Page 24 of Wild Nights

Oh shit. I was screwing this up fantastically.

Oliver: No wife. No girlfriend. No relationships. I wouldn't lie to you.

I had to protect Joey from a random hookup, which was what this was supposed to be. Even if it didn't feel like one. I didn't want her to think I was hiding something from her.

I called her instead of continuing to type. "I thought this was too big of a conversation for text."

"You had me scared for a second. I don't cheat. I'm not a home-wrecker." Her voice shook.

This must be personal for her. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you think that. My reputation is important to me. I don't want anyone to think random hookups are a thing for me, because they're not. That's not what you are."

"It's the same for me. And I know this is different for you. This is your place of business. Your home. I know we need to keep it a secret. Neither of us wants more. There's no point in revealing it to everyone."

My heart sank. Why did I care that she agreed to keep it a secret? I should have felt relieved, happy even. Instead, I felt bereft, as if I'd just lost something I never had. "And I'd never cheat on anyone. You don't have to worry about me. If I meet someone else, then I'll tell you."

"We're not exclusive. There's no commitment here."

"Agreed," I said tightly, irritated with this entire conversation. I'd wanted to soothe her fears about me being married, and I'd made everything worse somehow.

"If one of us finds someone, we are free to pursue that."

My jaw tightened at the idea. "I saw that you're on the schedule for conference during Christmas week."

"I'm looking forward to that. It's my first holiday bazaar."

"You don't need to be home for your family?" I asked, shamelessly probing for more information about her.

"I'll be home for Christmas Eve. I'm close to my younger sister and my mom."

I was glad she had family to spend it with. "Maybe when you're here next time, you could take advantage of the amenities of the resort and go skiing. I'll reserve a lift ticket and equipment for you."

She sucked in a breath. "That's not necessary."

"Eli believes in spoiling our conference hosts. We want the business."

"Well, if it's a business thing, I can't say no." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"But you'd say no if it was a gift from me?" I asked, thinking how the breakfast and flowers were from me even though I signed it from the resort.

"I wouldn't say no. But you know you don't have to spoil me. I already have a reason to keep coming back."

"We're playing a dangerous game." What would happen if one of us ended whatever this was between us? Would she stop booking conferences? If so, Eli would be angry with me for getting involved with her.

"You know for once I'm going to go after what I want. I enjoyed last night, and I'm looking forward to December."

"Me too." But what if one of us wanted more? I'd just have to remember that there was no future for us together. She lived in Maine, and I lived here in Colorado. She didn't even know I had a son. That was usually the biggest issue with any woman I dated. They didn't want to become a stepmom. I'd resigned myself to staying single.

"Well, I'm going to eat this delicious spread before it gets cold. Thank you for breakfast and the flowers, Oliver."

"You're welcome, Carolina. Till next time."

"Goodbye, Oliver," she said as I hung up. I was proud of myself that I didn't make any promises to keep in touch in the interim. In fact, I'd said I'd talk to her when we saw each other in December, so I was cutting off that possibility.

It was bad enough we had a night every few months. I couldn't entertain anything more involved. My family needed my mind on work, and Joey needed everything else I had to offer. I had enough going on in my life without complicating it with a woman whose life was across the country.

I was making the bed when a knock sounded on the door. Then Eli opened the door. He had a master key for the penthouse condos. "Wake up. I'm hungry."

I chuckled as I grabbed my cell phone and keys on the way to the door.

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