AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. It can wait.” After all, he does deserve a relaxing weekend with his new girlfriend. Daddy is a workaholic as is.
“Good. We’ll be back Monday afternoon.”
“Have fun.” I end the call abruptly, then immediately wish I hadn’t. I shouldn’t assume that Daddy knows anything about my half brother or sister. It’s unfathomable that he would know and not tell me.
And now, I have the pleasure of spending this weekend in suspense, checking my phone every hour for a reply from Ben that never fucking comes.
Part Two
Chapter 15
The ass crack of dawn greets me as I roll out of bed on Monday, allowing me to get my workout finished early. This isn’t by choice; it’s because I can’t sleep for shit. Saturday rolled into Sunday without a word from Ben about the picture I sent.
Well, I’ve never gotten anything worth having by sitting around and waiting for it to fall into my lap. So at 9:00 I’m pulling out onto the city streets, destination East Frye. I stop and pick up a few donuts and fresh coffee. Because what man doesn’t like donuts?
When I get to Ben’s office park and see his giant SUV, I’m three parts nervous, one part relieved. When I show up at his office door he’s on the phone. He can’t see me because his chair is swiveled to the side, feet kicked up on the desk and staring through the second-floor blinds.
“Just change the setup. I don’t like all these unverified accounts.”
I feel like a creeper just standing here so I start to knock on the door, making the paper bag crumple enough to catch his attention. He doesn’t seem mad to see me. Just offers a blank stare for a hot second.
“Let me call you back.” He hangs up and swings his feet to the floor then stands up, moving his eyes over me in a way thatshouldbe insulting but isn’t.
“Before you start yelling at me at least allow me to leave this peace offering.”
“I’d never yell at a woman with donuts,” he answers, rubbing his hands together.
“How do you know they’re donuts?”
He points to one of the coffee cups I’m holding. “I stop there at least three times a week. Best damn donuts in town. Thought about going this morning but … something stopped me.”
“I guess it was serendipitous that I did. Here, they’re all yours.”
I set the bag on his desk along with one of the coffees. “Cream, no sugar. Hope that works.”
“Long as it’s not poisoned.”
“The coffee isn’t.” I turn around and glance at the seat, take a sip of mine.
“You can sit if you want.”
“You sure? I wouldn’t want to be accused of sticking around just to watch you keel over.”
He pulls a cake donut from the bag and inspects it. “I’m sure whatever you poisoned this with will take a good two, three hours to work.”
“Oh ye of little faith.”
The corner of his mouth lifts and I must admit it feels good.
He passes the bag my way but I shake my head. “I got enough calories right here.”
“Oh that’s right. I’m with Ms. Tofu.”
I drum my fingers on the armrests, trying to think of a comeback. I’m at a loss. But mainly because he’s looking at me with those gorgeous brown eyes of his while he shoves half a donut inside his mouth, and all I can think about are the dozens of butterflies raging inside of me trying to stir up a damn tsunami.
“Gotta say, I was expecting to walk into something much harsher than this. Dare I ask why you’re not mad as hell at me?”
After licking the tip of his fingers and wiping his mouth with a napkin, he lifts the cup of coffee, contemplatively swirling it rapidly. “I was mad at you. But I couldn’t get that picture out of my head.”
