Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
It was a photo of her sandwiched between Alistair and Sean at the pub. Somehow I knew she’d sent it to ruffle my feathers. It did more than that, though. A feeling of intense jealousy rose to the surface—an unpleasant realization that my feelings for this woman had officially crossed a line, even if I could never cross it.
Sig: Any reason you’re sending me this photo?
Abby: We’re at The Bend. There’s still time to join us. We’ll be here a little longer.
Christ. My concentration went to hell after that. If that had been her intention, mission accomplished. I relented, shutting off my computer and grabbing my jacket.
After walking the few blocks down to the pub, from the pavement I could see the office crew occupying a large table inside. I entered, and when they spotted me walking toward them, everyone’s conversations seemed to cease at once, aside from a few whispers. I stood at the end of their table. “What’s wrong with all of you? You act like you’ve never seen me outside of work before.”
“We haven’t,” Kimberly from HR said.
“Who invited you?” someone asked.
“I did,” Abby announced.
All of the heads at the table turned toward her.
“Something wrong with me being here?” I asked.
Emma from accounting cleared her throat. “It’s just that you’ve never accepted an offer to come out with us before. We weren’t expecting you.”
“I’m aware of that.” I pulled out a chair. “I figured I’d come out for once—see what all the fuss is about.”
“Well, boss, nice to have you,” Sean said.
I glared at him. But what I really wanted to do was deck him.
A waitress came by. “Fancy a bevvy?”
Knowing I was driving Abby back tonight, I’d opened my mouth to decline when Abby placed her hand on my forearm.
“Relax,” she whispered. “I’ll be your designated driver.”
“There is nothing relaxing about the idea of you driving.” Though I supposed one beer wouldn’t hurt, in any case. “I’ll have a pint, thanks,” I said.
The waitress turned to Abby. “Are you sure you don’t want anything to drink, miss?”
“I’m positive,” she replied. “I still have my sparkling water with lime. Thank you.”
“Do you not drink, in general, Abby?” Sean asked.
None of your bloody business.
“It just hasn’t been agreeing with me lately.” Abby glanced over at me, her cheeks reddening.
The table remained quiet.
Looking around, I crossed my arms and chided, “Nothing to talk about now that I’m here, eh?”
“Well, yeah, we talk about you half the time,” a very drunk Melanie giggled.
Emma elbowed her.
As the minutes passed, everyone eventually went back to their normal mode of conversation. And after a while, I managed to forget my troubles for a bit, even talking shop with some of my employees, many of whom I was sure had hated my guts before tonight. My job wasn’t to be their friend, but rather their boss, but I supposed it wouldn’t have killed me to socialize with them from time to time, actually get to know them.
About an hour later, when everyone began readying to disperse, I realized I needed to make sure no one saw Abby and me leave together.
I texted her just before I left the pub.
Sig: I’m going to walk out ahead of you. I’ll get my car and park around the corner on Devonshire.
Abby approached my car about five minutes later. Once she spotted me, she picked up her pace. Upon entering the car, she yawned. “Are you okay to take the wheel? My offer still stands.”
“I am,” I said as I pulled away. “I only had one pint. And any buzz I had has worn off.”
“You didn’t trust me to drive when I offered, did you?”
“Well, you’re not the greatest driver when you’re fully awake and alert.” I looked over at her. “You seem tired.”
It didn’t make sense to go all the way back to the countryside at this hour. As uncomfortable as I felt, I knew what I should offer. “It’s too late to go back to Westfordshire,” I told her. “We should just stay here in London. My flat has a guest room.”
CHAPTER 19
* * *
Sig
Track 19: “I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen
“I don’t have any spare clothes,” Abby said as I parked.
“I’ll give you a shirt to sleep in. You work from home tomorrow anyway. I’ll just drive you back in the morning.”
She sent a text to Lavinia as she followed me upstairs to my flat. I reminded myself again that a little discomfort with having her stay the night was better than driving all the way to Westfordshire right now.
She wriggled her brows. “I might just be the first woman who doesn’t get kicked out before morning!”
“Very funny.”
She yawned. “That was a good idea leaving the pub separately, too.”
“I didn’t want them to get any ideas.”
“Any ideas they got would never top the truth.” Abby chuckled. “If they only knew what the hell was really going on with me.”