“Thanks, Jake,” I groan against the dark wood of the bar.
What if he’s right?Would Hayes listen to me if I plead my case?I lift my head from the shiny surface, steeling my spine as a sudden burst of confidence surges through me.
Only one way to find out.
11
Hayes
“Thanks, Ben.” I end the call and set my phone on my desk. I can’t take my eyes off the screen. I haven’t seen Raegan in twenty years. Axel hacked the airline records and confirmed she arrived in town about an hour ago. Ben, the amazing attorney that he is, has just confirmed that everything is in order for her arrival. He’s bringing the divorce papers and she’s supposed to be here at nine–after my class–to sign them.
Two fucking hours and this entire disaster will finally be done.
The beat of my heart picks up its pace at the realization that I’m about to see her again, after all these years. I’m going to have to push the memories of what we used to be away, if I have any hope of getting through this with my sanity intact. We had a brief blink in time of bliss but it’s been too long and the reckless, impulsive Hayes of my past is gone. It’s time to leave the past where it belongs.
A soft knock interrupts my solo pity party and my eyes pull away from my cell and land on my office door. “Come in.”
The door inches open slowly, and Demi slides through the space it creates, a burst of music from the bar following her until she closes the door and leaves us in silence.
I’ve never seen a woman dress so simply–in underwear and a fucking t-shirt–and be so fucking stunning at the same damn time. The only way it could be better, is if it weremyshirt and she lost the panties. Don’t get me wrong, they make her ass look stunning, but she looks better out of them.
“You eye fucking me, boss?”
Busted.
“Of course not. That would be extremely unprofessional of me.” I seal it with a smirk. We’ve developed a fun banter since the night we met. It’s a new dynamic for me, but it’s also something I’m learning to embrace. She brings a new light to my days and I’m grateful for her presence despite our platonic arrangement.
Platonic.
That’s also something new to me, but she’s made it clear she’s not in a place for more. If I’m being real, neither am I. There’s also the barrier of her preferring women. She really had me fooled the night of Axel’s wedding, but I’d never dream of pressing her to explore anything she doesn’t want. No matter how much my dick would love to press. He’s obviously still interested, but luckily for me, I’m the one in charge.
I stand and move to the front of my desk. Motioning to a chair for her to sit, I lean against the edge of the desk and cross my arms over my chest. “What can I do for you, Demi?”
She hesitates but strolls to the chair and sits, but doesn’t speak. Instead, she rubs her hands against her thighs, then proceeds to tap her tiny fingers against her knees. Why the fuck is she so nervous?
“Demi?” I ask again, my eyebrows raised.
“I’m tired of being benched. When are you going to actually let me help you in your classes?” The words come out a little too hastily as she averts her eyes.
“We’ve talked about this.” More than once, actually. After that morning in the diner, I had her meet me here and we went over some basic safety guidelines, but I also told her she’d have to sit in on some classes before she could help. “It’s for your own safety.”
“Respectfully, fuck that. I don’t know why you keep using that as an excuse to not let me help you, but it’s so fucking dumb. I’m not a novice in the lifestyle.I know my safeword. I could see a class or two, but we’re over a half a dozen classes deep and you still won’t use me. Unless you had no intention of using me in the first place and this was all a lie so you could gift me a membership because you feel sorry for me.”
Fucking hell.Now I feel like Dick of the Decade.
“That isnotthe reason.”
“Is it because I’m gay? If it is, please tell me now.” Her eyes gloss over as she pleads with me like shewantsme to tell her she’s right. “I can take it, Hayes. I’m a grown ass woman and I can handle it. I swear.”
“Jesus Christ,” I curse under my breath. “No, Demi. I would never do that. I don’t give a shit about your sexuality. If anything, knowing I’m not your type makes it easier to keep things platonic.” I won’t tell her that my dick has yet to get the message. Now isnotthe time.
“Then why? Give me one good reason, Hayes.”
I wish she wasn’t, but she’s fucking right. There’s no good reason for me to repeatedlybenchher. Which begs the question...What the fuck was I thinking?
I’m on my feet and moving to the chair next to her in seconds. “I can’t give you a reason that would make any logical sense.” Her gorgeous brown eyes burn through me as she waits for more. “You can help me tonight.”
“Oh my god!” she shouts, jumping from her seat and onto my lap. Her delicate arms wrap around my neck and she squeezes tightly into me. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
