by Mandy Morgan
And in the morning, I was going to make sure Jessica understood that…
Chapter Six
Jessica
I woke up with a start, my eyes wide and my heart pounding. I had no idea where I was for a full thirty seconds and I had to fight off panic.
But then the night before came flooding back and I felt a jolt of heat rush up my thighs and ignite in between my legs, before it traveled to my face.
I couldn’t believe I’d slept with my boss. And that I was still lying naked on his couch. My cheeks flamed as I searched the room for my clothes.
I had to get out of there – I don’t know what I’d been thinking last night, but now there was bright sunlight on my face and I was feeling sane again.
Yes, there was a definite connection between Adam and I, not to mention a serious attraction, but he was my damn boss and more than a decade my senior.
I should be focusing on keeping my job. Besides, I may not know a lot about men, but I did know about one-night stands and the walk of shame. Which I was sadly about to have to make.
Just as I was pulling on my jeans and was about to grab my purse and shoes, I heard whistling coming from the other room and I froze in place. I’d been in such a tizzy, I hadn’t even thought about where Adam was right then.
He came sauntering in with a cup of coffee in each hand, wearing nothing but boxer briefs and a huge smile. Seeing his handsome face looking so kind and open almost made me melt. But I knew I had to stay strong. Jobs weren’t easy to come by around here and I had to save mine.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Adam rumbled. “I thought you’d want some caffeine and a shower before heading into the shop. I laid out a couple of towels for you in the bathroom.”
“Oh, well, I figured I should probably…”
My words drifted off as I tried to think of how to tell Adam I thought things should go back to the way they were before our steamy night together.
I watched as he took in my shoes and purse in my hand. Adam’s eyes went flinty and I cringed as I thought back to his angry outburst over Duke Turner the day before.
“What the hell’s going on, Jessica?”
Adam’s words came out icy and I was suddenly terrified of being alone with him. I started backing toward the door, never taking my eyes off him.
“I think I should take a couple days off and clear my head,” I said softly. “I-I-I’m just not sure where to go from here. I don’t know what to do, Adam. I’m so sorry…”
And then I reached the front door, turned the knob, and flung it open. I hurried out into the sunlight, trying not to hear Adam calling out my name as I fled with an aching heart and a racing mind.
Adam
Seeing Jessica back away from me with fear and confusion in her eyes damn near broke my heart. I had been expecting a very different greeting and the shock left me frozen for longer than I’d like to admit.
But then I snapped out of it and realized that the best thing in my life was hurrying away from me and out into the world alone. I couldn’t have that, no way, no how.
I dropped the cups of coffee I was holding to the floor, not giving a damn about the mess or the fact that I was in my boxers, and rushed out the door.
“Jessica! Where are you going? You don’t have a ride and don’t know this neighborhood,” I called out to her as I saw her scurrying down the sidewalk.
She made it to the corner and stopped. As I got closer to her, I saw that her shoulders were shaking, and when I reached out and turned her toward me, I saw that she had fat tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Oh, honey,” I said in a soft, soothing voice as I pulled her into my arms. “What’s going on? Why did you run?”
Jessica collapsed against me and sobbed. Neither of us said another word for several long moments, but finally she looked up at me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen.
“I’m just so scared and alone, Adam. I had to give up on my dream of being an artist, and I have no one to come home to every night, and I don’t want to lose my job, and I’m just so…so…”
She couldn’t seem to finish her thoughts and broke down into sobs once more. “Come on, honey, let’s go back inside and you can tell me what’s on your mind.”
I tucked her against my side and led her back toward the house, pressing soft kisses onto the top of her head as we went.
Epilogue
Jessica
“What’s the plan for tonight?” Adam asked as I packed up my bag. “More sketching or do you think you’ll finally get to tackle watercolors?”
I turned and gave him a flirty smile. “You’ll just have to stay up and find out when I get back, now won’t you?”
“Oh, you know I’m always up and ready around you, honey,” he growled playfully and pulled me into his arms for a kiss that was quick but still managed to light me on fire inside.
It’s been seven months since my first night with Adam and my life has changed so much, it’s almost insane, to be totally honest.
I look back on me running out into the street like a silly little idiot and have to laugh. I’d been so worried about losing my job and possibly my reputation in our small town, I’d acted like a total fool.
But Adam had been wonderful. He’d brought me back into the house, sat me down, brought me a fresh cup of coffee, and put an arm around me as I let all of the sadness out.
I’d kept so much inside for so long after my parents died, it was like a floodgate had been opened and I drowned us both in tears and feelings.
Adam hadn’t batted an eye. He’d just sat with me and listened. When I got to the part about being worried about my job, he’d placed his hands on either side of my face and looked me square in the eyes.
“I told you already, I want to take care of you, honey, and I meant that for always and forever.”
Every bridge I’d ever built around myself crumbled right then and there. I felt whole again for the first time since my loss.
“I love you!” I’d burst out, and again, Adam hadn’t skipped a beat. He’d leaned in and kissed me, and told me he loved me, too.
We’d been together almost every moment since then, and I couldn’t be happier if I tried. Not only did I not lose my job, Adam had made me a partner in the business, moved me into his home, and helped me to get signed up for art classes after work at the local junior college.
I was about to leave for my latest class, and I hummed a happy tune as I made my way across the parking lot, stopping long enough to admire the new sign I’d help design for Hanson’s Repair Shop.
Adam and I had worked hard to get the word out about the awesome service he provided, and we’d been pleased to see that our bottom line had actually grown, even after losing Duke Turner as a client.
He’d never darkened our doorstop after that confrontation he’d had with Adam all those months ago, and the boss man had definitely been right about what he’d said – we were better off without that jerk.
I finally felt loved and good about my future. I didn’t know what tomorrow would hold, but I knew that whatever it was, Adam and I would face it together.
I’d let go, opened my heart to my older boss, and come out better than ever on the other side of things. I no longer felt sad, lonely, and empty on the inside.
I’d been restored by Adam’s love and I know he’d say the same thing about mine. It was us against the world and that was just how we liked it!
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About the Author
Mandy Morgan is a professional phone sex operator and writer of steamy romances for women.
When she's not reading or writing about sexy Alpha males, she's probably on the phone or at the beach.
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