Page 99 of Crazy In Love
Thoughts of those large hands on me just a few hours ago had me squeezing my thighs together.
The cool air hit me when we stepped outside, and I was grateful for the distraction. Bridger had a car waiting for us right out front, and he opened the door for me before I slipped inside.
I was going to say hello to the driver, but he had the divider up.
“I’m very excited to see this fireplace,” I said.
“We came a long way to see it. I hope it lives up to your expectations.”
“Me too.” I chuckled, just as my phone rang.
It was my mother. I’d called to let her and my father know that I was going to Paris, but she hadn’t picked up, so I’d left a message. I sent it to voicemail, and it rang again immediately. Bridger obviously noticed.
“You can take the call. We’ve got a few minutes in the car, and I’ve got some emails to check,” he said.
I nodded. “Hey, Mom.”
I held the phone away from my ear when she started shouting. “How could you go on vacation when you have a business to run. How irresponsible are you?”
My chest tightened at her words. She always thought the worst of me, no matter what I did.
“I’m not on vacation. I’m here on a design job.”
“Oh yes,” she said, continuing on her rant. “Bridger Chadwick hired you because you whined about him thinking you wrote ‘The Taylor Tea.’ And now you’re abandoning your responsibilities and your family for a job that isn’t even real?”
I tried to hold the phone against my ear so he wouldn’t hear what she was saying.
His eyes were on me, and I could feel my cheeks heat.
“I’m not abandoning anything. Beatrice has the shop covered, and I hired another employee for the holidays. Everything is under control,” I said over the lump in my throat.
“You left a woman who isn’t a family member in charge of our business while you go to have a little fun in Paris. And then you hired a teenager to help her!” she shouted, and I pulled the phone away once again. “Shame on you, Emilia Taylor.”
“Shame on me?” I gasped as the first tear broke free. “Shame on me for going to Paris and chasing my dreams? I’ve been doing everything you’ve asked of me for years. This opportunity came up and I took it, hoping I’d have the support of my mother.”
An evil laugh came through the phone. Cold and angry. “You are a spoiled little girl. You’ve let your entire family down. Have fun in Paris, Emilia.”
And she hung up the phone.
I looked out the window, swiping at my cheek and trying to pull myself together in hopes Bridger hadn’t noticed.
“Emilia,” he said, his voice deep and smooth.
I cleared my throat and turned to look at him. “Yes?”
“Come here.” He opened his arms, and I moved into him. Needing the comfort.
His arms wrapped around me, and I took several deep breaths to keep from losing it. I would not break down in front of my only client.
And the man I’d just had incredible sex with last night.
When the car came to a stop, I pulled my head back. “Thank you. I’m good.”
He nodded, but I saw much more in his gaze than I’d expected to.
Empathy.
Concern.
