I sink into my chair, my head in my hands. Why does my life have to be so messed up?
Colby comes around and massages my shoulders lightly.
“No, my dad doesn’t know what I do. And yes, Alli, you can date my dad. In fact, I talked to him yesterday on the phone and he sounded happier than he has sounded in a long time. I asked him if a woman was to blame for that and he told me that he had met someone, but that he couldn’t date her because it was complicated.”
I nod miserably. “It’s even more complicated than he knows. And this isn’t helping,” I answer.
Colby stops massaging my shoulders and bends, looking me in the eye.
“Alli, I know my father and I know you. You are perfect for each other. I know it seems strange, but we’ll stop seeing each other and after a while, we’ll practically forget that we were ever a thing. It won’t be a big deal at all.”
“But I don’t know if I can date your dad knowing that I slept with his son,” I practically whisper. Saying it out loud makes it sound so seedy and horrible and dramatic, like I should be on a bad soap opera.
Colby rolls his eyes.
“Alli, my dad will never know. And you didn’t sleep with his son. You slept with Shade. My dad’s son is Colby. We’re two different people. And my dad will never, ever know.”
“You might be two different people, but you share the same penis,” I remind him wryly. Colby laughs.
“Either way. My sex life isn’t my dad’s concern. People don’t need to disclose who they’ve had sex with in the past. It will be fine, Alli. And I can’t believe that I have to stand here and talk to you like this. You and my dad need to figure it out. It’s stupid to let a job get in the way of happiness.”
I stare at him. “How did you get so smart for a twenty-three year old?”
He just smiles, a young and handsome grin.
“I guess it’s a family trait. Now, Alli Cat, changing the subject…what are you going to have me do here at Zellers?”
I square my shoulders, back to business.
“Well, first, I’ll tell you what you won’t be doing. You won’t be calling me Alli Cat. Someone might hear you.”
Colby grins. “I promise. When I walk out that door, I will pretend that the only way I know you is through your daughter. But in here,” and he taps his temple. “You will always be Alli Cat.”
I sigh.
“Taylor will be your supervisor,” I tell him. “Not me. I mean, you’ll ultimately report to me, but Taylor will oversee your duties. I think she’s lined up some marketing research for you to do. She’s interesting and very good at her job. And she’s every bit as much of a firecracker as my friend Sara is, so may God have mercy on your soul.”
He’s laughing as he walks out to see Taylor.
And I’m dropping my head back into my hands.
What a freaking mess.
Chapter Twenty
(Or: Decisions will be the effing death of me)
Colby is quite a hit in the office.
Every time I walk out of my own office for anything, I see the women (young and old) staring at him discreetly. He seems to be oblivious to it, but surely he has to know. He has to feel all of those pairs of eyes glued to his every movement. But then again, he’s probably used to it.
Oddly enough, I’m not jealous. It’s that realization that lets me know that I’m doing the right thing.
And every time I see him and Alex standing side by side, I know that I’m doing the right thing.
Colby is young and handsome and sexy.
Alex is older, refined and sexy. Every bit as handsome and twice the experience. He’s what I need.
He’s what I need.
The words resonate in my head.
And today, when Alex glances up and catches my eye, his cobalt gaze is warm and sparkling, like he knows a secret. And I see now why I kept thinking he looked familiar. He and his son share the same exact eyes. I don’t know how I didn’t place that trait before.
He slaps Colby on the back and makes his way over to me.
From behind him, Colby gives me a stare.
A make-the-right-choice-you-idiot stare.
I ignore it. I know that he’s waiting for his father and I to make the leap—to throw caution to the wind and just openly begin dating. But that’s a hard decision to make, for many different reasons.
As Alex walks towards me, Colby is acting like this is a moment of truth, a pivotal moment where I have to act. But that’s not true. I can continue to take things slow. Alex will still be here. And I will be here.
But we still work together right now, which is a problem.
However, when Alex reaches me and I stare into his gorgeous eyes, I have to admit that I feel the pressure to make a decision….to somehow figure out how to make this work. Because there is such chemistry here, such a palpable attraction, that I’m not sure how much longer I want to resist it. Opportunities don’t always knock more than once. I don’t want to miss the chance to build a relationship with someone that is seemingly so perfect for me.
“I still can’t get over that Colby is your daughter’s swim coach,” Alex says as he stops next to me. “What a small world.”
I practically choke. He has no idea how small.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” he asks me quietly.
Taylor and Colby both pretend not to watch, but I can see them both gazing at us from the corner of their eyes as Alex and I step into my office.
“Of course,” I say instead, closing my door firmly behind us. “Please, have a seat.”
“In a minute,” he says, striding toward me. He takes my face in his hands and crushes his lips to mine.
It is a consuming kiss that threatens to set my hair on fire.
I am gasping by the time it is over.
“I just needed to see,” he murmurs as he steps away.
“See what?” I ask breathlessly. I am limp. I don’t even know what to do.
“See if that would be as good as I imagined.”
“And?” I breathe.
“Oh, it was better,” he assures me. “Alli, we need to sort this thing out. I’ve been lying awake at night thinking about you. It can’t be that difficult. You’re attracted to me, I’m attracted to you. We’re both adults. It’s not rocket science.”