I directed the red-haired beauty to my office, but with every touch to her back, her step quickened. The khaki shorts she wore were loose and held in place with a brown belt. Admittedly, a hint of laughter rumbled through my chest but there was no way I’d let her hear it. When she stepped into my office, she stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes skidded over the room.
“Wow,” she said softly.
I remained silent not wanting anything to be held against me. I allowed her to take it in. But when she turned toward me, the olive colored shirt made her green eyes pop. “What are you thinking?” she asked.
“How much I’d like to know what you’re thinking. How’d you find me? What are you doing here? You said you didn’t want to see me until we left.”
“I never said I didn’t want to see you, goofy.” She rolled her eyes again as she stepped past me over to the window. “Google.”
“Google?”
“I Googled you. Mr. Petroleum Attorney who works for a huge oil company.” She glanced over her shoulder, grinning. “I came to see you because it was blatantly obvious you were not going to come see me.”
From the corner of my office, I stared at her in front of that window, not sure what to say. “I was under the distinct impression that you didn’t want to see me. It seemed you needed space and I felt I owed you that. I know this proposition is a little awkward, but I will say, you coming here has made my day.”
My heart pounded freakishly hard against my sternum.
“Well, Austin, with this proposition, you’ve pretty much made my entire life.”
Our locked eyes communicating things our mouths didn’t. It seemed both of us refrained from saying or admitting anything. Phoebe broke our stare and moved over and sat at my desk. The big, leather chair swallowed her.
“Here’s why I can’t fuck you.”
Shocked, I glanced out into the busy hallway and closed my door. “Maybe we could use code words, Phoebe,” I laughed. “You do not have to explain why we won’t have a sexual relationship.”
She sat forward, resting her elbows and forearms on the desk. “Please hear me out, ok?”
Conceding, I nodded and sat in the available chair in front of my desk.
“I think that you are a gentleman. I think that for you, doing things like opening a door, standing when I leave a table or touching my back when we walk—those are like normal sorts of things you do. To me, that’s flirting and foreplay.”
I grinned and crossed my legs while listening to her. She was so damn captivating.
“You…,you…. you have ice cream whenever you want.” Phoebe’s arms shot out to the side. “That’s not the way it is for us. That’s a luxury. And then you throw things at the kids and they ask about you in return thinking when you come over, you’ll bring something.”
“How did ice cream come into this?”
“Not just ice cream. All the stuff.”
“I like taking stuff to them, Phoebe.”
She clinched her eyes and shook her head silently, refuting my words.
“Is this my phone?” she asked, surprising me.
I nodded once. “It is.”
Her chest expanded slowly then deflated.
“I’ve thought about this over the past few days. I’m your employee. You don’t do that for other employees. You wouldn’t fuck employees. You wouldn’t give employees’ kids treats.”
I’d never met someone like Phoebe. Pride ruled her thoughts, and though there was nothing wrong with that, I wanted her to feel comfortable. Her cuteness level forced a smile, especially when she scrunched her nose.
“Are you listening?”
“Of course, I’m listening. I’ve heard every word you’ve said.”
“And?”
“For the record, employers do give employees phones. If you are asking that I not open the door for you or bring you or the kids things, that will be hard for me. But if that is what you want, I won’t.” Her green eyes penetrated mine. “You don’t believe me?” I asked.
“I have to trust you. And, I need to go, actually. The buses down here are shady after dark.” In a quick few seconds she stood and made her way to the door. I blocked her.
“I’ll take you home.”
Her green eyes narrowed to slits. I narrowed mine in return, mimicking her.
“As my employee, I’m telling you, I will drive you home.” My shit eating grin must have worked because she threw up her hands.
“Fine. But you can’t come in.”
“Let’s grab your gun before we leave, Rambo.” I nudged her in the side, and she pushed me back, forcing me to laugh out loud.
“You don’t know what it’s like, Prince Austin, to ride the bus alone at midnight.”
