Never.
At least not until the last few days. It’s a little after eight, and my stomach is growling. I missed lunch today. I was determined not to leave my office until I was finished. It should have been done this weekend but working at home didn’t happen. Nothing has happened except for my mind constantly thinking about her. There are a million reasons why thinking about her is wrong. She’s too damn young for me. She’s my sister’s best friend and my best friend’s little cousin.
I didn’t miss the looks Orrin was giving me on Saturday night while Ramsey was sitting with us. He went on to tell me that she’s been through hell and that he worries about her. I got the underlying message. Leave her alone. He didn’t come out and say it, but I heard him loud and clear. And he’s right. I need to leave her alone. I’m at least ten years her senior, and she’s already too close to people I care about. That can only end in disaster. I’m a workaholic, and she deserves someone who is going to give her their time. The time that she deserves.
Reaching for my bottle of water, I see that it’s empty. Fuck it. I’m going to go to the break room and grab a cup of coffee. I need to head home, I need food, but I also need to finish this. I have just a few more pages, and I’m bound and determined that I’m going to finish them tonight. I’m not leaving here until they’re done.
Standing from my desk, I make my way to the door. My phone alerts me of a message, and when I glance down at the screen, I see that it’s my younger sister.
Palmer: Deacon! These images!!
Her text is followed up with three fire emojis. Palmer doesn’t need to tell me how hot they are. I was there. I lived the moment that she only witnessed through her lens. I had my hands on Ramsey, tasted her lips, and had my cock nestled between her thighs. Three fire emojis are not enough to describe what went down that day.
Not even close.
Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I continue down the hall to the small break room. When I push open the door, there’s a woman standing with her back to me as she wipes down the counters. She reminds me of Ramsey. Nope. Not going there. I clear my throat to alert the woman to my presence. “I’m sorry. I just need to grab a quick cup of coffee, and I’ll be out of your way,” I assure her.
The woman slowly turns to face me, and my mouth drops open in shock.
“Ramsey?”
She lifts her hand in an awkward wave and smiles. “Hi, Deacon.”
“What are you doing here?” I take two steps toward her and stop. I want to pull her into my arms and hold her tight. I want to kiss her lips and just… fuck! I can’t have thoughts like this about her. This has to stop.
“I’m cleaning. This is one of my side jobs. The girl who usually cleans called in sick, and since I don’t work at the Tavern, I told them I would work.”
“Have you ever cleaned this office before?” Surely if she had, I would have noticed her. Ramsey isn’t the kind of woman you forget. I’m an expert on this at this point.
She nods. “I have, but usually, it’s just me. Everyone is typically gone by the time I start. What are you still doing here? It’s late.”
Is that concern I hear in her voice? “Working.” I run my hands through my hair, which I know has to look like I’ve been on a bender. I’ve done that same motion countless times today. I just can’t get this woman out of my mind.
“So Palmer’s right? You are a workaholic?”
There’s no judgment in her tone. “Yeah. However, coming from someone who has three jobs, I’m not so sure you can give me a hard time about it.” I’m teasing, and I hope that my smile tells her so.
“Oh. I’m not. I’m sorry. I was just… making conversation.”
I take another step closer to her. I shove my hands in my pants pockets to keep myself from reaching for her. “I know. It’s not a bad trait.”
She smiles warmly. “No. It’s not,” she agrees.
My stomach grumbles, and she laughs. The sound fills the quiet of the room, wrapping around me like an embrace. “I forgot to eat today.”
Her eyes widen. “You forgot to eat? Deacon, that’s not good. You have to take better care of yourself. You can’t go all day without eating. Your body and your mind need fuel,” she scolds. Her brow is furrowed, and she’s cute as hell.
“I know. It’s not something I make a habit of.”