Page 17 of Made For You
Her eyes searched mine, and it felt like I was under a bright-white light, being interrogated.
“If you’re sure.”
“Positive. Tonight is my treat.”
“Well, thank you,” she said hesitantly as she placed her wallet back in her bag.
“You’re welcome. Maybe I’ll see you again?”
Instead of answering, she shrugged but left me with a smile as she sauntered out of the lounge. Every man, even those who were there with someone, turned to watch her leave.
“I like that one,” Fiona said from behind me.
Yeah, me too. And that was going to be a big problem.
The next morning, I arrived at my office before sunrise, just as I had every morning since moving to Miami. Only this time, I spent the night before tossing and turning and felt like a tractor trailer had hit me by the time I settled into my office chair.
I’d been thinking about Aurora as I went to bed and reminded myself I could not catch feelings for her. Absolutely none, or the entire plan would go to shit. I was not made to be a husband. All my examples in life had been shit to their wives. I would never want to put her through that. The marriage was temporary, with one goal in mind.
But during the night, I kept having visions of my mother and Aurora together. It was the memories of my mom as I remembered her. Young, full of life, and happy. Aurora had mimicked her in the dreams.
It felt so real that at one point I’d woken in a state of shock, not believing I’d been asleep. I was terrified of falling back to sleep and losing my mom all over again. That had been the hardest part—thinking she was alive and then waking to her being gone.
A knock on my door sounded, and I sat up in alarm, checking the time. It was only seven in the morning, and dawn was washing the sky in peaches, oranges, and pinks.
“Olive?”
My assistant peeked her head through the door.
“What are you doing here this early?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d get started on that report you requested.”
“Oh. Okay. Please make sure you leave early today then.”
“Yes, sir. Also, Mr. Rossi called and will be here shortly.”
Weren’t we all just a lovely bunch of insomniacs?
“Thanks.”
Something about Olive being in the office early didn’t sit right with me, and I’d have to make a note for myself about it. She was usually the one who showed up late but got her work done, so I never questioned it.
While I waited on Dean, I pulled up an internet browser and searched for Show-Stopping Sweets. The page filled with a professionally done website that showcased the retro-style cake shop. It impressed me, to say the least. I clicked on the About Me section and was directed to a page where there was a picture of a smiling woman and a detailed paragraph next to it. I could see the resemblance between the woman named Alex and Aurora. It was clear they were related.
From what I read, it seemed Alex traded in her dancing career for cakes and desserts.
As I closed the browser, it left me wondering if being a teacher was what Aurora wanted in life. Was she one of those little girls who played school with her siblings, always wanting to be the teacher? Did she ask Santa for a desk and chalkboard? Or did she have bigger aspirations?
I needed to remember those were things I had no right knowing about her. Those were her secrets, and even as her husband, I would have no right to ask about them. It was all going to be temporary.
I had no idea why I had to keep reminding myself of that, and I hadn’t even convinced her to be my wife yet.
There was a flash of movement outside my office door, and I glanced up to see Olive leaning over her desk while she spoke with Dean. I couldn’t make out his expression, but fromall appearances, she was trying to flirt, and he wasn’t receptive to her advances.
“Dean!” I shouted, and Olive’s back went rigid. Dean stepped past her and into my office.
After he crossed the threshold, he closed the door and flipped the switch to turn my office windows opaque. “Yo?”