Her statement removed all humor from the conversation even though she still giggled. Following close behind her, my eyes glanced at her hips swaying swiftly side to side. Her shorts might be loose, but the perfect curves of her ass still caught my eye.
“My ass is not part of the deal, remember that,” she said loud enough for others to hear.
Several of my co-workers glanced my way, chuckling. I, of course, shook my head, pointing at her back like she was crazy, but at the same time couldn’t hide my smile. Once we hit the elevator, I glared at her.
“That was cute.”
She giggled.
Once we got to the car, I clicked the remote unlock, fighting the urge to go open her door. I surprised myself with how much I wanted to make her happy.
“Do you care if we stop at the phone store quickly and activate the phone?”
“I don’t care, but will you tell me why my phone is that big of deal?”
“It’s a big deal, Phoebe, because your siblings are a big deal. You need a phone that is reliable, and I’ll show you something that is really cool once it’s activated.”
There was that nose scrunch. “Is this so you can send me naked pics?”
I bellowed out in unintentional laughter, making her snicker as she stared at her phone. “It’s so overwhelming. This one is simple.”
“Trust me. You’re going to love it.”
And she did. By the time we strolled out of the store, she’d downloaded a couple of apps and had already started entering the phone numbers.
“Don’t forget to put in my number,” I joked.
“Already in.” She tapped away on the keyboard.
“Can I be found under…Austin—hottest guy I know?”
“Austin—serial creeper/sugar baby.” She cracked herself up and winked at me.
“Sugar baby?”
“Sugar daddy seems overused and lame. Besides, sugar daddy is someone who wants sexual favors for the nice gifts. You don’t.”
With brows arched high on my forehead, I glanced at her.
“Whatever!” Her laughter made me smile. “Trust me, I know my place in this.”
As I watched the yellow line on the road, I bit my tongue, swallowing my words before they made it out. It was best not to show my hand with regard to my feelings but damn, Phoebe Miller was softly and slowing killing me.
Chapter 4
PHOEBE
And We’re off
AUSTIN DROPPED ME off about four doors down so that the kids didn’t see him. I could tell he was trying to do what I asked. The hesitation when he started to walk toward my door before veering the other way when we got to the sidewalk leading to the apartment. I was starting to realize that he wasn’t serial killerish at all. As I stepped through the door, my heart did a quick dance number knowing his eyes were on me. He was sweet and kind and beautiful. It made zero sense how some lucky girl hadn’t snagged him already. I couldn’t imagine the number of girls waiting for their opportunity. My joke about sexual favors had him raising his eyebrows, but it was more of an attempt to make me feel better. As attracted as I was to him, I knew how imperative it was to maintain my composure and fulfill my obligations. It was obviously important to him that I attend this wedding—it was also obvio
us he wanted to make this girl jealous on some level. Why not just go alone? Regardless, I’d live up to my end of the bargain. I would be by his side and fight and resist whatever this was that I was beginning to feel. My body hummed simply from being near him. This job, spending all of this time with him, was going to be harder than any job before. But I’d do it.
My phone rang. Austin/Sugar Baby flashed on the screen. I grinned to myself. That wouldn’t do. From now on, he would just be Sugar Baby in my contacts. Face-time call? I answered.
“You missed me already?”
“Well, yes, but I’m looking at your ear. Look at your screen.”
I jerked the phone away from my ear and glanced at…HIM! My mouth fell open.
“Hi,” he said. That damn killer smile assassinated my heart.
“Hi. Glad I was dressed. Is this why you wanted me to get a smart phone? So, you could creepily watch me from afar?”
“Yep,” he said with the white teeth and grin still doing work.
“You’re a sicko,” I teased.
“Yes I am. A sicko that wants you to be able to see the kids while we’re gone.”
Hearing him say ‘we’ made my heart soften. “What do you mean?”
“Hold on,” he said, and the screen read paused.
