He loved her. He was just beginning to wonder if that would be enough. They’d talked about compromise in the very beginning, joking that it was the reason they were both single. Were they fooling themselves thinking it could be different with them? How far was he willing to go? He’d refused to give up his dreams for Teresa and Austin. Could he for Annie?
Jest or not, the publicist’s supposition that he could be a pampered house husband didn’t sit well. That wasn’t him. The brassy blonde had repeatedly referred to big time money as something just around the corner. However, Angie had spoken of it in the present, insinuating he was after Annie’s money. Rubbing his forehead, he tried to stave off an oncoming headache and remember if she had said anything specific about finances in their conversations. Nothing about his Annie gave off an air of entitlement, but the condo was fancier than he’d pictured in their talks and the potshots coming his way were beginning to pile up.
The engine turning off yanked him back to the here and now. They were in the parking garage. Looking at the keys in her hand, Annie hesitated like she wanted to say something. Her mouth closed and she stepped out of the Jeep. Leaning into the back, CJ grabbed the takeout bag and followed. Longer legs let him catch her at the elevator.
“I need to stop in the lobby before we go up,” she said, hitting the button.
Not knowing if that groundbreaking declaration deserved a reply after an hour of silence, he nodded.
“Ms. Brand, you had a delivery while you were out.”
The smile Annie gave the guy behind the desk was a pretty good fake.
“I heard. I’m sorry, Zachary. They didn’t call me ahead of time,” she said, unwinding her scarf and pushing her hair back behind her ear.
CJ bristled as the pretty boy gave him the once over before dismissing him.
“Never a problem. I have them loaded on a cart. If it’s a good time I can get them up to you in just a few minutes.”
“That would be wonderful. Again, I’m sorry I didn’t give you a heads up. I thought I was done with this weeks ago. Thank you for handling it for me,” Annie said, slipping the guy a discreet tip.
“It’s what we’re here for, Ms. Brand. They’ll be right up,” Zachary reassured her.
The numbers in the elevator climbed at a snail’s pace. CJ wet his lips.
“I could’ve brought them up for you.”
She pushed her hair back again, giving him a sidelong look.
“Thank you. I mean, I know you would have. It’s just easier this way. They’re weird about the carts.”
“The carts?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “People don’t return them and then they have to track them down when they need them,” she said, waving a hand. “Zachary said they prefer it this way.”
“He seems a little too eager, and the cart excuse is lame.”
Annie shot him a sharp look. He swallowed an apology. That might not have come out exactly right, but it wasn’t safe having guys wandering in and out of her condo under the guise of helping her out.
“He has worked here for quite a few years. Despite my Quasimodo reputation, I try to get along with people. Tips and Christmas gift baskets help.”
The elevator’s chime stalled his retort. He took a deep breath and blew it out as he followed her down the hall. It was probably for the best. Who or how much Annie tipped was none of his business. He was probably imagining the challenge in the other guy’s look. The last two days didn’t have him thinking clearly.
Shedding her coat, Annie draped it over the back of the couch and continued down the hall to disappear through one of the doors that had been closed last night. CJ assumed it was her office. Putting the carry-out bag on the counter, he pulled out his phone to check his messages and email while he waited for Zachary.
A thud pulled him away from his email. Two boxes in her arms, Annie was trying to open the door on the other side of the hall. The boxes were heavy enough that she was using the wall to help her hold them while she fumbled with the handle. CJ was down the hall in a couple of strides and took them from her.
“Why didn’t you ask me for help?”
“I can get them.”
“I’m sure you can,” he said, following her into a utility room.
Moving similar boxes around on a sturdy shelving unit, she grabbed the top one from him and hefted it into place over her head. He frowned and held on when she reached for the other one.
“I get it, Mighty Mouse, but you don’t need to do stuff like this when I’m around.”
She opened her mouth to protest but closed it when he just stared at her. Pointing to where she wanted it, she patted his bicep.
“Thank you. I have quite a few more if you want to help. It looks like I’m going to need to get rid of some, condense, or get another shelf.”
“Are these all your books?”
“Yeah. Authors get a box to give out to friends and family. These are what I had left. Problem is, when they re-did the cover art on my backlist recently they sent me another twenty-five. I need more friends,” she tossed over her shoulder.
CJ stopped in the doorway. Annie’s office was a jungle of plants, books, and photographs. A large antique library table held an array of plants, her laptop, a purple paisley mouse and gel-pad, and an eclectic collection of small glass bowls and bottles. A corkboard took up most of the wall above it. Bright pushpins held a map, dozens of snapshots, newspaper and magazine clippings, and multitudes of colorful sticky notes. A purple couch with more boxes on it sat against the wall that the room shared with Annie’s bedroom. Bookshelves lined the remaining two walls, floor to ceiling near the door, and three high in front of the window, all holding more plants, books, framed pictures, and the jewel-tone glass she seemed to like.
“Everything ended up in here when Aunt Viv redecorated. This is where I spend most of my time,” she said, looking around as if trying to see it through his eyes.
Stepping into the room, his hand was drawn to the grain in the rosewood library table.
Annie mirrored him, her fingers caressing the wood on the other side of her office chair.
