Hailey

 I can’t even understand why I’m here other than for James to stare at me half the day. We sat in his office having lunch. It was mostly a working one. He had calls and emails to deal with. It’s good because I gave me the excuse to evade his questions about my family. It’s hard to admit that my mother didn’t love me enough to protect me from her husband’s plans to prostitute me. God, I’m so glad I ran away just in time.

Since I’m sitting next to him, he tried to avoid the calls, but I shook my head and forced him to answer. As much as he wants me by his side while he works, it would be more beneficial if he actually got work done.

During the first call, I tried to walk out because they were talking actual dollars and cents and I didn’t want to intrude, but he grabbed my hand and tugged me back onto the chair, shaking his head while still talking to the man on the other end. As soon as he hung up, he tells me with a serious frown, “If you try to ditch me because I’m on the phone, I won’t take calls while you’re in here.”

“I thought you needed your privacy,” I remarked.

“No. Nothing of my life is private to you,” he added with a wink. I smiled at him and the rest of the afternoon I enjoyed his company and handled a few simple filing tasks while he worked his tail off.

“Now that we’re done, are you ready to go see the condo?” he asks, closing his laptop on his desk. We worked until seven because Nancy got sick while they were out to lunch, and Dean said he was keeping her home. Nancy’s a beautiful woman and seeing her with Dean made it hard to watch. It’s like seeing James with someone and I hated it. It’s a silly feeling to have, but it’s not something I want to see again.

“Sure,” I say, stacking the last section that I knew I couldn’t finish filing right now on top of the cabinet.

“Let’s go because I know we both could use some time to relax.” I nod because my feet hurt. He takes my hand then leads me to his special elevator after locking up his office. As soon as we were in there it was a fast trip up to his condo.

The doors open up to reveal a walkway ending with a large double wooden door. It’s beautiful and then he slips his key into the lock and turns it to reveal a condo beyond anything I expected. It’s huge and perfect. I can’t believe this is where he lives. I’ve never seen anything like this unless it was on television.

“This place is amazing.”

“Thanks, Hailey. Come inside, I promise I won’t trap you in here forever.” He takes my hand and walks me to the bedroom area. “Rest, I’m going to run a bath for you.”

“A bath?”

“Yes, a bath. Do you think I didn’t notice your feet hurt? You’ve been trying to avoid walking on them as much as possible. I should have made you take them off, but I’m sure that you were going to tell me you were fine.”

“You’re right. I’ve been wearing these things all day, but I still wouldn’t have taken them off in front of you. I will take your offer for a bath. Where’s my bag?”

“Over there. Henderson brought it up after parking the SUV,” he says, pointing next to the closet. I arch my brow because there’s the bag that I didn’t pack. I open it and it’s all my underwear and bras. Hell no, he packed them himself. This man is crazy. I love it. I grab some underwear, then dig for some comfortable shorts and top. I’m so tired that I just want to sleep, but I hear the water flowing and I just want to relax inside it.

He comes to me, stretching his hand out and directing me to the bathtub. I take my clothes and toothbrush and head to his bathroom. It’s, of course, double the size of a master bath, but I try to maintain myself. I’m not a materialistic person, but damn I do enjoy pretty things. He closes the door behind me and mutters something inaudible, but I’m all about my bath. The water is perfectly warm as I sit down in the bubble-filled tub. It’s big enough for both of us and a wicked thought crosses my mind. I brush it off because I’m too exhausted to even cave to my desires. Between the lack of sleep and almost ten hours of work while sporting heels, I’m done.

Twenty minutes later there’s a knock at the door. “Are you okay in there?”

“Yes, I’ll hurry.”

“No, take your time. Just didn’t want you to fall asleep in the tub.”

“Okay.” I close my eyes and fall back to my thoughts on what’s to come. I can’t believe how easily I’m letting myself fall into his world, his home, and his life. I still ache to taste his lips and be held the way a man holds his woman.