AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We agreed we would have sex only one time. I’m confused as to how you expected me to act.”
“I expected you to realize there’s more to us than a night of sex.”
My brows knit in confusion. “More to us?”
“Damnit, Lilac,” he growls, “I love you.”
He loves me? This doesn’t make sense. He hasn’t acted like a man in love. I’ve observed my parents and their loving relationship my entire life. And over the past year, I’ve stood by as one sister after another has fallen in love. I know how loving couples are with each other. It all starts with respect.
“You can’t love me. You think I’m incompetent at my work.”
“I don’t think you’re incompetent,” he grumbles.
“I disagree. You constantly question me. You show up at meetings when you’re not needed as if I can’t handle the meeting myself. You turn up on site to check I’m not making errors.”
“I admit I did those things.”
“There’s no reason for you to admit your behavior. I know it happened.”
He sighs. “Can I explain?”
I motion for him to continue.
“I kept showing up at meetings and on site because I can’t stay away from you.”
This is most irregular. “You made me feel incompetent because you can’t stay away from me?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I never meant to make you feel incompetent. Watching you work – especially when you told the supervisor off at the biomass plant – is a sight to behold. You’re the smartest person I know and you’re not afraid to show it.”
My brow furrows. “Why would I be afraid to show I’m intelligent?”
He grins. “Never mind.”
He kneels in front of me and places his hands on my thighs. “Lilac, I’m madly in love with you. Will you take a chance on me?”
He may love me, but he’s still my boss. “What about our work situation?”
“We can keep our relationship at work a secret.”
“Keeping a secret is the same as lying and I prefer not to lie.”
He grasps my hands. “You don’t have to lie. You just have to not tell anyone we’re involved.”
“Omitting information is the same as a lie.”
He squeezes my hands. “Do you have another suggestion?”
“There’s only one other option. We don’t proceed with a relationship.”
His eyes close and his chin dips. “Is that what you want?”
I can’t lie. Or, rather, I prefer not to lie. Misunderstandings are the result of lying. Thus, my belief Beckett thought I was incompetent.
“No.” He smiles. “But I think it’s for the best.”
His smile dies, but his jaw clenches with determination. “Why do you prefer not to lie?”
“It’s wrong.”
