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Shit, he was about to fire me, “Sure,” I said, putting on a shaky smile, “what’s up?”
“The plumbers have a question about the sink. Can you show them the proposed drawings? I don’t have a copy.”
“Absolutely. I’ll be right in. Let me find the drawings. They’re in the trunk of my car.” I sat still until he returned to the house. The last thing I needed him to see was the jumbled mess in my car trunk. After Brandon left, I quickly gathered the blueprints out of the trunk and headed inside to talk with the plumbers.
After giving the plumbers the drawings and answering a few questions about installation, materials, and measurement, I headed to the art room to hide for the rest of the day.
Brandon wanted each item numbered, cataloged and packed away in a box that was also numbered. I could have hired an assistant to help, but I liked this part of the job, it was effortless and it allowed me to stay busy while the trades were getting new appliances and fixtures installed.
I wasn’t sure how long I was there before Natasha came running in.
“Sam! I am ready to be your good little helper!” She was happy and giggling, much like a normal kid her age. Her presence comforted me. If Chris was going to fire me, he wouldn’t let Natasha anywhere near me.
“Alright, little lady, let’s get started!”
Natasha jumped up and down and laughed as hard as she could waiting for instructions.
“Let’s start packing up some of these items. Your job is to wrap everything in this paper right here.” I showed her the stack of cream-colored paper we were using to wrap things before putting them in boxes. I showed her how to put each item in the middle and fold the edges over to form a cocoon. She was overjoyed and so willing to help it made me happy I made the suggestion.
We worked for about two hours before Chris walked in. “Natasha, it's time for dinner.” She looked up at me and I could tell she was disappointed. She then looked at her dad and let out a sigh. “Can I help just a little bit longer?” I looked up at Chris and I saw the worry in his eyes, I was not sure if he was worried about Natasha or worried about me. I looked away to avoid any awkward silence.
“Not today, peanut. Let Sam get some time to finish what she is doing.”
“But, Dad, I was helping.”
“She’s okay to stay longer if she likes.” I quickly regretted getting involved.
“I didn’t ask your opinion on how to raise my daughter.” His response took me by surprise. Was this the same man that was deep inside me just a few hours ago?
“I am sorry, Mr. Brooks. It was not my intent to offend you. I was just trying to be helpful.” I could tell my brash comeback was not what he expected, but I didn’t care.
“Natasha, let’s get ready for dinner.”
As Natasha left the room, I could feel her unhappiness return. I was a bit angry at his response but quickly put myself in his shoes. After all he has been through in the past few months, this man was as damaged as they got.
I finished packing the last box of the day and quickly skimmed the items in the box to make sure they matched what was on my inventory list.
I was about to call it a night when I noticed something shiny on the floor. I picked it up and realized it was a diamond-encrusted cufflink.CB.I immediately realized it belonged to Chis. I thought about his request earlier to find a cufflink but he never described it. Besides, now I think it was all an act to get me alone in his room so he could have his way with me. The thought turned me on. I rubbed my legs together to keep myself from having to use my hand to tame the fire that started to burn inside me.
I had enough. I considered taking the cufflink to Chris but instead dropped the cufflink in the box, added it to the inventory list, and taped the box top. I was ready to make my forty-minute commute back to Grapevine. I gathered my things and made my way down the hall. I could see Natasha sitting quietly at the dining room table. I felt it best to slip out undetected. As I sat in my car, I breathed a sigh of relief. I made it through another day at the ranch, I got some big items off my list, I had my client inside me, and, yeah, I still had a job.
I wish I could have told Lizzie about my day but I was sure some harsh judgment would follow and I was not in the mood to be scolded. This was best kept under tight wraps at least for now. I made it home in record time. I took a quick shower and ordered Chinese food from my Door Dash app. As I sat on the loveseat tucked away in the far corner of my studio apartment, I couldn’t help but go back over what happened in the closet at the ranch. Chris must have read my mind. When I caught him staring at my ass, I wanted nothing more than his strong hands all over me and his lips on mine.
I got everything I wanted and more. I was brought back to reality when my buzzer rang. My dinner had arrived. I scarfed down dinner and started my nightly ritual before getting in bed. I wanted to get a good night's rest so I could get up early to head back to the ranch. My motives were not entirely pure: I was hoping to get manhandled in the closet again.
I laughed at my dilemma until I saw my birth control canister. “Shit!” I stopped my birth control pills two months ago because of some adverse side effects. I had every intention of getting a new prescription but I had not gotten around to it yet. The last thing I need is to get pregnant by this damaged man.What have I gotten myself into?
* * *
CHAPTER 7
CHRISTOPHER
My cell phone roused me out of a well-needed nap. It was almost noon and night terrors kept me awake most of the night again. It was Peter. I wanted to avoid the call but I knew that was probably not a good idea.
“Hey, brother, how are you?”
“Hey, Chris, when can you meet in person?” From his tone, I could tell something was wrong.
