Page 62 of Must Have Been Love

“Am I?” I ask.

“Yes you are. You haven’t even bitched about the increased costs.”

“Wait,” I say. “There are increased costs?”

My sister grins at me. “No, but it was fun to watch you freak out. So what’s got you smiling like that?”

I roll my eyes at her. “I’m not smiling. I’m just not frowning.”

“Isn’t that the same thing for you?” she teases.

Truth is, it’s the thought of tonight that’s making me feel relaxed and not constantly fucking stressed. After I left Skyler last week, I’ve spent more time thinking about how to get her into my bed than I have about the spreadsheets on my screen and the deal we’re about to close in London.

I’ve also called her every night. The first time she sounded confused when she answered. Like she couldn’t figure out why I was taking the time to call her. But somehow we’ve gotten into a rhythm – I call her after Ayda is asleep. It’s the highlight of my day if I’m honest.

She’s like a wild bird. I have to approach slowly to make sure she doesn’t fly away. And yeah, I like that challenge. It’s made all the more difficult by the fact that I can’t simply go and see her every evening. I have Ayda to take care of, which means I’ve had to be more creative in my wooing.

It hasn’t escaped my notice that Skyler’s usually in bed when I call. I made her go onto video last night and yes, after talking for almost two hours the conversation got dirty. And I talked her into making herself come in front of me. It’s the closest I’m going to get to having her on a mattress, at least for now.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some ideas to make her bedless sex demands easier on my back. One of which I’m putting into practice tonight. Because fuck it, I want that woman in my bed.

But that will have to wait.

I sign the last invoice and ask Autumn to send them over to my accountant. She only has to upload them to the system and he’ll make sure they all get paid.

“Listen,” she says as she takes the papers back from me. “Can I drop Ayda off a little later tomorrow?”

“Why?” I ask. Though truth be told that would make my life easier too.

“Because I’d like to take her over to the mainland in the morning.” My sister fiddles with the hem of her shirt, a surefire indication that she’s nervous. “There’s a children’s author talking there. I thought it might be good for her. You know how much she loves books.”

Yeah, she does. “Which author?”

“Emma Salinger. Francie’s sister-in-law, you remember her?”

I shake my head because I really don’t. Francie has so many brothers and sisters-in-laws that I lose track.

“She’s married to Francie’s youngest brother,” Autumn reminds me, not noticing my complete apathy. “Brooks. He’s the real estate guy.”

Oh yeah, actually I do know who she’s talking about. I’ve had dealings with Brooks in the past. He’s a good man.

“Okay.” I nod. “She’d like that.”

Autumn claps her hands together. “Perfect. Oh, and I confirmed an end date for the renovations. They should be done in ten days. I’m going to tell Skyler to start preparing for the grand opening.”

“I’ll tell her,” I say far too quickly. Then immediately regret it. “I need to talk to her about something else anyway,” I add.

“What do you have to talk about?” Autumn asks. “I thought you didn’t like her.”

“I like her enough to pay for the damn renovations.”

My sister grins at my annoyance, though she has no ideawhyI’m annoyed. Maybe it’s because I feel like it’s so damn obvious that I like that woman. And that she at least tolerates me. Yet somehow I feel like everybody else in the world would find our almost-relationship hard to understand.

And sometimes, I fucking long to be understood.

twenty

SKYLER

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