Protecting Her Heart

by Chance Carter

  “Don’t come in to the office on Monday,” I said, lowering my voice.

  We were getting looks from people going by us on the street as her lip began to tremble, and I didn’t want any of them to overhear what our conversation was about.

  “And I never want to hear from you again. This is over, do you hear me? It never even started.”

  “Oliver, I love you,” she pleaded, but I cut her off before she could go any further.

  I didn't want to hear it. It had been a long time since anyone had told me they loved me, and I had no idea how to react to the knowledge that Jeannie had felt that strongly about me. The last time I said it had been to my first, post-college girlfriend, and that was so long ago I was hardly able to remember it.

  Since then, it was nothing but flings, one night stands, and fun, specifically designed to ensure that nobody would ever get too attached to me.

  “No, you don’t,” I assured her, finding my voice again, as though I wanted everyone to hear it. “You don’t. You just think you do, and I need you to rid yourself of that delusion, sooner rather than later, and let me get on with my life.”

  Tears streamed down her face, as though they had always been there waiting to be released, and her entire body collapsed against mine. I waved down a cab, not sure what else to do. I eased her into the back seat, and she slumped down against the leather. I closed the door and hoped to God it would be the last I ever saw of Jeannie.

  She turned up at the office a few more times, but I hadn’t actually laid eyes on her, thank goodness. She kept coming, telling anyone who would listen what had happened between us and how I had forsaken and abandoned her when she had done nothing but care for me.

  We had to get a restraining order against her, and it became official about three months ago, long enough now that I hadn’t seen her in what felt like forever. She never tried to violate the order, to my knowledge, and I had no interest in spending the rest of my life peering around every corner to make sure she wasn’t there. She was gone, and that was all that mattered.

  I had no interest in seeing any of that go down again. I shuddered at the thought.

  Still, it was a few days out of the country together, just Mona and me. No matter what, I had to remember the downsides to an affair with Mona, no matter how tempting she was, how gorgeous she looked, how much I wanted to wrap my arms around her, kiss her, and feel her tongue against mine. No matter how hot the thought of that was making me.

  I reached for my laptop and went to book our tickets, banishing those thoughts from my mind. At least for now. While I still could.

  Chapter 13

  Mona

  “I can’t believe we have a private jet,” I said, shaking my head as we approached the airport.

  Oliver shrugged.

  “Masterson insisted on it,” he said grinning in my direction. “And I’m not about to turn him down.”

  I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. It had all gone down so fast. On Monday morning, Oliver was standing in my office with his eyebrows raised, asking if I wanted to come to Europe with him, and now, here we were, a few minutes away from getting on a ridiculously luxurious, private jet and flying out to London. To fucking London!

  I crossed and uncrossed my legs and shot Oliver a look across the taxi. I knew this was just a business trip and that was all, but we were still spending the next four days alone together. Just us. How was that not exciting? Anything could happen, or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

  We pulled up at the airport, and the driver who’d been sent to the office stepped out to open my door for me. I smiled at him appreciatively and wondered if people ever got used to taking this kind of treatment. I hoped I never did.

  “Be my guest,” Oliver said as he gestured for me to ahead of him.

  I could see a glint in his eye that gave away he was delighted to be able to give me this kind of experience. I made my way slowly toward the jet, putting one foot in front of the other, as though I expected the ground to vanish out from underneath me at any second. I couldn’t quite believe this was happening.

  There was someone waiting for us at the bottom of the steps, a woman a little older than me. She beamed as I got closer, as though she couldn’t be more delighted to see me.

  “Welcome,” she said, nodding and sweeping her hand up the steps. “I’m Gloria. I’ll be serving you today.”

  She had a British accent, the kind you heard on stereotypical TV characters in British sitcoms, and I had to suppress an amused giggle.

  I made my way up the steps and into the aircraft, gripping the handrail tightly to make sure the wind didn’t whip me out onto the runway.

  It was warm inside, the lighting soft, and everything around me surely cost more than a month’s rent for my apartment. My mouth hung open as I looked around. This place was incredible. I had flown a couple of times before, but none of the aircraft I’d been on had looked anything close to this swanky.

  The space was made up for maybe half a dozen people, at most, with a handful of luxurious, leather seats next to gleaming windows, and low tables that looked like they were plucked straight from an interior design magazine.

  Another woman greeted me as I walked in, and handed me a glass of champagne. “Welcome, Mrs. Paulson,” she said and nodded with a professional smile.

  “Oh, I’m not-” I tried to correct her, but she had already turned to greet Oliver, and I shrugged. Not that big a deal.

  I made my way up the aisle and sat in one of the enormous seats near the back. Oliver joined me, planting himself directly opposite me and raising his glass.

  “Mrs. Paulson.” he smirked, and I rolled my eyes, leaning over to clink my glass against his.

  “What was that about?” I replied, taking a sip of my drink. God knows how expensive this champagne was, but it was damn good.

