CHAPTER THIRTEEN
One week later
Stephen
I dropped my head on my desk and groaned. How the fuck had it been a week since I’d spent any time with Mandy? Between Brandon having a serious stomach bug for half of the week to the point that I stayed home with him, followed by catch-up time on a project revolving around a large business that we wanted to take on.
I’d been swamped, and it was all about work and spending time with Brandon. There was no time for anything else, no matter how many times I thought about Mandy when I was finally in bed to get a few hours of sleep.
I couldn’t call her during those times, though. It was too late to text, knowing that she worked as well and had a life beyond that.
My cell rang, and I grabbed it to see if it was Danielle. Brandon was on his second day at school, and I was so worried that he’d get sick again. It was a violent flu bug that he had and wore us both out.
It was my brother. I answered the call, knowing that I hadn’t seen him either.
“Hey, Kevin. What’s up?” I asked as I leaned back in my chair. I was relieved as hell that my son was better and getting back to his schedule.
“I was making sure that you were still alive. What gives, Stephen?” he asked me as I sighed. I didn’t have a minute to call anyone, much less see them. “You don’t have any kind of social media account for us to stalk. Are you okay?”
“I am busy as fuck. Brandon got sick for a few days and only wanted me, and then we got this project at the office that has been brutal.” I didn’t have any social media accounts because I wanted to keep Brandon’s life private. I didn’t want Lacy to have the chance to see what she was missing and had asked my family to respect that.
“I thought you might be busy with Mandy,” Kevin said, reminding me of what an ass I’d been. “You guys looked so good together at the game.”
“I haven’t had time for anything. I haven’t even called her,” I admitted. “It was a shit move, but I’ve been drowning at work and home.”
“Did you sleep with her?” he asked me since we hadn’t discussed it yet. I really hadn’t had time to talk to anybody.
“I did. Before the game,” I confessed as he let out a low curse.
“Damn it, Stephen. That’s a long time. I know that girls like a little mystery, but a whole week? I think I tried that shit on Terry in the beginning for something like three days, and she rode my ass up and down.” He paused, and I frowned at the numbers on my computer that were starting to blur before my eyes. “Mandy is a special girl. You’re going to lose her, Stephen.”
“I probably already did,” I replied, feeling like we didn’t even work at the same company for as little as I saw her. “I don’t know what the hell I’m even doing, Kevin. I don’t know how to date.”
“I know that the thing with Lacy hurt and I will always feel bad about that. I know that you don’t take dating lightly with Brandon and everything going on, but you looked happy with her. She looked happy with you.” I couldn’t see his face, but I could hear the serious tone in his voice.
“How am I supposed to balance it all?” I asked him as I closed my eyes.
“I don’t know, but if it’s worth it, you need to find a way.” Kevin’s words were honest at least.
“I know, Kevin. I hope that this all ends soon. I feel like I’m losing myself.” We talked for a little longer, arranging a tentative dinner for that weekend with Mom. She missed Brandon and me, and I needed to see her.
I left to get some coffee after the call, needing to move. I looked down the hall to see Mandy leaving Stella’s office and coveted her gorgeous legs in the red dress that she was wearing. My cock stirred back to life as I stared at her, forgetting why I left my office at all.
Coffee. I needed coffee.
I saw her turn her head and meet my gaze, a frown marring her pretty face. I waved her over, and Mandy looked back toward the door as if someone was telling her something. She looked back at me and headed my way as I ducked into the break room to make that coffee. I looked back to make sure that Mandy was waiting for me as I started the machine, tapping my foot.
We walked to my office quietly, ignoring the curious looks that everybody sent our way. The night at happy hour had started some talk about us being in a relationship, though I was sure that my lack of being seen anywhere but my office working my ass off. When she walked inside of my office, I closed the door and watched as she sat down, smoothing her skirt with heavy hands. “I’m sorry, Mandy.”
She stared at the floor, the pain on her face was clear to me. “It’s been a week, Stephen. It’s not that I expected you to be knocking at my door the second you were free, but a call would have been nice. A text would have been great. I certainly didn’t think I would end up feeling used by you.” Her voice was soft, but I could still hear the pain in it.
Fuck me for being an idiot.
“I’m sorry, Mandy. Brandon was sick, and then this goddamn project has kept me going for hours every day. I barely have time to see him after work and before school. I’ve been on my own with him for so long that I don’t know how to balance anything.” I sank into my chair.
“I don’t date a lot, either. I don’t know what I’m doing, but no contact for a week doesn’t seem right.” She finally looked up at me, changing the subject. “Is he feeling better? Brandon?”
“He had the flu. He was so sick for a few days that all he did was sleep in my bed with me. It was relaxing and exhausting all at once.” I knew how tired I sounded, but it was only a fraction of how I felt. “Then there’s this project that’s been keeping me here for long hours. I’ve been so tired, and I was thinking about you, but my free time was always so late at night. I’m sorry. Again.”
She sighed as she leaned back. “Apology accepted.”
“Look, it's Friday tomorrow. Let’s get dinner after work and catch up. I want to take you out.” I smiled at her, and she nodded.
“I’d like that.” Mandy took a breath. “I would like to see Brandon again as well. I mean, apart from camp.” I stared at her, both touched and shocked at her words.
“Get your sexy ass over here,” I told her, loving the sound of her laugh.
“All right, but only if you promise to not be an asshat again.”
“I promise.” I reached for her as my heart lightened a little.
She got up and walked over, climbing into my lap as her dress slid up her legs. I kissed her as I slipped a hand into her hair to pull her closer. Our lips met hungrily as I forgot all about the time apart and I tilted my head to deepen the kiss.
I didn’t know what I did to deserve her forgiveness. Mandy was a special woman, and I was so damn lucky to have her in my arms. “Thank you,” I murmured against her lips.
“I know that we’re new at this. I know that we’re busy and you have Brandon, we have work and life is crazy.” She looked at me and kissed me again. “I think that I need sex a little more than once a week. No. I know that I do. I want you as much as I can have you.”
“I second that. It’s lonely at night thinking about you.” I kissed her again and pulled her against me. Every wet dream I’d had lately resurrected, and I wanted to strip her down and take her against the glass windows in my office. “I don’t see why we should wait, to be honest. I think we should lock the door and get a head start on things.”
Mandy laughed, and I looked into her face, feeling more alive than I had in a long time.
I wanted to make this work with her and to take her in my office; on my desk, in my chair, and anywhere else that I could think of. After having a taste of Mandy, I wanted more. I wanted all that I could get.