Chapter 8: Katie
I got up and poured another cup of coffee before my last session of the day. I’d booked Mr. Roberts—Grant as my last client of the day. I hoped that we could take our time and make the most of it assuming he showed. Surely Halle had dropped the bomb about who and where the sessions would take place and I waited for a call any moment to tell me he’d cancelled.
That call never came and minutes after I sat down with my fresh cup of black, the doorbell announced his arrival.
He stood on the front step looking gorgeous as always with a fresh scent of cologne penetrating my nose. His clothes were casual, but he was still more put together than most men I knew, with his hair perfectly styled and his jeans dressed up with a nice jacket and tie. But most stunning of all were his eyes, steel gray and heavily shadowed by his thick, dark lashes. Despite the fact that he seemed uncertain, my heart skipped a few beats as I welcomed him inside.
“Surprise.” I said as he walked in still giving me the side eyed expression from the door.
“Yeah, that daughter of mine is a bit tricky at times. Remind me why I spoil her?” He took a seat and I leaned against my desk beside him.
“Because you love Halle and you’d do anything for her?” I folded my arms and gazed into his eyes waiting for his smile that was teasing around the corner of his lips.
And then it beamed and he nodded. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. So tell me, Katherine, this doctor/patient relationship, how serious are you about keeping things discreet?”
My core burned with a sudden heat as the word left his lips. “Discretion is everything, so you can be assured that I’ll not share any information you disclose to me in our sessions with Halle. As a matter of fact, I’ve already explained as much to her when she asked me to see you. My concern is that you would have a problem opening up to me since I’m her friend.”
He leaned back in his chair, his posture open to me, as if to let me know he was more than okay with it. “I like you, Katherine. You’ve surprised me. You’re not as childlike as my daughter. She’s always been immature for her age, and while I know how close the two of you are, I can’t quite see you on the same level.”
“I guess that’s a plus, considering what we’re about to delve into together.” I stood straight as a smile spread his lips and I wondered what was going on in his mind. Part of me wondered if I should counsel him at all considering I was more than attracted to him, but I had to do it for Halle. She needed me and I wasn’t going to let her down. “Would you join me over here? I don’t like to work from my desk. This is a bit more relaxed.” I gestured to my sitting area near the big window and he followed me over and lowered himself to the small loveseat, moving a throw pillow to the other side as I sat in the chair beside him.
He grinned and gave me a sideward glance. “Would you like me to lie down? If so, this little couch is going to be a bit short.” The thought of his spread out on the sofa had me adjusting the front of my blouse, as if everything I wore was suddenly a bit tighter.
“No, you’re fine.” I crossed my legs and his gaze slid down their length but he met my eyes quickly. I couldn’t help but smile, but I had to get things kicked off. “So, how would you say things have been going lately with life in general?”
“You mean since my wife died?” He leaned back, again his open posture telling me he was relaxed. “I’d say things have been good. I mean, I went through a long period of grief and then eventually I found other things to occupy my time.”
“Things like?” I lifted my chin and waited for his response.
“Hobbies, I play a lot of golf, work when I’m needed.” He stared at the ceiling as if it helped him think.
“So do you feel like you’re needed? I mean, as far as your work and your family?”
His smile spread wide as it always did when he thought of his daughter as if she was his true light in life. “I do. I don’t have to pound the pavement as much as I used to, now that I’ve made an insane amount of money I have more time for hobbies and other things. But I do still have to keep the companies afloat and you know Halle, if I don’t keep her in line, she’ll run a bit too wild. We keep each other sane.”
“So those other things you were talking about, are those relationships?” I was eager to find out if he had a girlfriend or if the woman on the balcony was the type of self-therapy I imagined she was.
“I haven’t really been in a serious relationship since my wife died, but I have relationships.” He lowered his chin and bit his lip as he grinned. “I’m sure you’re wondering about the woman the other night?” He met my eyes and seemed to search for my reaction, but I kept my poker face in check.
“Yes, but since you don’t do serious relationships, I’d have to assume that your relationship with her is purely sexual.”
“I don’t have a relationship with her.” He sat up and rested his elbows on his knees and steepled his fingers in front of him as if he wanted me to challenge his answer.
“How often do you two hook up?”
“Here and there.”
“Whenever you need a release?” I needed to know the nature of their relationship to see if my speculation was right.
“No, not that often.” He brushed out the front of his pants and then sat back.
I raised a brow and smiled, breaking my resting bitch face. “How often do you feed your sexual needs?”
“Every day in some for or fashion.” He searched my eyes as I nodded, keeping mine fixed on him.
“Such as?”
“I have several sexual partners, women I meet at random, weekly appointments, and I’ve even been known to hook up in public now and then. I like people to watch.” He leaned in again. “You know, like the other night.” He took in a long breath and then his eyes narrowed. “How long did you watch me?”
I smiled and wagged a finger at him. “We’re here to talk about you, Grant.”
He chuckled and then looked away toward the window. “So I guess you’re not going to answer.”
“Is it important to you that I do? What do you think you’d gain knowing that I watched you for a good ten minutes?”
His eyes lit with surprise. “Ten minutes?” He looked away and pursed his lips as if thinking. “Well, I guess it would turn me on.”
“Does it turn you on?”
“Yes.” His answers were as direct as my questions and I kept them coming as fast as he answered.
“Does that bother you?”
“That it turns me on, yes and no.”
“Why yes and no?”
“Because I have boundaries.”
“What are your boundaries and why do you have them?”
“I never fuck anyone close to my daughter’s age and I’d never fuck one of her friends. I think the reason is obvious.” He stared deep into my eyes and lifted a brow. Before I could fire off another question he leaned forward again, closing the distance between us even more than before. “How did it make you feel?” His voice was barely a whisper and the blood rushed from my face and straight to my mound where it ached with need.
I almost slipped and responded, but I swallowed my words and gathered my thoughts. “We’re here to talk about you.”
“Fine, so tell me, did you think about me since? You know, in that way.” He reached out and put his hand on my knee and the need inside me throbbed aching for his hand to be elsewhere. He had me shaken, and that was something I didn’t allow in this space.
“I’m afraid our time is up for the day.”
“Good, because I’d like to talk to my neighbor now.” He flashed his perfect teeth and the flirting burn of his eyes into mine was almost more than I could handle. “Tell me if you thought about it. I did.”
“And you’ve already told me that I’m off limits. Does it turn you on knowing that even if I wanted you, you’d never reciprocate?” His smile fell and he sat back. I stood and walked to the door and opened it as he rose from his seat.
“I’m sorry. I’ll see you next week.” He left without another word and I gave a curt nod as I shut the door behind him.