Page 95 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

After Brandon was all tucked in with bedtime story finished, I headed to my bedroom, taking a long shower and settling on the lounge chair, reading through the rest of the manuscripts. Usually, I could tell within the first few pages whether it was worth reading or not. But I always, always gave them the first two chapters of my time. I figured it is the least I could do to give them a chance.

I wasn’t sure how many manuscripts I went through, but my eyelids were getting heavy, craving sleep. I hated to admit it to myself, but I didn’t like to sleep without Alexander’s body next to me. In a matter of a week, I got used to his warm body pressed against mine, his arms that possessively held me while we slept. The last two nights without him, I tossed and turned, waking up searching the bed for him till I’d remember he was traveling.

With the silence of the night throughout the house, a throw blanket over me, my eyelids grew heavy and I fell asleep thinking about him, wondering if he’d missed me at all.

I felt hands around me as I moved through the air. I struggled to open my eyes, to see what was going on. A familiar smell entered my lungs and I stopped attempting to open my eyes.

“Shhhh,” Alexander muttered against my forehead as he laid me on the bed, his body sliding behind me, and his arms around me.

“You’re home,” I whispered, never opening my eyes. I pulled his hand closer to my heart, finally feeling at peace. Deep sleep finally came.

Chapter Forty-Two

Liberty

When I woke up next morning, Alexander was still sound asleep. He looked tired, and I wondered what time he actually got home. My fingers itched to touch his face and feel his skin under my touch.

I resisted the urge and silently slipped out of the bed. After I got ready, I went to Brandon’s room to find him awake already.

“Can I go to work with you today, Livy?” he asked eagerly and I had to smile. It sounded like such a blast from the past when I begged my mother to take me.

“Sure,” I told him. “Today you can come, but tomorrow you have to go to daycare. Deal?”

He nodded happily and we shook on it. “Ok, let’s get you dressed.”

Just as we were descending the stairs, Maxim came through the front door.

“There you are,” he said smiling. “I thought you gave up on going to work today.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Never, but we have extra help today too.”

His eyes darted to Brandon and he winked. “You up for it, Brandon?”

Brandon laughed happily.

“Can we grab something to eat on the way there? Brandon hadn’t eaten yet and I need my coffee.”

“Absolutely.” And within a few minutes, we were in his car, on our way to grab some food, coffee and make our way to work.

When we arrived, Alexander’s grandfather was waiting for us, a wide smile on his face.

“Liberty, you have been busy.” He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “Already have recommendations and I love them.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “It felt amazing to be back in this kind of environment,” I told him, Brandon already at home in this building. “If there are any of the recommendations you don’t like, please feel free to reject them.”

“Oh no,” he objected. “They were all good and this is now your publishing house so you get to call the shots.”

I felt my face heat up uncomfortably. “I’d rather just make recommendations and you can decide whether you like them along with Maxim and Alexander.”

His gaze pensively rested on me as he studied me and I prayed he could not read me well.

“Very well, we shall see,” he responded, making me wonder what he meant by that.

The day flew by although Alexander never left my mind. Now that he had been gone for a few days, my anger seemed redundant. Or maybe I just calmed down enough to be able to think straight.

His offer to make our marriage real kept playing in my mind over and over again. This was one of those moments I wished I could dial Lena to talk it over with her. Although I had a feeling she’d tell me to take a leap of faith. She had a good feeling about Alexander Caldwell from the beginning.

What were her words?When your body and soul are consumed, that’s how you know.

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