Page 47 of Lucky Bounce: Game On: Part Two

"Considering I didn't even get a chance to start an interview with you yet, I guess we can be."

"Well, then, no. I don't want kids." He stopped at a red light. "Ever. I like being able to go where I want, when I want. Being tied down with babysitters and bottles and all that shit sounds like a nightmare. I want to pick up and travel at a moment's notice. Jet off somewhere and enjoy life.”

He flipped on the radio, putting an end to their conversation, and over the course of the fifteen-minute drive back to his building, she mulled over what he'd said.

Everyone had the right to decide if they were cut out for parenthood, but it was a damned shame he wasn’t interested in being a dad. Because as good as he was with children, Eli Donnelley would have made an excellent father someday.

* * *

Eli swung the sports car into its designated parking space and killed the engine.

As they walked in silence toward the elevator, the day started to catch up with her physically as bone-weary exhaustion hit her hard.

"Would you mind if I borrowed your soaker tub tonight?" she asked. "My bathroom has a tub, but yours look amazing."

"Sure." He nodded as they exited the elevator. "Make yourself at home."

"Well, since it's your personal bathroom, I didn't—"

He held up a hand as he unlocked the front door. "It's totally fine. I'm just gonna hang out on the couch and watch a movie until dinner."

"Sounds like a quiet evening."

"I agreed to thirty days of acting like a consummate professional around you, didn't I? Staring at the television will keep me out of trouble." He gave her a wink, and she snorted with laughter.

"Thanks." Holly kicked off her shoes and headed to the bedroom to feed the cat. "Do you mind Miss being out?" she called over her shoulder.

"Hell, no. I could use a cuddle buddy." Eli followed her down the hall and stopped at the door as Miss wound around her legs, mewing for food.

"Hey, fuzzball." He grinned as Miss peered up at him, her green eyes wide. "Want to hang out with me tonight?"

Miss let out another small mew, and Eli laughed. "Is that her way of saying hello?"

"Sure. But it's also her way of saying I'm hungry." Holly poured a tiny bit of dry food into a bowl and walked out to the kitchen. "Sometimes I give her a few kibbles to munch on while I go get her raw food. It keeps her occupied."

"I thought she wasn't allowed dry food."

Holly grabbed a container from the fridge. "Miss can have both with no issues. I severely limit the dry stuff, though."

"Ah, got it." He flashed her a smile. "Enjoy your soak in the tub. I'm going to go make friends with the couch."

"'K."

Holly fed the cat, then went back to the bedroom and gathered her pajamas and underwear before padding over to Eli's luxurious bathroom.

She turned on the faucet and dumped some fancy bubble bath into the tub as it filled.

After peeling off her clothes, she climbed into the bath and sank down into the bubbly, steamy water as the faucet continued to run. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth surround her and wash away the day.

All she wanted to do was forget what had happened with those guys. It had scared the hell out of her, and what had come after—not being able to lift her arms and the double vision—had freaked her out.

But this... this, at least, was pure bliss.

Forty-five minutes later, the water had turned lukewarm. Reluctantly, she drained the tub, then got dressed in her pajamas and tied her hair into a ponytail.

Peering into her room, she found Miss snoozing away on the comforter instead of hanging out with Eli. Maybe she wasn't in the mood for socializing tonight, either.

Holly’s stomach had settled, and she was hungry enough for a pre-dinner snack. She fixed herself a slice of peanut butter toast and a cup of tea, then carried both into the living room.

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