“You might have one of the best views I’ve seen in my life,” she compliments.
“I’m looking at the best view right now,” I tell her and her eyes come back to find me looking at her.
“We should talk,” she says and I already hate the way she is starting this conversation.
“We should.” I am not sure if I agree with her, but I say the words anyway.
She pulls out one of the stools as I grab two bottles of water from the fridge, and I wait for the other shoe to drop. I sit down beside her. “So where should we start?”
She snags the bag and opens it up, grabbing a burger and then handing me the other one. “I think we should start with me saying I really, really, like you.”
“Oh, for the love of everything.” I look up at the ceiling. “If this is the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ talk.” I hold up my hand. “I think we can skip over it.”
She laughs. “It’s not that.” She looks at her food. “But it is that.” I open my burger; not sure I can look at her without saying something she isn’t ready for. “And it’s a little bit more than that.” I take a bite of my burger as she continues, “You are going to be my boss.”
“Okay.” I look over at her.
“And, well, I’m not going to sleep with my boss.” She taps the counter next to her burger as she grabs a cold fry. “It’s just, I can’t do it.” I turn to her now. “This job is a big deal to me,” she says softly. “It’s the first job I’ve had, really. Trent never wanted me to work because I had to be ready in case he needed me.” I raise my eyebrows. “I know it was his way to control where I was and what I was doing. But I always wanted to get a job and being able to be on the fundraising committee, even though I didn’t get paid, to me was like working. But this”—she shrugs—“it’s my first big-girl job, and I just can’t be sleeping with my boss.”
“I see.” I take another bite, but the whole time it’s a struggle to swallow it.
“I shouldn’t have started this.” She trails off and I can hear the quiver in her voice. “I would never lead you on.”
I put my hand on hers. “You are one of the best women I’ve ever met. There is not a mean bone in your body.” I smile at her. “I wanted this as much as I have ever wanted anything in my life.” I lift my hand from hers to move her hair behind her shoulder for me to be able to kiss her neck. “And I respect your decision a thousand percent. I’m not happy about it, but that’s only because I’m selfish and want you.” She smiles sadly. “But if that is what you feel like you need to do, then I’m going to respect your decision.” She looks back at me when I say, “However, it’s Saturday and you only start work on Monday, so until then, I’m not your boss.”
“I guess that would be correct.” She sits up straight.
“Which means we have a day and a half.” I turn her in her chair.
“We do.” She smiles big before she rolls her lips and her eyes go big.
“So will you stay here until tomorrow night?” I ask her. “I would like Monday morning, but I know with you in the bed, I’m going to want to fuck you the first thing in the morning, so Sunday night it is.” I trail off. “If that is okay with you?”
“Sunday night.” She nods at me and I don’t bother finishing my meal or letting her finish hers before I drag her back to my bedroom for rounds two and three.
I lie in the bed, the sheet covering my bottom half as I watch her slip her jeans back on. The pit in my stomach is getting bigger and bigger as she reaches for the shirt and covers the rest of her body. The body I spent the last thirty hours committing to memory. I want to tell her I hate this, but instead I toss the sheet off me and get out of bed. Neither of us says a word to each other as she puts her sneakers on and I grab a pair of boxers and basketball shorts.
She stands up and looks at me, and I wonder if she’s feeling as shitty about this as I am. “I guess I should go.” She motions over her shoulder with her thumb.
“I’ll walk you out,” I tell her and she nods, turning to walk out of the room. I follow behind her, the whole time it feels like my feet are getting heavier and heavier. She grabs her purse from the entryway table as I unlock the front door and pull it open, the sun already down for the night with the stars in the sky.
I walk her to her SUV as she opens the door and tosses her bag onto the passenger seat. “I guess this is it,” she says softly and I take a step toward her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her to me. I bury my face in her neck and she does the same, except she gives me a soft kiss, and out of all the kisses we’ve shared the past two days, it’s the best kiss I’ve gotten.
“Thank you for this weekend,” she says, letting me go and stepping away from me. I fucking hate every single second of this. I hated it from when she told me yesterday to every single second after.
“Thank you,” I reply, putting my forehead onto hers, “for giving me an incredible weekend.” The lump in my throat feels like it’s getting bigger and bigger. My lips kiss hers lightly before I let her go and step away from her. “You, Lexi Petrov,” I say, using her full name, even though I know her last name is Yoder, “are one in a million.”
twenty-three
Lexi
“Thank you”—he puts his forehead on mine—“for giving me an incredible weekend.” My hands move to his bare chest and I take in his heat. “You, Lexi Petrov…” I try not to smirk that he doesn’t use Yoder, but nothing, and I mean nothing, could prepare me for the next five words. “…are one in a million.” He gives me the softest kiss we’ve shared this weekend as he lets me go and I step into the SUV.
I close the door and pull out of his driveway, thinking I’m going to be strong, but then the lone tear escapes and rolls down my cheek as I make my way over to my new house. These past two days have been what fucking dreams are made of. It’s what you wish would happen when you meet someone. It’s what I have been wanting my whole life. A man who respects me, who listens to me, who is all fucking that. I sniffle, not wanting to wipe the other tears that come because it’s okay for me to cry over him. If there is anyone in my life I should have cried over, it’s Kirby. Even now, after everything that I’ve been through, I still can’t have the one thing that I want.
I make it to my house, parking in the garage before opening the door and stepping out. The phone pings from my purse, so I take it out and see his name.
Kirby:
