After hitting send, I waited. And waited.
An hour passed, then another. By the end of the day, I realized he wasn’t going to reply.
I stared at my inbox, refreshing it more times than I’d like to admit. The silence felt deliberate, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it meant.Had I crossed a line? Or was he trying to avoid complications?
I told myself to let it go, but by the next morning, I couldn’t resist reaching out again. This time, I sent a quick text.
Natalie: Hi, Will. Just wanted to confirm you got my email. Let me know if you need anything clarified or adjusted.
It felt safe. Polite. But the moment I hit send, I felt a wave of regret. What was I doing? Why did I care so much?
When his reply came a few minutes later, my heart raced.
Will: Hi, Natalie. Thanks for following up. I got your email. Everything looks great so far. Let’s schedule a time to go over the next steps.
I stared at the screen, reading the words over and over. It was polite and professional, but it left me with more questions than answers.
Was he being careful? Or did he really not care?
The next day, I decided to test the water. I sent another email, this time leaving the door open for something more.
Subject: Moving Forward
I’m looking forward to working with you on your beautiful home. Is there a time we can meet to go over more details?
This time, his response came almost immediately.
How about Thursday over a drink? Bourbon House, 6:15?
A drink in the evening wasn’t casual. It wasn’t professional. It was personal.
I sat back in my chair, torn between excitement and panic.What was I doing? Why couldn’t I stop this?
I thought about replying with a counteroffer. Maybe we could meet for coffee instead, something that felt safer, more appropriate. But I knew I wanted to say yes. I wanted to see him again, to feel the way I felt when I was around him: alive, desired, seen. So, I agreed to meet him at Bourbon House. Sure, I told myself, we’d just talk about designs, because nothing complicates professional boundaries like dim lighting and dinner with a full bar. Who was I fooling?
I contacted my sitter to see if she was available to watch the kids. I confirmed with Will, and that was that. The lines were starting to get blurry, I was willing to step over them, even if I didn’t know where they’d lead.
By the time Thursday arrived, my nerves were shot. I stood in front of my closet, agonizing over every outfit. Nothing felt right. Everything either felt too casual or too deliberate, like I was trying too hard. In the end, I settled on a simple short black dress with a white blazer and black pumps. It was elegant but understated, the kind of outfit that could pass for professional but still felt sexy.
As I got ready, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My heart pounded as I stared at myself, a mix of excitement and fear swirling in my chest. I was about to step into uncharted territory, and I had no idea where it would lead.
CHAPTER 16
BETWEEN BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
WILL
Iwas meeting Natalie and it felt like a date. I was excited, counting down the minutes all afternoon like a total fool. I know it was supposed to be about business, but I couldn’t help how I felt.
I even called the restaurant to request a table in the back room for a bit more privacy. Since I was a regular, the manager always took care of me. I came straight from my office in Irvine, arriving at the place a little after six. I handed my Porsche keys to the valet, and he pulled it right in front. I had to admit this car was the first thing I bought after the divorce. Kelly would have told me I was being hasty, but it felt like a small declaration of freedom.
At the hostess desk, a young woman with curly hair greeted me with a warm smile. “Welcome, Mr. Parker. Your guest hasn’t arrived yet. Would you like to be seated or wait?”
“I’ll wait,” I said, then pulled out my phone to look through work emails and check a few game scores to distract myself.
A few minutes later I saw Natalie, looking stunning in a black dress that showed off her slender figure. My eyes went to her legs, my mind wondering how it would feel to put my hands on them. I took a breath, snapping myself out of it, and greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Oh, shit. Too much?She blushed, batting her eyes but then glancing away like nothing happened.
