by Ruby Rowe
“All right. Just send me the details, and I’ll talk to Camilla about it, but I’m certain she’ll be on board.” I hang up with my mother, and my anxiety increases tenfold. Between Christopher’s case and now a social function, I’m in need of either sex or sweets.
Since Camilla’s occupied with school work, sweets will have to do. I’ve been smelling cookies Irene made since this morning, so I think I’ll go downstairs to grab a couple.
As I reach the bottom step, the doorbell rings. Since Christopher’s behind bars, I ended the extra security here, but I liked that no one could stroll up to my door without my prior knowledge.
I walk through the hall to answer it, and a man I don’t know is standing before me. I tense on the spot. If only Camilla could remember to shut the damn gate.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m here to pick up Camilla.”
“Excuse me? Like hell you are.”
“Ellis!” Camilla scolds before she shoves me aside. “Lee, I’m so sorry. If you could wait here a minute, I’ll be right back.”
Turning around to face me, she gets a firm hold on my elbow and pulls me away, but I reach back quick enough to grab the door and slam it in the strange man’s face. A man who thinks he’s going somewhere with my fiancé and mother of my children. He’s out of his damn mind.
“Ellis, I can’t believe you.” After she drags me a few feet into the grand hall, she spins around and glowers. “That’s Lee. He works with me at the food pantry, and I told you he was picking me up.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Oh, yes I did, and I also told you he was taking me to a food pantry on the north side of Denver where we need to pick up some supplies that we’re out of at ours.”
“I don’t like the idea of you leaving with a man I don’t know, and when did you supposedly tell me this?”
Huffing, she grasps her hips. “I told you last night in your office, but you probably don’t remember because you barely lifted your eyes up from your laptop to acknowledge me.
“I think an ‘uh, huh’ was all I got out of you. Maybe if you weren’t working until all hours of the night, seven days a week, you’d have a clue what was happening around here.”
She points her finger in my face, and I didn’t even see this anger from Camilla when I demanded she come live with me. She was scared of me then, but it’s obvious she isn’t now.
“I have to do this internship to earn my master’s degree, Ellis, so I’m going to run this simple errand with Lee, a task we were assigned, and you’re not going to say a negative word about it. Now, please don’t be rude to him again.”
Grabbing her shoulders, I yank her to me and hug her. I can’t let her see the guilt I’m feeling.
“Stop shouting at me. I’m sorry.”
“You were worried I’d become consumed with social work like your mother, but you’ve not decreased your workload one bit since Liam and I moved into this house. We’re expecting another baby, Ellis, one I thought you wanted, so I don’t understand.”
She chokes back a sob against my chest, and damn, where did all this emotion and anger come from?
“Camilla, of course I want our baby. I’m sorry. I didn’t know how strongly you felt about me working this much.” I rub her soft auburn hair and squeeze her close.
I don’t want to let her go. I can’t watch her get into a vehicle and ride off with a man she has something in common with. I recall my phone call with Greyson this morning.
Shit, I told him to be the bigger man and trust what he and Sasha had. I pull back and hold her shoulders. Swiping away tears from her hazel eyes, she coughs.
“Again, I’m sorry. Run your errand, and I’ll be waiting for you when you get back. I won’t work anymore today, and we’ll spend time together as a family.”
Camilla smiles up at me, and I exhale a heavy breath.
“I’d love that, and Liam would, too. I’m sorry I yelled at you. I guess this anger’s been festering, and then the pregnancy hormones are making me emotional, too.”
“No, I take full responsibility. Come on. I’ll be nice to Lee.” We stroll back through the hall, and Camilla grabs her purse from a table nearby.
Wiping her eyes one more time, she opens the door and smiles. This Lee guy, who looks like a damn hipster, gives an apprehensive smile.
“I apologize for earlier,” I say as I stick my hand out. “I wasn’t expecting a strange man to appear on my doorstep asking to see my fiancé and mother of my son and unborn child. I’m protective, but it’s nice to meet you, Lee. I’m Ellis Burke.”
