Page 65 of Love Not Qualified

“I—” I started.

“I’ll remain forever in your debt, Haelyn. This business trip is important and I’ll pay you a bonus if you come.”

When I said I never asked anything of him, I didn’t consider that he hadn’t either.

Would two days away really hurt? Was I going to risk my job for two days? That still left me with twelve more days to figure out what I was going to do with my mother and maybe, if I got that bonus, I could transfer her to a better section of health care.

Two days. That was it.

“When do we leave?”

Me

hi

um, I know our last conversation didn’t end well, but I thought you should know I’m leaving on a business trip

you know, in case you text me and I might take some time to reply

I hope you’re doing well ??

Read01:24

TWENTY-THREE

HAELYN

My bottom lip snuck between my teeth as my foot tapped on the ground to dim the cold sweeping under my clothes. I was moving from side to side, impatience making me unable to stand still.

I was grateful I wasn’t at my house tonight and risk Mr. Graves seeing where I lived after he insisted on picking me up. The building where my apartment was had a broken door at the entrance, the wind whooshing inside, and the face of the block was grey with a few patches of cement where the structure had failed to resist the rough weather. It wasn’t a nice view by any means.

The last thing I needed was to witness his pity the moment he laid his eyes on the apartment complex. I wasn’t ashamed of where I lived—I worked my ass off to afford it—but what I couldn’t stand was that flicker in people’s eyes when they looked around my neighborhood. Shock followed by fear, then the worst, pity.

So yeah, I was goddamn comforted to know my boss was about to drive in front of Merielle’s home and not mine.

Merielle and I binged theJohn Wickmovie series until three a.m. when she offered me a few clothes for the short trip, then pulled out full-body lingerie I knew I wasn’t going to wear.

“Just in case,” she said with a wink as she packed my bag.

Now it was a little after five and I watched a puff of air escaping my mouth every time I breathed out while waiting for my boss. I had my bag next to my feet and my fingers buried in the depths of my jacket, moving them from time to time to make sure they weren’t frozen yet.

“Just two days,” I whispered in the dark with no one to hear.

Two days and then I could come back home. Whichever decision I was going to make it would haunt me for the rest of my life. Let her live and wonder if she hated me for it, or disconnect her from the machines and wish I never had?

Which one was the best option?

I breathed out in relief when I saw two headlights driving toward me and I stepped aside, giving him room to park next to me. He got out of the car, dressed in a black coat that touched his knees and a long grey scarf circled around his neck. His thick brows reached the black ribbed beanie on his head, as deep, dark eyes took a survey of my body.

I clenched my thighs together, the squint of his gaze burning hot on me. Mr. Graves crouched, grabbing my bag with a hand, and that’s when I noticed. He no longer oozed alcohol—a smell that somehow became his signature scent—but he smelled like a fresh and cold shower with a touch of masculine perfume.

“Hi,” he finally said, and my eyes moved from his bobbing throat to his face. Mr. Graves played with the hem of my bag, his posture standing tall.

“Hi,” I said back, a blush creeping onto my cheeks.

Gosh. What is wrong with me, heating at an innocent ‘hi’?

Get it together.

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