomorrow,” I said.

“So do I. In fact, I bet I have to wake up earlier.”

“Do not,” I challenged.

“Mmm…do so.” He leaned against the counter and mimicked my stance, folding his arms over his broad chest.

On me, it was pouting. On him, it was anything but, and it was super sexy.

“Ugh, you are infuriating! What time do you have to be up, smartass?”

“About four.”

“In the morning?” I squeaked.

“Yep.” He shrugged.

“Why so damn early? Don’t you have an office job?”

He adjusted his stance and shrugged off his jacket. He started loosening his tie, and I watched with fascination.

“Well, smartass, I like to go to the gym in the morning. No one else really does, so it’s quiet that early. And yes, I have an office job. I like to get into the office before everyone else, so I usually show up around six.”

He pulled off his tie and undid the first two buttons of his shirt.

The whole process, watching him slowly take off his tie had been mesmerizing. I didn’t want him to stop. Why did he stop?

He looked at me expectantly.

He’d said something, hadn’t he?

I realized I’d been staring at those open two buttons longer than socially acceptable, and he’d noticed. His lips curled into a grin, and he’d been waiting to see how long it would take for me to come back from whatever fantasy I’d just inserted myself into.