by Ford, Aria
“He’s a little tired today, Stephen. I got him to eat some fruit, but he’s home for the day, just resting. I think we’ll stay in all day. Did you have plans this weekend?” Her voice was curious as well as a little worried.
“I told him that I’d take him to the aquarium tomorrow afternoon. Do you think that’s out?” I asked, frowning. Brandon had been so excited about it. He was seven, and not the little boy that I was used to.
“I’d keep an eye on him. Maybe Sunday?” she offered in a small voice as I leaned back in my chair. I gave Danielle the weekend off if I didn’t have anything to do for work, and she also went home to her boyfriend every night. I didn’t want someone living with us, because I was Brandon’s dad. I needed to take care of him, and if I needed help, I had Mom and my brother, Kevin, nearby. I had been alone with him early on and figured it out.
“I’ll check him tonight when I get home. It might be a movie day tomorrow,” I acknowledged as I ran a hand through my tousled hair that Danielle taught me to work with, telling me that women loved that look. I didn’t do it for any woman, since I didn’t have that kind of time. I was either at work or at home with my son, though I knew I spent a lot of time working. A lot of the activities that he did were with Mom or Kevin, and I’d go if I were free. I always told myself that giving him a good home at the edge of town was something a good dad would do; somewhere he could play and be outside. That was why I bought the house, but I wasn’t usually the one playing with him. “Thanks for taking care of him, Danielle. You’re a lifesaver.”
“I get paid to take care of the sweetest boy on the planet. I’m the lucky one,” she responded, telling me that she’d see me later. When Lacy left when Brandon was just one, I was completely thrown off my game. I had this job, which was new at the time after I graduated. I didn’t know the first thing about being a single working parent, and my family had full-time jobs as well.
Danielle was a godsend. She stepped right in, and Brandon fell in love with her. She made sure that he learned everything he needed to know to start school and took him all over the place when she had him all day. Now she dropped him off and picked him up at school, mainly when he wasn’t sick. I made it clear that Danielle was just his nanny and that she went home at night. We were a team, and I loved the little bit of time that we spent together.
It just wasn’t that much time. I had to work a lot to keep us in our house and keep Brandon clothed and fed. It was expensive to have a kid. Lacy didn’t do shit for us, and last I heard, she was traveling with her latest boy toy.
I got back to work, updating some charts and tracking how the new properties were doing. Since I’d started six years ago, we’d added several more properties and businesses as well. Those brought in more money than the houses and condominiums that we rented out, but both seemed to be needed equally. I fixed a few cups of coffee throughout the day, eating a sandwich that Paul brought me at my desk for lunch.
I decided that it would be pizza for dinner tonight if Brandon was up to it. He tended to eat light when he was feeling sick, just wanting to be cuddled while he slept. I noticed that he seemed clingy with me since Lacy left us, seeing the same thing with other people he was close to. It was exhausting, but I lived for my boy, and there wouldn’t be a day that I wasn’t there for him.
I left work after six, helping Martin with some issues before I called Danielle and asked her if she was okay staying just another few minutes. She always was. I asked Brandon if he wanted pizza and grinned when he told me that he was starving, knowing that Danielle kept him well-fed. I grabbed a few on the way home, knowing how much I ate. I was looking forward to relaxing on the couch tonight with Brandon, just letting the week go.
CHAPTER TWO
Mandy
I looked in the mirror with a nervous smile, checking my auburn waves. I was starting at a property management company today and sighed slowly. I loved my volunteer job teaching tennis and anything having to do with the outdoors, but my parents thought an office job would be better for me. That was the responsible thing to do, and since my whole family was so fucking logical about everything, I went with it. I played tennis for a casual sport but never pursued it as a career, despite being good enough for a lot of people to notice my skills.
I looked at my green sheath dress, slipping my feet into some black heels. I fixed a tall travel cup of coffee to take with me and started the engine to my old Corolla. I took a deep breath of the cool morning air, rolling down the window as a song that I liked played over the radio.
I thought about Morton Properties as I drove the short distance to the office. I took finance classes in college and initially thought about working for an accounting firm or something along those lines. I saw a job on LinkedIn and thought that it sounded interesting, maybe a little fun. The interview was great, and I liked the boss a lot. He was kind and seemed to care about his staff, and they laughed a lot when I was talking to them. The finance manager that I would be assisting was Stephen, and he was gorgeous but looked so serious. Not that I wanted to mix business with pleasure to begin with, but he was the typical accountant type that I imagined in my mind.
I pulled into the parking lot and looked at the large office building, feeling the nerves kick in all over again. I looked in the mirror, adding some gloss to my plum-stained lips. I didn’t wear a lot of makeup, since my light green eyes were already bright, but a little mascara seemed to make them pop. I grabbed my purse out of the car and walked inside, taking the elevator to the second floor to meet Martin for a tour.
He showed me two large break rooms that were equipped with multiple Keurig machines as well as various vending machines. They offered kitchenettes, and there were several restaurants within walking distance too. I followed him as he showed me the offices where the managers worked, smiling and waving as we were introduced. I knew that I wouldn’t initially remember names, but once I settled in, everything would be fine.
