AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What other reasons would I have besides the right ones for doing this?” I asked, knowing full well what he meant.
“Don’t play dumb with me, James. Just throw the damn benefit.”
“Alright,” I said. “Alright. It’s about time I made a donation to cancer research, anyway. Clear your schedule for the end of the month. I’ll put something nice together to show the committee I’m not just some money-grubbing miser.”
“Good man,” Jared replied. “And if your nanny isn’t busy, feel free to point her my way.”
“Goodbye, Jared,” I said, hanging up the phone without any further notice.
I’d put my foot in my mouth because I’d been gushing over how easy throwing last-minute parties was. I pretty much asked for this.
By the time the day was over, I had pretty firmly decided that I wasn’t going to be avoiding Haley anymore because of my own guilt. That wasn’t fair to her.
And I needed her amazing brain to help me sort out a presentation for the benefit proposal. There was nothing like having a void that someone usually fills to remind you how much you need them.
When I walked in the front door, I could smell that dinner was already being made, and it smelled wonderful. Through the halls, I could hear my children talking cheerfully, and some of it even about schoolwork.
But the pièce de résistance was when I turned the corner to come face to face with Haley herself, dressed in a wool sweater and skirt. She looked amazing, though notably sad. I had a feeling that I was to blame for that, not to give myself too much credit.
“Hey,” I said, looking down into those ocean blue eyes.
“Hey yourself, stranger,” she replied, pulling her gaze away and ducking around me to get to the kitchen. “You know, disappearing after you sleep with a girl is usually considered bad manners.”
I turned to face her, ready to take my own medicine. “I wasn’t avoiding you, I—”
“I didn’t say avoid,” Haley replied, arms folded across her chest.
Shit.
“I assume there is nothing I can say to make this better?” I asked, only the tiniest bit of hope managing to stay with me.
“Obviously not,” Haley said. “I’m not just some hot, dumb blonde that you can use as arm candy.”
I took a few steps toward her, then closed the distance between us, putting my hands on her shoulders and backing her into the cabinets. I took my lead from her for her comfort, and she moved willingly, though still with passionate, quiet fury.
“I am a complete fuckhead, okay? I really feel close to you and that scared me.” I admitted. “I’ve been absolutely wracked with guilt about my late wife ever since I realized…”
“You realized what?” she asked, still a tone of irritation in her voice.
“I realized that I was falling for you.”
Haley looked like she’d been expecting anything but that and her jaw actually dropped open. “You what?” She asked, trying to confirm the words she clearly didn’t believe.
“I know you heard me,” I said softly with embarrassment. “They are words that scare me to say as much as feel. I loved my wife. She is the mother of all that remains of her in this world—our children. I was worried that caring for you, that being with you was like betraying her memory.”
Haley’s expression softened and I couldn’t have been more grateful. How anyone could manage to stand up to a look like that was beyond me. Maybe Leann was a lot tougher than she appeared.
“I don’t want to complicate things right now. There are so many moving parts between you being my employee, and the children seeing you as a mentor. But if you’re willing, I’d like you to consider potentially being together.”
Haley looked equal parts scared and elated, and I could empathize with the feeling. She nodded and stepped forward to hug me. I hugged her back and sighed.
It felt like it was the first time I was breathing in over a week and God, did it feel good. Having Haley here in my arms had never felt more right.
I reached down for her chin and drew her eyes up to mine, then placed my hands on her hips and lifted her onto the counter. She softly laughed and I leaned into the delicate skin of her throat and placed a few mild kisses there. Haley shuddered and pulled my head in further, allowing me to trace my tongue from the soft space behind her ear to her collarbone.
“You can’t get me this wet,” she whispered. “Your kids are in the next room.”
God, hearing her talk like this put me at half-mast instantly. “But what if I don’t care,” I said, totally full of shit.
