Page 87 of The Perfect Mistake

“Yes,” I whisper, and the sensations sweep me away.

Alec

Work has a way of expanding past its initial limits. Every meeting, email, and phone call is a potential threat. Some days, I feel like I spend most of my time ensuring they don’t take over. Like I’m a watchman rather than a CEO, putting out embers before they ever flare into fires.

But there’s one distraction I’ve been unwilling to avoid.

The texts.

I’m preparing for my meeting with the board this afternoon when my phone pings with another message.

Isabel: The physiotherapist just left. Thank you again for arranging weekly sessions, Alec. I really appreciate it.

Alec: Of course. What’s the verdict?

Isabel: Unchanged, unfortunately.

I put my phone away and look back at the agenda. My COO will be chairing most of this meeting, and the CFO will update us on the quarterly numbers. The acquisitions team will be there, too, going over the new additions we’ve added to Contron over the past year, and Connie will report on the Foundation’s work…

I reach for my phone again.

Alec: What are you doing today?

She has at least three more hours before she needs to pick up the kids, and I realize I’ve never asked about that before. Does she hang out with friends most days? Spend time with her family? Read those books of hers?

Isabel: I’m going for a run in the park now, and then I’ll probably read for a bit. I’ve already prepared a treasure hunt at home for Sam and Willa.

Alec: A treasure hunt?

Isabel: They often have a lot of energy after dinner. Don’t worry, they’ll both get their homework done.

Right. That is important, but… so is play. I know that. But I’ve never put a lot of work into ensuring it happens. It has always struck me as something that kids just do. It’s the parents’ job to encourage the things they don’t. Homework. Piano. Sports. Languages. Discipline.

It’s how I was raised.

Still, there’s no denying the effect Isabel’s activities have had. Her little dance parties tucker Sam out like nothing else, and even Willa started to ask for them, with a caveat that Isabel is not allowed to spin.

I add some notes to the meeting agenda, filling out points that were underdeveloped. Shoot an email to my COO that we need to address the rumors of a workers strike within the renewables industry and how it will affect us.

And then my own discipline cracks again.

Alec: I’m looking forward to that. What did you hide as the treasure?

Isabel: I think I’ll let that be a surprise to you, too.

Alec: Hiding things from your employer?

Isabel: Only things he doesn’t need to know.

I stare at her name on my phone, at the six letters, and feel a tugging in my chest. I knocked on her door last night, after getting home late, and found her waiting for me.

She’s too sweet for this world. Far too sweet for me.

Alec: What book are you reading now? Another one of those sex novels?

I know she’ll protest. I’m expecting it before she even responds, but it still makes me huff a chuckle when it arrives.

Isabel: They’re ROMANCES that happen to have spicy scenes. And the answer’s yes. I was going to tell you where I left the hero and heroine, but now I won’t.

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