The mirror next to the front door reflected a tired girl whose hair was a wavy, frizzy mess. A different phone started ringing. My phone still showed paused. The sound was coming from my purse. Another phone lit the inside of the bag from the phone store.
“Hello?” I questioned, confused as hell.
“I’m looking at your ear again.”
I reared back and saw Austin on the screen. “What the hell?” I glanced at the other phone that was still paused. “What’s going on? I’m so confused.” The spare phone went black. The other phone un-paused and Austin’s face appeared.
“The other phone is for the kids to call you if they need to. You’ll have a phone. They’ll have a phone. They’ll see your face. You’ll see theirs.”
The tenderest smile crossed his beautiful face, forcing his eyes to squint. Panicked with feeling myself tumble out of control, head over feet, I disconnected the call, somehow rationalizing that ending the call would halt what was happening. By hitting the end button—it would end us. Stupid. Cruel. Survival mode at its finest. Me at my weakest.
My heart was never going to survive Austin Falsone.
_______________
Outside of a few texts, our contact was brief over the next few days and tomorrow was the day. Departure day. The day that I couldn’t run from him any longer. Hiding wasn’t an option anymore. I would be stuck in a prison cell with him. His smile. His smell. His laughter. I shook him out of my head.
Hannah and I had gone over things a dozen times. Appointments. Get up time, go to bed time, nap times, snack options, meal prep, etc. Confidence oozed from her. Me, not so much. But I trusted they were in good hands. They liked her more than me, I laughed in my head.
The ding on my phone shot my heartrate skyrocketing. Pulling the curtains back, I saw the Tesla pull up. The trunk popped open, and I nodded at Hannah.
“Sure, you don’t want to wake them?” she asked.
Wringing my hands, I nodded. “Yes. Let them sleep. I’ll facetime them later.”
After a solid smile, a tight hug and a final goodbye, I wheeled the two suitcases out. The hot, muggy air sucked the breath from my lungs, but when dazzling Austin stepped out to greet me, I couldn’t breathe at all.
“Jesus,” I whispered as I smiled, seeing again the most beautiful face I’d ever seen.
“Hello, employee.”
“Oh, Lord. Here we go.” I nudged him, already feeling jittery inside with just his words. Truth was, I liked hearing him speak. No one in my world had ever spoken to me like him. Austin’s words challenged me. His wit dared me to step up my game.
“I don’t have hotel reservations. We are just gonna head northwest.”
“I brought some really fun games for the car,” I teased.
Austin’s eyes shot up to mine to measure if I was serious.
“I’m calling the Texas license plate,” I added.
Rolling his eyes, he slid into the refreshing car. The scent I’d missed filled the car, engulfing me and turning the jittery into the dizzy. After buckling, he turned in his seat, paralyzing me with the full force of his russet eyes.
“You ready for this?” he asked, his words soaked with anticipation.
A swallow tried to go down my throat but failed as I weakly nodded, feeling like those four words yielded so many meanings.
AUSTIN
For five days, I’d hoped that having no contact with Phoebe would lessen what I felt when I was around her. That distance would somehow lessen how much I wanted to see her or talk to her. It didn’t. Three seconds is about what it took for me. Watching her carry her old suitcases out, wanting to help her and knowing that she wanted to be independent and self-reliant was undeniably the hardest thing, but I counted to ten and popped the trunk.
“You ready for this?” I asked once she got in.
When all of this first started, she admittedly reminded me a bit of Emma, but Phoebe was different from Emma in so many ways. As I sat staring into her green eyes, she exhibited a strength I’d never known. Strength that had been tested time and time again. Yet, there she sat with her green eyes gazing into mine as she was about to trek cross country for me and for those kids she loved.
She nodded and glanced away. The money was complete motivation for her to fulfill this obligatory trip. The thing was, I’d never been an obligation to anyone. There was something about being considered an obligation that I didn’t like.