He took me to the third floor where there was a gym for the building to use. We were allowed access two hours before or after work to use it, which brightened me up after the boring aspects of the business. I could get some stress out that way when I was at work and break things up a bit. I enjoyed working out, since I didn’t play sports every day like I did in college. I looked over the guys and girls that were in there, feeling a little self-conscious about the curves that I had. I’d gained a few pounds over the last few years that I’d like to lose.
He took me to my small office, and I glanced around with a smile. It was my own space, and I watched as he showed me the software that I’d be using, before settling at my desk.
I looked over some of the spreadsheets that I would be working with to get familiar with them for a while before lunch rolled around. It seemed like everybody had a role here, and from what I heard through my cracked door, there was a lot of talking between the offices. I licked my lips and grabbed my purse to see what I could find for lunch, seeing a pretty blonde in the elevator that I recognized. “Mandy, right?” she asked, and I nodded. “I’m Stella. I’m in charge of purchasing.” She reached out her hand, and I shook it, telling her that it was nice to see her again. “Are you going for lunch?”
“I was going to walk around and find something to eat. I saw a few places when I was here for the interview,” I replied as she smiled brightly.
“If you like pasta, there’s this cute little place on the corner. Want to join me?” Her blue eyes twinkled, and I nodded “Great. How is your first day going?”
“I like the building, and everyone seems real nice. I just haven’t gotten to know anybody yet,” I replied as she chuckled.
“Everybody is nice.” She led the way to a small brick building and looked back at me with a secret smile. “Martin is the best boss I’ve ever had. You’ll meet his wife and kids soon, and they’re a joy. I think he’s the only guy that’s married here, but that doesn’t mean you should think about dating within the building, if you’re single. That’s brutal in a
n office setting.”
“I wasn’t planning on that,” I assured with a chuckle her as she walked through the doors. I wasn’t about to tell anyone how hot I thought my boss was. I sensed that Stella was a bit of a gossip and reminded myself to keep my business to myself.
“Paul will hit on you as soon as he has the chance, and he’s cute. He’s a total player, though. Stephen is gorgeous and keeps this place going, but he is so antirelationship. He’s a single dad, and I think that he spends all his time working or at home.” She shook her head and followed the hostess to a table. “From what I’ve heard, his girlfriend walked out on him when the baby was just a year old. He doesn’t even seem to notice that women work in the building.”
“Wow. That must be hard,” I remarked as I picked up the menu.
“Yeah. I can barely handle a job and an apartment,” she joked as we both laughed. We got to know each other a bit over lunch, and I felt like I was making a friend. I meant to go to the gym on lunch but got caught up in the conversation, deciding to go before or after work tomorrow.
I heard my phone chiming in my purse as I walked into my office, setting it down on the desk as I got settled. I checked the screen to see my ex, Chase, was trying to reach me, rolling my eyes.
C: Want to go to dinner tonight?
M: I’m busy, Chase.
C: Come on. I miss you.
Goodness. He was a nice guy, but I found the relationship to be so boring. It was so typical when it started, and then when I thought the sex might make up for his boring personality, I was wrong.
Chase was a missionary kind of man, and that seemed to be it. I gave him a few chances and suggested spicing things up. Once we were together for four months, I knew that I needed to end it and used finals as an excuse. He seemed to buy it, and we both graduated. Why was he back?
M: I am working right now, and I don’t really want to start things back up with you. It didn’t work then.
I figured that since we’d already had the breakup talk back then, it was better to just jump into it. Chase seemed to accept that and left me alone, and it made me think how I never met a man that aroused me the way the ones in the books did. Some of those guys were so dominant and alpha male and, let’s be honest, hot.
I glanced at my office door and thought about the guys that I’d seen here. There were the typical kinds you see at offices, but they seemed to all be older and friendly. I thought back to my interview when I met Stephen for just a moment and how much he’d struck me as just what I might be looking for. He didn’t even notice me, though. He looked tired and distracted. If I didn’t make an impression on him then, and Stella told me that he never dated at work, then it was a silly thought to begin with.
I was here to work. I’d settle into that, and the rest of my life would fall into place. Sure, I wasn’t doing what I loved here, but the salary was great, and I’d learn a lot. I could promote down the line and make something of myself. It would make my family happy, and eventually I’d meet a guy and have a relationship—maybe get married and have kids.
I laughed at the idea. I couldn’t wait to get home to the apartment that I shared with my best friend from all the way back to high school, Vanessa. That seemed like a long time, and I supposed that it was. Our apartment was the one place that I felt safe. I could be my true self there, and she would still love me all the same.
CHAPTER THREE
Stephen
I finished my day a bit later than usual but still had time for the gym. Hell yes. I needed to get on the treadmill and work out some of the endless stress that seemed to be in my life. I cleared it with Danielle and decided to spend an hour in there before going home to Brandon.
I talked to my brother, Kevin, before I clocked off for the night. He had tickets to a baseball game on Sunday and asked me to come along. He told me that he was bringing his wife, Terry. I knew there would be a few beers in it for me in that case if I wanted them.
