Page 133 of Anything To Be With You

She leans in, flashing way too much cleavage. "I can help you…relieve that stress. The way I used to do for the mayor." She licks her lips.

This bullshit again. "No, Addison." I push my chair back and stand quickly. "Collect your things, you’re finished here."

She laughs. "Always the jokester, Luke." She sways her boney hips as she walks out the door.

This is getting out of hand. After giving her two written warnings and a suspension within the last eleven weeks, she has yet to take me seriously. I’ll get HR to write up her termination papers tonight.

I head into my private washroom and shut the door, splashing water on my face. I miss my Sweetheart. I miss her to the point of physical pain. I know she is doing well; she still talks to Carrie and Elle; Gabe pops in every so often to see her and I talk with Erin once a week. She’s working as Erin’s PA and bought herself a newer vehicle. I know it’s not healthy to be so hung up on your ex but she owns my heart. It will always belong to her.

A scream comes from the main office. I bolt from the washroom and out my door, stopping dead in my tracks. My brain not registering what my eyes are seeing.

Dani, my Sweetheart, is standing at Carrie’s desk, wrapped in Carrie’s arms, and squealing. She looks breathtaking. Utterly incredible. My heart begins throwing itself against my ribs and the rope of thorns forces the air from my lungs as it tightens again while my eyes rake over her body. Wearing a pair of flowy pants and a fitted lilac shirt, her curves on full display. My hands itch to run over those round hips and thick thighs. I mentally kick myself for not keeping my promise.

"Daniella." I whisper.

Her eyes snap to mine and a seed of hope begins to grow as her eyes rake over my body. The way she’s looking at me makes my blood race, my dick harden and I begin to sweat. The exact same reaction I had when I first saw her.

"Archer."

"Can I speak to you for a moment?"

"I don’t think that’s a good idea." She replies and my stomach hits the floor.

"Please." I beg. I’m desperate to get her alone, even if all she does is screams at me.

Dani’s eyes meet mine again. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I would prefer to keep that between us." I plead with my eyes, hoping she’ll agree to it.

Her face softens and she says, "you have five minutes. I have an appointment with Mark at one-thirty." She heads towards my office, glancing at Addison sitting at her old desk.

I close the door and motion to the chair in front of the desk. I clasp my hands on the desk in front of me. "How’s Mason?"

"He’s alive. Thank you again for footing the bill and paying for his physio. They sent me a copy, I will pay you back." She glances away. "Maybe not the full amount, I still have rent and Mason to feed and my new job doesn't pay as much as this one did."

"It was a gift."

Dani’s mouth drops. "It was six thousand dollars, Archer! Forty-two hundred for the private room for two weeks and the rest for his physio, I have to pay some of that back."

"I have more than enough money, Sweetheart." She blushes at her nickname and a small pebble of hope starts to grow in my chest. "It was a gift, end of story."

Dani throws her hands up. "Fine, I won’t try to pay you back," she crosses her arms over her chest. "Stubborn asshole." She mutters under her breath.

"I'm truly sorry for how I acted at the hospital." I say.

Those beautiful eyes that undo me every time, snap up to meet mine. "So you've said."

"I will never forgive myself for breaking my promise to you."

Dani nods but doesn't answer, but I guess that's an answer in and of itself.

I clear my throat and change the subject. "I’m guessing you’re here because Josh has served you."

"Yep."

"May I see the papers?"

"No. This case doesn’t involve you." She snaps.

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