“Have your phone?”
Holding it up, her polished nails looked perfect.
“Your nails look nice.”
“They are fake as can be,” she softly laughed. “I’ve never done them before. Hannah has spent a lot of time with us, obviously, and it was her treat to me. Got my toes done too.”
Her sweet, Texas accent rocked my world way more than it should have.
“Yeah, I got mine painted too.”
I knew when I saw the eye roll that the punch was coming. There was something about her punching my arm. I’m not sure if she meant it flirtatiously or not, but it felt like it was meant to be. “You’re so weird.”
The ridiculous Dallas traffic kept the quiet car from being too awkward, and her sudden outbursts of “Kansas!” or “Oklahoma!” or “New Mexico” had me watching the damn license plates more than brake lights. By the time we cruised through the Texas panhandle and into the Oklahoma panhandle, combined we had 39 states. When we passed the welcome to Oklahoma sign, she squealed.
“I’ve never been out of Texas!”
Following her squeal, the brakes of the Tesla almost did the same when I brought the car to a stop on the shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Picture time. Bring your fancy phone.”
Unbuckling with an eager, full-blown smile, she got out on her side of the highway and we headed back up the highway to the sign.
“Give me your phone.”
She handed it to me, and I walked further down the highway to get her and the sign. With the cutest little pose of her hand on her hip, she cheesed for me. I wished I’d taken it with my phone. When I got back to the sign, she grabbed my arm. “Let’s get us both,” she suggested. “I’ve had some practice taking selfies over the past week.”
I smiled for the picture but wondered who the hell she was sending the selfies to. Sometimes it was impossible to look her in the eyes—for fear that she’d see right through me.
Her bottom lip protruded out into a full pout.
“What’s wrong?”
“The picture I took says welcome to Okla.”
“Well, Ms. I’m-getting-good-at-selfies. Long arms work better.” I held the phone up high, making sure the entire sign, she and I were in the picture. As I pus
hed the button, the phone vibrated. iMessage from Nick. Against my desire to open the message, I handed her the phone. So, Nick the motorcycle dick was getting the selfies. The unhealthy tension filling my body annoyed me. Back in the car, she typed a return message to him. Jealousy was not something I was good at. Honestly, I’d pretty much gotten everything I’d ever wanted in my life. There was suddenly something I wanted, and I wasn’t sure if I could ever have it. Didn’t that just up the ante. I could only guess how Nick viewed me, and I wanted to know, just about more than anything else what she had told him. There was one thing I knew for certain, neither of them knew the side of my life that I’d kept hidden from everyone. If Nick pushed it, he’d meet that side. The pleasure would be all mine.
Oklahoma came and went and passing the Colorado border was less eventful. Phoebe slept in the passenger seat. I thought about waking her but wasn’t sure how much she had slept last night. This nap may have been the first stress-free sleep she’d had in a long while. So, I let her sleep. I adjusted the volume on the radio, turning it down just slightly and fought to keep my eyes on the road. Fifteen very light freckles are what I’d counted numerous times in the perfect dot-to-dot pattern across her nose. She wore little to no make-up, yet her soft skin seemed flawless. It wasn’t until her lips moved…”Everything ok?” she asked sleepily.
My eyes focused on the road. Distracted driving would be the understatement of the year. How did I answer that? Yep, everything is fine. Just counting the brown dots on your cute little nose and fantasizing about your lips. That should go over well.
“Yeah. I was thinkin’ about waking you.”
“Does the car need another charge?”
“No, I think we’ll make it to Colorado Springs. But I need a charge.”
She shot upright. “Colorado?”
“You were sleeping. We can get a pic on the way back through.”
Her entire body stiffened, stretching from head to toe. “Fine. And by charge you mean tinkle?”
“Yep. Tinkle is exactly it.”
Her hand jetted up toward the windshield. “What is that?”
Finally...My Forever (Just One of the Guys Book 4) Page 5
