Page 18

I woke up to an empty apartment and frowned.

The silence felt different this morning, heavier somehow.

But why?

I stretched, blinking at the familiar surroundings. But I paused as I made to stand up at the decidedly unfamiliar soreness between my legs.

Duh me.

It was obvious what I was feeling. It was him. Connor. Or rather, his absence that struck me as wrong in the cold light of this December morning.

Stupid, Clem. Really, stupid.

Somehow, during our interlude I had briefly allowed myself to hope for more.

But what did I really expect? That Connor Callahan would magically have feelings for me after one night in my bed? That he would have stayed the night. Asked for more?

Ugh.

I sounded like one of my Aunt Sofia’s novels. Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading them. In fact, I used to sneak them out of my mom’s office when I was far too young for that kind of thing.

But I just couldn’t help myself.

Her stories were like nothing I ever read. They were fun and romantic. Full of bold women and headstrong men. And the endings— God, the endings —they were just so perfect.

But that was fiction, and this was reality.

Connor was not to blame. He was not the bad guy here. So, I couldn’t blame him for taking what I freely offered and hightailing it out of here quick as he could.

I mean, we made no plans to speak or see each other again.

It had all been so simple, so clear from the start. No promises, no strings—one night. Just the way it was meant to be.

It was just as well. Really, I had no expectations whatsoever.

That was the sensible thing. The smart thing.

But even as I told myself that, I couldn’t help the slight tug of disappointment.

It wasn’t a crushing weight, just a quiet reminder that maybe, deep down, I had wanted something more.

Something to linger.

Something to hold on to.

Even if only for a little while.

The emptiness of my ritzy apartment mirrored the cold, bleak winter’s day waiting for me outside.

The gray sky hung low, and a chill crept through me as I looked out the window.

Knock it off, Clem.

My inner voice was a bitch, but she was right. I wasn’t going to let this get to me.

And I had zero right to feel put out.

So, today I would just push through, one step at a time.

I’d had good sex last night for the first time in like ever. Okay, it was better than good. It was fantastic. Explosive. Like Vesuvius.

Then he left. Like he should have. Like I’d expected him to.

That I felt weepy thinking about it was my own mess.

My baggage. Not his.

Just breathe. You’re fine. Everything is fine.

My inner voice was right. This wasn’t the end of the world.

Even if it was Monday.

Today was an office day. My last week working for Pop’s company, and I had no choice but to get ready and face it head on.

My family was great, but they were relentless when they suspected one of us was sad or upset. I needed to shake this off before I got there.

Work was good.

It would distract me.

Besides, I had too much going on right now to think about relationships.

There was a whole world out there, waiting to be lived, and I couldn’t let a little disappointment keep me from making the most of it.

No more lingering thoughts, I told myself and took a deep breath and set about my morning routine.

Shower. Dress. Coffee. Go.

Truth was Connor did me a favor. I had no time for him or any man.

At least, that was what I told myself. And I kept telling myself that the entire time I rode into the city with the driver my father had sent that morning. All the way up until I got in the elevator.

Then my phone pinged with a text alert.

I looked down at the unfamiliar number before clicking on the message. When I read it, I damn near swooned.

Connor

Have a good day at work, Darlin’.

Holy shit. He texted me! I bit my lip, walking blindly to my office as I thought about my reply.

Me

Who is this? You’ve reached a private number.

He replied immediately, and my heart started to thud.

Connor

You’re funny in the morning. Dinner tonight. Chez Paul. 7PM.

I grinned.

Me

Not sure if I can make it. I’ll have to check my schedule.

Connor

Clementine.

Me

Good news. I think I have an opening for you.

Connor

Christ, Woman, I almost spilled my coffee.

Me

OMG. I didn’t mean that kind of opening!

Connor

Funny and naughty in the morning. I’ll remember that Darlin’. Just save the rest of your dirty jokes for me. Now tell me you’ll see me later.

Me

Goodbye.

Connor

Clementine.

Me

Okay, I’ll see you later. Goodbye, Mr. Bossy Pants.

I tucked my phone back into my leather portfolio just as Pop rounded the corner.

“Hey there, Pumpkin. How are you? The ride in okay?”

“Yes, it was fine. Everything is good.”

“Good. I sent you some paperwork via email. I need to start the process of transferring access to your files to Jameson today. Best to get him acquainted with everything asap.”

I nodded, already on it. But Pop just stood there with a wistful expression on his face.

“What is it?” I asked.

For a moment, I thought maybe he knew about last night. Me and Connor. And I cringed. My family could be a little bit overprotective. Okay, like scary overprotective.

But I needn’t have worried. Pop just pulled me in for a hug, and I rolled my eyes and went with it. He was really a great father. The perfect blend of affectionate and overbearing, really.

