Series: Stacey Espino
Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
They’d find out how her mother got her money. It wasn’t a lottery win like Clara told her mother. She’d be ashamed, humiliated, and could never face anyone again if they knew how she got all that money. She’d signed away her virginity like some cheap whore.
“I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry. I have to get out of here.”
Grayson didn’t stop her this time as she grabbed her purse off the banister and rushed out the front door. A big part of her wished he did.
****
How was he expected to get work done when she’d gone silent for the past two weeks? Two weeks and three days. Clara had turned off her phone, or maybe she’d blocked him. It wasn’t just him because the last time he’d talked with April she was wondering what was going on with Clara. All he could do was think about her.
Her scent still lingered. A few of her things were left behind and he couldn’t help but touch them and think of her.
What had he been thinking? She’d finally gotten smart and realized she had her whole life ahead of her. Why get trapped with a man past his prime? He couldn’t blame her, but what had he done to change her heart? Maybe she was too young to know real love. It was likely a fixation on her best friend’s father and nothing more.
“Sir?”
He snapped out of his reverie and looked up from his desk.
“What is it?”
“Your two o’clock is still waiting,” his secretary said.
Grayson ran a hand through his hair. “Cancel it.”
“But…”
“Cancel it. I’m leaving for the day.” He couldn’t even elaborate because he was being held together by a thread. He’d fucking fallen in love with a girl younger than his daughter and now he was paying the price.
He left the office, got into his BMW, and drove to Clara’s school.
Grayson wasn’t known for giving up easily. If there was any chance of working things out with Clara, he’d do it. Fuck, he’d give her everything he owned. All he knew was that he couldn’t go on like this.
It was easy to find out where she was located. He had a lot of connections at the college after making generous donations to their library and renovation funds when April was attending.
He waited outside the lecture hall as the students filed out, most in casual conversations or focused on their phones—all too busy to notice him. Then she emerged. He grabbed her arm, making her gasp, as he pulled her to the side.
“Grayson?”
“You haven’t answered my calls.”
“What? I-I told you I needed time,” she said.
“Fuck, it’s been more than two weeks. Is this a game to you?”
She was playing with his heart, and he couldn’t take it anymore.
He moved them down the hall and into an empty classroom, pulling down the door blind once they entered. You could hear a pin drop inside.
“You got what you wanted,” Clara said. “What more do you want from me?”
He backed her up until she hit the wall. With an arm braced by her head, he stared into her eyes. “I want it all … I thought we both felt the same way.”
“I’ve had a crush on you from day one, but you’ve always hated me.”
“Things were complicated. I wasn’t supposed to fall for my daughter’s friend, but I did.”
She swallowed hard, looking up at him with those sweetly innocent eyes. He wanted to kiss her but held back.
“I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of everything. Of us. Of losing myself.” She attempted to squirm away, but he wouldn’t have it. “This is all your life. Your success. I’m nothing. Nobody.”
“What are you talking about? I’d do anything for you.”
“I don’t want to live in your house and adapt to your lifestyle.”
He narrowed his eyes. “So, now you can’t stand me?”
“That’s not it at all, Grayson. When people fall in love, they start a life together. You’ve already accomplished everything on your own.”
“So what? I want to take care of you.”
She shook her head. “I’m a novelty. People grow tired of novelties.”
“Listen to me,” he said. “Before you, I had everything. I had my career, a home, and the toys. But I wasn’t happy. Never. You changed all that. For the first time, I looked forward to coming home.”
“Because this is about sex.”
“It’s not.”
“I think it is,” she said.
He reached between them, cupping her pussy through her jeans. “Are you telling me you didn’t like it?”
She panted lightly, her lips parted.
“If I just wanted sex, trust me, I could get more than enough. I want you, Clara. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“People will talk.”
“And I’ll tell them to fuck off,” he said.
She rested her hands on his chest, playing with his buttons, an intimate gesture which calmed the beast inside him.
“I just need to know one thing.”