Page 105 of An Engagement for Erica

Again it sounded stupid, but he didn’t want to put any blocks on the train tracks they were cruising on. He didn’t know if he had enough in him to pick the pieces up with everything else going on in his life if the cargo started to jam and fall off.

“I’d rather keep things the same for now,” he said. “I told her yesterday that it’d be a while before she saw you again. It’s not hurting anyone, is it? No one knows but us in this room, Erica, and my mother. It’s not as if she wears the ring out. No one even knows we are dating at work.”

His grandfather looked at Michael. “Is that true?”

Michael shrugged. “I’ve not heard otherwise.”

That just pissed him off that his grandfather didn’t believe him on that after trying to smooth everything over that he had people reporting to him.

“It’s not a big deal if they find out,” he said. “She’s not doing interviews anymore. She’s working behind the scenes and helping with policies and procedures and getting things put inplace with the changes that need to be implemented. If she comes into the office it’s to meet or work with me or with some key staff. She won’t even be in this week.”

Which he hated, but she was doing work from home and maybe it was for the best.

It’s not as if he couldn’t see her at night. She was only down the street.

Things they were going to have to work on as if they were any other dating couple.

And they could.

Because he wasn’t about to ruin or change a thing and risk losing her.

“Your personal relationship is your own,” his grandfather said, shrugging. “But I don’t like playing any part in the deception. I can’t believe your mother is fine with this.”

“She wasn’t happy at first, but she likes Erica a lot. The fact Erica was willing to do this means something, don’t you think?”

He didn’t know why he was making excuses for his behavior, but he wasn’t about to let anyone tell him he was wrong.

“Don’t hold onto that as a rope to bind her to you,” his grandfather said. “Anything that starts as false pretenses isn’t going to last. But you’re going to have to figure that out on your own.”

“That’s right,” he said, standing up. “I’ll do it on my own. I’m not worried.”

“If you weren’t worried,” Michael said. “Then you wouldn’t keep it from her that your grandfather knows the truth.”

“I’m leaving. Leave me to my relationship. I’ve got it covered.”

He hoped.

34

GUARD EVERY WORD OR MOVEMENT

“Joel and Catherine are moles?” Erica asked on Wednesday morning.

She hadn’t needed to go into his office for this meeting. They could have done it over the phone.

Instead he asked if they could meet in person at her place before he went to the office.

There was no way she was saying no.

She hadn’t seen him since Sunday. They’d talked and texted, but not much more. She knew he had to meet with his grandfather after work on Monday and yesterday he was slammed with issues. Part of being the boss.

“That is what I’m being told,” he said. “I knew it was someone. I didn’t think it was two people. And they each know the other is one.”

“Interesting,” she said. “So they’ve got each other for support and to bounce things off of and decide what to bring back to TC. Sounds like a good setup for them and I’m sure they are being compensated.”

“I’m sure they are,” he said drily. “I didn’t ask what or how. It’s not my business. That’s my grandfather’s thing. Andwhile my grandfather hasn’t been available, they are going to Michael.”

“Nowthatis even more interesting,” she said.

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