“Nothing. You’re just so grown up. I’m proud of you and what you are trying to do. Mom, too,” he said, and smiled, shaking his head.

“Well, thanks to you both. Drew’s Place is going to be able to open its doors officially in January. I’m really excited.”

“Mom is, too. By the way, she said she wants all of you over to help with the Christmas party at the ranch early on the 24th.”

“Sure, Pop. Like always,” I said and nodded.

The ranch was an affectionate name for one of several houses owned by my parents. This one was in upstate New York and housed a state-of-the-art barn where we kept horses, some goats, and chickens, too. We had a fantastic garden there, as well.

It was my favorite house, and because of that, we spent every Christmas there ever since I was three and threw a tantrum when they tried to make me leave before Santa came with his presents.

I still don’t know how they managed to get the whole family there that night and all the gifts, but when I woke up the next day, it was the most wonderful surprise.

Now, it was tradition.

I bit my lip, walking into my office, and wondered if Connor had traditions like that. I shook my head.

Curiosity simmered below the surface as I went about my day. The need to know more about the man who’d made me see stars last night grew hotter and more urgent, like magma waiting to surface.

The fact he wanted to see me again had me trying to fill in all the blanks. Made me want to guess his reasons for contacting me again.

Does he like me?

Does he just want a replay of last night?

I needed to relax. It was not like Connor was dying of love for me. He only asked me to dinner, for fuck’s sake.

No big deal.

“Clem? Did you hear me?” Jameson asked.

He was sitting opposite me inside my office, and I flicked my gaze over to him. No, I hadn’t heard him.

“Sorry, I was just thinking,” I said, and offered a small smile.

He’d been with Sigma for a couple of years on the tech side and I’d worked with him before.

I trusted my father knew what he was doing, but even though Jameson was good at his job, he was a bit of a braggart. Always claiming he figured stuff out that he really didn’t do.

I had an inkling he took credit for things he didn’t have a claim to, but I had no solid proof. So I kept that to myself.

Andrea absolutely abhorred him. She worked for Sigma, too. And neither of us had any use for a man with that big an ego and nothing to back it.

“It’s Clementine,” I corrected him, though, really, I’d rather he call me Miss Aziz.

We weren’t close enough for him to use the nickname reserved for family. In fact, we weren’t even friends.

“Sure, sure. But only another week, right?” Jameson smiled and there was something off-putting about it.

“Another week?” I asked, clearly not following.

“Yeah. This is your last week at Sigma. Then we won’t be coworkers, and I can finally ask you out,” he said, smiling even wider and gesturing as if he were giving me some kind of gift.

“Um, Jameson, I don’t know where you got the idea?—”

“Not here, Clementine ,” he replied, and winked. “We won’t talk about it until Friday at the close of business.”

Then the imbecile nodded at me, like we were having a moment.

“Uh,” I began, not sure how to react to whatever the man was talking about.

“Anyway, I, um, just sent the rest of the permission you’ll need to take over cyber securities for Dover and Westchester. As you know, every client of Sigma International expects updates in real time and complete transparency from our department. Once you fill out the requests, I can get them approved for you,” I said, trying my best to stay professional.

But what the actual fuck?

I had never in my life looked at Jameson with anything other than proper workplace etiquette and courtesy demanded.

“You got it, Clementine ,” he replied, emphasis on my name.

I was really starting to regret not telling him to call my Miss Aziz.

A moment later, my cousin, Andrea, was knocking on the door. I nodded for her to come in and widened my gaze, giving her the look she’d recognize as don’t you fucking dare go anywhere .

“Hey, uh, I have the files you needed,” she said, lifting the black folder she held in her hand.

Likely, it was proofs from Michaela’s son’s christening, since Andrea toyed around with photography on the side.

The woman had more hobbies and interests than anyone else I knew.

But I supposed that came with the territory of being a veritable genius. She had countless awards, degrees, and even a Mensa certificate to prove it.

“Great! Um, thank you, Jameson. That will be all.”

“Until Friday, Clementine,” he said in a stage whisper, and walked past Andrea with a saucy grin on his face.

“What the hell was that about?” she asked, sitting down with a repulsed expression.

“I have no fucking idea, Andy. I mean, he is so gross!” I whispered.

“Tell me about it. Why does he say your name like that?”

“I don’t know. He tried calling me Clem, and I told him my name was Clementine, then he goes and acts like that’s me following some no fraternization thing at work. And somehow the fucker went from there to how he was waiting until my last day to ask me out,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

Andrea made a gagging noise, and I snorted. Then we both locked eyes, and we laughed.

Loudly.

Thank fuck for soundproof offices, though that did nothing to stop folks from seeing us bent over and gasping through the completely see through glass walls.

Oh, well.

Sometimes it was good to be the boss’ daughter.