Page 38 of Some Sort of Crazy (Happy Crazy Love 2)
It was silly and sexy and exactly what I needed, so I didn’t dwell on the fact that in the three years since I’d owned this shop, not once had Dan ever come in to help me open up. I don’t even think he’d ever offered—if I’d stayed the night at his place, he drove me to my condo and went right back home, or he’d let me take his car.
But Miles…Miles stayed with me.
So all morning I ignored my phone when I saw that it was Dan calling, and I never opened any of his texts. If he showed up, I’d kick his sorry ass right out.
When Hailey arrived, I could see her looking back and forth between Miles and me, wondering what was going on with us. I’d introduced him as an old friend the other day, but even though she was barely out of her teens, I think she knew better. The air between us crackled with sexual energy.
At around noon, the caffeine buzz started to wear off. “Oh my God,” I said, slumping onto the kitchen counter. “I’m dying. I’m not gonna make it.”
“Yes, you will.” Miles was on dish duty, loading cups and plates and silverware into the washer since I’d asked Hailey to be more visible up front today. My puffy eyes with dark circles underneath were not fit to be seen out there.
“I’m not. I’m gonna die. Need sleep.”
“We’re gonna nap so hard when we’re done here, Nat. I’m serious. Fucking gold medal nap.”
“Nap. Naaaaaaaaap,” I moaned.
“A couple more hours. You can do it.” He came over and took me by the shoulders, straightening me up. “Hey. You’re taking the day off tomorrow. You work too hard.”
I laughed weakly, but I felt like crying. “I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can. And you will. If I have to pay your staff myself, you are doing it.”
I sighed. “Michael will be back. He can probably handle things for a day.”
“He can. I am sure of it.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“Doesn’t matter. You hired him, so he’s talented and competent. He can run a goddamn diner for a day.”
I made a face. “It’s not easy, you know.”
“I know. Believe me.” He gathered me close, and I rested my head on his shoulder, thinking that if he just stayed still, I could sleep like this, standing up. “There’s a reason I chose writing as a profession. I don’t want to be in charge of people. I’m barely good at being in charge of myself. But you’re amazing at it. You’re so amazing that Michael has picked up on exactly what to do to keep this place going in your absence for a day. Or a week.”
I pulled away from him. “What week?”
“A vacation. You need a week off, I think.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw, then snapped his fingers. “A road trip. That’s it.”
“You’re insane. I can’t leave here for a week!”
“A road trip to…” Miles went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “Detroit!” His face lit up. “We’ll drive down to Detroit, spend a few days there hanging out, and I’ll show you all my favorite places. How about it?”
“A week? No way.” I folded my arms. “Can’t do it.”
“Then three days.” Miles took me by the wrists and shook my arms. “That’s all I ask. Three days of relaxation and fun with me, and then you can come back here, be a grown up and make that frowny face all you like.”
I snatched my arms away. “I don’t make a frowny face!”
He burst out laughing. “You do. It looks like this.” He set his jaw stubbornly, his bottom lip a little pouty, and squinted.
I winced. “Please tell me I do not make that face.”
“You do,” he assured me. “But I would too if I dealt with managing people day in and day out. Or if I just got out of a dead end relationship and needed to have some fun.”
I looked away, a little sadness seeping into my bloodstream for the first time today. I’d successfully avoided thinking too much about Dan, for the most part, unless it was to make unfavorable comparisons to Miles. But that wasn’t really fair. Miles wasn’t here to stay, either.
A week. That was his best offer.
