The Property Brokers by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 20
Bella
I stepped into my apartment and placed my fingers over my lips. I could still feel the warmth of him. Pulling my phone from my purse, I dialed Ami. She had called while Grant and I were at dinner and I declined it, but I quickly sent her a text message and told her I’d call her later.
“Girl. I’ve been dying all night to talk to you. What is going on? Why were you at dinner with Grant again?”
“It was a business dinner. He took me to go look at a building and then to dinner to discuss the fifty-two apartments I need to sell within six months.”
“What? That’s crazy. He’s not at your place now, is he?”
“No. But not as if he didn’t try. I stopped him on the street in front of the building.”
“May I ask why you let last night happen?”
“You’re the shrink. You tell me,” I said as I fell onto the couch and Duchess jumped on my lap. “He came up to my apartment after we left the bar because he was pissed about the way I was treating him. He started yelling and wanted us to talk and get everything out so we could move on.”
“Did you tell him how he made you feel when he never called?”
“Yes, and I told him how bad he hurt me and how I was in love with him.”
“What did he say to that?”
“He was sorry and that we were only sixteen and it was never going to work. He said we young and naïve and he thought it was better to stop it after I left than to make it harder on us down the road.”
“Okay. This is what I think. You slept with him because you’re either still in love with him or you did it so you can turn around and do what he did to you. And if I know you, it’s the latter.” She laughed.
I stayed silent for a moment because she was basically right.
“Listen, Bella. You got the answers to the questions you’ve been mulling over for the past fourteen years. You have your closure. Now what you choose to do with that is up to you. I know trust is a huge issue for you, but I don’t doubt for a second there’s a tiny piece inside you that still has feelings for him.”
“There’s not.”
“If you say so. You’re in New York now. You just got out of a relationship, you’re starting a new life and you have a fantastic job. Focus on those things. You need to let that shit go with Grant. You got your closure, Bella. Don’t get caught up in the revenge game. That’s not who you are. And another thing, you can’t move forward with your life until you settle things with Ian.”
“I know,” I quietly spoke.
“You’re going to be okay, my friend. Even if I have to tie you to a chair and shrink you to death.”
I smiled as I let out a light laugh.
“Thanks, Ami. I think I’m going to head to bed now.”
“Okay. Good night. I love you.”
“I love you back. Talk to you tomorrow.”
* * *
Grant
I headed out the door and over to Central Park to meet Lamar.
“Hey man,” Lamar said as I approached him, and he held out his fist.
“Hey.” I bumped my fist to his and we started running. “How did things go with Ami?”
The moment I spoke her name, he glanced at me with a wide grin across his face.
“Damn, Grant. She is one fine woman. Not only is she gorgeous, but she’s also smart. Like, really smart. And we have a lot of things in common.”
“Like?” I looked over at him.
“She loves to hike. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve met a woman who loves to hike? We have the same taste in music.”
“Oh yeah? She likes Bob Dylan?”
“Loves him, bro. That night after we left the bar, we went back to her place. She put on some Bob Dylan, and we talked. Then the talking led to some other things.” He smirked.
“Sounds to me like you really like her.”
“I do. She’s coming over tonight and I’m cooking her dinner. I can’t explain it, man, but I’ve never felt so connected to someone in my life.”
“You don’t have to explain it. I’ve been there.” I glanced over at him.
“Speaking of…how are things between you and Bella?”
“We slept together.”
After I noticed Lamar had stopped running, I halted.
“Say what?” he asked.
I turned around to face him as I tried to catch my breath.
“I was tired of her attitude towards me, and I demanded we talk about it. We went back to her place and hashed it out. Then we slept together.”
“Are you two cool now?” Lamar asked.
“I don’t think so. Honestly, I don’t think she’ll ever fully forgive me.”
“She will.” He walked over and patted my back. “Just give it some time.”
“She told me last night that sleeping with me was a mistake. No woman has ever told me that.”
Lamar chuckled as we started running again.
“Time is on your side, my friend. You have fourteen years’ worth of catching up to do. She’s not going anywhere. Just be patient with her and let her work out her hatred for you.” He chuckled.
* * *
Iwas walking down the hallway to my office when Bella walked out of the bathroom, and we collided.
“Oh my God,” she said.
“Good morning.” The corners of my mouth curved upward as she gripped my arm.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“It’s okay. You have nothing to apologize for,” I spoke as we headed to our office. “We need to discuss the plans for an open house at the West 21 building.
I set my briefcase down and leaned against my desk with my hands tucked into my pants pockets.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“First we need to stage one of the apartments and one of the penthouses.”
“Did I hear the word ‘staging’?” Cody asked as he walked in. “Hello, darling.” He kissed Bella’s cheek. “Good morning, Grant.”
“Good morning, Cody.”
“I love to put rooms together and decorate. If you need something staged, I’m your man to do it.”
“Really?” Bella cocked her head at him.
“Yes. Really. I worked at a furniture store for a year and did all the displays. It’s one of my many talents.”
“Well, we have a company we use,” I said.
“And I’m sure that company is very expensive. Maybe we should give Cody a try and pay him a separate staging fee,” Bella said.
I stared at her from across the room. Damn, she was sexy, and I found myself not being able to say no to her.
“Okay. Cody, the job is yours. I’ll have Tom give you the layout of the penthouse and the apartments to be staged and you go do your thing.”
“Yay! Thank you, Grant. I appreciate your confidence in me, and you won’t regret it.”
“You’re welcome. Go tell Tom to give you the layout of penthouse A and apartment 40B for the 21 West building.”
As soon as Cody walked out, Bella walked over and stood in front of me.
“That was nice of you to give Cody a chance.”
“Well, I’m a firm believer that everyone deserves a chance,” I spoke with seriousness as I stared into her eyes.
“Me too. But if they intentionally screw things up the first time, then their chance is revoked.” She turned and walked back to her desk.
I knew that was a dig at me. I let out a sigh as I took a seat behind my desk.
“I thought we worked things out the other night.”
“Huh?” She turned around and faced me.
“I thought we worked things out the other night.”
“We did. What are you talking about?”
“Your response was a dig at me.”
“No, it wasn’t. Is this how things are going to be now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Every time I say something you’re going to take it personally.”
“Really, Bella?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