  “I think the Masterson group are a pretty traditional company,” he explained. “They’d just assume that you were my partner, you know?”

  “Should we tell them?” I asked, and he shrugged.

  “Probably wouldn’t do any harm to let them keep thinking we’re married,” he replied. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

  “If it helps you get the account.”

  I grabbed the ring that usually lived on my index finger and switched it over to the ring finger of my left hand, waggling my fingers in front of my face to show him. “I do.”

  “I’ve got to say, I’ve done pretty well for our honeymoon,” he said laughing as he gestured around, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, this place is pretty amazing,” I admitted. “Not quite what I pictured for my honeymoon but…”

  “Why, what did you have in mind?”

  He grinned mischievously, and my stomach flipped. Here I was, talking about my fucking honeymoon with a guy I’d sworn I was going to keep things platonic with.

  “I always liked the idea of a road trip,” I replied. “Go see both our families, explore. Just drive around and hang out.”

  “I can’t imagine ever liking anyone enough to risk spending that much time with just the two of us on our own.”

  He shook his head.

  “No, I think I’d go out to Europe.”

  “Just like this?” I asked.

  “Maybe without the business meetings,” he admitted, “but yeah, something like this.”

  “Sounds pretty perfect.” I cocked my head at him. “Though, you’d have to stop having your dates turn up at the office if you want to find a wife.”

  “Oh, come on,” he protested playfully. “What kind of woman wouldn’t let me have my old dates hanging out at work all the time?”

  “A much more understanding one than me.”

  I raised my eyebrows at him and finished up my champagne. Almost without a pause, the hostess whisked my empty glass away and placed another one in my hand. I raised my eyebrows at her as she backed off, surprised at just how slick this entire operation was.

  “You’ll be a great
wife. You’re so organized. You’ll keep any guy on the right track.”

  “I’m not going to marry anyone who needs to be kept on track,” I shot back.

  “I don’t imagine you will, no,” he agreed, cocking his head. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  “No.” I said, shaking my head. “Not for a while. Not since high school.”

  “Seriously?”

  He sounded surprised.

  “Why? You think I should have settled down by now?”

  “No, it’s not that. I just, I don’t know, I assumed someone like you would have found someone by now. That’s all.”

  “Just me and my roommate.” I shrugged.

  The alcohol was loosening me up, and I knew it. I should have slowed down, but I was enjoying myself too much.

  “No one in college?” he asked.

  “No one worth mentioning,” I replied. “I was too busy studying to date.”

  “Yeah, me neither,” he joked.

  “I don’t even think I want to imagine you in college,” I teased.”

  “Ha, I wasn’t that bad,” he protested. “I was busy, too. Didn’t get where I am today by dating too much.”

  “So you’re catching up now?”

  “Pretty much.” He nodded. “Feels that way.”

  “That’s what I’ll do,” I replied with certainty. “When I’ve gotten to where I want to be in my career, I’ll start dating properly. I don’t have time for it now.”

  “Where do you want to be in your career?” he asked, and I realized with a start what this felt like – a date. A first date. All the questions, the alcohol, the unfamiliar setting. It felt like we were testing the waters, getting to know each other for the first time. Which, well, maybe we were.

  “I… I don’t know.” I looked down at my hands. “I’m only just out of college. I don’t know exactly where I want to be yet, but I know I want it to be good.”

  “I’m certain you’ll get whatever it is you’re looking for,” he offered warmly, flashing me one of those devastatingly gorgeous smiles. I felt my heart flutter and averted my gaze down to my lap, forcing myself to take a deep breath.

  I had a feeling this was going to be a long flight.

  Chapter 14

  Oliver

  It was late by the time we arrived in the UK. The flight had taken hours, switching between time zones a few times, and I had no idea what hour it was.

  Mona had fallen asleep on the plane, hand dangling over the edge of her seat as her breathing slowed and steadied. I watched her for a little while until I realized what I was doing and forced myself to look away. I didn’t want to be creepy.

  When we arrived, Mona’s head snapped up and she looked around blearily.

  “What time is it?” she asked.

  “Local time, or our time?” I replied and gestured out the window. It was dark, and there was a light drizzle of rain.

  “We should get to the hotel,” she yawned. “How far away is it?”

  “I don’t know, but they’ll have sent a car for us.”

  I stretched and got to my feet. I had spent the flight going over the details of the contract I was hoping to enter into with them, and I was way too excited to get any rest.

  “Thank goodness.”

  She brushed some sleep from her eyes and stood up, pressing her face to the window and cupping her hands around her eyes so she could get a better look out the glass. “I can’t believe we’re actually here.”

  “We sure are,” I assured her, and the door to the cabin opened. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I need to get to the hotel and email Neil.”

  We went outside and stepped into the car that was waiting for us. I held the door for Mona, but she was so tired, I wasn’t sure she even noticed.

  She slumped into the back seat, her bag clutched on her lap, and her head hanging as we pulled away and made our way through the warm promise of the London night.

