Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Then he did a complete one-eighty, grabbed me, kissed me, and made incredible, passionate love to me! He clearly wanted me. Or, at the very least, he clearly wanted my body. I was so happy to be near him again, to feel his body against mine, and to finally be able to express my love after squashing it deep down inside me for weeks. But of course, it didn’t last. Griff just couldn’t seem to stop pushing me away and messing me around.
I’m not sure how much more of this I can take, I thought to myself as I exited the elevator in the lobby and hurried home for the night. The streets were dark and the air was cold as I walked home. I didn’t want to take the subway. I didn’t want anyone to see my tears. But as I traveled, I couldn’t help but dwell on how lonely I felt. It was a feeling I got often throughout my life. I supposed it didn’t help that I was an only child and that my father left when I was just a baby. I didn’t even know what he looked like.
In some ways, I was lucky, however. I had the most wonderful mother. In spite of our hardships, Mom had always had a kind word to say to me and a cheery smile. She never let anything get her down. Even when she was diagnosed with heart disease, she never let the increasing medication and doctor’s visits affect her lifestyle and she stayed positive and happy until she took her very last breath.
It had been three years now since my mother had died, but it felt like yesterday in so many ways. I still missed her every day. She had been my best friend and if she were here today, she’d know exactly what to say to make me feel better. But she wasn’t.
Sadness clawed its way into my heart and I wrapped my arms around my chest in an attempt to comfort myself, but it didn’t really work. As I passed stores closing for the evening, I thought about speaking to Shelley again about the whole Griff situation, but as much as valued her friendship, I knew she wouldn’t be able to comfort me the same way my mother could. My mom had such a calm, understanding attitude with me when I had a problem whereas I knew Shelley would give me a lecture about getting too close to Griff.
I sighed and picked up the pace. I longed to have someone I could be close to again. I didn’t want to replace my mom, but it would be nice to have someone I could confide in. Foolish me had started to believe that Griff might have taken that place in my life, but now I know the truth—that was a dangerous and futile way to think. Griff didn’t feel the same way about me and I had to distance myself from him at all costs to avoid any further hurt.
No matter how lonely I might feel.
19
Griff
Two weeks passed without incident at the office and I couldn’t have been happier. Remy and I had successfully managed to resist our urges and stay well away from one another unless it was necessary. She even started using the phone to ask questions instead of actually coming into my office which helped a lot, even if I secretly longed to gaze upon her face and see her smile.
Cut it out, I told myself harshly before shaking my head at my own foolishness. I ducked my head down and began reading through the document on my screen once more. I needed to find a way to pull my thoughts away from Remy and back to work. After all, work was what was important. I needed to just keep telling myself that.
Just as I was re-reading the last two paragraphs and finally beginning to understand them, a knock sounded at my office door. Excited, I lifted my gaze from the screen and wondered if it might be Remy finally making an appearance in front of me for the first time that day.
“Come in,” I called and I watched eagerly as the door opened.
“Good morning, Mr. Strong,” the brunette – who was most certainly not Remy – said as she entered and approached my desk.
“Shelley Black, right?” I said as narrowed my eyes in her direction. She’d never come alone to my office before and I wondered what might have caused this. She was close with Remy, I knew that. I thought maybe she’d come to tell me off perhaps, but I was wrong.
“That’s right,” she replied with a nod of her head. “May I sit?” she asked and gestured toward one of the chairs opposite me.
“Of course,” I agreed with a polite smile. “What can I do to help you?”