“I don’t know what else to say.”
Her head snaps upward, and she glares.
My heart skips a beat. “I guess if he wanted to have sex in places where you could get caught, that would make things hotter.”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Thank you. I don’t know whether it’s the change in environment or you, but I have an idea. It’s going to be smoking hot.” She tilts her head. “You aren’t in my group, are you?”
“Uh…. Well….”
“Never mind.” She boots up her computer. “It’s fine. I know not everyone is into super steamy smut.” She winks. “Like I am. But it improves your sex life. If you ever want to read one of my books, I’d gladly give you a signed copy as a thank you for jogging my writer’s block.”
“You’re welcome.” I push my chair back and stand. “Actually, I’d like that.”
She bites her bottom lip and waggles her eyebrows. “A convert. I’ve got just the thing for you. Let me message Chloe, and she’ll bring you a box.” She presses her lips together. “But don’t open it until you get home.”
Chapter Eleven
Alexander
As I maneuver into the parking lot of my best friend Sean Callahan’s office, the revving of my Harley reverberates off the pavement. I’ve never been so glad to have taken my motorcycle to work. On bad days, it’s the only thing that grounds me.
I park next to his motorcycle and engage the kickstand. Seeing Daisy in a sea of students – my students – was a kick in the nuts. I’m not sure I’ve taken a breath since.
After I shut off the engine, I amble to the door of Buchanan Accounting. The stenciled lettering covers the window, blocking the full view of the lobby. Although Sean uses the Buchanan name for business, I’ll never know him as anything but a Callahan – one of the sons of an ex-motorcycle gang vice president.
As I open the door, the chimes above my head jingle with the movement, and Mary Jameson, Sean’s assistant, waves. “It’s good to see you.” She shoves her computer screen down and out of the way.
“You, also. Is Sean around?”
“Yes, he’s in his office.” She glances down at her phone. “But he’s on a call.” She raises her finger over the gray old-style conference phone. “Let me tell him you’re here.”
“No.” I wave my hand in her direction. “Don’t bother him. I’m the unannounced one.”
“Please, he just hung up.” Her eyes dance as she pokes on the call line despite my insistence to not disturb him. “Besides, he would love the distraction. He’s been working on a client’s paperwork since this morning.” She leans forward. “They brought in a box of receipts. A shoebox of receipts.”
“That’s disturbing.” I stand back and wait. There’s no use telling Mary anything. She’s stubborn like Cora and thinks she’s running things. Hell, she is. I know how important it is to have a competent office manager.
“Alexander is here to see you.” She pauses and listens to whatever Sean says on the other line. “Got it.” She nods as I shove my hands into my pockets and pace the room.
Sean is my accountant and business partner, not my priest. But I need his advice. Or a shoulder to cry on.
I’ve never done anything this irresponsible in my life.
The click of the phone grabs my attention. I spin around to face her. She arches her eyebrows. “He’ll see you now.” She doesn’t have to say I told you so for it to ring loud and clear.
“Thank you.”
“Go on in.” She waves at the closed door between their two offices.
Once I’m inside, I snap the door shut. Sean leans back in his oversized black leather chair with his arms over his chest. “IRS send you an audit notice?”
“No.” I pace the floor from the door to his desk.
The distance between the door and the chair in front of his desk is five steps. Five large steps. I spin on my heel. One step. Two steps. “I did something stupid.” Three steps. Four. Five. Turn. Shit. I stop and inhale. I’m an adult man. Not an eleven-year-old boy. Grow some balls. I rotate back around to face him. “Okay. I did not know it was stupid at the time. I met a girl at a wedding.”
“Sit.” He motions to the chair. It’s not as nice as his executive chair, but it’s more than serviceable. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I am nervous.”