“He’s nice… and handsome enough. I just don’t feel a connection.”
“Well, maybe you really aren’t ready,” she says. “You won’t be able to fall for another man until you let Donovan go, Gretchen.”
I think about Weston. I definitely feel the spark with him. Every time he’s near, my whole body stands to attention. Every time he touches me, I melt and crave more. Every time I hear his voice, I want him to tell me everything there is to know about him. I’m curious when I’m around him. I’m eager and excited. “Maybe you’re right.”
I study the flowers again, and I’m left very unsettled, wondering how in the hell Samuel’s gotten a hold of my address.
I’ll definitely need to address this.
But it will have to wait. As soon as Patricia leaves, I’m whipping up macaroni and cheese and salad for dinner. Bath time and a bedtime story will follow. Then I’m slipping into my Chanel, just for a few minutes. Finally, I’ll indulge in a long hot bath and some Netflix.
Tonight’s agenda is too full for a confrontation.
* * *
It’s not summertime,but I’m feeling cheerful in my yellow tweed skirt and pink blouse. The yellow fitted cardigan I have on was a birthday gift from Mischa. Thankfully, the woman has amazing taste. It’s accented with beading, yellow ribbon, and pearl buttons. Yellow pointy toe slingbacks complete the outfit, and every now and then I glance down at my feet and admire the pretty bows on them.
No stockings of course. I never wear them. Who needs to be uncomfortable all day? My neck aches on the right side. It’s par for the course when you stare at a screen endlessly for hours. Well, the good thing is I’ve finished all the design concepts, and they are almost ready for presentation. I just need to put what’s on screen into a tangible presentation. I know it’s old-school, but that’s how I roll. There’s no way I’m having Boss Man standing over my shoulder and looking at my laptop screen. I’ve worked much too hard for that.
It’s three o’clock, two more hours until I get to see Ethan. I’ve been going home for lunch lately because I’ve been missing him. I take a break and head to the kitchen to fill my water bottle.
I’m surprised to see Boss Man helping himself to snacks from the refrigerator. I don’t know why I’m surprised. Hedoeslive here. I just don’t see him too often. The man is a workaholic, and is usually buried in projects. He has a lot going on, probably a lot more than I do. Rosetta tells me he owns dozens of condo buildings, not to mention his philanthropy work.
“Hey.”
He smiles. “Hello.” He does a double take. “You look fantastic, my own personal ray of sunshine.”
I laugh. “I try.”
“Was that in the job description?” he asks. “Brighten up the room?”
I shake my head.
“Would you like some snacks?”
I glance at the spread on the counter; brie cheese, green grapes, pecan nuts and crackers. It all does look tempting, and I’m suddenly hungry. “Uh… sure. If there’s enough.”
He smiles. “There’s plenty.”
I fill my water bottle.
“Does the dress fit?” he asks.
I turn to him. “It fits like a dream. I slipped it on last night, along with the heels and bracelet. I looked like a princess.”
He fills a large tray. “I bet you did.”
I stand and watch him clean up his work area diligently. I’ve noticed that he’s very methodical, and washes his hands about a hundred times a day. That’s when he’s not squirting hand disinfectant on them. “Are you a germaphobic?”
He smiles. “Busted. Yes.”
I nod. “My mother is too. As a result, I have very good hygiene habits too.”
He laughs. “I love that about you. I didn’t think you could get any sexier, but there it is.”
I blush. “You’re such a weirdo.”
He grabs the tray and heads out. “Follow me.”
