Page 16 of Only Ever You

His smile gives me butterflies. “There’s no one else I’d want.”

He walks me to the door, opens it, and waves me through. “See you tomorrow morning, Pippa. Around ten.”

Rochelle’s eyebrows rise as I approach her. “I assume that means you made a hiring decision,” she says to him.

“It’s a no-brainer. Pippa and I go way back.”

It’s clear no one’s told her this as understanding crosses her features. “You do?”

“He knew me when I was a kid,” I say. “We haven’t seen one another in years.”

She crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows at him. “Explains a lot.”

“Bye, Pippa. See you tomorrow.”

With a laugh, she walks me to the elevator. “Let’s go down to my office and we’ll finalise the paperwork.”

The butterflies have lessened, but a few still linger.

I’m not sure I can work with this version of Deacon. He’s not as moody as I thought he’d be. In fact, he’s about the opposite.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was being flirty.

Chapter Six

Deacon

Philippa Theresa Chapman has knocked my socks off.

Her photo was pretty enough, but when she walked in the door with Rochelle, I was mesmerised.

Pippa was always going to be a beauty. I watched her grow up and knew her brother and I would end up taking an active interest in who she dated.

But now she’s a woman—curvy as sin with an hourglass figure and cleavage I’d love to drown in. Her features were always dainty, but her full lips are just begging to be kissed.

Lucas would hate it if I seduced his sister, but any thoughts of revenge for his actions are fleeting as I could never do that to Pippa. She’s worth far more than a quick roll in the hay.

As soon as I saw her, there was no way I could stay away. I had to be near her.

She’s going to be mine.

Leaving her was hard the first time. She was way too young for me, and I didn’t harbour romantic thoughts about her, but I’d known her for her whole life. Pippa was like a sister to me, but I’m not feeling anything sisterly about her now.

When we’ve made plans to meet for morning tea the next day, I open my office door. Rochelle stands awkwardly in the outer office, meeting my gaze and arching an eyebrow at me while Pippa explains what we are to one another.

My eyes drop to Pippa’s hips as she walks away. The sway of them is hypnotising—I foresee a lot of watching those curves in the future.

Should I have interfered with Garrett’s hiring process?

No.

Should I have offered up my PA so I could keep Pippa close to me?

Also no.

But I did, and I have no regrets.

An hour later, Rochelle knocks on my office door and walks in. Any smile she had on her face earlier is gone. “I want to ask you what your intentions are toward Pippa, but that makes me sound like a parent,” she says.

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