Page 21 of Untroubled Heart

It’s confusing the way I seem to want her, while knowing I can’t do a damn thing about it now that she’s my employee. I don’t know how to act around her, and I’m not used to feeling nervous around women.

“Hmmm. My house theory is feeling more and more plausible.” She navigates through the tables, heading straight for the kettle, where Callie is still talking to Josh. He’s looking at her like he’s the luckiest guy in the room to have her attention. Something in my stomach feels tight and heavy. Fuck.

“What house theory?” I ask only half listening as I trail behind her.

“Oh yeah, this dream house you’re looking for sounds more like—” Beth’s voice drifts off as it’s smothered by the conversation happening beside me.

“I’d love to take you out some time,” Josh says.

I think my heart stops as I wait for Callie’s answer. And why is it so fucking hot in here?

“Oh.” Callie sounds caught off guard, and not in an excited way. For some strange reason, it settles the discomfort swirling in my stomach. “That’s so nice. But I’m sorry, I’m not dating at the moment. My daughter is all I have time for right now.”

“No worries.” He chuckles. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

I can and I will.

I let out a breath, feeling lightheaded as I do. Her refusal shouldn’t relieve me as much as it does. Have I developed some strange possession over her because I saw her first?

It shouldn’t matter because she’s my assistant, and that’s all she’ll ever be. I’m already feeling wary of the intensity her presence seems to have on me. The first and last time I let myself have feelings for a girl, she soon made it clear she was only with me because of my family’s social status. So I turned off my feelings, and that only seemed to invite girls to be even more obvious that they weren’t with me for me. And that’s fine, but I refuse to let those thoughts poison my business. I will only work with people who respect our reputation, not try to exploit it.

“Are you even listening to me?” Beth drawls beside me.

Callie’s eyes flick over her shoulder, locking me in her blue gaze. I jump into action, smiling awkwardly at Callie and Josh as I step around them to get my lunch from the fridge.

“Of course I am.”

“Then what did I say?” Beth asks.

I scrunch my nose, trying to think of a good cover cos I definitely wasn’t listening. My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and I grab it, seeing a preview of a photo sent in our sibling group chat from Gage.

“Oh, look, I bet that’s a photo of Briony.”

Beth scrambles to find her phone in her bag. I’ll have to remember to thank my brother for the perfectly timed distraction later.

I pop the large container in the microwave, then find two bowls from the cupboards before I check the photo for myself.

GAGE:

Slept a solid five hours last night. Perfect, just like her mum.

There’s a picture of Briony attached, her tiny legs tucked tight to her belly as she stretches her little hands over her head. She’s wearing a yellow onesie that says ‘Daddy’s Bestie’, and there’s a stuffed toy beside her.

“Aww, she’s got the puppy stuffie I got her,” I say, smiling.

“When did you get her that?” Beth asks.

“I ordered it online. It’s a replica of Tiny. It was delivered yesterday.” Despite his name, Tiny is actually my brother’s seventy-kilo Great Dane.

Beth gasps. “You saw the baby yesterday? Gage said no visits during the week!”

“It’s all about timing, sis. You gotta go right after Gage leaves for the bar. I know Izzy won’t be napping, and she won’t slam the door in your face and tell you to fuck off like he would.”

“That’s diabolical.” Beth smirks approvingly. “I love it.”

“He’s working again on Friday. You should buy something so you have an excuse to go over there.”

I save the photo to my camera roll before typing out a response.