Terry was the one that set me up with Lacy all those years ago. She thought that we’d be good together and have some fun. I wouldn’t say that she was wrong. We did all of that, and then she ended up getting pregnant because I got drunk a couple of times and didn’t use anything. I tried to make a go of it with her, but after the first rough year with the baby, Lacy walked away.
I would never blame my brother and Terry for that. Lacy acted like a jerk just fine on her own and abandoned her son, and we all adored the little guy. He changed the whole family dynamic with all of us and made me a better man.
“Bring a date along,” Kevin suggested, and I laughed aloud.
“Who the hell am I going to ask?” I shot back at him as I leaned back in my chair. I hadn’t noticed a woman in years. I was too damn busy working and being a dad. “I’ll bring Brandon. You know how much he loves games.” Shit. He’d been sick the last few days and might not be better by Sunday afternoon. “Damn it. He’s been sick. I’ll have to see how he feels.”
“I know you love him, Stephen. I just want you to have a life beyond that. Go out with a girl. Laugh. Get laid. They’re not all like Lacy,” he said, the pain in his voice clear.
“When the hell do I have time to date? I’m at this office all day and then home with Brandon,” I replied irritated at his words.
“You know that you have help. All you need to do is ask. Brandon loves spending the night at our place or with Mom.” Kevin’s words were gentle, and I knew that he meant well.
“I’ll try to figure something out, Kev. I am going to go to the gym and head home, see how the little man is doing. He wanted to do something tomorrow, and I hate to break plans, but I’ll work on the game.” We ended the call, and I dressed for a workout before heading up to the gym.
Most of the employees went after work, and tonight was no different. I nodded at Paul on a treadmill and walked over to join him, rolling my eyes at his antics. He was hitting on every fucking girl in the room. I just shook my head.
“How about drinks after this, Nadine? I know that you’re working up a thirst over there,” he called to the blonde as she shot a dark look our way.
“You’re such an asshole,” I muttered as I turned on the machine to a steady jog.
“I’ve managed to get more pussy than you,” he told me in a low voice as I shot him an incredulous look. Did Paul even realize how different our lives were? “Do you know many girls in the office want your dick, Stephen?”
“Enough,” I said, wanting him to stop before anyone heard his stupid babble. “I have more important things going on in my life.” I glanced up, looking across the gym to see a redhead in front of the bulletin board with some flyers in her hand. I frowned as I looked at her and then over at Paul. “Who’s that girl?”
“New girl. You met her the day she was interviewed. Martin was giving her a quick tour, and she met a lot of us. She’s hot, right? Single too!” Paul said as I tried to think what day he was talking about. Oh yeah. It was a couple of weeks back, and my boss showed a few people around before the main part of the interview. I’d been sharing a cold with Brandon and was tired that day. Hell, I was beyond tired. I took in her dark auburn hair and sweet curves and realized that I’d have to be dead not to take an extra look at her.
Wait a second. I hadn’t looked at a woman since Lacy bailed on me. I never looked at work to start something, because it only caused problems in the end. But something about being a single father took away all my spontaneity. The woman was fine, though, and as she leaned up to pin something to the large board, I felt something inside me that I had thought was dead.
I felt alive. Attraction. I felt the urge to get to know someone again.
Paul noticed me looking her way for a beat longer than I normally would and tilted his head at me. “Is Stephen actually noticing a girl that works with us? Are you feeling sick?”
“Fuck off,” I told him in a low voice as I stared forward again. I was a man, and I had needs, even if they’d been lying dormant for years. Kevin’s words about h
aving help played through my mind as I kept running and took a deep breath. Maybe he was right, but Brandon already had a mother that walked out on him. He needed me, and I had no clue how to have a son and a relationship.
I looked over to see the girl walking to the board closer to us. She was putting up a flyer about a tennis camp at the YMCA for kids. It reminded me that I’d been looking for something to do with Brandon that would keep us active, get us out of the house. That might do the trick, since he’d taken to watching the sport on television as of late.
I stopped the treadmill and Paul stared at me as if I was insane. Maybe I was. I wrapped the towel around my neck and walked over to where she was finishing, reading about the weekend camp that ran for a few weeks.
Saturday. I checked, and it started tomorrow, just in time for the beginning of summer. That might be fun for both of us. I knew that Brandon missed me because I worked so much, but it was difficult to explain to a young kid how hard it was to be an adult. It was even harder to be a parent and an adult. I could only hope that he’d understand someday.
I looked at the girl. She was a few inches shorter than I was. I was caught off guard by her light, bright green eyes that had specks of emerald green in the irises. She smiled shyly at me, looking a little scared as our eyes locked. “Hi there. I’m Stephen James. I hear that it’s your first day.” I offered her my hand, and the woman stared at it for a moment, acting like it might bite.
Fuck, she was gorgeous. She wasn’t dressed for a workout, but her dress hinted at full breasts and a toned body underneath. I’d already looked at her ass, and that was spectacular.
“Yeah, I’m new. I met you at the interview, but…yeah. Anyway, my name is Mandy Miles.” She offered me a sweet, genuine smile and shook my hand, looking into my face. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ll be helping you out with the financial end of the business with you, I’m told.”