Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
I heard the telltale whoosh of the elevator doors opening. I turned and saw my mother-in-law striding toward me. Guilt lanced me again, and I worried she’d be able to tell I was betraying Joanna and Lily by lusting over my assistant.
“Blake, I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” she said as she reached me.
I kissed her on the cheek. “It’s okay. Lily seems content.” I nodded toward the conference room.
Patsy looked in as Lily and Bella chatted and wrote on paper.
“She does. Who’s she with?”
“That’s Bella Hanson, my assistant.”
“Oh Blake, you didn’t make her babysit, did you?” Patsy stared at me with lips pursed and brows knitted in disapproval. It was the same expression Joanna gave me whenever she was annoyed at me.
“No. She offered.” I held my hands up in surrender.
“Hmm.” Patsy looked in again. “Do you spend a lot of time with her?”
Huh? Could she tell I’d fucked Bella? “I work with her, Patsy, so we do spend time together.”
“I mean with Lily. She looks comfortable with her. Lily rarely likes strangers.”
That was strange. But I knew first hand that Bella had a way of drawing people to her. “They just met.”
“Well, I’d like to meet this woman.”
I followed Patsy into the conference room and introduced them. Then Lily showed us her cookie spreadsheet and spoke French. It was adorable, and I felt grateful that Bella had been able not just to entertain Lily, but make Lily feel safe and free to express herself.
As Bella left, Lily rushed to her and asked her something before giving her a hug.
“Oh my,” Patsy said under her breath. “That woman has kid-mojo.”
She had man mojo too, but I kept that to myself. She left the room, and for a moment my gaze was stuck on the empty doorway she’d exited.
“Ja tim, papa.” Lily ran to me.
I didn’t know a lot of French, but that one I knew. “Je t’aime Lily.”
“Je t’aime to you too, Grandma.”
“I love you too, sweetie.”
I helped get Lily’s things gathered and sent her home with my mother-in-law. I considered stopping by Bella’s office on my way back to mine but decided against it. It wasn’t wise to indulge my urge to see her.
Back in my own office, I went through reports, spreadsheets (none of which included cookies), and marketing materials. They included the plans for Danica Lane’s print ads and the commercial she’d be doing for JoXander Cosmetics.
By six-thirty, my secretary had already left, as I knew most of my staff on this floor had. I liked to be home for dinner with Lily, and if I left now, I might make it.
As I headed out, I saw the light on in Bella’s office. Wanting to make sure she was alright; I made my way there.
As I got closer, I heard talking. When I reached the door, I realized she was with a man. I peeked around the slightly ajar door to see her behind her desk and a man sitting on the corner it.
He was leaning forward and had her hand in his palm. “I swear to God, the psychic said this line was related to your libido.”
What the fuck?
Bella laughed. “I suppose the fact that it’s long is a good sign for you.”
“I was hoping it stood for stamina.”
“Not length?” she quipped.
Jesus, is she talking sex with another man?
“If I’m lucky it’s both.” He shifted slightly when he let her hand go and I realized it was Dylan Colby, one of the managers in the marketing department.
“You don’t know?” Bella asked.
Dylan leaned forward toward her. “Let me take you out on Friday and if that goes well, maybe you’ll be able to find out.”
Hell no!
Bella smirked and then waved her hand at him. “I don’t know. My line isn’t that long. Aren’t you afraid you’ll be disappointed?”
She was flirting with him, and I could hardly stand it.
“Not at all.” He shook his head and laughed. “I’m sorry. That was lame. I’m not a douche, I promise.”
She cocked her head in a way that I could finally see her face. Her expression suggested he intrigued her. Well, why wouldn’t he? He was closer to her age and more importantly, willing to follow up his interest in her. I should have been relieved she was open to his attention and that she accepted that she and I could never be a thing. But the awful truth was, I wasn’t happy about it. She gave me her virginity, God dammit. That meant something. So why was she already looking for another man? I shook my head because I knew the answer. I told her to move on. I told her I’d never be able to love her. Of course, she’d find someone else. But in the office? Under my nose?
Stop being a pussy, I told myself. She wasn’t mine. She could be with whoever she wanted, except me. I moved away from the door and headed to the elevator to go home.