Page 320 of Small Town Firsts
Regardless, Luna’s texts had reminded me this wasn’t a game. I couldn’t let my dick lead me into perdition because real people got hurt when these kind of things went wrong. I knew that better than most.
Ryan might annoy me more than any human on this planet ever had, but hurting her was the last thing I ever wanted to do.
I made a show of looking at my watch as I stood. “I’ll have to keep the meeting brief because I have something to get to.”
“Oh, really?” She didn’t ask what, but I could hear the interest in her tone.
Deliberately, I didn’t tell her more. Maybe that made me a bastard, but I was doing the best thing for both of us.
“Mrs. Franklin,” I said smoothly as the other woman emerged from the short hallway off the waiting room. “We’re all set up in the conference room. This way, please.”
“Stacey,” she corrected, holding out a hand. “I’m sorry about before.”
“No problem.”
After we shook, she smiled warmly at Ryan. “Your assistant is worth her weight in gold. I hope you pay her very handsomely.”
It took everything I possessed not to look toward Ryan. I could feel her pleasure at Stacey’s words, and she deserved them. Clearly, I hadn’t given her a fair shake when she’d taken this job, even if she did have some questionable personal traits and an inability to be on time.
But that didn’t mean I intended to throw all caution to the wind. She would finish her work here on Friday, and we would go our separate ways.
Thank God Luna had been the cold water I needed before it was too late.
I forced a smile. “She’s worth more than I could ever give.”
ELEVEN
Card of The Day:
Embrace:Page of Swords| Release:Five of Swords
Between being caught tryingto take a photo of Preston, my crystal going haywire, him kissing the hades out of me, and then being interrupted by Stacey, I’d had entirely too much stimulation for an afternoon.
Never mind the secret plans he wouldn’t tell me about. Which should not matter, except he’d just had his tongue in my mouth—again—and I guess I’d liked it.
Fine, no guessing required.
Since my energy levels were near the basement, I took a quick trip downstairs to suck in some sunshine and walk around the park across from Preston’s office. I slipped off my heels and let the grass and the earth seep into my skin.
I wasn’t an empath, but any woman would need a little recharge after that much emotional turmoil. Add in my own chaotic energy thanks to being in PMS’s vicinity, and yeah, I needed a break.
“Whatcha doing?”
I blinked out of my minor cleansing bubble and looked down at the little girl. She couldn’t have been more than six years old. “Hey there. Where’s your mom? Or dad? Or…” I glanced around.
The girl’s dark hair was scraped back into a messy tail, and she had a smudge of some kind of fruit on her face. She craned her neck up to meet my gaze. “Can I try?”
Desperately, I looked around for someone who belonged to her. “What?”
“The thing with your toes. Does it feel good?” She plopped on her butt and pulled off her sandals.
I clenched my toes into the grass. “Um, yeah, sure.”
“Just watch for doggie doo. Sometimes people don’t pick up after their dogs.” The little girl’s voice was matter of fact. “I always remember though. Even if it’s gross, my dad says you gotta take responsa-reponsa?—”
“Responsibility?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. Responsibility for yourself and that includes your doggies. I have a doggie. His name is Bosco.”
