He was staring at her, his mouth downturned. He looked as though he was really bothered by it. “But maybe if you move you can get a more modern facility, more amenities…”
“We’d lose a lot of kids not being in the downtown area. We don’t need amenities. We need stability.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She smiled. “I know you will. I appreciate it. Wow, you keep coming to my rescue. First a place to live, now the shelter.”
He ducked his head, a muscle in his jaw moving. “Allie,” he said, his voice thick with what sounded like regret. He was obviously humble, which was news to her, because she’d always thought Ethan kind of full of himself in a charming kind of way. Evidently she had a lot to learn. His phone vibrated on the couch between them, and he cursed softly as he looked at the number. Not that she was being nosy or anything, but the name on the display said Hayden Brooks. She had no idea who that was.
He looked up at her before answering. “It’s a call I need to take, I’m sorry,” he said, rising. She sat on the couch by herself as Ethan walked out of the room and down the hall that led to his office.
Chapter Four
Ethan took a long drink of his freshly-made green smoothie. He leaned against the kitchen counter and mentally ran through the plan he’d come up with to keep Allie happy and beat his brother in the little challenge their father had come up with. It was brilliant.
Sure, it may not be exactly what Allie had in mind, but in the end he knew she wouldn’t find fault. He just needed to convince her—once he had some details and plans to present to her. With his plan everyone would win, except Carson, which was perfect. Except two minutes later he found himself thinking about the woman sleeping in his spare bedroom and feeling slightly guilty about deciding not to try and save her shelter. Every day Allie went on and on about how nice he was. If she only knew the truth. Since that couldn’t happen he’d spent the week trying to avoid her. Now that his plan was fully formed, he could go back to normal.
“Dude, it’s six o’clock in the morning. Must I be awoken like this?”
Ethan almost choked in surprise. Dani was standing in the doorway, hands perched on her hips, her usual scowl even scarier at this time of the morning. It was still dark out, and he’d finished a run on the treadmill and had prepared his daily green smoothie in the Vitamix. He was running half an hour late, but he had a full day ahead of him. Plenty of time to put some of the first parts of his “screw over Carson” plan into motion.
At least all this crap going on meant he wasn’t constantly thinking about D-Day. It was next week, and he hated that day more than any other. But it would be fine. He’d get through it, he’d get good news, and then December could unfold nicely and he’d be allowed to indulge for the month. He just needed to get through the next few days unscathed, be at the top of his game, and not let an ounce of vulnerability show.
“Uh, hello?”
Ethan glanced up from his smoothie to Dani. “Did I wake you?”
“You woke up the freaking building, I’m sure.” She trudged into the kitchen, her bare feet flapping against the wood floor like a duck’s flippers.
He took a sip of his drink, leaning against the counter. “I make this every morning. I’ve never woken either you or Allie.”
“I have a lot on my mind. Must be stress.”
“You’re, like, twelve.”
“I’m sixteen.”
“Same thing.”
That earned him a glower of the worst kind.
“Where’s the coffee?”
“I didn’t make any. I usually get it on my way to the office.”
She groaned. “Listen, we need to get some caffeine going ASAP, before Allie gets up. She’s a beast in the morning.”
This time he did choke on his smoothie. He couldn’t picture Allie anything but cheerful. She was always put together. Even after the fire in her building, the woman had managed a smile at his office. He put down his glass and pulled out a jar of ground coffee. Dani grumbled around, cupboards slamming and lots of huffing and puffing while he made the coffee.
“You really need to get some normal people food in this place.” She swung open the fridge, made a face, and then shut it. “Too much protein, not enough carbs.”
He finished the rest of his smoothie. “It’s a shame this is the first morning our paths have crossed. I love being told how to eat by a sixteen year old.” Dani didn’t actually bother him. He kind of found her antics and theatrics amusing, like if he had a kid sister.
Allie walked into the room looking completely alien, almost like she’d been drop-shipped from a one-hundred-year coma into his kitchen. Her hair was all crazy, and she was rubbing her eyes. She had on a pink robe that gaped open, leaving him with the nicest view he’d ever started his day with. The pink tank or camisole was low cut and clung to delicious curves and a flat stomach. He heard a snarky noise and found Dani smirking at him. She saw him checking out her sister.
He cleared his throat. “Morning, Allie.”
He thought he heard a garbled good morning back, but couldn’t be sure. Dani verbally ambushed her sister about some school gossip and some party that she just “had to go to” that Allie had already said she couldn’t attend. He poured a large mug of coffee for Allie, who was now sitting at the table with her head in her hands while Dani kept on talking.
“Here, sweetheart.”
That got her attention. Allie jerked her head up and sent him a look of gratitude that made him wonder if he should have just brought her coffee all those times he’d asked her out.
“Anyone want a smoothie?”
Dani made a gagging motion. “I’d rather die, Ethan.”
“Thanks, this is what I need,” Allie said, getting up to grab milk from the fridge. Once she poured in a heap, she took a long sip and moaned. He wasn’t going to get caught looking again, no matter how sexy her noises were or how good she looked with her eyes closed.
“Well, I’m outta here. Have a good day, ladies.”
“You’re going already?” Allie was looking at him. She appeared normal now, her hands wrapped around the mug of coffee.
“Yeah. Anything you need?”
She peered at him over the rim of her cup. “Do you have plans tonight?”
“Of course he does.”
He shot Dani a look. “No plans…well, actually I have a dinner meeting but nothing after that.”
“Allie, he’s not going to want to help us.”
He leaned against the counter and studied Allie. She looked beautiful without makeup. Not that she usually wore a lot, but seeing her like this made her seem younger, more vulnerable. “What do you need?”
“I have approximately one hundred gifts that need wrapping, and I was hoping to get it done by the time the tree goes up. But I know you’re crazy busy, and you’re already giving up Saturday night.”
Dani leaned forward in her chair, looking back and forth between them. He pretended not to notice what she was implying. “He is? I haven’t heard of this.”
Allie ignored her, too. “But I’ll make eggnog and bring home some stuff from the bakery.” Like she needed any of that; he wouldn’t have said no.