Page 27 of The Only Time

Chapter Ten

Eric

“So, you seriously sliced your arm open?” Adam’s voice asks with disgust.

I adjust my phone on my shoulder. “Yeah, it was pretty brutal. The pain isn’t nearly as bad now, but it’s still hard to move my arm.”

“And you’re out for the entire week?”

I sigh, knowing that’s not realistic. “I’m supposed to relax and let it heal. I’m just going to work from home, though. I don’t have the time to take a week off. Not with this acquisition.”

“Alright, man. Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

“Will do. I’ll talk to you later.”

I put the phone down and try to type out an email with one hand. It’s been impossible to get shit done this morning with one hand, but I’m not going to be useless all week. There’s far too much work to get done, and my bosses would lose their shitif I told them I needed to rest for a week. I called my assistant Charlotte and let her know that I’ll be working from home for the week and she nearly choked on her coffee.

When lunch time hits, I make a sandwich and decide to take it outside onto the patio to enjoy some sunlight.

As soon as I sit down, I notice Mia on the far side of the patio in a sports bra and spandex leggings. She’s bending over, stretching. Her body is far better than I had realized. There’s something about it that is unlike what I’m used to, but makes my hands twitch with eagerness to touch her. Her cleavage is popping out of her bra. A groan escapes my throat, and she turns around.

“Oh, hey,” she stands up and walks over to me. “I didn’t see you there.”

Now I’m inches from her ample cleavage and round ass, both secure in her tight-fitting clothes. It should be illegal for her to wear those. At least for someone with her curves and snatched waist.

“What are you up to?” I ask as I grab my chips as a distraction.

“I’m just trying to keep myself busy. I think I want to try to get out of the house today.”

I sit up straight. “You think it’s safe to leave?”

She looks so fragile standing in front of me, worry etched on her face. “I don’t know, but I can’t just hide away my whole life. I don’t even know for sure if he’s out to get me. Maybe it’s all in my head.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I was hoping a grocery store. I’d like to cook tonight.”

“I’ll go with you.” The words are out before I can take them back.

Spending any more time with her than necessary isn’t something I should be doing, not with how my body itches tohave her. But I’m also damn sure I’m not going to let her go out alone.

“You will?” she asks. “Are you sure?”

I shrug my shoulders like it’s no big deal. “I’ve got nothing else to do.”

That’s a lie. I have a ton of work to get done. But I suddenly feel the need to make her feel safe…to make her smile. If that’s not a red flag that I’m walking into dangerous territory, I don’t know what is.

“Okay. Thank you.”

Without any permission from my brain, my eyes drag up her body as I appreciate every single inch of what I see. When I reach her eyes, I notice her throat bob as if she’s affected by my reaction.

“I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Okay,” she smiles. “I’m just going to go get a quick shower.”

She walks away and I’m left wondering how I got myself in this situation. I’m supposed to be in control of myself here. She isn’t the money grabbing opportunist that I thought she was, but that doesn’t mean that she can’t destroy my heart.

There’s always an ulterior motive. I’m only going with her because it’s my responsibility to keep her safe. It has nothing to do with my attraction to her, which is only physical anyways.

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