Page 178 of By His Rule

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to finish up a few other things, then I’ll be heading home,” she informs me.

“I trust that you’re going to have a more sensible night,” I muse.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

She backs away from my desk in favor of the door.

“Good. I need you ready tomorrow.”

“Have a good evening, sir.”

“Don’t worry, I intend to.”

She looks over her shoulder just in time to see the smirk that pulls at my lips. She frowns but doesn’t respond and a second later she’s gone.

I expected her to say something this morning.

To apologize, maybe. To at least ask me to forget I’d ever seen anything.

What I wasn’t expecting was for her to say nothing.

My office door closes behind her, leaving the room feeling cold and lonely.

I stare at it, battling with myself about whether I should go after her or not.

I asked Melissa to check on her after she returned from her lunch, and she assured me that Lorelei was fine.

Dragging my attention back to my monitor, I continue with what I was doing, but just like before, my focus is elsewhere.

The buzz of my cell is a welcome distraction; so is the person I find in my messages.

Makenzie: I’m bored

Kian: Do some homework. It’s never too late to learn something.

I smirk. Teasing them will never get old.

Makenzie: I’m already smarter than you, old man. What are you doing?

Kian: Trying to work.

Makenzie: Boooooring.

Makenzie: You should do something fun.

Kian: I am. You should see this spreadsheet I’m working on.

Makenzie: Yawn.

Makenzie: Ditch work and come get me? I’m going crazy stuck at home.

Kian: It’s been three days.

Makenzie: Three looooooong days. Don’t tell her, but I even miss Tilly.

Kian: I’m so telling her.

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