Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Her blond hair is curling around her face. She doesn’t even have to stand up for me to know that she’s wearing the black pencil skirt that makes grown men drool and her black high heels that show off her toned legs. Nope, any time she has on the blue button-down blouse that is a perfect match to her sky-blue eyes, that’s what she wears with it. And usually by the end of the day, I have a bad case of blue balls, and I’m completely out of patience.
She’s looking up at me expectantly, and I try to rein in my thoughts. “Uh, yeah, I’m not sure. It’s just frozen.”
She pushes some buttons on the side of the phone. “Did you try shutting it off and turning it back on again?”
I drag my eyes off the hint of cleavage before meeting her eyes. “Nope.”
She does a few other things and hands back the phone. “There you go. Good as new.”
“Thanks, Lilian. Do you think you can book the trampoline park for Ollie’s party the weekend after his birthday? I imagine weekends book up pretty fast, so just see what you can do.”
“Sure thing. I can’t believe he’s going to be six already. They sure do grow up fast.”
I tap a hand on her desk, and for the first time, I notice her tired eyes. “How did the wedding go?”
She smiles. “It was beautiful. Everything went off without a hitch. Carrie was so happy.”
Before I can ask her anything more, Victor from Accounting cuts the corner. He seems like a man on a mission until he sees me standing here. His steps slow, and he looks between Lilian and me. I should probably go on into my office, but I stand here, watching it all unfold.
“Hello, Mr. Blaze…uh, Ford.”
“Hey there, Victor,” I say to him easily.
The man gulps and looks at Lilian. “I really enjoyed going to the wedding with you… I mean, I had a really good time. I know.” He pauses and looks at me, probably wishing for me to leave, but I’m not leaving because from what I just heard, he’s making it sound like he went on a date with Lilian. But that can’t be. Lilian doesn’t date.
Victor pauses so long that Lilian waves her hand in front of his face. “Victor… you were saying?”
He tucks his arms across his chest. “Right. Uh, I had a good time. I know you said we are better off as friends, but I just thought I’d tell you that if you ever need a date for another family function, I’m your man.”
Lilian smiles at Victor, and I’m not going to lie, it makes me angry. Her voice is super sweet when she answers him, which pisses me off more. “Thanks, Victor. I really appreciate that, but I don’t have any more family to have functions… I mean, there’s not any more parties in the foreseeable future.”
I take a deep breath and try to keep the menacing tone out of my voice. “Lilian, can I see you in my office please?”
I don’t wait for her answer, and with a dismissive stare toward Victor, I go into my office. I pace back and forth across the room before settling heavily behind my desk. What the actual fuck? She went on a date with Victor?
My stomach clenches, and I feel like I might pass out. Lilian walks into my office with a pad and pencil in her hand.
She sits down in the seat across from my desk and holds up her pen to start writing. “I’m ready.”
She’s looking at the paper, and I don’t know what to say. I should focus on work, but the words come out of my mouth before I can stop them. “You’re dating Victor?”
She seems surprised. I’m sure she thought I asked her in here to take notes… not to butt into her personal life. “No, we went on one date.”
I wave my hand, dismissing the semantics. “I thought you had some kind of rule about no dating.”
She laughs, uncrosses her legs, and then crosses them again. “I do. I mean I did. Raising Carrie, putting her through school and college, I didn’t have time to date. I was focused on her. But she was worried about me. She thinks I’ve given up on my dreams, and she’s blaming herself.” She shrugs uncomfortably. “She wants me happy.”
I raise up from my seat and move around to sit on the edge of my desk. “And what? She thinks Victor will make you happy?”
“No, I mean, I uh, never brought guys home. She thinks I have some wild oats to sew or something.”
Her face is red when she realizes what she just confessed. “Do you?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “No, I don’t regret anything. I’m happy with where Carrie’s at, but yeah, I’m looking forward to dating again. No strings. Just having a good time.”