Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
I shove my hands in my slacks as I walk slowly back to the conference room. The entire exchange felt weird and disconnected, and Jinx was so unlike himself.
Could the oldest and most loyal employee really be the one screwing the company over? And will anyone be able to uncover it in time?
As I step back into the conference room, Meadow is packing her bag. When she looks up at me, I see the way her lips part and her eyes move up and down my body hungrily. All thoughts of the conversation with Jinx disappear from my brain as I decide that tonight Meadow is coming home with me. Possibly for good.
THIRTEEN
MEADOW
“I’m not sure this is a good idea.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth as Heath stands at the end of my bed holding a kitten.
This is not how I thought today was going to go. I was fully prepared to go home and tell my sister all the details, or at least some of them, but Heath tossed that out the window. First he told me I was going home with him, but I protested, saying all my stuff was at my apartment. Then he agreed to give me a lift home, where I thought he would drop me off. Instead he walked me to my door, and that should have been a sign. The second I unlocked the door, he let himself right in.
“Why?” Heath turns the kitten over in his arms and cradles it like a baby. My ovaries explode, and I realize seeing this is not helping.
“We only started doing whatever this is between us five minutes ago. I shouldn’t be going to your house to spend the night. I don’t even know where you live!”
“You’re upsetting the kitten.” He scratches the top of his sleepy head.
“Don’t use the kittens against me,” I huff as I fold my arms over my chest. I want to tell him to put the kitten down because I can’t argue with him while he looks so hot and adorable. “Wait, how did you know where I live?” It dawns on me that when we’d gotten into his town car, he told the driver to head to my place, and the man knew where to go.
“I told you, I know lots of things when it comes to you, Doe.” He smirks.
“You’re lucky you’re holding that kitten right now.”
“No, you’re lucky I’m holding this kitten right now.” We stare at each other, and finally he nods toward my closet. “Pack.”
“You’re a bully.” I stomp over to grab my bag, and I hear him chuckle. I know I’m acting like a brat, but I can’t help myself because he brings it out of me. I’m not sure if I’m truly annoyed or I enjoy pushing his buttons. I’m sure it’s the latter.
I might also be worried about what might happen when Heath and I are all alone. In his office, there is only so much we can do, but at my apartment he knows my sister could be here any moment.
If I go with him, I don’t think I’m going to be a virgin come sunrise.
“Are the kittens Briar’s?” Of course he’s dodging the questions I asked.
“They’re ours.”
“So if you didn’t live together, who would get them?”
“What do you mean?” I look up at him as I drop my overnight bag onto the bed.
“You and Briar won’t live together forever.” His words smack me on the side of my head, and I wonder why the thought never occurred to me.
“If you want to keep your balls, I wouldn’t say that to Briar if I was you.” I grab an outfit for work tomorrow and toss it in the bag.
“Do you want her to live with us?” He doesn’t sound opposed to it, but I can’t imagine him loving the idea.
“What the hell, Heath? We’ve been doing this for five seconds,” I remind him again. The man has my head spinning.
“Five seconds, Doe? Are you fucking kidding me?” He goes to put the kitten down on my bed, but I stop him.
“Hold the kitten.” I back up a step because I know what his expression means. I’ve seen it before today, but normally he’d get aggravated and walk away. This time Heath isn’t walking anywhere unless it’s toward me. It’s scary and thrilling at the same time.
“You really think a kitten is going to protect you from me?”
“Nothing has ever protected you from me. Trust me, I tried.”
“You’re wrong.” He gently places the kitten down on the bed and takes a step closer. “I’ve protected you from me.” When he’s close enough, his hand grips my chin so I can’t look away. “But that’s over, and I’m done. Time’s up.”
“I don’t understand you.” Has there been some clock I’m unaware of?