Page 28 of Losing his Daddy

Gerald

I keptmy eyes on the menu to avoid looking at Wes any longer. There was something in his gaze that made me want to pour out my own story for him to evaluate. Never mind his life appeared to be in a steady sort of chaos as well. I just felt like he would know the answer to my issues, which was a weird feeling after having only known him a day and a half.

“Have you chosen a dessert?” The waitress asked from beside me, making me jolt at her sudden appearance. I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings well enough to notice her approach the table.

“Gerald?” Wes asked. “Do you know what you’d like?”

I shook my head. “It all looks good. Do you have a suggestion?”

When I raised my head, I found him grinning at me with a knowing sort of expression. I wondered if it was because he knew I was thinking of him when I was supposed to be making my decision, or if he was simply amused by my lack of focus.

“Two of the brownies and a couple small tarts, please. Thank you.” Wes handed our menus to the waitress, then folded his arms on the table.

“So…” I drawled.

“So,” he repeated. “I guess I should start at the beginning of things with Danielle.”

Wes wove a tale of years and years of dating the woman and then proposing. He told me about their work commitments, how perfect they were together on paper. He explained her father’s power and why their marriage was advantageous for everyone, even though he didn’t come from money.

As the story continued, his words shifted. They were less about happiness and positive connections, and more about loneliness, long work hours, and uneasy suspicions. He explained there were too many times he couldn’t reach Danielle despite her claiming she had nothing going on and long stares between her and the men around them. Stares that spoke of intimate knowledge of the other person.

“She’d built a network of men at her disposal. All of them, even my friends, were all too happy to come when she called,” he said solemnly.

“And you never suspected before recently?”

I couldn’t imagine how he’d have missed it. The way he watched me was so intense. I was merely an employee. Danielle had to have felt the power of his interest even if it was a fraction of this. And yet, she ruined her chances.

“Not once. She was always friendly to others. Part of her charm was that she could get along with anyone I introduced her to. Little did I know she was collecting them in her black book of booty calls.”

I snorted. “You did not just use the phrase booty call! I haven’t heard that in ages.”

“Oh, yes, I did. It’s a perfectly acceptable word given the situation. Anyway, I decided to build up evidence to prove I wasn’t going crazy when my brain decided to put the pieces together. The first video was damning enough. But then I realized she’d probably try to lie. Maybe she’d claim it was aone-time thing. I couldn’t let myself believe the lie, so I kept the camera up for three weeks.”

Wincing, I ran my hands over the tabletop. “And by then, you had plenty of proof.”

“Exactly that. I kicked her out, cancelled the engagement, and decided to move. Oh, and I fired everyone working for me. Most were either hired by her or had slept with her. Some were both. I figured cleaning house was best.”

“Which led you to me. Or rather, the job opening.” I leaned back in my seat. “It sucks that you had to go through this, but I’m kind of glad to have the work. Her loss is my gain.”

The way his lips tipped up on one side was downright sinful. Wes was far too attractive, a problem in its own right. And still, I’d accepted the job because I needed employment. I would just have to ignore his sharp jawline, sexy glasses, and teasing looks.

Easy enough considering he was fresh from his disaster of an engagement. Plus, I had no clue if he was even into men.

Not that I’d go there. Not again.

“Indeed it is your gain. So far, I’m rather pleased that this has all aligned so perfectly.”

The waitress arrived with dessert and then there was no more talking. For how much I enjoyed the sandwich he’d ordered me, I loved this even more. It was both sweet and subtle, the flavor elegantly balanced in a way Harlan would have loved.

My heart panged at the memory of my friend. I missed him and the others far more than I expected to. Not because I didn’t care for them. It was more that I thought my declaration of starting a new life would have me focused on the future only. Looking back, I couldn’t have been more foolish to think such thoughts.

Delusion.

I was full of it. Had to be, or I’d have known there was no escaping the past or the memories it held.

“Earth to Gerald. I didn’t know brownies could make someone so melancholy,” Wes teased with a worried expression.

I shook my head to clear the thoughts away. “It’s not the brownies. Just memories.”

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