Wholesome and sweet and just kind of wonderful.
And the fact that I got to watch movies, play card games, or just sit and talk with Theo for an hour or two after Charlotte went to bed didn’t hurt, either.
A small smile tugged at my lips as I thought about the game of backgammon Theo and I had played on Thursday. It was a game I’d never played before, so Theo had patiently taught me how it went… right before absolutely destroying me.
Yep, that seemingly sweet father of a three-year-old was way more ruthless than I’d ever imagined, knocking my pieces to the bar at least ten times while full-on evil laughing.
Yep, apparently, sweet Daddy Theo did not go easy on beginners.
Which… I actually kind of loved.
Loved because it had been fun seeing that side of him.
The one where he let his walls down.
Relaxed and just had fun.
Which was definitely not helping the whole “crushing on my boss” situation.
Because the more time I spent with him, the more I liked him.
Which was probably stupid.
But also… kind of impossible to avoid.
Fifteen minutes later, the elevator dinged softly across the lobby. I lifted my head just in time to see Theo step out, his gaze sweeping the room before landing on me. And when he smiled, a light, fluttery feeling spread through me.
Because the way his eyes lit up, like he was happy I was here, felt way too good.
“Wanna grab lunch nearby before we hit the road again?” he asked as he walked over.
I pushed up from the chair, meeting his green-eyed gaze. “I’d love to.”
44
NORA
“So,this is your go-to pizza place when you’re in the city?” I asked Theo a few minutes later, glancing around the small, family-owned shop as we waited in line.
The space was cozy, with worn tile floors, a big brick oven behind the counter, and a chalkboard menu hanging above it. The smell of melted cheese and baked crust filled the air, and there was a steady hum of conversation from the people packed into the narrow space.
“It is,” Theo said with a smile as he glanced around the place appreciatively. “Though, it’s hard to go wrong with pizza in New York.”
“Very true.”
It didn’t take long before we were seated by the window with two slices each, the late morning sun streaming in as people passed by on the sidewalk outside.
I took a bite and let out a quiet moan. “Okay… yeah. This is so good.”
“Told you.” Theo grinned. And I loved how the little gold flecks in his eyes lit up when he did that.
“So,” I said, after another bite, “did Ky tell you who you’re rooming with this weekend?”
“Not officially.” Theo dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Sounds like it’s between Miles or a guy from Ky’s band.”
“We’ll see if Miles actually shows up to this.” I winked.
“For real.” He chuckled. “Because I’d definitely prefer to bunk with him over someone I don’t know.”