Page 22 of Played

“You look nice.” Ethan says, as I open the door to him. He’s picking me up for our promised date, as it’s Friday night.

“You, too.” I say to him, glancing down his body. He’s in a pair of casual black dress pants and a white linen shirt. It’s insane how he can make something so simple look so goddamn hot. “Just let me grab my purse.”

“So, how was the rest of your week?” He asks, but I don’t know why, because we’ve spoken on the phone every day, and I’ve told him how things were going.

“Good. Can’t complain. Busy, but I thrive in chaos.” I admit, as he opens his truck door for me.

“I can tell. Anyone that works full-time and has a side business is a type A personality for sure.”

He walks around the truck and hops into the driver’s side.

“You think I’m a type A, do you? What’s your excuse? You work sixty hours a week. I’m surprised you could muster the time to call me as often as you did this week.”

“I was raised like that. My mama and da practically raised us at the office, when we weren’t with the nanny. And I love it. They say if you find something you love, it’s never work, well that holds true for me.”

I shrug. “It’s the same for me, Ethan. I love both my day job and my side job. I don’t watch television, I’m not that into music, and my hobby is creating banking software. You do the math.”

“I suppose you’re right. A self-professed workaholic.”

I lift a finger. “But I do play hard, too. I love travelling.”

He looks at me, lifting his brows. “When’s your next trip?”

“It’s not a when it’s a where.” I explain. “After I go back to Scotland, I’m heading to Paris, with my mama.”

“Nice. Have you been to Paris before?”

“Once.” I nod. “But I was very young, and I don’t remember it. Hence the return trip.”

He looks at me as we head onto the highway. I have no idea where we’re going, but I’m glad I wore a tasteful dress, seeing as he’s dressed equally tasteful. “When are you going?”

“Just as soon as I finish developing this latest software. I have a personal rule: I never leave a project unfinished. That’s my reward. When I finish my current work in progress, I go away.”

“And Gill is cool with that? How much vacation time do you get?”

“I work remotely for some of it, so he lets me go when I want, as long as I get my projects done first. So, it’s the same rule at work as it is at home.”

“And Gill is aware that you have a side business?”

I frown. “Sure, he does. That’s half the reason I got hired at his bank.”

“How come you’re not taking Trudy to Paris with you?”

“Because I promised my mama. She’s dying to go.”

He rests his hand on mine. “You’re a mama’s girl. I like that.”

I cringe, so he can see my reaction. “You’re not a mama’s boy, are you?”

He winks, giving me a shiver. “I would say I’m equally favorable to both my parents.”

“Is that a clever way of sidestepping the answer?”

“Not at all. I’m not a good liar, Freya. Not in my personal life, anyway. And in business, only if da order me to.”

“Does he order you to lie often?”

We veer off the highway, and the restaurant is literally off the highway. He pulls into a spot and answers my question. “He orders me to do tasks often, but not to lie, no. Only if it’s absolutely necessary.”

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