Page 79 of A Bossy Roommate
Of course, I tell Carter no sexy times (and definitely no kissing, either), until she’s gone. The last thing I want is for her to hear me in the throes of passion again. It was the reason I had made it a rule in the first place.
The kiss had been mind-boggling, yes, but our fight is still ringing in my head, especially when he called me out for going against my own rules. What the hell is going on with me?
Kissing doesn’t count as sex.
Getting somebody off doesn’t count as sex.
Neither does just-the-tip…sex. Okay, maybe it does count, a tiny bit.
I try not to dwell on it too much. Everything is so upside down that it’s best to go with the flow. It’s not a crime to have a little fun, and every time he even looks at me with his stunning eyes, my knees buckle.
Mercifully,Monday morning comes fast enough, and Aunt Eleanor is going to spend the day with Hattie, who promises to take good care of her and inform us immediately if Auntie gets worse. Carter and I head to work, separately of course. For the first time in months, I’m excited to go to work on a Monday, and not just to flee the mayhem of my personal life. I enjoy working at Legacy Builders, and having my own workspace is a godsend. It’s one of the few times I can be by myself to concentrate on work I’m passionate about.
Carter comes in and out throughout the day. Though, for the most part, he stays in his office or in meetings. I’m happy to quietly listen to music while working on all the tasks he’s assigned me. When lunch rolls around, I meet up with the girls, and we have a wonderful time. This time, even honey-blonde Gwen from the front desk, with her ever-present friendly charm, joins us. It isn’t until late afternoon that Carter walks by my desk after returning from his lunch meeting.
I can instantly tell he isn’t in a good mood. “How are you holding up?”
“Good.” His voice holds his usual sharp bossy tone he uses when waving his authority over his employees. I don’t take it personally and shrug it off, having become used to it by now. Ihand him high-priority papers he asked me to get ready ASAP. “If it’s all right with you, I’m going to start wrapping things up soon. Unless you need anything else from me?”
“No, that’s okay.” He shuffles through the papers and then pauses. With a heavy sigh, he meets my gaze. “Sorry, Eden, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
My eyebrows shoot up so fast I think they’re going to fly off my face. Did he really just apologize? “I’m sorry, what was that, Mr. Bancroft? Do you want to say that again?”
“Ha-ha, very funny.” A smile tugs at his lips.
I can count on one hand the number of times he’s smiled in the office. Actually, I’m fairly certain this is the first time.
“It’s been a long day,” he says. “Have we received any response or call back from the Grangers yet?”
“No, I’m afraid not. Do you want me to try again?”
“No, I will try to get in touch with them myself at a later point.” He rearranges the papers and looks at me. “I just had a call from Aunt Eleanor.”
“Is she okay? Do you need me to rush home?”
“No, no, she’s fine. She says she wants to talk to us when we get back.”
Uh-oh. No wonder he’s tense. “Did she say what it was about?”
“No. She only assured me that she felt fine, and then scolded me for sending a doctor over to check on her.”
“You didwhat?”
“Eden, I’m concerned. She needs to be examined.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t come here to tear your head off in person.” I laugh with a shake of my head. “She’s a pretty headstrong womanandhas been clear she doesn’t want to talk to a doctor.”
“That doesn’t mean she still shouldn’t. Besides, Dr. Mayweather is a family friend. He’s retired. Technically, hestopped by ‘accidentally’ to ‘surprise-visit me’ since he was ‘just in the area.’ I figured it would be low-key enough that she wouldn’t get upset.”
“And how did that work out for you?”
“She kicked him out.” A long, drawn-out sigh escapes Carter’s lips. “Anyway, I wanted to give you a heads-up that she’s probably going to be in a mood when you get home.”
“Thanks.” I break into a smile. “Should I get my bulletproof vest ready?”
“No, but ensure mine’s within reach.”
Suddenly, the glass door to our office lobby opens, and Mr. Huxley stands there. His appearance is so abrupt and sudden that it takes both of us by surprise. For one thing, Mr. Huxley is supposed to be off site all day, holding meetings with some bigwig clients in an attempt to replace the hole left by Granger Estates. My stomach drops, anxiety taking root. That door is not soundproof. It’s possible he caught some of our conversation on his way in—how Carter and I both referred to my place as our “home.” The chance is slim, but not impossible. Carter, too, observes him with a raised brow.