  It wasn’t the first time I’d been to London. I’d come years ago when we first started making real money at the company, and I was determined to make the most of it while I still could. That was years ago, though, and the city had changed a lot since then. Even what little I could see out the dark windows, had changed big time, and I couldn’t wait for the meeting to be over with so I could enjoy myself a little and get a better look around.

  I’d only have a day or two in town before I had to fly back out, but I intended to make the most of it, all the same.

  We arrived at the hotel, and I reached over to wake Mona. She lifted her head, opened her eyes, and frowned at me, as though pissed she’d been dragged from her peaceful slumber.

  “We’re here.” I nodded up at the hotel, and she peered out the window, raising her eyebrows.

  “Holy cow, is this actually where we’re staying?”

  She looked over at me as we climbed out of the vehicle. I nodded and shrugged.

  “It’s pretty nice,” I agreed and it was an understatement.

  The building towered over us, a twenties-style façade on the outside and an enormous entryway covered by a gold and red canopy that glowed in the light of the street.

  Mona hooked her bag over her shoulder and we went inside.

  “Good evening,” I said as I arrived at reception, which was manned by an immaculately well put together woman around the same age as me.

  From the looks of this hotel, it was the kind of place that hired people when they were eighteen and trained them until they were experts at their jobs.

  She offered me a tight smile in greeting as I leaned up on the counter.

  “Paulson and Richards? We should have rooms booked with the Masterson account,” I explained as Mona yawned widely beside me, trying to cover her mouth with her hand.

  “I have a room under Paulson here,” the woman replied. “But nothing under Richards.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a double room.”

  She glanced over at Mona and caught a glimpse of the ring she’d jokingly moved to her wedding finger on the flight.

  “For you and your wife?”

  “No, we’re not-”

  I shook my head, and looked over at Mona.

  “Two beds?” Mona asked the receptionist, and she glanced down at the screen.

  “Just one,” she replied.

  Mona looked up at me.

  “I need to get some sleep,” she murmured, her eyes bleary. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

  “Fine,” I replied, maybe a little too quickly. “Can we book in?”

  “Of course.”

  We quickly got our keys and climbed into the elevator to head up to our room. Mona swayed on her feet, obviously exhausted, and as soon as we got into the room, she dumped her bag, kicked off her shoes, and crawled into the enormous bed at the center. Then, she turned over and looked around the room.

  “Holy hell, look at this place,” she said, pushing herself up on to her forearms to look around.

  I had to admit, the place was stunning – luxurious in that understated way the British did so well. Lots of polished wood, heavy curtains, thick carpets, the kind of place that a couple might splurge on for a romantic weekend.

  “I should have a shower,” she mumbled as she got to her feet, heading to the bathroom and grabbing her bag as she did so.

  “I think I’m going to get some room service. You want something?” I asked.

  I knew it was late and that I would have likely been better off just getting some sleep, but with the meeting late into the morning tomorrow, I knew I could take some time to relax and de-stress before I went to bed.

  “Yes, I’d love that,” she called through. “Just get me something light.”

  “Will do,” I replied, and grabbed my laptop out of my bag as she pulled the door shut behind her.

  I reached for a room service menu as my computer booted up and called reception to order some salad and something sweet to celebrate the fact we were finally here.

  I turned t
o work on my computer, to let Neil know we were here safely and ready to move forward. Before I knew it, there was a knock on the door to let me know my room service had arrived.

  I got to my feet, made my way over to the door, and glanced over in the direction of the bathroom – freezing on the spot.

  The door had swung open, and Mona hadn’t bothered to pull across the shower curtain. She had her back to me, but I could see more than I ever should have seen. She was washing her hair, arms up over her head, water cascading over her sexy, naked body as she absently hummed to herself.

  My eyes widened, and I knew I should have looked away, but it was as if my eyes were pinned to her. And then, of course, she turned around.

  “Shit,” I mumbled, slamming the door shut.

  She caught me. There was no damn way she hadn’t seen me looking at her. I opened the room door, grabbed the food from the guy, and turned back into the room to dump it all on the bed.

  My appetite had vanished. All I could think of was her in that shower, her looking back at me, her eyes wide and her mouth parted as the cool water teased her nipples to attention.

  This was going to be a challenge.

  Chapter 15

  Mona

  I climbed out of the shower slowly. Had he really seen me like this, totally naked? I hoped he didn’t think I left the door hanging open intentionally. I was sure I had closed it, but either I was wrong or it had swung open on its own.

  My head spun as I dried myself and I quickly slipped into my pajamas. The fabric was thick flannel, cozy, and I was able to forget for a second that my boss had just seen me completely naked.

  My stomach rumbled. I was starving, and I couldn’t stay in here forever. Placing my hand on the door handle, I felt as though I might explode with nervousness. I just needed to breeze by this. I was a professional, and nothing that happened would change that.

  I opened the door and Oliver was waiting outside, standing at the opposite end of the room, as though placing as much distance between us as possible would somehow shield us from any more uncomfortable situations.