“My dad found this at an estate sale. It was my fourteenth birthday present.”
“It’s gorgeous, and so you.”
A smile lit her face, the first real one since Lake Michigan. He circled the room looking at the pictures. Most were candid family shots. Some were black and white, some color, but unlike the artistic prints that lined the hall, there was no rhyme or reason to orientation or size and the frames were a varied mix of wood and metal.
“Who is the photographer?”
“My mom was. She loved to take pictures. That’s why she’s not in a lot of them.”
“She had a good eye.”
“I think it was a passion for her like writing is for me, or woodworking for dad. She was an ER nurse and worked a lot of long, stressful hours. Photography was an escape.”
“I can see why you spend all of your time in here,” CJ said, stacking a couple of boxes.
“It might not be stylish or elegant, but it’s my haven.”
“The couch matches.”
Annie rolled her eyes, following him across the hall.
“She was horrified by the couch. It and the two matching chairs might be what prompted the intervention to begin with.” She shrugged with a smirk. “I liked them. They’re so comfy. One of the chairs is in the corner of my bedroom and the other is in storage.”
He was making a final trip when there was a knock on the door.
“Perfect timing,” Annie said, going to answer the door.
Hastily dropping the last two on the folding counter where Annie had decided to put the overflow for now, CJ turned off the light in the utility room and went to keep an eye on Zachary.
“If they’re all going back out Monday morning do you want to leave them on the flatbed?”
And that was how important the carts were. CJ shook his head, putting a hand in the small of Annie’s back.
“If you’re sure it will be okay,” she said looking at the large cartons. “It will save everyone’s back.”
“It will be fine. You be careful, Ms. Brand. They’re pretty heavy,” he warned, maneuvering the pushcart through the doorway.
“I will. Thank you.”
“I’ll make a note that you’re expecting a pick up on Monday then.”
“Thank you, again.”
Just when CJ thought he was going to have to put a boot in the man’s ass, Zachary finally left.
Annie leaned over to read one of the shipping labels and groaned.
“Fifty to a box. I suck at math, but even I can figure out that means hand cramps. I can’t face that on an empty stomach.”
“We could warm up our soup and sandwiches.”
“Now that I’m safe back in my haven, and not so pissed I think the top of my head is going to blow off, food sounds great,” Annie said, abandoning the boxes in favor of the carry-out bag.
Hanging up both of their coats, CJ played the coffee house confrontation over in his head while he waited for lunch. Annie’s family was talking about them. Her uncle was obviously her go-to for financial advice and he was worried about his niece getting conned. Annie hadn’t wanted to be on camera today. She had steered clear of her normal haunts, taking him out of town and going where no one would know her name. Slumming? Needing to keep busy, he flicked out his knife and effortlessly sliced open the top layer of boxes. If only cutting through relationship red tape was as simple.
Legs curled up under the lap desk on the couch, Annie leaned into the warmth of CJ’s side. A new documentary on wolves in Yellowstone held his attention while she repeatedly scribbled her name. Every so often, he fed her a piece of fruit or a nut from the tin of trail-mix he was eating. She knew she got a goofy grin every time, but it was just so sweet. Being with him like this was perfect. What could be better? For some reason, the stone fireplace in his cabin flashed to mind and she hummed, nodding to herself. Cuddling like this in front of the fireplace would be even more perfect.
Neatly stacking the books back in the box, she turned back and kissed CJ’s shoulder.
“Your turn.”
Giving her a wink, he put his snack down and rocked to his feet to grab the finished box. A moment later, she had a replacement. He paused beside the couch, glancing at the commercial on the TV.
“Do you have packing tape?”
“It’s in the utility room. Top drawer on the…” She turned on the couch trying to figure out how to explain it. “On the near end? On the end furthest from the washer and dryer.”
“I’ll find it,” CJ said, shaking his head with a grin.
He was back in under sixty seconds so her directions couldn’t have been that bad.
“Nice,” he said, waving the industrial tape gun at her.
“Having the right tools for the job makes life easier. At least that was my dad’s excuse every time he bought a new tool,” she quipped. “Besides, I use it for my job, so it was tax deductible.”
“Can’t beat that.”
A knock on the door turned both of their heads. Annie frowned. She didn’t get much company and visitors were supposed to be called up first.
“Maybe it’s Zachary looking for his cart,” CJ said with a smirk.
Annie stuck out her tongue and turned to set the lap desk aside.
“I’ve got it,” he said, already moving toward the door.
“Mrs. Michaels.”
“You’re answering my niece’s door now?” Viv asked archly.
Twisting to kneel on the couch, Annie said, “He was up. Come in, Aunt Viv.”
Her aunt gave the cart in the foyer a look before allowing CJ to help her off with her coat.
“Zachary didn’t mention that you had company.”
“I’ll have to discuss that with him,” Annie muttered, trying to ignore the pointed look CJ was giving her at the concierge’s name.
“Why aren’t these boxes in your office or in storage?”
“Because they’re copies of the new book that I need to autograph and ship back out by Monday morning. I was working on that when you arrived.”
“While you have company?” Vivian asked, one severely plucked eyebrow climbing her smooth forehead.
