Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
My daughter had no issues calling me Daddy. She just happened to use it as an accusation or protest most of the time these days.
The server returned with a bottle for us—and waited for my approval of it—and then, while she poured me a glass and refilled Peyton’s, I tried to come up with more things I wanted in writing. If I could somehow involve touching—innocently, naturally—I’d have something to look forward to. Something to apply to my fantasies. Something that wouldn’t result in a sexual harassment case.
I cringed internally. What was wrong with me? Was I that depraved?
Yes. Yes, I was.
But that wasn’t an excuse for what I was doing. I had to quit. I had to be professional.
Peyton pulled out my work phone from his pocket and swiped the screen. “Mathis forwarded the flight information for tomorrow.” He glanced up at me. “I’ve completely forgotten that I need to pack. Do you mind if I head home after work?”
“Of course not. Take a few hours, have dinner with your family or something.”
He shook his head. “Mathis is going to help me get some PreCheck stuff sorted for the airport, so I’ll just call them. Mom already knows I’m taking the job. She’s excited for me.”
“You don’t live together,” I stated rather than asked. I’d gotten the impression he wasn’t originally from Seattle but lived here now.
“No, they’re back in my hometown. It’s a couple hours north of here.”
“I understand.”
“I’m not giving up my studio, though,” he went on. “It took me forever to get a lease of my own, and it’s not crazy expensive.”
Well, that was his choice, of course. He could afford it, now more than ever.
“By the way, could you help me pick out some work clothes?” he asked. I furrowed my brow, caught off guard, at which he continued in a bit of a rush. “I only have this suit and one other. At Hilton, I didn’t need more. I was supposed to look the same every day anyway, you know? But there’re some stores nearby—where your next meeting is, I mean—and I thought… Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked.”
The fire within reignited instantly, and it blazed through me. He damn well knew it wasn’t a normal request. It wasn’t something you asked of your boss. Unless he had a second agenda that he was hiding very poorly, much like me. Was that even possible? Could it be?
“I have a better idea.” I wiped my mouth on my napkin and did my best to rein in the hope. “When we get to LA tomorrow, I’ll take you to the best tailor on the West Coast.”
“Really?” It was precious how he perked up.
I nodded and reached for my wine, picturing it. Him on that small podium, me seated in a nearby chair, watching. Fuck, how I would watch him.
“Thank you.” He smiled, the relief evident. His eyes were incredibly expressive, not to mention intoxicatingly sexy. “I mean, you obviously have great taste in business fashion, so I figured I’d be in good hands.”
My hands were absolutely good.
I almost told him he’d be safe with me, but what a lie that would’ve been. He was anything but safe with me.
Four
I woke up the next morning to Julia’s fingers wandering across my face.
Bracing myself for whatever mood she could be in, I turned my face into her touch and kissed her palm.
“Morning, baby.”
“Hi.” She poked my nose.
So far, so good. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t upset either.
I soaked in the sight of her. Her big blue eyes, the messy waves giving her an impressive bed head, her chubby cheeks, her dimples… The dimples came from her mother.
“You are so beautiful. You know that?” I stroked her cheek gently.
I secretly loved traveling with her because it brought me closer to her. She slept in my bed, and there was no room she could close herself into.
She scrunched her little button nose, but her eyes brimmed with mirth. “Nuh-uh.”
“It’s true,” I said, stretching out on my back. I placed a hand under my head and yawned. “Before you were born, we decided that you were going to be the most beautiful girl in the world, and we were right.”
She huffed and crawled up on my chest, planting her butt on my stomach. “Wheu’s the boy? My new fwriend?”
“Peyton?” I smiled at her declaration. “He will be here soon. He’s coming with us on the plane today.”
“Okay. I gots to pee now.”
“All right. I better help you, then.” I chuckled and followed her into the ensuite bath. “Do you want to take a bath now or after we fly?”
“Not now,” she protested.
“Okay, we’ll do it later.” I quickly changed the topic in an attempt to thwart her worsening mood. “What do you want for breakfast?”
Wrong question. She let out a grunt and pushed at me, then started crying.