I swallowed thickly when I saw her sitting at the table dressed in those damn leggings and a more fitted t-shirt, reading a book. I knew that she went to school later today since it was Thursday and I walked over to pour some coffee. I planned to work from home today but considered changing my mind with her home. I couldn’t allow this to take me over. This was my house, and I had the control to handle this situation, looking at her as she tucked a curl slowly behind her ear before glancing at me. “Good morning.” The look in her eyes made me wonder if she knew what I’d done before I pushed the absurd idea out of my mind. It wasn’t possible.
“Morning. Sleep well?” I asked as she smiled slowly and nodded.
“Yes, very well.” She looked into my eyes. “How about you?”
“Great.” My answer was clipped, and she frowned before she looked down at her book again. Shit. I needed to get control of myself. “I might go into the office for a bit. Do you need anything while I’m out?”
“No, thank you.” Caroline didn’t look at me as she spoke and I walked over to her slowly. I kissed her hair, wishing it was innocent as I walked away to dress for
the office.
I had pulled on slacks and a button up shirt before I walked out to my black Yukon to drive into the city. I resented myself for needing to leave my paradise as well as Caroline. Hell, I even resented Brandon and Mila for a fleeting moment as I pulled onto the two-lane road to head to the freeway.
Work had always been my escape, and now I found myself giving into that all over again.
I walked into the building and sat at my desk as I turned on my computer, well-aware that my assistant poked her head in to stare at me. She knew that I tried to force myself not to work my life way, being an employee for ten years now as well as a friend. There was never anything more even though she was thirty-one and closer to my age as well as attractive. She even had the intelligence that I appreciated, but I was never attracted to the petite raven haired woman that was married for a year now. I expected her to be pregnant anytime, something I thought would suit her well. “What are you avoiding today?”
“Nothing, Stella. I just wanted to get some work done,” I replied as I gave her a smile.
“You live in the most beautiful place in this state, and you can’t work there? What gives?”
“I come in on Thursday sometimes. I come in on the weekends sometimes,” I defended myself as her dark brown eyes narrowed in a sharp gaze. Damn it, she knew me well having seen me go through some less complicated relationships. “How’s Michael?”
“The best hubby in the world,” she gushed as I grinned. “That’s not getting you off the hook, though, Perry. You’ll talk one of these days.” She was right in that I probably would. Stella knew Caroline well and liked her a lot, though I wasn’t sure if she’d change her opinion of me after the conversation. Her husband was my age, and they got on well, though that was quite a difference from the age gap that I shared with Caroline. Stella cracked my door, and I looked over the city as I collected my thoughts.
I started working on a new project, a series of hotels that were going up in tropical locations and were sure to be successful. They were the perfect mix of comfort and luxury in places that would offer virtually unlimited activities for guests, and one of my benefits is that I’d get to stay in them anytime that I wanted. I had a lot of choices for vacations because of this job, wondering why I didn’t take more for a moment. I could do that for Caroline, though the idea of being alone with her scared me right now.
I finished the design of the lobby, offering a bar and restaurant as well as a spacious front room. It would offer a library as well as a movie theater for guests. It was going to be stunning, and I smiled at the design as I moved on to the rooms. They were large with balconies that overlooked the water and beaches, offering a place of sanctuary for the guests. They could dine there, have coffee, and even sleep with the space that I was offering.
I found the time passing quickly and glanced down at the clock on my monitor to see that it was approaching evening. I blinked and felt grateful that I loved my job before I thought about dinner. I knew that Caroline loved Thai food and there was a great place on the way home that I could get take out from. She would more than likely be home studying and we could eat in the living room as we often did.
I realized as I waited for the food that was something I loved about having her with me. I enjoyed the time spent together, and I didn’t want to tarnish it with my new carnal thoughts of her. I took the bags to the car and drove home as I thought about everything that was happening, realizing that it might stop when she moved out of the house and started her own life.
Chapter Five
Caroline
I glanced up from the couch where I was studying as the garage door opened. I smelled the food before Perry looked into the room from the kitchen and held up the familiar bag. “Sound good?”
“You read my mind,” I answered as I stood and stretched, setting my book carefully down before I walked into the kitchen. I was wearing some loose pajama pants and a clingy tank top, trying to find a healthy level between comfortable and teasing in my clothing. I knew that I had full breasts that men often ogled and I should think harder about that here, but I wore a sports bra underneath so my all too sensitive nipples wouldn’t show. I loaded my plate with all my favorites and returned to the couch as he grabbed a beer and followed. “How was work?”
“I got a lot accomplished. That new resort is going to be beautiful,” he told me as I smiled and nodded. “I might have to take a vacation once it’s built.”
“You aren’t good at those, but you should be. You have designed so many amazing places, Perry.” My eyes were hard on him as he sipped from the bottle and looked back at me.
“I know. I was thinking that I needed to relax more today while working. Maybe we can get away to celebrate your graduation?” He had suggested before his eyes widened and something that looked like regret crossed his face.
“Seriously?” I asked with a smile on my face, one that was more than just being grateful. I wasn’t sure if he was playing a joke or not, but the idea of a vacation with Perry made my body heat up.
“Sure,” He sounded confident in his response. “We can take a week or two and go anywhere you want.” Perry offered as I chewed my noodles slowly. Jesus. He knew how much I liked the ocean since we didn’t live close to it and I knew that I could bring all my little bikinis. I couldn’t stand the idea of other men looking at me other than Perry, but I would make sure I packed my best ones.
“I’ll think it over since I still have a couple months of school. Thank you, Perry. I know how much you like to be home.” My eyes were warm and happy as I looked at him.
“This is for both of us. I need to learn to enjoy all that life has to offer,” he replied, looking back at me. We continued to eat as he watched a rare full hockey game while I read a book, taking notes as I glanced at him from time to time. I knew that he couldn’t read my mind, but some deep thoughts were going on behind my eyes. Perry made his way to bed first, making me soon follow as I watched some porn and masturbated to it furiously as I imagined what it would be like with him in some paradise.
He went into the office at the usual early hour the following day, seemingly determined to stick to a schedule. I knew that he needed that to live his life the best way that Perry knew how: working. I wondered why he looked tired though as he smiled and left quietly in the morning just after I woke up.
The weeks passed a lot of time working hard on my studies. Perry knew that it was hard the last year and gave me room and support as needed. He knew that I wanted to finish my college career with top grades.