by Krista Lakes
“That's not what happened at all,” he told her, trying his best to keep his voice level. Inside, he wanted to strangle someone.
She raised her eyebrows and took a sip from her straw. “It's not?” She didn't sound convinced.
“Not even close,” he replied. He raised his hand and signaled to the bartender for another round. He was going to need a lot more alcohol.
“So what do you think happened?” she asked, setting her drink down and crossing her arms.
“I was tied up with business all that Sunday,” he explained. “But I wanted to see you. I couldn't stop talking about you to my secretary. You met her at the party.”
“Your secretary? You mean the lady in the red dress who wanted you under the mistletoe?” Laura asked. She pursed her lips and let out a breath. “I bet she just looooved that.”
He had to agree with her. In hindsight, it was coming together now. The whole issue between them was all due to a jealous secretary.
“I had an interview Monday morning, so I left my phone with Janie,” he explained. “I was going to call you as soon as the interview was done to go rock climbing. I was looking forward to it.”
“Uh-huh,” she replied, taking a small sip of her drink. She still had most of her drink left, and she certainly didn't look convinced at his story.
“You must have called while I was giving the interview,” he told her. “I swear to you, I didn't tell her to say any of those things, and I never said any of what she claimed.”
“Why'd she say it then?”
Ethan sighed and took a sip of his drink. “She thought we were dating. She was sure that I was falling madly in love with her and was going to sweep her off her feet Prince Charming style at any time.”
“She thought you were a cliché romance novel hero?” Laura asked.
“I had to fire her because she wouldn't take no for an answer. We had to call security to forcibly remove her from the building, and my lawyers had to set up a restraining order,” he replied. “It was a complete and total mess.”
She played with her drink straw, mulling over his words. When she looked back up, he could see she was starting to believe him.
“Thinking about it, I can actually see her doing that,” she said after a moment. “She seemed pretty possessive of you at the party. I mean, I met her for all of five minutes, but...”
She shrugged and took another sip of her drink. She wasn't even half done with it when the bartender arrived with their second round. This time, she just dropped them off at the table and bolted rather than waiting to see if they had an order.
“I called you. Or rather, I called the number on my phone for you,” he amended, picking up his new drink. “It went straight to voicemail, and I couldn't leave a message due to it being full.”
She frowned. “My voicemail had plenty of storage. I don't keep any messages.”
“I'm guessing that Janie changed the number,” he explained.
Laura's eyes widened as she figured out what had happened. He continued.
“I tried again later that day. That's when I started getting these text messages that said, 'Don't call me again' and 'back off creep.'”
Laura winced.
“I tried one more time that evening, and a guy answered.” Ethan took a sip of his drink. The bartender was skilled. These were perfectly balanced. “He read me a riot act and told me not to call his girlfriend anymore. He said the two of you were back together and you weren't interested in seeing me ever again.” He shrugged. “I stopped trying after that.”
Now it was her turn to stare at him. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth hung open at what he had just told her.
“I didn't do any of that,” she told him. “I wasn't even seeing anyone. I was alone in my hotel room. I didn't have anyone to make that call.”
“I'm guessing it was Janie,” he replied. “Or rather, a friend of Janie's.”
She took a sip of her drink, nearly finishing it off. It was a big sip. “What about when I called you? When it said the line was disconnected?”
“The next day, Janie 'accidentally' dropped a lamp on my phone. The screen was completely destroyed,” he said. “Being my secretary, I asked her to take care of it. She got me a new phone and a new number. I didn't think anything of it at the time.”
“She didn't want me calling you and exposing what she did,” Laura said, shaking her head slowly. She flopped back in her seat and took a moment to marvel at the evil genius that was Janie.
“She certainly thought of everything,” he agreed. He was going to need another drink at the rate he was going. She on the other hand, had barely touched hers.
“So, you're telling me that all of the anger between us was just a big misunderstanding?” she asked, incredulous. “That I thought you were the biggest douche in the history of douches for no reason?”
“Hey, I thought you were a horrible cheater, so I guess we're even,” he replied. He raised his glass for a toast. “To not being a douche. Or a cheater.”
She chuckled and clinked her glass against his before taking a sip.
“Is it bad that I want to murder your secretary right now?” she asked, evaluating it in her hand as a murder weapon.
“You and me both,” he agreed. He raised his glass again, tipping it toward her. “To murder.”
She clinked their glasses with a chuckle, and they both sipped. The animosity between them was completely gone. The natural connection he'd experienced with her that first night was back, and it felt amazing. He had been right to think that they had chemistry. When she didn't think he hated her guts, they were a match made in heaven.
“I think I can handle you being around for a couple of weeks,” she said, smiling over her glass at him. “Suddenly, it doesn't seem so terrible.”
He smiled. This day was now going so much better. “Do you know any good places to go climbing around here?” he asked, lowering his voice and making it very clear he had more planned than just climbing over rocks. “I need a guide.”
Her smile faltered, the light fading from her face. She set the rest of her drink down without finishing it.
