Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Placing two palms on his chest, I gave a gentle nudge. “I have to get to work.”
“I’ll call Pittman and tell him I had an emergency you needed to attend to this morning.”
“Then I’d have to bill you for the hours.”
“Bill me for a month. I don’t give a fuck as long as I don’t have to let go of you.”
I laughed and shoved him a little harder. “No, really. I have to go.”
“Fine.” He pouted, but got up.
In the elevator, the playfulness continued. My panties had been sticking out of my unzipped purse, and Gray and I had a fight over them. He pulled. I yanked. I wanted to stay in this little box, our own little world where we’d briefly forgotten anything else existed.
But too soon, the doors slid open in the lobby. An older couple was waiting to get in, and Gray thought he could use that to his advantage. His eyes glinted in victory, assuming I’d let go, embarrassed that we were fighting over a black lace thong.
Instead, I cleared my throat and took a step forward, still refusing to give up the panties. I looked at the woman. “Sorry. My brother is a cross-dresser, and sometimes I catch him stealing my panties.”
The woman’s eyes bulged while Gray released the underwear. I flashed him a wicked smile of victory over my shoulder as I exited the elevator.
“Cute. Very cute,” he called after me as the doors closed behind him. “That’s Mrs. Elsworth. She’s the president of the co-op. I’m sure my cross-dressing will be on the agenda at next month’s board meeting.”
I laughed through the lobby and all the way to the front door. But my laughter abruptly ended as I stepped onto the street.
Stopping short, I caused Gray to crash into me. He steadied both of us and kept me from nearly toppling over. Thinking I was still playing around, he squeezed me and lifted me off my feet, swinging me around until he came full circle and got a look at the two people standing in front of his building.
Max and Ella.
Chapter 28
* * *
Layla
Neither one of us knew what to say or do. Gray held on to my shoulder so tightly, I was certain I’d have a bruise later.
“What are you doing here?” he snipped to Max, who straightened her spine at his tone.
“I texted you twenty minutes ago. Ella’s sitter called in sick, so I decided to bring her to the office with me. Your place is on the way, so I thought…” Max looked back and forth between us. “If this isn’t a good time, we can come back.”
Gray didn’t respond. I turned to see him staring down at Ella. The beautiful little girl stared back up at him with his same stunning green eyes. Seeing his daughter in person for the very first time seemed to have sent him into some sort of shock. When he continued to just stare and say nothing, I tried to nonchalantly take hold of his bicep and squeeze in an effort to snap him out of it before he scared Ella and his worst fear came true—she started to cry.
“Gray…”
He blinked a few times and looked at Max. His face was a mix of lost and terrified. It reminded me of a little boy who wouldn’t get off his bed, for fear there was a monster under it, so he didn’t know how to get out of his room.
Max knelt down to Ella and began to speak, while also signing with her hands. “Sweetheart, this is Mommy’s friend, Gray. Say hello.”
Ella extended her fingers and crossed her thumb in front of her palm, then made a saluting gesture from her forehead while she said, “Hello.” The motion appeared as though it might be sign language and not really a salute.
Gray looked at me, at a complete loss of what to do, how to respond. I nodded my head back toward the little girl and pointed my eyes down to her. Thankfully, he followed my muted directions.
Kneeling down to her eye level, he cleared his throat. “Hi, Ella.”
She signed something without adding the words this time.
Max prompted her, “Ella, add the words, sweetheart.”
Ella did the same sign and then said, “Park.”
Max looked at Gray. “I told her we were going to meet my friend and then the three of us would go to the park.”
Gray nodded. And then the awkwardness that had started to wane came back—at least for me anyway. Max turned in my direction. Her hard stare silently communicated that a fourth wasn’t welcome on their family outing.
She flashed me a Botox smile. “You remember, Ms. Hutton, right, Ella? She’s Mommy’s attorney.”
I heard her loud and clear.
Luckily, Gray’s driver pulled to the curb at that moment. I couldn’t wait to flee.
“There’s my ride. I should get going to work.” I smiled down at the little girl. “Bye, Ella.” Squeezing Gray’s arm, I forced half a smile. “I’ll talk to you later.”