“Of course it does,” he said. “But it’s better for her to get out now than later.”

  I shook my head. “Ward loves her more than anything else in this world. How do you not see it?”

  “I see a womanizer hopping around from girl to girl. That’s what I see. First it was you, and then it was my sister. If he thinks he’s going to mess with the two women I love than he’s sadly mistaken. Good thing Silke and Trinity are taken. He’d move to them next.”

  “You’re being ridiculous!”

  “No, I’m really not,” he said calmly. “Now let’s go.”

  “I don’t even want to have lunch with you now.”

  He leaned over the desk and pressed his face close to mine. “You don’t get a say in it.”

  “Oh, I don’t?” I said sarcastically.

  “I want to spend time with you. I miss you.” His words were sweet, but he spoke in such an angry way that it sounded like the words meant something else entirely. “Now let’s go.”

  I grabbed my purse and walked out without looking at him.

  Once we were in the elevator, Cayson put his arm around my waist. “How’s your day going?”

  Was he going to pretend that everything was okay? “Good. Yours?”

  “It’s okay.”

  We walked to a deli then ordered our food. I ordered a salad since I was trying to lose weight. I got the low-fat dressing to top it off.

  Being on a diet sucked.

  Cayson eyed me while I ordered and didn’t comment. But he ordered an extra half sandwich with his order before he paid for lunch and carried the tray to the table.

  When we sat down, he pushed the extra sandwich toward me. It was a chicken sandwich with produce, no dressing. “You can’t just eat a salad, Skye.” He said quietly, like it would piss me off less.

  “Yes, I can.” I picked at my salad then pretended to enjoy it.

  “You’ll be hungry in five minutes.”

  I sprinkled salt and pepper on it, hoping that would help.

  “You need protein,” he said. “If you don’t eat enough calories it’ll stop your body from burning fat. You need to find the right balance of dieting and exercise.”

  “Can you get off my ass?” I demanded.

  He turned his attention to his sandwich.

  Tensions were high, and lunch wasn’t pleasant like it usually was.

  “Are you working late tonight?” he asked.

  “I hope not. I need to head to the gym.”

  “Let me know when you go,” he said. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “So I can watch all the women gawk at you?” I snapped.

  He stopped eating for a moment then continued.

  I sighed. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to snap.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “Not a big deal.”

  I thought it didn’t bother me that every girl in the gym wanted to jump his bones but it did. I could practically hear their ovaries pop as he walked by. They stared at his arms and his chest, and then they dogged the shit out of me, probably wondering why a hot guy like Cayson wanted a chunky girl like me. I still didn’t know why.

  “Stop thinking about it.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “About the gym. You’re the only one I want. Who cares what anyone else thinks?”

  I knew I was being hypocritical. Cayson acted like a caveman whenever Ward was around because he was so jealous. When I was in a similar situation, I behaved the same way. I wish I could take the higher road but I never did. My mom was never the jealous type. She trusted my father implicitly. I trusted Cayson too but I couldn’t keep my reserve like her. People said my mother and I were alike, but really, we were nothing alike.

  “Skye?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You know you’re the only woman I stare at, right?”

  I found that hard to believe. The girls at his gym wore skimpy shorts and sports bras, revealing flat stomachs and toned thighs. Their hair was perfectly styled, and they wore make up. Who the hell wore make up when they went to the gym? They were asking for a breakout. “Cayson, I’m not stupid. You’re a man, and men naturally look at other women. I’ve never had a problem with that. But don’t lie about it.”

  He flinched like he’d been slapped. “Excuse me?”

  “I even check out the girls there. There’s no way you’re immune.”

  “I am,” he said seriously. “You know what I think about when I work out?”

  “Protein shakes?”

  He didn’t laugh. “I think about fucking you and watching your tits shake. So why would I check out other girls when I’m thinking about that?”

  I sipped my water.

  “I don’t check out other women. I’m not lying. I’m offended you think that.”

  I returned to eating my salad.

  Cayson continued to stare at me, irritation in his eyes.

  “Stop looking at me like that.”

  He returned to eating and looked out the window. “How have you been feeling?”

  I knew what he meant. “I’m better now. I was a little depressed the first week.”

  “I was too.”

  “It’s not something worth being sad over…”

  “No, it is,” he said gently. “It’s not stupid.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” I said with a sigh.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “I want to be a mom like mine was, but I also want to work. How can I do both?”

  He finished his sandwich then stared at his balled up napkin. “We can discuss it when the time comes.”

  “I can’t picture myself staying at home like my mom. But I can’t imagine someone else raising my kids.”

  “I’d love it if you stayed home and raised them. But do what you want, Skye. You don’t have to make a decision right now. You can always take a few years off then return to work when the kids start school. Or I could stay home.”

  “You would do that?” I asked in surprise.

  “Of course, I would,” he said without breaking eye contact. “But there’s always your mom and dad. They would probably love to watch them during the day while we’re at work. I know your mom would.”

  “Maybe…”

  “Speaking of your parents, has Roland told them?”