“I can't,” she replied. She opened her mouth to say more, but her phone started to go off. She pulled it from her pocket and silenced it. “I actually need to go. That was my alarm to go pick up my brother and sister. School ends in ten minutes.”
He wasn't going to give up that easily. Not after all this.
“Dinner, then.” It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
She stood up and put her phone in her pocket. “What?”
“Dinner,” he repeated. “I want to buy you dinner.”
“I can't.” She smiled politely, but it didn't touch her eyes. “I have obligations now. You’ve met them, and you know that they depend on me now. As much as I would like to, I can't.”
“You can't get a babysitter for one night?” Ethan asked.
“We've had a rough time. They need me,” she explained, picking up her purse. “What if something happens to them? I need to be there for them. I have to say no. But, thank you.”
He stood from the table and went to her side. He loved that her breath caught as he came close and took her hand. She didn't pull away. If anything she leaned in closer.
“Come to dinner with me,” he repeated. Her hand was so smooth in his. “We'll celebrate Mia and Carter's baby.”
“The kids...” she started to say.
“I will hire an entire security team and the best nannies this side of the Mississippi to watch your brother and sister for the few hours that we are eating,” he promised, still holding her hand. “They can't be your excuse.”
She pursed her lips as she thought. He could see the internal struggle. She had thought he hated her for the past year and a half. Despite the fact that he didn't deserve it, she was having a hard time trusting him. He couldn't blame her. He wouldn't trust him yet either. He needed to give her more.
So he kissed her.
I
t was just a simple kiss. He pulled her hand toward him and tipped his head to catch her lips. He meant to make it short and sweet, but she tasted so damn good it was hard to stop at “short.” It didn't help that she moaned and pressed into him.
He was the one to step back from the kiss. Her eyelashes fluttered as she recovered from the kiss. “Um, okay...” she whispered, a smile slowly filling her face.
“Good. Tomorrow night. Five o'clock,” he informed her. “I'll pick you up.”
“Tomorrow? Ethan, I can't-”
“And here's my number,” he said, cutting off her argument. He reached for a pen and quickly added ten more digits to the back of the card. “Now you have my work number, my cell, and my secretary's number.”
He handed her the card. She carefully took it between two fingers, looking it over before meeting his gaze.
“You sure you want to give me your secretary's number?” she asked.
“This time, she's not interested in me. She really will make sure I get your calls,” he replied. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to do their entire first night together again. “But, call the private number first anyway.”
She hid her smile as she looked over the card one more time. She carefully tucked it into her purse.
“You really aren't going to take no for an answer, are you?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not again. Never again.”
Her smile twitched upward before she hid it again with a sigh. “Okay. My number is 555-1978. You might want to memorize it this time. Text me, and I'll give you my address.”
He grinned, whipping out his phone and putting in the numbers so quickly he was sure his fingers blurred. His chest had this amazing feeling like he might burst with happiness that he hadn't felt in almost a year and a half.
She slung her purse over her shoulder. “And don't forget about the nannies,” she told him, taking a step toward the exit. “I'm going to expect Mary Freaking Poppins.”
“I'll get you two Mary Freaking Poppinses,” he promised. He quickly hit send on a short message.
Dinner at 5. Don't forget.
-Ethan
He watched as she walked to the door of the restaurant, shaking her head, but smiling, as she went. She looked back in time to see him watching her, and she couldn't help but grin even wider at him.
“Remember to get Mia her cheese,” she called out.
“Of course,” he promised. “I like being on her good side.”
She chuckled and headed out the door into the spring afternoon. He watched for a moment as she went to her old beat-up truck and started the engine. He could see her smiling as she drove away.
He sat back down in the booth, feeling like he'd just gotten a second chance at life. It was time to win her heart like he should have done the first time.
Chapter 8
Laura
“Are you ever going to park or are you just going to drive forever?” Ivy asked, watching as Laura drove past the restaurant one more time. She was making sure that Ethan and his bodyguard were definitely gone. She did not want to run into them on accident. She wasn't sure she could handle another dose of Ethan's charm without succumbing to him entirely.
“I'm parking now,” Laura replied, pulling into the restaurant parking lot. The only cars were Elena's and a couple of sedans that didn't look nice enough to be rentals. She was safe.
Laura helped Dallas out of his booster seat while Ivy ran on ahead. She could already smell the hamburgers and french fries and her mouth watered. Sandy's was a favorite dinner spot, especially when Elena was working. Laura tried not to have the kids eat out too often, but it was so much easier than trying to cook for all three of them after a busy day at work. Today, however, Laura had a different reason for wanting to eat at Sandy's.
She wanted to talk to Elena about Ethan.
Elena looked up from the bar as the two kids ran inside leaving Laura in the dust. Elena's smile widened as she saw who they were.
“How are my two favorite customers?” Elena asked the two kids, coming around the bar to greet them. Ivy gave her a big hug that Elena happily returned.
“I'm doing well. How are you, Ms. Elena?” Dallas asked, standing up straight with his hands behind his back.
“I am doing well, thank you,” Elena replied. She knelt down, so she was on the same level as the small boy. “Have you been working on your manners?”
