I tense, a little worry replacing the joy. I’m so glad to be with him, I just need to know that I can count on the job and on the apartment.
I can’t let Emma suffer for my feelings. “I need to work here,” I say, my panic tightening my voice. “Emma is so happy?—”
He searches my face, confusion clouding his. “Who said anything about you not working here? You think I’m going to let some other man be your direct supervisor? I’m the only one who gets to stare at your ass in those skirts when you bend over the filing cabinets.”
I give a snorting laugh. “So that’s why you hired me.”
“Your law experience is also an asset.” But he laughs too, even as he pulls me up and grabs his t-shirt from the floor, pulling it over my torso.
He kisses me when my head makes it through the neck hole, laughing again as I push my arms into the sleeves.
And as I turn toward the bathroom, he gives my ass a smack. I click my tongue against my teeth, but grin over my shoulder as I leave the room, heading for the bathroom.
But I’m just about to enter when a knock sounds at my door.
I should be used to it, but every time an unexpected visitor arrives, I tense.
“I’ll get it,” Rush calls from the bedroom, Emma appears in her doorway, looking sleepy as she rubs her eyes.
“Who is it?” I ask, not entering the bathroom. “Killian?”
“No,” Rush answers. “A delivery for me. Or, more precisely, a delivery for Emma.”
“For me?” she asks, her eyes instantly opening wider.
Rush whistles as he makes his way to the door, swinging it open.
I enter the bathroom, not wanting to be seen, but the sound of the door closing is closely followed by Emma’s squeal of pure delight.
Peaking my head out again, I gasp.
Sitting in the middle of the living room is a giant box of doll accessories. Rush pulls a doll kitchen from the interior, even as Emma dances around with a doll, still in her box, wrapped in her arms.
“Is it my birthday?” she asks, jumping up and down.
“Not for two more weeks,” I answer, staring at Rush, my eyes wide.
But he doesn’t return my look as he bends down to scoop Emma into his arms. “Do you like them, sweetheart?”
“Yes!” she shouts. “I don’t want to go to school today, Mama.”
Rush’s eyes do find me then, pulling into a slight wince. “You’ll play with your new things tonight,” I answer firmly, even as I close the bathroom door and smile to myself.
Buying presents for Emma is a really sweet gesture and it makes me feel a little steadier in what I have to do next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gigi
I’m smilingas I drop Emma off and head back up to Rush’s office.
His gesture of buying Emma’s gifts made me feel solid. Like he’s really in this. Sex is one thing, but taking care of my daughter…
When the elevator doors open, I wave at Rachel on my way to my desk.
“Feeling better?” she asks, a reminder of what happened just yesterday.
“Much,” I reply, “Must have been something I ate.”
