“Nothing you haven’t already done to me.” I kissed the corner of her mouth, and then again on the other side. This was the best first date I’d been on in a long time… no, ever.
~ Chapter Eight ~
Michelle
“You’ve been rather bubbly these last few days,” Natoi noted, watching me as we returned from lunch. I breezed past her through the glass doors of the office, giving her a half smile.
“You think so?”
“I know so. And there’s only one thing that puts a smile like that on my face. A man. And not just any man. For me, it’s David Beckham. But I know you don’t have any celebrity crushes like that, so it must be someone in your private life. Spill!” she demanded, following closely behind me as I moved inside my office.
I glanced up. “Why are you shutting my door?”
“Because you’re about to spill the tea. And we need some privacy.” Natoi giggled, her dark brown eyes gleaming in anticipation.
I frowned. “I’m not about to spill anything. Open my door and bring me that Hayes file. We need to double check their guest list.”
Natoi stood with her hands on her hips, staring down at me as if what I’d just said to her made no sense at all.
“The Hayes file can wait.” She tapped her foot against the carpeted floor. “What really cannot wait is what’s going on with you. You’re taking off last Monday and then coming in here this week, looking all cheery and smiling and shit. You’ve got a man.”
My eyebrows rose and I bit the inside of my cheek. I turned toward the computer screen on my desk, avoiding eye contact with my assistant, who’d become a good friend over the last few years. Despite the truth that Natoi and I were friends, I didn’t tell her all my business. She nor anyone else in the office knew that the real reason I’d taken off the previous Monday was actually because I’d been suspended. As far as everyone in the office knew, I’d had a little family emergency and had to take the day off. I appreciated Nancy for being tight lipped about the situation. I truly valued my professional reputation, and didn’t want it tarnished in front of my coworkers. Not even Natoi.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I insisted.
She pivoted her head to the side, giving me a side-eye that screamed her skepticism. I sighed.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to hide. It’s not like you’re seeing David Beckham. Nowthatwould be a secret worth holding onto.”
My thoughts immediately strayed to the previous Thursday night. Heat rose in my belly when I thought about the way Carter handled me. I squeezed my thighs together.David Beckham has absolutely nothing on Carter Townsend.I straightened in my chair, tugging the sides of the white blazer I wore. I hoped my thoughts weren’t visible on my face.
“There’s nothing to tell. It’s dry as a bell in the love department.” I cleared my throat and shuffled some files on my desk, hoping my assistant would drop the subject altogether. I didn’t date, as far as she knew. As far as everybody knew. I’d told everyone in my life that raising my son was my main priority because it was. But then one day on my way to work, fate stepped in. And I found myself unable to deny the irresistible ruggedness of one of Williamsport Fire Department’s very own.
“Saved by the bell.”
I blinked in realization that Natoi was referring to the phone ringing. She rose and darted out of my office to answer the call. I went back to the guest list I was working on for one of our events, doing my best to forget about the dilemma I’d found myself in. A few minutes passed as I looked through the open file I had on my desk. Regrettably, I was soon to find that my problem had decided to walk right in my office door.
“Michelle, there’s a Gabriel Garcia here to see you.”
My heart rate quickened.Does he know?An image of a smiling Diego popped in my head and my heart sank.
“Ms. Clarke and I already know each other.”
It was hard, but I managed to keep the frown from forming on my face when I heard his voice. Soon enough, Gabriel stepped from behind Natoi, a cocky smirk on his attractive face. I slowly lowered and opened my eyelids to keep from rolling my eyes. The glint in his hazelnut eyes showed that he got off on my discomfort.
“Oh, were we working on an event for you already, Mr. Garcia?” Natoi questioned, confused.
Gabriel shook his dark head. “Not as of yet, but my firm is looking to host our annual charity event for the homeless and we wanted to go with a different event planner this time around. I thought, just my luck, I happen to know one of the best event planners in the city.” He smiled down at Natoi, giving her a wink. Much to my chagrin, she giggled at his charms. “Ms. Clarke and I met a long time ago while she was serving as a caterer for a small catering company.”
“Thank you, Natoi.” I stood from my chair, smoothing down the front of the blouse I wore. Thankfully, she got the dismissal and nodded, just before leaving. Gabriel took the initiative to close the door behind her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Mi vida, is that anyway to greet your first love?” He strolled over to the chair in front of my desk, unbuttoned the buttons of his suit jacket, and casually took a seat. I let my eyes peruse the cocky expression he wore. Gabriel was undoubtedly an attractive man with his warm, toffee-colored skin, deep brown eyes, and thick, dark hair that was greying at the temples. He wore an air of confidence but I knew it was more like arrogance. “Mi vida” had been the Spanish term of endearment he began calling me when we first met, a decade ago. At nineteen, and desperate for any attention, let alone that of a successful attorney, I found it cute. I fell head-over-heels in love. Gabriel had wooed me with his stories of moving from Mexico City to pursue the American dream after his parents had died. Now, as I looked down on the man that was in his early fifties, I felt nothing but disgust and regret.
“Don’t call me that. And what are you doing here?”
“I told your assistant. My firm is having an event and I need an event planner.”
