But he doesn’t have to worry about anything. The outfit is sexy, but I can downplay it in public. Later? I smile. Not so much.
My phone rings. “Yes?”
“You’d better have on fucking panties right now. Or I’ll come over and take you over my knee.” The growl in his voice makes the walls of my sex clench.
“You have nothing to worry about. I’m a good girl.”
“You’d better be.” This time his voice is soft and silky. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
The phone clicks in my ear, and I clutch the rectangle against my chest.
I’m falling for him hard and fast. My stomach clenches. But what happens if he gets bored? He’s seven years older and hasn’t been in a serious relationship since high school. That doesn’t bode well for our long-term success.
Don’t think about it. Enjoy right now. I can’t turn into a whiny baby. Becoming clingy would drive him away faster than boredom will. I must learn to enjoy the moment and suffer the fallout when it happens. Because men don’t mess with little girls for long. They move on to their next target.
Melissa steps out of the office. “I thought I heard you out here.”
“Yes, I came in a few minutes ago.” I glance at my phone and shove it into my purse. “Solicitors.”
“God,” she groans and rolls her eyes. “I hate those people. We kept getting calls at the house asking if we wanted new siding. I told them the house was new, but they still pushed for us to get replacement siding. Who would continue asking someone to buy new siding when they have new siding?”
“I hear you.” I lick my lips and steady my shoulders. I hate lying to her, but even she can’t know about Alexander and me. “Did anyone come in today?”
I walk to the back and hang up my gear.
“We didn’t get any new clients, but Dana checked out.”
“What?” My heart skips a beat as I spin around to face her while wiping my palms on my jeans.
“I know,” she sighs again. “She said she wants to give him another chance for the kids.”
“Damn it.” No matter how often we’ve worked with her, she goes back to him. It’s not better for the kids. It’s a nightmare. But she has to be the one to make the final break. No one else can do it for her. “That’s disappointing.”
“Yes, it is. I told her to call if anything goes south, and we’ll have someone go and pick her up.”
“Good.”
She glances at her watch. “Hunter and Wren are in the main office. They want to talk about the parking lot situation and the director’s position. I’ve already shared with them about the lighting issues in the parking lot and the distance we must park from the office. But he insisted on talking to you.”
Hunter Montgomery is the owner of the women’s shelter and has multiple ones throughout the states. He opened the first one after helping Wren escape a domestic situation. Proving money doesn’t guarantee happy and safe relationships.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Why did he insist on speaking with me about the director position?”
“Because I told him you were the best person for the job. Without a degree, I don’t qualify for the opening. You’re the perfect fit, and if they don’t hire from within, he’ll start searching for outside candidates. You remember that last disaster.”
Melissa’s not wrong. Those six months were a dumpster fire. The last director had management experience, but she’d never worked with people living in impoverished and traumatic situations. Her lack of empathy drove clients away. It took months to rebuild the trust in the community, and we’ve been adrift since then, with Hunter’s sister directing virtually from Texas.
“Melissa, I can’t. I’ve got to get my Ph.D.”
“Why?” She arches her eyebrows as the central air kicks on, sending a blast of cold air down on my head.
“Because that’s what I’m supposed to do.” Once medical school starts, I’ll have to give up the few days a week I’m able to come to the shelter. I don’t want to, but it’ll be impossible to have free time when I’m studying and working all the time. It’s going to be hard enough to find time to see Alexander.
“Why?”
“Because that’s what I’ve been planning since I was a kid.”
“Why?” Damn her.