Page 108 of Silver Linings

“Gunner!” Her laughter filled the apartment as he unbuttoned her blouse. “Stop it right now.” She playfully pushed his fingers away from her chest.

“We’ve got fifteen minutes before we need to be out the door. I can be quick.”

“I have to get Sage ready.” Her whole body shuddered as he slipped his finger into her bra, loving how her nipples strained as he brushed over the sensitive skin. “Oh hell. Gunner, you have to stop or I’m going to have to change my clothes.”

“That was the entire goal, remember?”

“Oh, I thought it was to get us both off before work.” Her hand slipped over his cock and it jumped at the touch. God, he wanted her so fucking bad.

“Lily…” he growled.

“Now you know how it feels,” she teased, eyes wide with desire.

“I might have to punish you for that tonight.”

“Maybe I need to punish you for making me all rumpled and flustered before work.”

“Just making sure you’re excited to come home tonight.”

“Gunner, I’ll always choose you. Don’t ever worry about that. But since you are going to be at work, I might as well be too.” She kissed the tip of his nose and then tried to push him off her. He laughed as he rolled to the side, allowing her to slip out from underneath him.

Ten minutes later, Lily and Sage stood by the door, ready to head off to Sloane’s. It really was killing him, that they wouldn’t be safe in the apartment waiting for him to come home, but Lily was right. Sloane’s office was right next door and he could pop in to check on them at any point. But fuck if his stomach wasn’t in all sorts of knots.

“Lily! I’m so excited you’re here today!” Sloane’s smile lit up the office as she walked in with Sage. She’d let Gunner walk her over, but kissed him goodbye at the door. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she knew he was already sending her a text.

“I’m so excited to start working.”

“Here, hand that little lady over to me. I have to show you the room for her.” Sloane’s excitement was palpable, so she gave Sage a kiss before placing her in Sloane’s arms and making her way towards the reception desk.

Lily opened the door to the small room just next to her desk and nearly cried. Where the room had been completely empty when she met with Sloane after their botched girls’ night, it now looked like a nursery from a magazine. There was a sweet little crib with a rainbow mobile above it pressed against one wall, a few soft toys scattered about the floor, with a plush area rug at the center of the room.

“Sloane, did you do all this for us?”

Her sweet friend smiled and nodded. “It really was nothing to put together. I just wanted you to know that I want you both here. I hope it works out.”

“Are you kidding? That you’d even let me bring Sage means the world to me, but to give her a safe, beautiful space to be in…” Sloane set Sage down in the crib and Lily didn’t waste any time pulling her into an embrace. “Thank you.”

Sloane patted her back. “You’re very welcome, Lily. Do you think she’ll be happy here while I show you some programs I use on the computer?”

Lily turned to Sage, who was smiling up brightly at the rainbow above her bed. “I think she’ll be just fine.”

“Perfect. Today is a light day in the office. I’m free all morning, and then this afternoon I just have one session with a client I started working with last week.”

“Great. Sounds like I should be able to get caught up quickly.”

The morning had flown by, but Lily felt so good about the job. Sloane had shown her the appointment scheduling system and how to send out the bills to different clients for the week. Thankfully, Lily didn’t need to deal with insurance companies. That would have been so overwhelming, but Sloane simply provided a super bill to the client and after they paid her, they could submit it to their provider to be reimbursed. It was perfect.

Sage seemed to love the office, too. She got extra cuddles from Sloane every few minutes, and Lily used the rocking chair inside the little room to nurse her to sleep just after lunch. Was it too early to say that the job was perfect for her?

Lily picked up her phone and saw a new text from Gunner. He’d been checking in on her all morning and it was sweet to have that constant reminder of how much she meant to him.

Just checking in. Missed getting to see you and Sage before you put her down for a nap.

We missed seeing you, too. Having the best day, though. Honestly, I think this job is perfect for me! Can’t wait to tell you about it tonight. Xx

Lily tucked her phone into the desk’s drawer when she heard the front door to the office chime. That must be Sloane’s two o’clock appointment. She had the record pulled up and the invoice already set out on her desk.

“Hello, I’m Lily. I can help you get signed in toda—” The man turned towards Lily and her heart froze, the rest of her words catching in her throat with a scream that wouldn’t come out.

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