  I shook my head. “No. I’m not sure when he’s going to.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure they’ll be happy. I can’t imagine them reacting in any other way.”

  “I agree.”

  Cayson shifted his legs under the table, and he rested his foot against mine, flirting with me.

  Feeling him touch me made the anger and insecurity disappear.

  “So, what’s for dinner tonight?”

  “I don’t even know when I’m getting off work,” I said. “You think I know what I’m cooking?”

  He shrugged. “I can cook something.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll probably eat a pear and a banana.” I rolled my eyes because I loathed my diet. It was a pain in the ass.

  “You need to eat at least twelve hundred calories a day. At that rate, you’ll lose one pound a week. Don’t overdo it.”

  “I just want to look like those girls at the gym but I don’t want to put the work in. Can’t I just pay someone to work out for me?”

  He chuckled. “How different would the world be if that were the case?”

  “It would be awesome.”

  “And I don’t want you to look like those girls,” he said seriously. “You’re perfect the way you are.”

  Sometimes Cayson was too good to be true. He was always sweet to me even if I was catty to him. “You’re like a concrete wall.”

  “Your point…?”

  “You’re super hot and fit, and I’m over here looking like humpty dumpty.”

  He laughed. “Humpty dumpty?”

  “Yeah.”

  He gave me an affectionate look. “If that’s true, I have a thing for humpty dumpty.”

  I didn’t laugh.

  He turned serious. “I’ve been in love with you since I hit puberty. Every time I saw you in a swimsuit, I jumped in the cold pool so I could hide my raging hard-on. You’re my ultimate fantasy. I’m not sure why you find that hard to believe. Some guys like really fit chicks, and others like super skinny models. I prefer you, a real woman with curves in the right places. You’re perfect the way you are. I don’t want you to change. I’m telling you the truth.”

  I couldn’t argue when he made a flattering argument like that. “Okay…”

  He casually rubbed his leg against mine. “I’m glad you finally believe me.”

  When I look past Cayson’s shoulder, I saw someone I recognized. “My dad is here.”

  Cayson looked over his shoulder. “It is him.”

  “Dad.” I waved him over.

  When he saw me, he didn’t look pleased. In fact, he looked terrified.

  He adjusted his tie then approached us, his bag of food in his hand. “Hey, Skye.” He put his hand in his pocket then looked at us.

  Why was he being weird? “You want to eat with us?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “I really need to head back.” He looked out the window then glanced around the shop. “It was nice seeing you…” He left without saying goodbye.

  Cayson eyed me in confusion. “Is everything okay?”

  “He’s been weird lately. I’m not sure why.”

  “Everything okay with your mom?”

  “I think so. He’s just been…dodgy. Every time I ask him to get lunch or do something with me, he says he’s too busy.”

  “Maybe he’s mad at you?”

  “When my dad is mad, he’ll just confront me.” I shrugged. “I can’t figure it out.”

  Cayson thought for a moment. “Maybe he thinks you’re pregnant?”

  I had gained a lot of weight. “Maybe…”

  “And now he’s uncomfortable…for obvious reasons.”

  “I’ll tell him I’m not when I get back to the office. My dad has always been weird about my personal life. Perhaps that’s why he’s acting like a weirdo.”

  “Yeah…hopefully the conversation isn’t awkward.”

  “Well, he walked in on us so this will be a piece of cake for him.” I added a light laugh at the end.

  “Good times,” he said sarcastically.

  “Speaking of being weird,” I said. “Trinity says you’ve been behaving oddly.”

  “Me?” he asked incredulously.

  “Toward Slade,” I said. “You just haven’t been yourself.”

  He shrugged then grabbed his bag of chips. He ate one, tossed the bag on the table, and then picked it up again and ate a few bites. It was clear he was flustered.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” he barked.

  “Cayson,” I pressed.

  “I said nothing,” he repeated.

  “You and Slade never fight. What did he do?”

  “I said nothing.” He was being oddly defensive.

  I stared him down.

  “Arsen this, Arsen that.” His words were so unexpected they caught me off guard. “He’s good at basketball, he runs his own shop, he spends every waking hour with my family, blah blah.” Cayson rolled his eyes.

  I wasn’t following his logic at all. “Okay…?”

  “I’m so cool. I went to prison. I love sports.” Cayson shook his head. “I’m cool too.”

  I cocked an eyebrow. “Are you jealous of Arsen…?”

  “Jealous?” he asked incredulously. “Me? No.”

  I’d never seen Cayson act this way. It was like I was talking to a different person.

  “If I really wanted to ride a motorcycle, I could.”

  “I know you could.” Actually, I couldn’t picture it at all.

  He looked at his watch. “I have to go.” He dumped his tray then came back to me.

  Cayson always walked me to the office so his behavior was even stranger.

  “Well, have a good day.”

  He kissed my forehead then walked out without saying goodbye.

  Okay…something was definitely going on.

  ***

  When I returned to the office, I headed to my dad’s office. “Can I come in?”

  “Yeah,” he called.

