him. “People are counting on me.”
“I don’t think returning to work so soon is a good idea.”
“Cain.” Her hand moved to his chest. “I don’t have time to argue.”
“Good.” Frowning, as if unsure what to do, he continued to block her way.
“I’m gonna miss my bus,” she pleaded. “I’m running late as it is.”
To his credit, he moved aside, although reluctantly. The truth was Julia would have enjoyed lounging in bed another day, but it simply wasn’t possible. Not with her schedule.
She locked her apartment and met Cain at the elevator. She felt his censure, which she chose to ignore.
“You sure you feel up to this?” he asked.
She did and she didn’t, and she answered with a flip-flop of her hand. “I guess we’ll see.” It was destined to be a long day, and all she could do was hope she had the energy to make it through.
Once inside the elevator, Julia felt Cain exhale in frustration. “I think you should take an extra day. Screw the season.”
“Cain, I wish I could, but I can’t. You only took off one day, and I’m as tough as you.”
He snickered.
“You took a later lunch yesterday because you had so much work to catch up on, right?”
“You’re in retail,” he countered.
“I still have commitments.”
“To sell so many sweaters? Fold display socks?”
Julia stiffened, surprised how offended his comment made her. “If you’re belittling my job, I don’t appreciate it.” Working at Macy’s wasn’t her choice for a lifelong career, but her years with the company had served her well. She was able to pay her bills until she found employment in her field of work.
He pinched his lips and then sighed. “You’re right. That came out wrong. It wasn’t what I meant to say. I’m concerned you’re going back too soon, and I would hate to see you relapse.”
She accepted his apology with a soft smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Promise me you’ll do your best to take it easy. I have a desk job, but you’re going to be on your feet all day.”
“I’ll do my best,” she assured him, touched at his concern.
The elevator doors glided open and they stepped into the lobby. Cain paused long enough to collect his newspaper.
“Hey, is that yours?” she demanded, remembering his habit of stealing. Generally, he collected it earlier when he walked Schroeder.
“Yes,” he insisted, without looking.
“Prove it,” she demanded, with a hand at her hip. It looked to her like he was up to his old tricks.
Cain grinned. “Aren’t you going to be late for your bus?”
“No. Give me that newspaper, I want to check.”
“Julia.” He groaned and showed her proof positive. His apartment number was marked on the plastic wrapper. “Aren’t you going to get yours?” he asked.
“I canceled the newspaper,” she said pointedly. “Someone from the building kept stealing it.”
Cain laughed out loud, and together they walked out of the building. “You have time for coffee this morning?” he asked.
Watching the approach of the bus, she shook her head. “Not today.”
“Tomorrow, then. We’ll leave ten minutes early.”
Julia did her best to hide a smile as she came to a standstill in front of the bus stop. “Is that a date?”
Walking backward in order to continue their conversation, Cain looked undecided. “Yeah, I guess you could call it that.”
“I’m flattered,” she called out just before she boarded the bus.
Cain stopped moving and people were forced to walk around him. “Text me and let me know how you’re doing today,” he called.
“I will if I can.” The only time she had to text was her lunch break, and she’d be checking to see what was happening with her blog. Reading the comments and keeping track of the number of hits and shares had become something of an obsession.
“Do it.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” she said as she stepped onto the bus. It would have been impossible to hide her smile. Already she felt better, more energized,
“I don’t think returning to work so soon is a good idea.”
“Cain.” Her hand moved to his chest. “I don’t have time to argue.”
“Good.” Frowning, as if unsure what to do, he continued to block her way.
“I’m gonna miss my bus,” she pleaded. “I’m running late as it is.”
To his credit, he moved aside, although reluctantly. The truth was Julia would have enjoyed lounging in bed another day, but it simply wasn’t possible. Not with her schedule.
She locked her apartment and met Cain at the elevator. She felt his censure, which she chose to ignore.
“You sure you feel up to this?” he asked.
She did and she didn’t, and she answered with a flip-flop of her hand. “I guess we’ll see.” It was destined to be a long day, and all she could do was hope she had the energy to make it through.
Once inside the elevator, Julia felt Cain exhale in frustration. “I think you should take an extra day. Screw the season.”
“Cain, I wish I could, but I can’t. You only took off one day, and I’m as tough as you.”
He snickered.
“You took a later lunch yesterday because you had so much work to catch up on, right?”
“You’re in retail,” he countered.
“I still have commitments.”
“To sell so many sweaters? Fold display socks?”
Julia stiffened, surprised how offended his comment made her. “If you’re belittling my job, I don’t appreciate it.” Working at Macy’s wasn’t her choice for a lifelong career, but her years with the company had served her well. She was able to pay her bills until she found employment in her field of work.
He pinched his lips and then sighed. “You’re right. That came out wrong. It wasn’t what I meant to say. I’m concerned you’re going back too soon, and I would hate to see you relapse.”
She accepted his apology with a soft smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Promise me you’ll do your best to take it easy. I have a desk job, but you’re going to be on your feet all day.”
“I’ll do my best,” she assured him, touched at his concern.
The elevator doors glided open and they stepped into the lobby. Cain paused long enough to collect his newspaper.
“Hey, is that yours?” she demanded, remembering his habit of stealing. Generally, he collected it earlier when he walked Schroeder.
“Yes,” he insisted, without looking.
“Prove it,” she demanded, with a hand at her hip. It looked to her like he was up to his old tricks.
Cain grinned. “Aren’t you going to be late for your bus?”
“No. Give me that newspaper, I want to check.”
“Julia.” He groaned and showed her proof positive. His apartment number was marked on the plastic wrapper. “Aren’t you going to get yours?” he asked.
“I canceled the newspaper,” she said pointedly. “Someone from the building kept stealing it.”
Cain laughed out loud, and together they walked out of the building. “You have time for coffee this morning?” he asked.
Watching the approach of the bus, she shook her head. “Not today.”
“Tomorrow, then. We’ll leave ten minutes early.”
Julia did her best to hide a smile as she came to a standstill in front of the bus stop. “Is that a date?”
Walking backward in order to continue their conversation, Cain looked undecided. “Yeah, I guess you could call it that.”
“I’m flattered,” she called out just before she boarded the bus.
Cain stopped moving and people were forced to walk around him. “Text me and let me know how you’re doing today,” he called.
“I will if I can.” The only time she had to text was her lunch break, and she’d be checking to see what was happening with her blog. Reading the comments and keeping track of the number of hits and shares had become something of an obsession.
“Do it.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” she said as she stepped onto the bus. It would have been impossible to hide her smile. Already she felt better, more energized,
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