Annie sighed. Disapproval radiated off her aunt like she had broken the hostess Geneva Conventions.
“I don’t mind,” CJ said, sealing the finished carton.
“He was keeping me company and watching a documentary on wolves,” Annie said, waving at the now paused TV.
“So in a sense, we were both working,” CJ added, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “May I get either of you ladies anything?”
Vivian cocked her head, looking back and forth between them.
“No, thank you.”
Annie shook her head. Draining a good portion of the bottle, CJ resumed his spot on the couch.
“I was surprised to hear the publishing house sponsored a party for you at the Grand Plaza.”
“They had a launch party for the new book. It’s something Cami dreamed up and, somehow, got Neal behind.”
Rearranging her lap desk and books again, Annie braced for the censure. She wasn’t sure how much more of her family she could take today.
Vivian sank into an armchair and crossed her long legs. Pulling her stubby limbs further under her on the couch, Annie tried to focus on her autograph and not the familiar feeling of envy slicing through her.
“We would have liked to have been there to support you.”
Wincing at the genuine hurt in Viv’s tone, Annie threw Cami under the bus.
“I’m sorry. Cami handled everything. All I did was show up at the appointed time. I’ll say something to her for future events.”
“Yet, somehow, he ended up on the guest list.”
“I don’t think I was official. More like a last minute plus one,” CJ said, glancing at Annie for support.
“CJ flew in to surprise me because he knew how nervous I was. He called me from the airport when I was on my way to the Plaza. I waited for him, and he went in as my date,” Annie said, rubbing CJ’s thigh. “I’m sorry that you’re upset. I never saw the guest list, so I didn’t know until now that you weren’t invited.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, CJ. Annie really doesn’t do well in settings like that,” Viv said, watching Annie’s hand.
“I enjoyed being there with her. She did a great job. Everyone was as impressed as I was.”
Shaking her head at the praise, Annie kissed his shoulder.
“It did actually go pretty well. Almost all of the Michigan media showed up, plus a few big city names that Neal must have had to call in some serious favors for. Umm…A reporter from the Mackinac Town Crier made it. A handful of magazines were represented, and I couldn’t even tell you the number of Book Blogs. Cami said she’s hearing great things from the advance copies. Her actual word was stellar I think, and presale numbers are beyond expectation,” she admitted, tucking her hair behind her ear. She waved at the books in her lap. “Enough beyond that they asked for another thousand last minute.”
“That’s wonderful, sweetheart. It sounds as if all of your hard work is finally paying off. Your parents would be so proud.”
Tears stung her eyes. Her aunt didn’t toss around praise and she couldn’t have paid her a bigger compliment.
“That means so much to me.”
“It’s the simple truth. And I’m going to forgive Cami because her results are undeniable,” Vivian said standing up and smoothing her skirt. “Just tell her not to let it happen again.”
“I’ll be sure to tell her,” Annie said, trying to decide if all of the credit had just been passed to her publicist, or they were sharing in it. “Are you leaving already?”
“With that many books to sign, you clearly don’t have time to entertain. CJ, can I save you a cab and drop you at your hotel?”
Score one for Aunt Viv. What a d
iscreet way of asking if he was staying with her. CJ looked at her. Annie set her books aside again and stood to see her aunt out.
“He’s good, but thank you for the offer.”
Viv’s painted lips lifted in acknowledgment of her deflection. Flipping her blonde mane out of the collar of her coat, she picked up her purse.
“Do I have to stand in line Tuesday with the masses to get my copy?”
Rolling her eyes, Annie retrieved a book from the couch and personalized it with a flourish.
“Enjoy.”
“You know I will. Don’t forget to mail one out to Crystal in Billings. You realize that she will be as upset as I was when she finds out she missed your big coming out party.”
“It was a book launch, not a coming out party. I’m not a debutante.”
“None the less, it’s something else to discuss with your people. The timing on all of this was atrocious. With Crystal gone on her honeymoon and you having to cut your…” Her gaze flickered to CJ. “…vacation, short.”
“When we scheduled the release, I thought it would distract me from missing Crys, and my vacation wasn’t something I planned.”
“A lot of things aren’t planned. Think about that, please.”
She stared at her aunt. Had she really just slipped a birds and the bees talk in?
Vivian just waved a manicured hand and took her leave. As the door closed, Annie pressed her back to it.
“What in the hell was that?”
“That, was your family checking up on you,” CJ said flatly.
“More like a carefully orchestrated attack. Wow. First, she claims not to know that I have company, and then she mentions that you were at the launch party. She compliments me, and then turns around and gives all the credit to Cami. Then she sneakily confirms you’re staying here and wants to discuss birth control at the door.”
“She’s like a whirlwind,” CJ muttered, letting his head loll over the back of the couch. “Is she always like that?”
“Yes,” Annie answered, fishing the last ice tea out of the back of the refrigerator. She grimaced. A trip to the grocery store was going to be a necessity tomorrow. “It keeps everyone off balance. If we don’t have a chance to think, we’re more likely to just agree with her.”
Why not Wyoming? (Wyoming Wilds Series Book 1) Page 17