Dallas nodded. “I want pizza, please.”
Elena laughed and gave him a hug. “You got it, kiddo,” she promised before standing up. She motioned to the far end of the room. “Go on over to your special table, guys. I'm just getting off my shift. Can I join you?”
“Of course,” Ivy shouted, half way to the table already. Dallas was hot on her heels, giggling as he ran after his older sister. Elena wasn't too far behind them with menus and crayons.
“Okay, here's your stuff,” she said, giving each child a box and a paper kids' menu. “Will you draw me something while I talk to your sister?”
The two kids nodded, happily pouring the crayons on the table and starting to work on the cute little puzzles and coloring designs. Elena ruffled Dallas' hair before heading back to the front of the restaurant where Laura was.
“So, what's the story with the cute guy today?” Elena asked, giving her friend a hug. “And that kiss...”
Elena fanned herself with her hand and gave a low whistle.
“Shh,” Laura admonished, glancing over at the table. They hadn't even looked up, but Laura didn't want them hearing that she was kissing people.
“So, what's the story?” Elena asked. “Come with me and put in the order.”
She tipped her head to the side of the bar where a touch screen was set up to take orders. Both kids were too engrossed in the coloring even to notice they hadn't joined them yet. Elena swiped her badge and started putting in everyone's usual order.
“So, who was he?” Elena asked, her eyes on the touch screen but still wanting to know what was going on.
“Do you remember the guy from the Christmas party that I told you about?” Laura asked.
Elena paused and looked up. “You didn't go to a Christmas party this year... Oh, you mean last years' party?”
Laura nodded, and Elena's eyes went wide.
“Wait, that's museum sex guy? That's 'best sex of my life' guy?” Elena stopped putting in the order and put her hands on Laura's shoulders. “What was he doing here?!”
“Yes, that was him,” Laura replied. She glanced over at the kids who still weren't paying any attention to anything but their crayons. “And keep it down. I don't want Ivy repeating this stuff to her grandmother.”
“As I recall, museum sex guy never called you back,” Elena pushed one last button on the screen and turned to face her friend. “You two didn't look like he wasn't speaking to you. Or rather, you did a fair amount of talking. And then some pretty hot not talking.”
Laura blushed. “Apparently, he tried to call me after the party, but his secretary changed my number in his phone.”
“Seriously? Who does that?” Elena asked.
“Someone who is crazy in love with her boss and doesn't want anyone but her to be with him,” Laura replied. “She sabotaged the whole thing. She made him think I was interested.”
“Seriously? Damn.” Elena shook her head in disbelief for a moment, but then her eyes narrowed, focusing on Laura. “So what's going on now? You aren't exactly in a position to be doing one-night-stands.”
Laura followed Elena's gaze to the kids. Dallas was asking if he could borrow Ivy's green crayon since he'd broken his. Ivy was being a good sister and sharing marvelously.
“He wants to take me out for dinner.”
“Nice!” Elena said with a pleased smile. It twisted into a concerned frown. “With or without kids? I'm busy this whole week. I have double shifts so I can't watch them.”
“I know you're busy,” Laura said quickly. “He's getting me a babysitter.”
“Double nice!” Elena nudged her shoulder and grinned. “I think he likes you.”
Laura shrugged and didn't reply.
“Wait a second.” Elena put her hand on Laura's shoulder and turned, so they were face to face. “You are doing it, aren't you?”
Laura sighed and pulled at her fingernail before answering. This was why she needed to talk to Elena. She needed to know if she was doing the right thing or if she should run from this guy. He'd already let her down once, even though it wasn't really his fault. She wasn't sure she was in a position where she was ready to go out to dinner with someone she was actually interested in.
“I don't know. I just...” Laura shrugged again.
“You just what?” Elena asked.
“The timing,” Laura replied. “I mean, dating? Dinner? I have the kids and... what if they freak out? They need me, and I can't leave them alone. They wouldn't want me dating.”
“The kids are fine, Laura,” Elena assured her. “They don't need you with them three hundred percent of the time.”
“I know.” Laura sighed. “I just don't feel right when I'm not with them.”
Elena frowned. “What do you do when they're at school? You've seemed fine without them then.”
“I don't feel weird when they're at school,” Laura tried to explain. “School's fine. They're safe there. Mom and Dad liked their school.”
Elena watched her for a moment before nodding. “So that's what this is.”
“What is?”
“This is about your parents,” Elena said gently. “It's about them.”
“How is this even remotely about my parents?” Laura scoffed. “My parents are dead.”
“Exactly. You're fine with the kids being at school because your parents approved it,” Elena explained. “You're fine with me watching them because your parents hired me to babysit. You’re fine with them going to the ranch with Carter because your parents liked Carter.”
“What's your point?” Laura asked. Annoyance crept into her voice without her meaning it to.
“You're parents never met this guy. You never even told them about him,” Elena told her. She looked over at the kids. “You're parents also didn't hire or approve of whoever is going to be babysitting them. You are freaking out about this because you have to approve and decide this all on your own.”