Swallowing, he sticks his hand out and shakes mine like a fucking pansy.
“Uh, nice to meet you, too. We shouldn’t be long at all.” Turning around, Camilla mouths the words thank you to me.
“I’ll be back soon. Love you.”
“I love you, too, and call me if you need anything … like a ride.”
Smiling, she rolls her eyes, and as I watch them walk away, my stomach knots, and I struggle to breathe. My behavior has been inexcusable since Camilla met me, and the realization slams me in the chest. It’s as if a boulder has been thrown directly at it.
I’ve kept her and Liam tucked away on this property for months now. Sure, Camilla has her internship to go to, but other than a few outings with her sister, she’s done little outside of this home, and Liam only goes outside to play.
I have to change. Like my mother hinted only minutes ago, I need to manage my social anxiety and the fears of losing my new family before that very thing happens. I never want to see her angry at me like that again. Not ever.
I trudge to the kitchen with my head lowered in shame. Once inside, I see the tray of cookies and two glasses of milk below me, so I lift my gaze. Irene gives me a sympathetic smile as she holds the tray at my waist.
“Here, Mr. Burke. I figured you’d like these for you and Liam.” She gives a knowing look as I take it from her.
“Right. I’ll be in his room if you need me, and … thank you, Irene.” Her sympathetic smile turns up into a pleased one.
Leaving the kitchen, I do another walk of shame up the floating staircase and knock on the door of the spare bedroom Emma often hangs out in while Liam’s napping.
“Mr. Burke, is everything OK?” she asks.
“Yes, I’m going to spend the rest of the day with Liam, so you’re free to go, and I’ll still pay you of course.” Her eyes light up like any college girl’s would if they were getting paid while off the clock.
“Wow, thank you, Mr. Burke.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll see you tomorrow.” I stroll over to Liam’s door and balance the tray in my hand so I can open it. My kiddo wakes up, and as soon as he sees me, he grins, making my whole day better.
“Boss-Daddy.”
“Hi, buddy. Irene made us cookies and milk. Do you care if I sit in here and eat with you?”
He wrinkles his little brow. “Don’t you have to work?”
“I’m finished working today. Daddy’s going to do less of that, OK?”
“I like when you don’t work.”
“Yeah, I guess you do. I like when I can spend time with you, and when Mommy gets home, how would you like to go to the zoo and out to dinner?”
Eyes as wide as the moon stare back at me, and damn, I’ve been a blind jackass.
“I want to go to the zoo and see all the animals. The tiger is scary, but the monkeys awe–are funny.” He giggles, and I realize the fear I’ve held of letting down someone so special is what caused me to do just that, but there’s still time to make it right. “And can I get an ice cweam cone from McDonalds?”
“McDonalds? Seriously, kid?”
“Yeah, I like them.”
“OK, an ice cream cone from McDonalds it is, but only after we have a nice dinner first.”
“Aaand go to the zoo.”
“Right.”
He beams up at me with blue eyes like my own and brown hair that’s the same color, too.
I’m a lucky man, and I won’t take that for granted again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sasha
“I’m glad to be home. I’m so tired,” I say to Greyson before I drop my purse on the end of the sofa. Using the arm of it to balance myself, I unhook the straps on my heels and kick them off.
The sectional is calling for me, and as I plop down on it, my skirt rides up, but I don’t pull it down. I hope Greyson has a clear shot of my panties as he stands before me. He sure has more self-control than I do. It’s painful how bad I want him to touch me.
“I’m tired, too, but since I missed my workout this morning, I think I’m going into the gym first. Maybe it will help me sleep better tonight.”
“I don’t know how you can muster the energy for that. My butt’s staying right here while I watch TV, but after you’re finished working out, I’ll cook dinner. Theresa was here today, right?”
“Yep.”
