Eighteen

LILAH

Yawning, I stare at my screensaver and fight to keep my drooping lids open. I’m tired as all hell after getting in at five in the morning, but if Andrew asked me to do it all over again tonight, I’d probably volunteer to drive this time.

I’m still daydreaming about the night before when there’s a knock at my office door.

My hand tightens around the pen in front of me as my shoulders stiffen. I hold my breath and tell the person to come in, fully expecting to see Edward.

When Charli peeks around the door, flashing her megawatt smile, my sigh of relief is audible.

She’s picture-perfect and full of sunshine in her white short shorts and crochet top. Her already rich skin tone is even darker thanks to her days by the pool. Huge aviator glasses are covering her eyes and she’s carrying several bags from our favorite diner on the outskirts of town.

She loves me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, getting out of my chair to greet her.

Hasty pleasantries are made and then I’m rifling through the bags trying to take inventory of all the goodness inside.

“You drove thirty minutes out of your way to bring me food?!” I ask, my voice overflowing with delight.

Charli snickers at my excitement and releases the greasy bags into my possession.

“I figured you could use a break from your sad cup of noodles.”

“I love you,” I tell her, blowing air kisses before shuttling back to my desk to lay out our spread.

“Nice digs,” Charli whistles sharply between her teeth. She’s making her way over to my desk much slower because she’s too busy surveying every nook and cranny of my office.

I watch as she finally takes a seat across from me.

“You know, for this to be a temporary gig, they really hooked you up.”

Grunting half-heartedly, I pop the lid off the gooey macaroni and cheese.

“It’s a little sterile for my taste.”

In truth, I’d much rather spend my days sequestered in my brightly decorated classroom. Thankfully, my days here are numbered.

Forty-three more days to be exact. Forty-three days until I’m back in the classroom. Forty-three days until I’ve secured the money to launch my dream on the scale it deserves. Forty-three days until my product is available to teachers across the country and not just my coworkers here in Connecticut.

Forty-three days isn’t sounding so bad anymore.

I can do this.

I have to do this.

This isn’t just about me.

“What’s new with you?” I ask before taking my first bite. Recently, every time we meet up I’m the sole topic of discussion. I have no idea how her summer’s going because I always dominate the conversation.

Charli dives into a story about a guy she met at a yacht party last week. Her eyes light up when she tells me all about how gorgeous and sweet he is.

“We have a date tonight,” she gushes and the look on her face makes me smile.

I hope it works out for her. Charli has the worst taste when it comes to men but I’m hoping she’s exiting that phase any day now.

“Text me after. I want to hear all about it,” I instruct, wiping the corners of my mouth with a napkin.

I’m so full I can practically burst, but she brought dessert and I’m seriously debating unbuttoning my pants in order to enjoy it comfortably.

That is until I think about the fact that Edward could pop in at any moment and I don’t want to add any more fuel to his fire. He’s cranky and unbearable enough as it is.

I’ll just take the strawberry shortcake home and eat it later while I’m binge watching Friends for the millionth time.

“What about you? How are things going with you and Andrew?” she inquires, leaning back in her chair to give me her full attention.

“He took me to New York City last night,” I tell her as a secret smile starts at the corners of my mouth and spreads until I’m grinning like a kid in a candy shop.

“What?!” Charli can’t believe it. “You little sneak! You’re holding out. Tell me everything,” she demands.

After my brief recap, she narrows her eyes at me and shakes her head. “Ugh, some people get all the luck. How freaking romantic. Are you sure he doesn’t have a brother?”

Giggling at her antics, I study my manicure until her next observation flies my way.

“But you still haven’t slept with him,” my friend says astutely.

Feigning offense, I clutch at my chest. “How do you know that?”

“Have you forgotten who you’re talking to? I’ve known you too long. You look completely different after a good lay and I can tell it hasn’t happened yet. What’s the hold up?” she pries, squinting her hazel orbs at me.

I want to tell her that her guess is as good as mine but I don’t. Even though I’ve been wondering the same damn thing lately.

Andrew has been nothing but a complete gentleman, which is good on the one hand since I made it clear that there was no sex without love. On the other hand, I’m so anxious to have him inside of me that I’m almost willing to throw caution to the wind and do the damn thing already.

By the time Charli leaves, it’s going on two.

Getting back to work, I see that I only have one email. And it’s from Edward.

He wants me to focus all my energy on getting Andrew to make his first investment. I groan at the prospect of having to talk business with him.

Every time we try to discuss his account, he finds a way to distract me and break my chain of thought. Admittedly, I’m partially at fault. I could totally put my foot down but I like the diversions a little too much.

Of course it doesn’t help that he refuses to meet in the office. So he has the home court advantage wherever we go.

We’ve gotten nowhere with building his portfolio since he signed on with Castle.

Vowing to change that, I pick up the phone and give him a call.

“Hi Cupcake,” he drawls after picking up on the second ring. “What are you up to?”

“Andrew, we need to talk about your account,” I say, cutting right to the chase. If I allow him to derail me early on, I know we’ll never get back on track.

“What about it?” He doesn’t sound concerned.

“You came to me for wealth management services and I haven’t exactly managed anything yet,” I point out.

Andrew only grunts lowly, still seemingly unworried about the situation.

I swear, sometimes this man and his blasé attitude drive me up the wall. Pursing my lips, I focus on the reason for this call.

“We need to talk about investments. When are you free?” I ask, thumbing through the file for Rio Venture Corp. According to Edward, this is the company we should go with.

“Whenever you want me,” he offers generously.

Delicious throbbing starts in my core and threatens to throw me off course. Ignoring it, I stick to the script.

“Great, we’ll meet today,” I decide. My earlier fatigue is forgotten as my nerve endings come alive, overjoyed with the prospect of being in his presence later.

A silent moment passes on the line and I wonder if he’s even listening to me.

“Fine,” he agrees. “But I have a few conditions.”

My sigh of relief is premature.

I should have known.

“What is it?” I ask cautiously. There’s no telling what’s going to fly out of his mouth so I brace myself.

“Tonight, you let me paint you.”