“Yeah, trust me, I’ll be putting a goddamn sock in my mouth from now on.”
“Whatever gets you off.”
We both smirk and then I leave before I burst into another fit of laughter.
“How was the rest of your night?” I ask when JP walks into the kitchen the next morning, freshly showered and dressed in a suit and tie, an outfit I see him in regularly. For some reason, his choice of clothing feels different today.
Maybe because of what happened last night. Walking in on him during his “man time.” It was kind of sexy, knowing that he was doing that while I was in the penthouse. That he didn’t care that I was nearby. I thought about it all last night. Did he want me to hear him? Was he taunting me? That would be true to his personality, to do something like that.
“The rest of my night?” JP asks, briefly looking over his shoulder as he gets his coffee. “Explosive.”
I swallow hard.
Explosive, as in . . .
“Well, that’s good to know.”
He turns and leans against the counter as he brings the mug to his lips. “Is it good to know?”
“Sure, everyone deserves . . . relief. I interrupted the process, so I’m glad you got to finish.”
“Seems like an odd thing to say to someone.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking that.” I push my plate to the side and sit back in my chair at the dining room table. “I honestly wasn’t sure what I was going to say to you this morning. That was the best I could come up with.”
“It was weak.”
“I know. Maybe this is why I’m still single, because I have weak repartee.”
“Nah, that’s not it.”
“Oh? Do you have a theory about why I’m still single?”
He slowly nods while lowering his mug. “Trying too hard.”
“How am I trying too hard?”
“Because you’re always looking for the next date. Why not sit back and wait for something to happen? You never know, the person you’re meant to be with might be right in front of your face.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ve tried the waiting game. Nothing has happened. Maybe I should start walking around neighborhoods like Lottie did.”
“Could help.” He smiles and then takes a seat at the table. “Maybe if you stop looking, it’ll find you.” Then he shrugs and says, “Plus, you’re hot. It’s not like you don’t arouse interest.”
“I have none, JP. Edwin was the best I could do.”
“Edwin was a tool.” He rotates his mug on the table. “There has to be something you’re more interested in than finding love.”
“Well, I do have this podcast, but it’s focused around love.”
He chuckles. “What’s it called?”
“Meant to Be. I interview couples on how they met and found love.” Sheepishly, I shrug. “I guess I just love love. I enjoy origin stories, meet-cutes, and the different ways people find each other. It’s fascinating to me. I also like taking aquatic classes.”
“Aquatic classes?” he asks. “Tell me more about that. Like, aerobics in the water?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m easily the youngest in the class, but that doesn’t bother me. I just like working out in the water and the music they play is old-school love songs. So, it works for me.”
“Do you wear a one-piece?”
“Of course.”
He shakes his head. “Such a shame.”
“I’m not about to work out with a bunch of old ladies in a two-piece. I have a respectable one-piece.”
“Color?”
“Red.”
“Nice.” He takes another sip of his coffee. “What’s your plan for today?”
“I was going to finalize my ideas for the renovations. Maybe go for a walk. I have meetings lined up for tomorrow, but nothing today. What about you?”
He checks the expensive, matte-black watch wrapped around his thick wrist and says, “I have a meeting in about thirty minutes that I have to run to. Want to meet me for lunch?”
“Oh, uh, sure,” I answer, caught off guard. Meet him for lunch? As in . . . just the two of us? That doesn’t seem like him. Then again, I think last night might have broken the ice for him. For us.
He was brooding on the plane to San Francisco.
But I apologized for the gala.
He defended me to Regis.
And we broke the tension.
Maybe this is the next step.
He taps the table with his knuckle and rises from the chair. “I’ll text you the time and place. See you later, Kelsey.”