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The door opened, and his heart hammered into his chest. Evolet stood there in a voluminous red skirt and a navy shirt that hugged her breasts. A braid fell over one shoulder, tendrils curling to frame her face.
“Hi.”
The simple greeting shot through him, not just with the sexual heat he’d come to expect around her but something deeper.
Longing. Longing to go to her, pick her up and swing her around the waist as he kissed her and told her the good news. He released a breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding since his limo had dropped her off at her apartment and he’d watched her disappear inside the building, wondering if she was going to end their affair early.
Because, selfish bastard that he was, he wanted just a little more time.
He laid his hands on the desk, pressed his palms firmly against the cool surface. “Good morning.”
She smiled shyly.
“I know it’s early, I just...” Her eyes dropped down, then widened as she saw the crumpled contract on his desk. “Is that...” At his nod, she rushed into his office, around his desk and flung her arms around his neck.
“Oh, Damon, congratulations!” She kissed him, her enthusiasm teasing a smile from him. “I’m so happy for you. You must be so proud.”
“I am.”
She pulled back, her expression turning to one of confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He dropped a quick kiss onto her forehead, then gently unwound her arms from his neck. “It’s early, and it still hasn’t fully settled in.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks turned pink. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have...” She motioned to his mouth. “Kissed you. I know you said nothing in the office.”
“It’s all right.” He leaned down, letting his smile widen. “We can celebrate properly this weekend. I’d like to take you somewhere.”
She returned his smile with a cautious one of her own. “We just got back from Bali.”
“This is much closer. Just us.”
“I’d like that.” She stared up at him, her eyes large and gold. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes.” To reassure her, he cast a quick glance at the door, then leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. “See me again in a couple hours after I’ve had some coffee and recovered a bit more from jet lag. You won’t be able to stop me from talking about it.”
She returned his smile with a tentative one of her own. He didn’t like it, didn’t like her lack of a feisty comeback or a prim remark. She was worried about him. Worried because of how he was acting.
But he couldn’t play nice. He had to prepare for the end, to handle this as he should have been handling it all along.
As she walked out, her skirt swinging back and forth like a bell, he told himself that it was for the best.
Now if only he could believe it.
Evolet forced herself to lean back into the seat of the limo. A red rose and a sparkling glass of champagne had awaited her, along with a friendly driver who had told her “Mr. Bradford” would meet her at the airport.
Her fingers drummed a nervous rhythm on the shining wood of the console. Was she analyzing his absence too much? Did it mean something, anything?
She sighed and took a fortifying sip of champagne. Riding the emotional roller coaster of the past week had once again reminded her of the ups and downs of her time in foster care. Getting comfortable, adjusted, making friends, only to be yanked away and shoved into another stranger’s house, one who might be nice or one who tolerated her presence for the monthly check.
She glanced down at the little yellow suitcase resting at her feet. She’d packed, unpacked, then repacked at least a half a dozen times.
What, she had mused more than once, did one pack for a celebration weekend away with one’s lover-not-boyfriend?
It had taken a glass of wine to summon enough courage to pack the lingerie she’d picked up with her bonus check at a pricey boutique in the Upper West Side.
Just a week ago, she would have packed it without a second thought. But she’d spent the past four nights alone. On Tuesdays, traveling from the church in Harlem where she practiced with the Apprentice Symphony back down to Midtown didn’t make sense. But Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Damon had had late meetings, dinner with his administrative team and other excuses he’d delivered with a coolness that reminded her of how he’d been toward the end of their dance at the gala fundraiser.
A stark difference from the weeks before when it had seemed like Damon hadn’t wanted to be apart from her. Dinners, trips to museums and parks, waking up to find him pressed against her. Even though he hadn’t been able to say the words, the way he’d treated her had made her wonder if there was something more. That perhaps he was starting to feel something for her.
