Page 94 of Reluctantly Yours

“I didn’t realize he was that much older than your mom.”

“He was a bachelor, married to his work before my mother convinced him to settle down. Except marriage and a child didn’t really change his work habits. With my father absent all the time, I imagined a different life for myself. Traveling, having a family and being young enough to see my kids graduate and get married or have kids of their own. One where I would be there for my children. Not an empty chair at the dinner table. I wanted to do things differently. Ironically, now business is the only thing I care about.”

“That’s not true.” Chloe shakes her head. “You care about your mother.”

“When her opinions aren’t suffocating me.”

“And surely your friendships, like with Carl.”

“I can take him or leave him,” I joke, but Chloe doesn’t laugh. “I’m an island that no one wants to get stuck on.”

“Not true. I’m here and I like it.”

“That’s because I’ve plied you with orgasms.”And blackmailed you to be my fake girlfriend.

Chloe’s quiet and I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing.

“Two more days until these nails come off.” She lifts her hand off my chest to wave her fingers.

“You must be excited.”

I press the palm of my hand to hers, then our fingers interlace.

“Beyond.” She bends her fingers, tickling the underside of my fingers. “I have gotten more used to them. I can probably do most tasks now without injuring myself or others.”

As if to prove it, she circles her nail around my nipple.

“How long is this game going to go on?” she asks.

“How long do you want to play?”

“I’m determined to win. I still can’t believe you’re that good at WordIt.”

“It must be beginner’s luck,” I say. Knowing full well luck has nothing to do with it.

We fall asleep like that. Chloe’s head on my chest and my heart beating steady under the palm of her hand.

* * *

“You’re in a good mood,” Carl comments.

“I’m in a fucking great mood,” I say, spinning my racquet before wiping the sweat from my brow, then tossing the towel onto the bench. Sleeping with Chloe in my arms last night, I was the most content I’ve ever been.

When I woke up this morning with Chloe tucked in beside me, I thought about how I could get used to that. Her beautiful, smiling face greeting me every morning. Me pressing her hands over her head so that I can kiss her even though she insists that she needs to brush her teeth first. The desire to have her building to an immeasurable level.

“You know, I have to hand it to you. I wasn’t sure we’d get Fred to come around, but you did it.” Carl takes a drink of water. “We’re still waiting to hear back from Voltaire’s legal team, but I think the deal is well on its way.”

Right. Another reason to be in a fantastic mood.

“Good,” I say, albeit distracted by thoughts of Chloe.

Carl laughs. “Good? That’s all? You’ve only been obsessed with landing this deal for the past few months.”

“And we’ll close the deal, so we’re good.”

“And then what?”

“What do you mean?”