Page 31 of Never Finished

With that memory fresh in my head, I pulled out my phone to call Jaime to see what he was doing. Maybe I could sneak in a quick visit with him before he had to go to work. I didn't care where or how—I just needed to feel his touch, like an addict.

His voice was deep and sexy when he answered the phone. "Hello?"

A shiver ran through me, landing squarely between my thighs. "Well hello to you, too," I said a little breathlessly.

He chuckled softly. "Sorry, I just woke up."

"I hope I didn't wake you?" I was still wrapping my head around his schedule since he worked late and slept in the morning.

"No, I was awake. Just laying here, thinking about a certain redhead."

I took the bait. "Who is she? Do I need to hunt her down?"

He laughed a little louder this time. "Bella, you must know by now. There’s only one redhead for me."

His words made warmth spread through my chest, even as they scared the hell out of me.

It made me think of a future, a time when I never left his side again. But I didn't know if that was plausible in the real world. Right now we were living in a fairytale, and I didn't want it to end.

"I better be," I teased him. "I did have a reason for calling… I wanted to see if you had a little time before work. Maybe we could go for a walk? Or grab a quick bite to eat? Doesn't have to be anything big."

"Actually, I have the night off."

I was thirty years old, and I felt like a kid who’d just been told I was going to Disneyland. "Oh, then you must have plans already," I baited him.

"I certainly do. Remember that redhead I told you about? I was thinking of taking her to a lavish dinner, followed by a decadent dessert… if you know what I mean."

Excitement ran through me at the suggestion.

"That is, if you're not too busy with important business meetings with successful, rich suitors," he said jovially enough, but there was an edge to it.

"No, thank God. I am free… and all yours. Just let me know when to be ready."

"I'll pick you up at six. Dress comfortably—and not fancy Carter comfortably. Emma, the girl I grew up with comfortably, okay?"

I smiled, knowing exactly what he meant, and it thrilled me he knew what that meant.

He remembered young Emma's t-shirts and shorts with hiking boots. He had no expectation for the woman in the high-end sporting apparel that was expected of her with clients.

I let out a satisfied sigh. "Got it. I'll see you soon."

"Bye Emma," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice and the promise of what was to come later.

I was going to spend the evening with Jaime Acosta, and I was positively giddy about it.

But my excitement was immediately extinguished by the shrill ring of my phone which was still in my hand.

It was my father.

He was probably just checking in for a report on how the negotiations were going, but I dreaded having to tell him Andrew Jr. was stalling and I was struggling to figure out what his angle was other than trying to cop a feel at every opportunity.

I sucked in a steadying breath and answered. "Hey dad, how's it going?"

"That's exactly what I’d like to know from you, young lady." He said harshly, and any relaxed feeling I'd enjoyed before rushed out of me.

I hesitated before I answering. "Well, I'll be honest… things are beyond frustrating on the business front."

"But from what I hear, not on the personal front. Things seem to be going well for you, which is probably why you haven’t been able to close this deal," he sniped.

---