AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fine. Great.” Jude was clearly pleased he’d gotten his way. “You won’t regret it.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. But I kept that thought to myself.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Istood with Jude and some of the players from the team while we waited for the event to begin. The Leatherbacks and I would be visiting with kids undergoing treatment at a local hospital. We’d pass out swag and take pictures, basically have fun and take their minds off things for a little while.
Kendall was busy making the final arrangements with the staff, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. About our night together.
I’d barely seen her since then, apart from the occasional meeting at the office. And even then, she seemed to be avoiding me as much as possible. She’d accepted the job via email. HR had expedited the hiring process.
Kendall had officially moved out of my house, and I told myself it was both necessary and for the best. She was my employee—again. And we’d agreed it couldn’t happenagain. Hell, it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Jude turned to me with a smile, and I felt even shittier for what I’d done. It would be so much easier if I didn’t have to see her every day.
But he’d pushed Kendall to take the job. She’d agreed. And now here we were.
“Who pissed in your oatmeal?” he asked.
“Jude,” I chided, hoping none of the staff had overheard his crude comment.
“What? You’re the one with the grimace. I thought you loved these events.”
“I do,” I said. Events with kids were my favorite. They were hilarious and just such a joy.
But they were bittersweet because they reminded me of when Jude was little. I’d barely graduated college when he was born. I hadn’t had as much time as I’d wanted to focus on being a dad. And spending time with the kids made me remember just how much I’d always wanted more children.
Tori had been opposed. Even with the help of nannies, she’d said it was too much. She didn’t want to wreck her body and have to get back in shape again. And I hadn’t pushed because I’d seen the toll the pregnancy had taken on her—especially her mental health.
“What, then?” Jude asked. “Are you worried Kendall won’t pull it off?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I have full faith in Kendall.”
It was myself I didn’t trust. Especially when it came to her.
She’d been working with the Leatherbacks for a week, and it had been a struggle to act professionally. To pretend as if nothing had ever happened between us. To ignore my desire to pull her into my arms and do it all again.
“Well?” Jude asked, nudging me.
I kept my eyes trained ahead. “It’s nothing.”
The door opened, and Kendall came in to greet the players. While she was laughing with a few of them, a man with a hospital badge approached her.
“Kendall.” The man hugged her, and my blood surged with possessiveness. I hated it. I hated his hands on her. And I hated my reaction to it.
Was this what it was going to be like from now on?
Standing by. Watching from the sidelines as she moved on with someone else.
I rubbed my chest. Sleeping with Kendall had been ill-advised and short-sighted. I both hated myself for giving in, and would willingly do so again.
Because every time I looked at her, I was reminded of how things could be. I remembered the ecstasy and contentment and connection that I’d felt with her. And I wanted more of it.
“Good to see you,” he told her, smiling.
“You too, Timothy.” Her tone was genuine, and she practically fucking radiated. It didn’t matter that she was in a room full of celebrities; she always captured the attention of anyone lucky enough to be near her. “Thanks for all your help making this event a success.”
“Are you kidding? This is all you.” He winked, and I shoved my fists in my pocket so no one would see how hard I was clenching them.