“Cool. That means the refrigerator and pantry are stocked.” Greyson leaves me alone, so I pick up the remote to turn on the television.
I’m flipping through the channels for what seems like forever when my phone dings with a text message. I fish it out of my purse and see that it’s Greyson.
Greyson: Can you bring me a bottled water? I forgot to grab one.
Me: Sure.
Weird. He’d normally just walk to the kitchen to get one. Sighing, I force myself up and grab him a water from the fridge.
I walk down the hallway, and after entering the gym, I groan. His bare back is to me, and it’s already sweaty as he pulls himself up on the chin-up bar. Where’s his damn shirt? His biceps bulge, and his shoulder blades cinch together in time with the rest of his fit body.
This. Is. Torture.
I stroll around to stand in front of him, and I’m eye level with the sexy trail of hair that disappears beneath his athletic shorts that are hanging low on his hips.
I pull my eyes away to look up at him as he clings to the bar.
“Where do you want me to set it?”
Dropping to his feet, he steals it out of my hand and opens the lid. As he takes a long drink, he keeps his eyes locked on mine, but unable to resist, I break our gaze and take in the sight of the sweat that’s beading on his skin. It’s alluring, drawing me in to touch every slick part of him.
“Thanks for the water,” he says breathlessly before he sets the bottle on the floor next to him.
“You’re welcome.” Giving me a peck on the cheek, he grabs the bar above him and begins his chin-ups again. The ripples of his abs taunt me, along with his harsh, punctuated breathing. He’s playing my game, and dammit, he’s good at it.
I stomp out of the gym and head straight for the bedroom where I strip down. I find the new short, silk robe I bought and put it on, leaving nothing beneath it. It’s white and almost too pretty to wear, but I’m on a mission this week.
Going to the kitchen, I open the fridge and see that Theresa made us a Mexican casserole. Yum. I preheat the oven and march back to the gym where Greyson’s lying on his back, lifting weights above his head. I walk over and stand beside him.
“Theresa was sweet and made a casserole, so I’m going to put it in the oven.”
“OK.” Lowering the weights back on the bar above him, he turns his head toward me, and my bare thighs are in his face, a silky, sexy fabric hanging just above them. He exhales a long breath and grazes his hand up my thigh.
“Keep going. You’ll only find one thing under there. It’s hot, wet and calling your name.” His hand freezes, and his eyes tilt up to meet mine.
Leaning over, I grip his weight bench, and now he can see down my barely closed robe. “Tempting, huh? You are, too, so why are you torturing the both of us?”
He grimaces. “Because it’s what we agreed on.”
“Like the way we agreed to let me handle my appointment with the therapist?”
He huffs out a breath. “That’s not the same thing.” While still leaning over, I slowly lower my lips to meet his. After one soft kiss, I stand back up and smile. “It’s only a matter of time, and you know it.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Before we shared our first kiss at your cabin, you said you were turning my I think into a yes. Well, I’m going to turn your maybe into a yes, Greyson Burke. There’s no maybe not about it.”
He smirks. “You’re cute. A real pain in my ass these days, but most definitely cute.”
“I don’t want to be cute. I want to be irresistible.”
Sitting up, he grabs me and pulls me into his lap. I circle my arms around his neck and stare at him with a pouty face.
“You are irresistible, Sasha, and that’s exactly why I can’t be too close to you or handle you sauntering around here in sexy lingerie.”
“So, you like what I bought?”
“Hell, yes, I do.” He buries he sweaty face against my chest. “A little more time, Ladybug. Go to the appointment first, OK?”
I kiss his head and revel in how good his warm body feels.
“If you insist.”
Sasha
“Let me show you the next billboard I’m working on. It’s for the law side of G. Burke Enterprise,” Andrew says before he pulls up a graphic on his PC.
I’m in a chair beside him in his office, looking at the screen. I cover my mouth to hide a yawn, but there’s no missing it.
