AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you don’t want to work for the family business, then don’t,” Jolene says between bites of cheesy corn fritter.
“It’s not that simple. He financed my MBA—”
“Because he refused to let you attend culinary school in Paris,” Tanner cuts in. He drains the last of his beer and sets the glass down on the table. “Listen, Hadley, do what you want with your life. Don’t let Curtis, or anyone, stop you from doing whatever makes you happy.”
“Thank you. I’m working on figuring that out.”
One of the best things about this trip is the time I have to think about my future. Some people might think that’s boring or a waste of time, but for me, it’s helped put my life into perspective. Working for Curtis and the family business will provide me with a good life, and though I don’t want to be a nanny forever, I enjoy the unpredictability of taking care of Colton and Piper.
“Enjoy the food. We’ve got to mingle,” Tanner says as helps Jolene to her feet.
The restaurant is crowded, but still comfortable. It’s nothing like those restaurants that double as clubs like in Vegas. Tanner and Jolene care about the food and the atmosphere. They want you to feel like family when you walk in, and I’m pretty sure they accomplished their goal.
Despite the crowd, the delicious food, and the cold beer on tap, Theo isn’t far from my thoughts. I find myself thinking about the way he looked at me before I left tonight, about the tense moment we shared.
Am I crazy for thinking he might be interested in me?
Jolene returns, sliding into the booth next to me. “Thank God you haven’t left,” she moans. “My dogs are barkin’, and I cannot keep up with Tanner right now. Please say you’ll stay and keep me company.”
“Of course,” I tell her.
It feels like hours before Tanner puts me in a taxi and I’m headed back to the luxury condo where the kids and I have been staying with Theo. It’s quiet when I walk in through the front door and most of the lights are off except for a few under the kitchen cabinets and the soft glow coming from the living room.
I should be surprised Theo is still awake, but I’m not.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I ask, slipping off my sandals and placing them next to the couch before sitting down.
“I wanted to make sure you made it home,” he says, his voice low and gravelly.
“Well, I’m back,” I say, as if that makes everything better, as if the tension blooming between us doesn’t exist.
“I wish I hadn’t given you the day off,” he admits, his gaze landing hot and heavy on me. “You look too good to have been out alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. I saw my cousin and his wife.”
He lifts his hand and I realize he’s holding one of the cut-crystal tumblers. He takes a sip, draining the liquid inside it before setting it on the table beside him. For a moment he looks away, and relief fills me. The air in the living room crackles with desire, and it’s almost hard to breathe. Then his head turns and he stares at me, locking me in his gaze.
“You were in a restaurant full of hungry people. What if someone thoughtyouwere the main course? What if they decided to take you home and feast on you?”
My heart pounds in my chest and butterflies dance wildly in my belly. A shiver travels the length of my spine. He’s crossed a line, and I should say something to make him back off. But I don’t think I want to; I want to see how far he’s willing to go beyond the professional boundaries of our relationship. “You sound jealous,” I manage to say.
“Maybe I am.” He stands, his height impressive and imposing, and crosses the very short distance between his end of the couch and mine. He stops right in front of me and drops to his knees, his hands resting on mine.
“Why?” My voice shakes with nerves. There are dozens of reasons why he shouldn’t touch me, why I should put up thick, ugly boundaries between us, but none of them come to mind. Not when I can smell the whisky on his breath and the soap on his skin.
His hands wrap around the back of my knees, tugging me, the skirt of my dress bunching up to reveal my bare thighs. He inhales sharply, his eyes closing, and when he opens them, they are the eyes of a starving man.
“Because if anyone is going to make a meal out of you, it’s going to be me.”
