Page 30 of Everything I Need

She smiles and goes back to looking out the window. I bring her hand up to my mouth and kiss her knuckles lightly. She looks over and smiles at me and I feel like I just won the lottery.

The week goes by quickly. I get to spend a lot of time with Scarlett.

We are able to finish the updates on the office, and have photos taken. The office truly looks great. Patients are very happy with the updated aesthetic, a word I learned from Scarlett, and I am shocked to hear so many people hated the way it looked before! No one ever said a word.

Scarlett spent the week working at the front desk on marketing plans, website design, and a plan to hire some much needed staff. It’s been so nice having her in the office with me everyday. I love working with her. She seems so happy when she is working. I know she is passionate about what she does and it shows.

Luckily though, today is Friday, and I ended my last appointment right before lunch so I am finishing up some paperwork now. I am already dreading the task when Scarlett saunters into my office. She sits right in front of me on the desk straddling my lap. That is another thing that’s happened this week. Scarlett has become everything I forgot I ever needed. She is smart, confident and sexy as hell.

Kissing my neck she whispers in my ear, “Could I maybe bribe you to go get pizza with me?”

Laughing, I say, “You do not need to bribe me to go eat pizza with my beautiful woman for lunch.”

Jumping up and clapping like a child who got their way, she grabs my hand and pulls me up out of my chair. “Excellent, I’m really hungry and Gunnar has a spinach and artichoke pizza special today!”

She was right to be excited. When I first moved here I was hesitant to think the local bar would have good food but, Gunnar turned out to be an amazing chef and I was pleasantly surprised.

“Wait a minute, I thought there would be bribing.” I tug her back to me.

“Um, can there be bribing after pizza? I’m really hungry.” She looks up at me with that innocent face.

“One kiss first?” She leans up on her tiptoes, hands on my chest, and gives me the quickest kiss before pulling me toward the door.

“Ok let’s go. You must be hungry.”

“Starved.” The look she gives me already has me excited for what is to come after lunch.

Chapter Eighteen

Scarlett

Idecidedtoworkfrom home today. I need to focus and Preston is such a distraction. As in, his body distracts mine. I seem to always know when he is looking at me. Sometimes he looks at me like he is going to devour me, and that sends tingles straight between my thighs. So, here I am working at the dining room table while Mom hums in the kitchen.

“Hey Mom, what’s a better way to say ‘Need someone willing to work part time on flexible hours for not a lot of pay’. I feel like that isn’t the best way to phrase Preston’s job listing.” I sigh.

Mom chuckles. “What is the job opening for?”

“A receptionist. He just needs someone to help with some paperwork, scheduling, answering phones when he has a busy day with patients.” I type out something else and delete it again.

Mom pauses, and looks thoughtful. After a few minutes she asks, “What about me for the job?”

“You want to work for Preston?” I turn in my chair to face her.

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about looking for some part time work. I just sit at home most of the day, and I need some human interaction. Best part is, I don’t care about money and I’m pretty flexible on time, as long as I can still volunteer at the senior center.” She smiles.

“Well, I think you’re perfect for the job, but I’ll have to talk to Preston since it isn’t actually my job to give.” She gives me a half smile and I know she really just doesn’t want to be home without Dad. He was supposed to be retiring this year and they were going to start traveling the world. I can see how she would want to avoid sitting around all day.

“How are things going with Scott at the community center?” I ask her.

Am I imagining things or is Mom blushing?

“Oh, um, there’s nothing going on with Scott and I you know.” She says quickly.

“Mom, I meant the activities you plan at the community center. Which leads me to think there is something going on with Scott! Spill it.” My grin is spreading and she has to know this is payback for all her meddling with Preston.

“Oh, hush you. There may have been some flirting from him, but it has been so long I don’t know what that looks like anymore. He’s probably just being friendly.” She waves me off as she increases the pace at which she is wiping the counter.

“You like him, Mom!” I exclaim.

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