Page 51 of Hire A Cuddler

He helps me up, and I’m so out of it, he has to practically drag me to my feet and hold on to me. He’s hovering over me, and I’m gripping on to him because I’m afraid my legs are going to buckle. I can feel the road rash on my knees and my hands.

“Thank you,” I murmur. The man holds on to me and asks over and over if I’m okay. When I get my bearings, I try to pull from his arms, but he’s reluctant to let me go. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nod and force a smile to my face. “I’m okay. Thank you.”

He stands next to me for a few minutes as I try to catch my breath. We both inspect my knees and my hands, which are bleeding. “Those are nasty cuts. Are you sure I can’t help you?”

“No, I’m going home. I can take care of them there.”

After the man finally walks away, I take a good look at my knees and my hands, and it’s not pretty. I take a step toward my car and wince at the pain in my ankle. It’s bearable, but it hurts. I hobble toward my car, and the whole way, I’m refusing to let this upset me. King has a date night planned, and I’m not going to let anything ruin it. I’ll clean my cuts up and be good as new.

28

KING

“Canyou go over the list one more time? I want to make sure I didn’t miss anything.”

My assistant Rachel taps her pencil on the notebook she’s holding. “Flowers, check. Dinner, check. Gift, check.” She looks up at me. “Have you prepared what you’re going to say, or are you going to wing it?”

I nod. “I know what I’m going to say.”

Rachel stands up. “Well, I think you’re good then. Everything is perfect, and she’s going to love it. I really like her. She was so nice the day she was in here, and you seem happier, which makes working here nicer.”

I roll my eyes with a chuckle. “You’re just happy I’m not in the office as much.”

“Yeah, that definitely helps.” She laughs at her own joke and then walks over to the door. “No, seriously, it’s good to see you like this. Don’t screw it up.”

There’s not many people I would let talk to me like that, but Rachel is one of them. She’s been with me for almost twenty years, and she’s always been a say it like it is kind of person. “I don’t plan to. I’m going to get out of here soon. You can head out whenever.”

She puts her hand over her heart. “Oh, another short day. My husband is not going to know what to think with me coming home early all the time. “

It’s my turn to laugh. “Henry loves it, and I know he does.”

Rachel laughs and then before she gets out the office, she slaps her hand on the door. “Shoot, I almost forgot. Becca wanted to see you before you left today.”

I nod as I start gathering papers to put in my briefcase. “Can you schedule something with her in the morning? I was hoping to get out a little early.”

“I’ll tell her. Have a good night, boss.”

I tell her the same, and it’s only when I’m in the quiet of my office that I reflect on what I’m about to do. I only told Haven that I had a specialnight planned, leaving her to imagine what’s going on. I am a little nervous, but I’d be even more nervous if I did nothing. These last few weeks with Haven have been the best of my life. It seems like forever I’ve looked for somewhere I fit in and someone I felt at home with. Hell, I’m a millionaire. I have the nice home, the car, the business, the reputation—I thought I had it all. It wasn’t until I met Haven that I realized none of those other things matter. The only thing that matters to me is her. I can’t imagine my life without her in it.

I messed up by letting her think this was some kind of fake arrangement and we were doing it just to have kids and to save my reputation. Hell, I need to fix it and make sure she knows how much she means to me and how much I need her in my life permanently. I’m going to tell her how I feel. I’m pretty sure she feels the same way too, but I’m not going to pressure her. Of course, I want her to love me back, but I’ll wait for her.

I pull out my phone and look at the picture taken the other night at dinner. Chrissy took it, and as I scroll the pictures, it’s obvious how much Chrissy and my brothers already love my wife. She fits right in with our self-made family, and I wantmore nights like that one. I want forever with Haven.

While I have my phone out, I shoot her a text. “I’ll see you soon, wife. I’m leaving early.”

She sends me a picture of herself, sitting on our bed. It’s innocent enough, she’s fully clothed, but it still takes my imagination on a loop. The text she sent with it says, “I’m already home waiting for you, husband.”

I look at my clock, and it’s almost four. I told Haven I’d pick her up at six, but I can’t wait another second to ask her to be mine… for real this time.

I ride the elevator down, letting Callan know I’m on the way.

I’m almost to my car when my marketing manager, Becca, runs to catch up with me. “Sir… Ridge… can I have a moment please?”

I look at my watch impatiently. “I need to be somewhere. Can this wait until the morning?”

She’s holding a manila envelope. “I think you’ll want to see this, sir. It just came by courier.”

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