Page 34 of I Won't Be In On Monday

"I mean, do you like bossing me around? You sure do it every day."

"I think I do," I say softly as I walk over to the cupboard and pull out the chia seeds. I'm standing right next to her now and look down into her big, beautiful blue eyes and lean down to whisper in her ear. “I quite like being dominant.” Her face turns red, and I chuckle slightly. Maybe it's because she's wearing a T-shirt that is quite snug in the bust area or maybe it's because her tight jeans are calling attention to her ass, but I'm quite turned on. Juniper has become more than just my role model assistant. She's become an object of admiration, as well, and I'm going to have to do everything in my power not to act on that because I can't afford to fuck around and lose her.

Chapter Eleven

Juniper

“You really have a way with kids, Juniper.” Remington sounds surprised as he glances at me. I try to ignore the butterflies his intense look creates. It should be illegal to be as good-looking as he is. And there should be a hefty fine for the way my stomach is lurching while staring back at him. I feel like I’m at an amusement park and about to go on a ride I’m both excited and dreading to go on. “Have you been around them a lot?”

“Not really,” I say, shaking my head and lifting my glass of lemonade to take a sip. It’s too sweet, but I’m thirsty and need to do something with my hands. “However, I do enjoy being around them, and well, your daughter is wonderful.” I look at him so that I can study his face to see how he takes my comment. He takes a sip of his beer and nods nonchalantly. He’s wearing a black shirt and black jeans, and he looks like a male model sitting there, so handsome and rogue-ish. He’s the perfect inspiration for my villainous prince.

“I have to admit that she’s a breath of fresh air.” He gazes at me with such intensity that I take a larger gulp of my lemonade and start coughing. “Are you okay?” He leans forward, concern in his eyes as he looks me over. I nod quickly and swallow hard.

Do not stop breathing, Juniper. You do not want to explain why you fainted. Or why your heart is racing a million beats per minute. Get it together.

“Fine, thanks.” I look around the restaurant and over to the next table, where Canyon is playing a card game with another young girl she met. “Isn’t it so cool how kids can find friends any and everywhere?”

“It sure is.” He grins and takes another sip of his beer. “Kinda like how women can pick up men at any bar.”

“That’s not true.” I shake my head, wishing it was that easy for me.

“It is.” He licks his lips. “Don’t tell me you haven’t tried it?”

“I’m not really in the habit of going to bars to pick up men.”

“Where do you pick up your men, then?”

“I don’t.” I sip again furiously.

“Dating apps?” he prods, and I want to ask him why he wants to know, but I don’t. I’m not sure I could face it if he said he was just trying to make conversation and didn’t actually care about the answers.

“I have been on them,” I admit, though I’m not going to tell him about my many disastrous dates.

“And how is that going?”

“Great.” I nod. “I’ve met every loser on the Lower East Side as well as 99 percent of the losers in New Jersey.”

“You’ve been going on a lot of dates then.” He grins. “Unless there just aren’t many losers in the city.”

I’m grateful when the waiter approaches with two plates in his hands and places them on the table. My stomach growls as I smell the juicy, sizzling meat of the cheeseburger before me. Igrab a fry off the plate, happy to feel that it is still hot and crispy. I take a bite and try not to moan as the salty potato hits my mouth. I love french fries, even though they are likely the reason I will never be under a size eight in clothes. Let alone a size zero.

"Would either of you like anything else?" The waiter looks at me and then at Remington. I shake my head, and Remington responds with, "No, thank you." He looks over at Canyon and then looks back at me. "I can't believe she didn't want to get anything to eat. Should I make her eat something?" he asks, and I shake my head slowly.

"I don't think so." I'm not really sure if that's the right answer, but she ate a grilled cheese sandwich earlier, and I didn't think we should force her to eat if she isn't hungry.

"So, back to your dating life, how is that going?" he says as he takes a bite of his burger.

"Why are we talking about my dating life ?" I say as I grab another fry. "I'm surprised that you don't want to talk about your dating life."

"My dating is very boring." He grins. "Plus, you already know all about it. I mean, you do send flowers for me and book my dates."

"About that…" I say casually and grab another fry. This is the opportunity for me to ask all the questions that have been in my mind for the last few months.

"Yeah?" he asks, looking at me with curious eyes.

“Why is it that you date so many different women? Are you just not interested in a long-term relationship, or were you burned in the past?" I pause. I can't believe I actually asked him that. I hope he doesn't think I'm too nosy. He grabs a fry from his own plate, and I wonder if he's just going to ignore my question. I want to sink into the ground. Maybe he thinks I've overstepped the invisible line of our relationship. It's not like we're good friends or anything like that.

"I guess I just haven’t really ever wanted to be in a long-term relationship," he says finally and grabs another fry.His brown eyes are clear as he gazes at me. I don't see any anger or annoyance on his face, and that makes me feel better. "It's not that I've been burned in the past. I've just never been in a serious relationship."

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