  I stepped inside and noticed his lunch on the table. It was still in the bag, uneaten.

  Dad was much calmer than he was earlier but he still seemed fidgety. His eyes seemed dark and there were bags under his eyes. Stress marked his visage, and he seemed unwell. “What can I do for you?”

  I sat in the chair facing his desk. “You’ve been off lately.”

  He looked alarmed, like I discovered a deep, dark secret. “I’m fine. Just tired is all.” He shoved his lunch into his drawer then shut it like it was evidence.

  “Well, you’ve been tired for about a month now…”

  “I just have a lot of things going on,” he said vaguely. “Is there something else you wish to discuss?”

  “I’m just worried.”

  He sighed. “Skye, I’m fine. Now please leave. I need to get back to work.”

  He never dismissed me from his office like that. “I’m not pregnant.”

  He turned to me with wide eyes.

  “I’ve just gained weight. I’ve been going to the gym every day with Cayson and I’ll be back to normal soon.”

  “Uh…” He adjusted his tie. “I didn’t think you were pregnant.”

  “Well, I thought maybe you made the wrong assumption…since you’ve been acting weird.”

  He rubbed his temple and sighed. “I’m sorry for my behavior. I’ve just been stressed out. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No, it’s okay.” He gave me a forced smile. “Your mother is my best therapist.”

  “So, everything is okay with her?”

  “Your mother and I are more in love than ever before.”

  “You’ve been saying that every day for years.”

  “Because it’s true,” he said seriously. “Now I really need to get back to work. Is there anything else?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’ll talk to you later.”

  I stood up then touched his shoulder. “I’m here if you change your mind.”

  For a second it looked like he was going to break down. He rested his hand on mine and closed his eyes. He squeezed my fingers with his before he opened his eyes again. “I know, pumpkin.”

  I gave him an encouraging smile before I walked out.

  ***

  Ward and I were back to work, sitting across from each other at the desk. Like usual, he seemed distant and cold. He concentrated on work but I knew his thoughts were on Clementine.

  “I’m sorry about Cayson,” I said quietly.

  He looked up from his paper. “Don’t apologize. That guy has been prejudiced toward me since the beginning. I don’t expect him to ever like me or respect me. Believe me, I don’t lose sleep over it.”

  “I’ve tried talking some sense into him but—”

  “Please don’t apologize,” he said seriously. “Really, I’m fine.”

  “Okay.” I looked down.

  “I hope it hasn’t ruined your relationship.”

  “It hasn’t,” I said. “We fight more often but we get over it like normal.”

  He nodded then returned back to his work.

  “He thought I was pregnant because I’d gained so much weight.” I blurted that out without thinking.

  His eyes returned to me. “Are you?”

  “No,” I said sadly.

  “I honestly didn’t notice your weight gain. But then again, I don’t notice much anymore…”

  “I’ve gained about twenty pounds…Cayson and I have been going to the gym together.”

  He spun his pen in his fingers. “You’re just as beautiful as before.”

  I forced a smile. “I guess I’m not handling it well. I’ve never been vain about my appearance but I’ve never been insecure about it either.”

  “It’s just a little weight,” he said. “You’ll work it off. I doubt Cayson cares anyway.”

  “He claims he doesn’t.”

  “I wouldn’t care if Clementine gained weight. When you’re in love, you don’t notice things like that.”

  “I guess…”

  “Don’t let it get you down,” he said. “Physical attraction stems from places that aren’t physical.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Someone’s personality can make them gorgeous even if their appearance isn’t. Personally, I would prefer an average woman who was beautiful on the inside rather than a gorgeous woman who’s hideous on the inside. It makes all the difference in the world. Just keep that in mind.”

  “Well, thanks.”

  “Not that I’m saying you’re average,” he said quickly. “Because you aren’t.” He returned to his work.

  I let the topic drop since Ward made me feel better.

  A knock on the door announced someone’s arrival.

  “May we come in?” It was my father.

  “Sure,” I said.

  Dad, Uncle Mike, and Conrad came inside, all looking spiffy in their designer suits. “Do you have a moment?” Dad asked.

  “Of course,” I said. “Take a seat.”

  “May we have the room?” Dad asked Ward.

  “Of course.” Ward grabbed his things then walked out.

  The three of them sat on the couch facing my desk.

  I rested my hands on the surface of the desk. “So?” I’ve never had all three of them in my office at the same time. It was odd.

  Mike turned to Dad, having a silent conversation with him.

  Dad cleared his throat. “Mike and I have discussed this at length and we wanted to get your opinion about it.”

  “Okay.” I eyed Conrad, wondering why he was there. He was just as tall as my uncle and father, and his resemblance to Mike was uncanny. Then I looked at my father again.

  “Conrad would like to be a fellow CEO. Mike and I have both approved. However, we wanted to know how you feel about it.”

  My eyes widened. “As in, he and I would be partners?”

  “Yes,” Mike answered.

  “Just like how you two are?” I questioned.

  “Yes,” Dad answered.

  I smiled then clapped my hands. “That would be awesome.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16