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I go to turn away, but he grabs my wrist. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Yesterday you were kissing her, and today, I find you naked with Jolene. I don’t want Rosey to get hurt. She doesn’t deserve that.”
He rises to his feet and towers over me. “She told you?”
“Like I said, we’re friends.”
“Is that the real reason you’re mad with me, Meli?” he asks, his voice almost a whisper. He uses his free hand to sweep my hair from my cheek and tuck it behind my ear. “Or was it seeing me naked with another woman?”
I almost roll my eyes at his ego trip. “I have to tell Rosey about today.”
“Of course. There’s nothing between us, so she won’t be upset.”
“You sound confident. I hope you’re right.”
“But you, Meli, you look upset.”
I force myself to remain calm despite my heart beating out of my chest. Being so close, feeling his touch, it makes me wonder what it feels like to kiss him, to be held by him . . . to be that woman to wake up beside him after a night filled with pleasure. Instead, I take a step back. “I have work to do.”
At lunchtime, Hadley appears at the office door with Oakley. “We thought you’d like to grab lunch,” she explains. It’s been a long time since Hadley and I did anything together that wasn’t family related. It warms my heart she actually thought of me.
I wrap Oakley in a hug, despite only seeing her this morning. “You always know exactly what I need,” I reply, grabbing my bag. Arthur left an hour ago. After our earlier exchange, we didn’t speak another word.
We go to a nearby sandwich bar, and once we’ve ordered, we find a seat by the window and Hadley gives Oakley the iPad to keep her occupied. “So, how’s work?” she asks, then laughs. “It feels strange asking you that.”
“I like it. I’m not doing much other than filing at the minute, but it’s nice to be out of the club and doing my own thing.”
“Yeah, you look happier.”
“Mav came to see me last night. He apologised for yelling at me.”
“He said he would.” They’re much closer out of the three of us, and sometimes, that stings. It wasn’t like this before I fucked everything up.
“They still haven’t announced Rylee’s pregnancy,” I say. “Did she say when they would?”
Hadley shakes her head. “Mav is really excited, though. It’s sweet to see him like that.”
“He told you?” Rylee told the girls a month back, but we were sworn to secrecy because Maverick didn’t want her to tell anyone until she was at least twelve weeks. Hadley realises what she’s let slip and winces. “It’s fine,” I rush to reassure her. “Of course, he’d tell you, you’re close. It’s good he’s got someone to talk to.”
She reaches over the table and rubs my hand. “Sorry, Meli. I didn’t mean to be so inconsiderate. He just needed to tell someone, yah know? It’s his first kid, so he’s gonna be excited.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Of course.”
She bites her lower lip, a guilty expression all over her face. “Anyway, how are you and Arthur getting on?” She wiggles her brows suggestively, and I appreciate her changing the subject, even if it is about that arse.
“He’s a good boss. I don’t really see him,” I mutter. My heart hurts too much to entertain her with stories of Arthur and his antics this morning.
“Did you speak to Rosey about how you feel?”
“Why would I?” I ask.
“Well, because you like him and she’s not that into him.”
“Actually, I think she is. She got there first, Hadley, and I’m okay with that.”
“But Rosey just wants . . .” She glances at her daughter to check she isn’t watching before mouthing the word ‘sex’. “And you like him, like him.”
“Stop,” I mutter. “We’re not in school. They’re suited and perfect for each other. I want them to work out. He’s my boss, and I don’t see him as anything else.”
