“So, this fake marriage thing was an excuse to get away and start an affair?” He shook his head like he thought I was the biggest idiot in the world.
“No. I never thought of her like that before we took this trip to Europe. It just sort of happened. She’s smart and clever and funny and sweet…” I decided to leave out the part about how sexy she was. “We agreed to no strings attached fling in Europe. I really thought when we got back that it would be done.”
“It doesn’t matter where it happens, it’s wrong.”
I growled under my breath. “I know. The truth is Carter, I think I’m falling for my fake wife.” There I said it.
Carter’s eyes narrowed as he studied me for a moment. “I don’t want to bust your balls Ryan. If you’re in love with her then you need to deal with that. You need to make her your real wife or get her another job. But if this is just you getting your rocks off, you need to break it off with her. You can’t date your assistant. I mean if it was just you no one would give a fuck, but what you’re doing can impact all of us.”
He thought I was being selfish and I suppose I was. I wasn’t just selfish risking the business and my brothers and Grans future, I was also selfish with Kellie by putting her in a difficult situation. I liked to think I was a better man than that. That I had better control over my libido and my emotions. But as I sat here with all the risks and problems that came with being with Kellie swirling in my brain, knowing that Carter was right and I was playing with fire and would likely get burned, not just myself but torching the company as well, I couldn’t bring myself to think about ending things with her. I wasn’t sure when it happened or how it happened, but she had become essential not just as my assistant keeping me organized, but as a human being giving my world light and life and meaning.
26
Kellie
I knew that I wouldn’t be fired. For one, while Ryan and I weren’t in a committed loving relationship, I knew he was a good person. He wasn’t the type to send me packing simply because he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, or in this case, his tongue down my throat. And I knew Carter well enough to know that he understood if I was fired, I might retaliate with a lawsuit for unlawful firing or sexual harassment.
Not that I would do that. I was as much to blame for Ryan and I breaking the rules as he was. Sure, he was my boss and in a position of power, but the truth was I had been the one to talk him into this relationship in Europe. I would have some gall to turn around and blame him or even try to punish him.
So my calling in sick to work wasn't about a fear of being fired. Instead, it was embarrassment about getting caught. The Strong family was close knit so I felt certain that Carter had told his brothers and maybe even his grandmother too. I couldn't face them. Not yet. So I called in sick and stayed home.
Natalie was working in her makeshift art studio, which was actually a corner of the apartment that had the best source of sun.
"I think this one might be it," she said standing back and admiring her newest piece. "This could be the project that lets me quit my barista job and concentrate on my art."
I hoped she was right. There was nothing I wanted more than to see my sister succeed in the art world. Well maybe there was one thing more than I wanted; I wanted Ryan. But I really wanted Natalie to live her dream too.
"It's gorgeous Nat," I said admiring the sculpture. I didn't know a lot about art, so I wasn't always a good critique person for her. But I knew how art made me feel and while my love for her may have been mixed in my opinion, to me, the piece was beautiful. But as much as I wanted her to succeed, I also knew it was a difficult field to break into. There was a reason it was called a starving artist.
Natalie let out a long groan and pressed her hand over her stomach. "I've got cramps." She huffed out a breath. "Are you having cramps too?"
I arched a brow at her.
"You know these things sync up,” she said. "We always have our periods at the same time." Her face switched up into thought. "I wonder if your being gone for that week means we were un-synced." Then she shook her head. "Twenty-eight days is twenty-eight days, right?"
"I'm not having cramps," I said. It was too bad I didn't perhaps it would make my calling in sick seem more legitimate. Still, I was tired so perhaps that could be a legitimate excuse. "I'm going to take a nap."
"Naps are awesome," Nat said, turning her attention back to her art.
I went to the restroom first so I wouldn't be woken up in the middle of my nap by the call of nature. But Nat’s comment had me thinking that she was right, we normally had our monthly cycles at the same time. So mine would probably be coming at any time.
But I had some sort of niggle of concern that I couldn't quite place. And then it came to me; I hadn't been taking my pills. When I first went to Europe with Ryan, I was on the week off the regular pills and had just finished my monthly cycle. I hadn't brought a new pack because I was only going to be gone for a couple of days. I was supposed to be home in time to start the new monthly pack. But I didn't come home. I stayed in Europe and slept with my boss while not taking birth control pills.
Oh. My. God.
I hurried back to my room and rummaged in my purse for my phone to open my calendar. Counting the days, I realized that I was late.
Oh God, now what was I going to do?
I needed to take a pregnancy test. That meant, I needed an excuse to leave the house without Natalie knowing what I was doing. I hooked the strap of my purse over my shoulder and left the room.
"Where are you going? I thought you were taking a nap," Natalie said as I started toward the front door.
"I will later. I just remembered an errand and I have to run."
"Not for work, I hope. You're supposed to be taking the day off, remember?"
"No, it's not for work." I opened the door and hurried through before she asked me what it was for because I hadn't come up with a good lie yet.