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There’s a pause, and I can feel her eyes on me, studying me, trying to read between the lines. “Why haven’t you wanted to, you know, get intimate with me?” she asks, her voice hesitant.
I turn to look at her. She’s so damn beautiful. “It’s not that I don’t want to. Sometimes I can’t sleep for wanting you. Knowing you’re in the next room drives me crazy.”
Her eyes widen with surprise and her lips part slightly.
“But I don’t want to rush this. I don’t want us to fall into something just because it’s easy, or because it’s expected. I want to get to know you, really know you, without the distraction.”
She’s silent for a moment, and I’m half-expecting her to tell me I’m overthinking it, or that I’m making things more complicated than they need to be.
But instead, she nods. “You’re right. I think sleeping together would be a distraction right now. I want this to work too, Andrew. I want us to figure out what this could be.”
Chapter 26: Emily
“I’ll miss you,” Andrew whispers into my ear, then trails kisses down my jawline. I giggle, trying to pull back but not really wanting to.
“It’s just lunch,” I say, but my words come out breathless. His lips are warm and soft, and his hands on my waist make it hard to think straight.
“Lunch without you,” he murmurs, nipping at my earlobe. “That’s like torture.”
I laugh and finally manage to push him away, just enough to see his face. He’s got that playful grin, the one that always makes my heart skip a beat. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Yeah, for my wife,” he says, and the way he says it, so casually and confidently, makes my cheeks flush. He’s been saying things like that more often, and every time, it sends a thrill through me.
“Well, try not to starve while I’m gone,” I tease, patting his chest. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Not soon enough!” He finally lets me go, his hands lingering on my waist for a moment longer.
I step back, smoothing down my dress and trying to compose myself. It’s getting harder to leave him lately. The more time we spend together, the more I don’t want to be apart.
“Alright, I’m really going now,” I say, grabbing my purse from his desk. “I don’t want to keep your mom waiting.”
I find myself sashaying as I walk to the door and when I look over my shoulder, I’m rewarded by Andrew’s heated gaze on me.
The last few days have been like a honeymoon. A belated honeymoon. We’ve been all over each other, at work and at home. I’m falling in love with Andrew.
I have a smile as I leave the office and head to my car in the basement.
I slide into the driver’s seat, already planning my afternoon. Before I turn on the ignition, I call Owen. He picks up on the second ring.
“Hey, Emily,” he says, his voice bright. “I was just about to call you. I’ve got some news.”
“Good news, I hope?” I ask, crossing my fingers. If he’s finally found a buyer willing to meet my asking price, it would be one less thing to worry about.
“We’ll talk when we meet later,” he replies, a hint of mystery in his tone. “Can you swing by the apartment this afternoon?”
“Of course,” I say, a smile spreading across my face. “I’ll be there after lunch.”
“Great. See you then.”
I hang up, my spirits lifted. Maybe things are finally falling into place. I turn the key in the ignition and head out, making my way to the restaurant where I’m meeting Barbara.
When I walk into the restaurant, Barbara is already there, seated at a table by the window. She waves at me, a warm smile lighting up her face, and I make my way over.
“Emily, darling,” she says, standing up to give me a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too, Barbara,” I say, returning the hug. “Thank you for inviting me.”
I sit down and the server comes over to talk my order for a drink. I glance at Barbara’s water and order the same.