I’m exhausted, but unfortunately, I’m not too tired to think about sex. I feel this throbbing between my legs I can’t shake, and the intensity is becoming unbearable.
The sexual desire I have for Greyson has reached a point where I don’t believe I’ll feel relief until he brings me to an orgasm.
“I thought this photo of Mr. Burke was the best one to use,” Andrew adds, snapping me back to the present.
I study the ad before me…. There’s an image of Greyson in a black suit with his arms crossed. He’s wearing a smile on his handsome face, and there’s a generic slogan to his right about them getting the job done.
His business name and phone number are included, but all I can think about as I stare at the ad are those off-putting attorney commercials on television, which I’ve seen a thousand times, where the practice wants to show every one of their attorneys in their sophisticated attire.
They’re always giving cheesy smiles, and I never hear what they have to say. I only imagine what they’re thinking or projecting, which is something like Look at me. I’m an attractive, dignified, highly educated person in a suit, and I want to make sure you know it. The billboards are all the same.
“You don’t like it,” Andrew says. “What’s it missing?”
Sitting back in my leather chair, I cross my arms and bite my lip. I glance over at him to gauge his mood, and he smiles. “It’s OK. I can take it.” He’s handsome, but not as handsome as my hot boyfriend.
Unlike Greyson’s blond hair, Andrew’s is dark brown and curls up a touch around his ears. I could see him with Kaylie, our receptionist. I wonder if they’ve ever hooked up.
“Sasha?”
“Oh, sorry.” I’m stalling. I really am since I don’t know how receptive he’ll be to my opinion. “I’m going to be honest here, but you’re the boss, and the one with experience, so you need to go with what feels right to you.”
“Fair enough.”
“Can you recall a law office ad that didn’t have an attorney’s photo on it?”
“Hmm…” He leans back in his chair, too, and studies the screen. “I know I’ve seen them, but I guess most do include a photo of an attorney. Are you saying you don’t think I should use the image?”
“I don’t think you should, but hear me out. There’s no doubt in my mind that most women would find Mr. Burke attractive if they saw him on a billboard while driving down the highway.
“If I didn’t know him, I’d be thinking hot guy, but then, my mind would trail off to my love life, or lack thereof, or I’d fantasize about someday meeting a man like him.
&n
bsp; “I’d think about how educated he is and wonder if he’s wealthy. I might also question what I’m doing with my own life. Yada, yada, yada.
“I would not be thinking about if he’s the best attorney to represent my case, and honestly, I see so many billboards like this that I might not even notice it as I drive by.”
“I see your point. So, what do you think will grab people’s attention?”
“Can I have a couple of hours to think on it? I have ideas for the wording, but I want to get it down on paper.”
He smiles at me. “No problem. I appreciate your help.”
“Awesome. I’ll go back to my office and get to work on it.”
After I pester Greyson to rid me of this terrible ache between my thighs.
I walk down to his office at the end of the hallway, wondering if he’ll mind that I’m wanting to be alone with him. We weren’t dating when I worked here before, and we haven’t discussed boundaries this time around, so I don’t know what to expect.
His door is closed, so I knock on it.
“Come in,” he says loudly.
I stick my head inside first and smile.
“Does that include me?”
As if he’s thrilled to see me, he grins.
“First and foremost.”
I slip in and close the door. Still facing it, I lock it.
“I heard that click, chick. What are you doing?” Before I lose my wits, I stride right to him and force myself onto his lap to straddle it. My skirt rides up, and he groans as he grabs my hips.
“Sasha, we just discussed this last night.”
“I know, but this ache…” I push his hand between my legs, and he can’t help but cup the most private part of me. “I can’t take it, Greyson. Why can’t we at least mess around like we were in the beginning?”
Pulling his hand away, he grips his armrests, and I fight not to lose my balance on his lap.
“Because every time, it was getting harder and harder not to bury my cock inside you. And like I told you before, you’d tense up and clench your eyes shut when we were close to that point.”
