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He laughs. “I’m capable of making a few edible meals, but that’s about it. Breakfast is the hardest to screw up.” He spears eggs onto his fork, then they quickly disappear between his full lips. Watching him eat makes me wish I didn’t need to go to work. I’d like to spend the better part of this morning with him.
We could take a walk after breakfast and then climb back into bed once we got home. Then maybe we spend the rest of the morning exploring each other’s bodies. Of course, we’d go back to sleep for a bit and rest up for a second round of making love.
Making love with your Finder hookup?
I need to check myself. Being with Trey makes it easy to get carried away by fanciful notions, and I need to be careful of that. For all I know, this is the last time I’ll see him.
I finish eating as much as I can before pushing my plate away. “Thank you for breakfast. I usually have a protein bar, so this was a nice change.” I sip the remainder of my coffee and wipe my lips on a napkin.
He stands, taking our plates to the sink. I carry our mugs over and toss my napkin in the trash.
“Let me walk you out,” he says.
And I panic. I don’t want a long, drawn-out goodbye in which he explains that this is the last time we’ll be together.
“No, that’s not necessary. You’ve done enough for me already. Besides, I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry.”
His brows draw together, and he shrugs. “Okay.” He walks me to the door. I pluck my keys and phone from the table and turn to him. “Thanks again. I had a great time. I’m sorry I passed out on you. I’m sure this isn’t how you envisioned your morning going.”
He skims his fingers down my cheek. “This has been a wonderful beginning to my day.”
I swallow down the emotion his words provoke, and smile. “I better go.”
He presses a soft kiss to my lips and then opens the door for me. The sunlight shines through the trees as I descend the stairs to the driveway.
James wanders around to the front of his porch as I climb into my car. I start the engine and glance at him. His hands are shoved into the pockets of his shorts, but when he notices me watching him, he raises one in farewell. Wondering if this is the last time I’ll see him, I try to capture this image of him like a snapshot in my mind.
I wave at him before reversing from the driveway. And as I pull away, I don’t allow myself to look back.
* * *
The party is in full swing. We’ve got music playing and great food set out on the boardroom table that Sheryl and I pushed to one side wall. We set the chairs around the perimeter of the room and left the middle open for mingling.
I rented a helium tank so Sheryl and I could blow up ”Happy Retirement” balloons, and we hung a long sign across one wall that says CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT. And on another, we hung a WE’LL MISS YOU sign.
The guest of honor is basking in the attention of all his employees. He’s not only loved by me; every person here feels the same. I’m so sad that he’s leaving.
I wait for a break in the crowd around him before I deliver the present I purchased for him.
“Hi, Greg.”
He smiles. “Maeve, thank you for doing all this.” He gestures around the room.
“What makes you think it was me?”
“I know it was. Who else would set all this up?”
“I had help.”
“Regardless, I appreciate it so much.”
“Here.” I hand him a blue gift bag. “I got you something.”
“You shouldn’t have. But I’m glad you did.” He grins before reaching inside the bag. He rifles around between the sheets of tissue paper and lifts out a stainless steel beer stein. He rotates it until he reads the words engraved on one side: BEST BOSS.
“I figured you might not be here drinking out of your Best Boss coffee mug, but there’s no reason you can’t be at home having a beer.”
“Maeve, I love this. Thank you. Can I hug you?”