throat.
How can this be?
Because she doesn’t know you, Grey.
Shit.
Don’t dwell on the negative.
Flynn’s words fog my brain.
Focus on the positive.
Well, she’s mine once more. I just have to keep her. Hopefully we’ll have the whole weekend together to get to know each other again.
Hell.
I have the Coping Together Ball tomorrow.
I could skip it—but then my mother would never forgive me.
I wonder if Ana will accompany me?
She’ll need a mask if she agrees.
On the floor, I find my phone and text Taylor. I know he’s seeing his daughter in the morning, but I hope he can source a mask.
I’m going to need a mask for
Anastasia for tomorrow’s event.
Do you think you can source something?
TAYLOR
Yes, sir.
I know just the place.
Excellent.
TAYLOR
What color?
Silver or dark blue.
And as I text I have an idea, which may or may not work.
Could you get me a lipstick, too?
TAYLOR
Any particular color?
No. I’ll leave that to you.
ANA CAN COOK. The stir-fry is delicious. I’m calmer now that I’ve had something to eat and I can’t remember being this casual or relaxed with her. We’re both sitting on the floor, listening to music from my iPod, as we eat and sip chilled pinot grigio. What’s more, it’s gratifying to see her devour her food. She’s as hungry as I am.
“This is good.” I’m appreciating every forkful.
She glows in response to my compliment and tucks a stray strand of unruly hair behind her ear. “I usually do all the cooking. Kate isn’t a great cook.” She’s cross-legged beside me, her legs on display. Her rather worn robe is a fetching shade of cream. When she leans forward it hangs open and I glimpse the soft swell of her breast.
Grey, behave.
“Did your mother teach you?” I ask.
“Not really.” She laughs. “By the time I was interested in learning how to, my mom was living withHusband Number Three in Mansfield, Texas. And Ray, well, he would’ve lived on toast and takeout if it weren’t for me.”
“Why didn’t you stay in Texas with your mom?”
“Her husband, Steve, and I—” She stops, and her face clouds with what I assume is an unpleasant memory. I regret asking her and want to change the subject, but she continues. “We didn’t get along. And I missed Ray. Her marriage to Steve didn’t last long. She came to her senses, I think. She never talks about him,” she adds quietly.
“So you stayed in Washington with your stepfather.”
“I lived very briefly in Texas. Then went back to Ray.”
“Sounds like you looked after him.”
“I suppose,” she says.
“You’re used to taking care of people.”
It should be the other way around.
She turns to study my face. “What is it?” she asks, concerned.
“I want to take care of you.” In every way. It’s a simple statement, but it says everything for me. She’s taken aback.
“I’ve noticed,” she says wryly. “You just go about it in a strange way.”
“It’s the only way I know how.” I’m feeling my way in this relationship. It’s new to me. I don’t know the rules. And right now, all I want is to take care of Ana and give her the world.
“I’m still mad at you for buying SIP.”
“I know, but you being mad, baby, wouldn’t stop me.”
“What am I going to say to my work colleagues, to Jack?” She sounds exasperated. But an image of Hyde at the bar, leaning over her, leering, crowding her, springs to mind.
“That fucker better watch himself,” I grumble.
“Christian. He’s my boss.”
Not if I have anything to do with it.
She’s scowling at me and I don’t want her mad. We’re having such a chill time.
What do you do to chill out?
she asked me during the interview. Well, Ana, this is what I do, eat chicken stir-fry with you while we’re sitting on the floor. She’s still fretting, dwelling on her work situation, no doubt, and what she should tell them about GEH acquiring SIP.
I offer a simple solution. “Don’t tell them.”
“Don’t tell
How can this be?
Because she doesn’t know you, Grey.
Shit.
Don’t dwell on the negative.
Flynn’s words fog my brain.
Focus on the positive.
Well, she’s mine once more. I just have to keep her. Hopefully we’ll have the whole weekend together to get to know each other again.
Hell.
I have the Coping Together Ball tomorrow.
I could skip it—but then my mother would never forgive me.
I wonder if Ana will accompany me?
She’ll need a mask if she agrees.
On the floor, I find my phone and text Taylor. I know he’s seeing his daughter in the morning, but I hope he can source a mask.
I’m going to need a mask for
Anastasia for tomorrow’s event.
Do you think you can source something?
TAYLOR
Yes, sir.
I know just the place.
Excellent.
TAYLOR
What color?
Silver or dark blue.
And as I text I have an idea, which may or may not work.
Could you get me a lipstick, too?
TAYLOR
Any particular color?
No. I’ll leave that to you.
ANA CAN COOK. The stir-fry is delicious. I’m calmer now that I’ve had something to eat and I can’t remember being this casual or relaxed with her. We’re both sitting on the floor, listening to music from my iPod, as we eat and sip chilled pinot grigio. What’s more, it’s gratifying to see her devour her food. She’s as hungry as I am.
“This is good.” I’m appreciating every forkful.
She glows in response to my compliment and tucks a stray strand of unruly hair behind her ear. “I usually do all the cooking. Kate isn’t a great cook.” She’s cross-legged beside me, her legs on display. Her rather worn robe is a fetching shade of cream. When she leans forward it hangs open and I glimpse the soft swell of her breast.
Grey, behave.
“Did your mother teach you?” I ask.
“Not really.” She laughs. “By the time I was interested in learning how to, my mom was living withHusband Number Three in Mansfield, Texas. And Ray, well, he would’ve lived on toast and takeout if it weren’t for me.”
“Why didn’t you stay in Texas with your mom?”
“Her husband, Steve, and I—” She stops, and her face clouds with what I assume is an unpleasant memory. I regret asking her and want to change the subject, but she continues. “We didn’t get along. And I missed Ray. Her marriage to Steve didn’t last long. She came to her senses, I think. She never talks about him,” she adds quietly.
“So you stayed in Washington with your stepfather.”
“I lived very briefly in Texas. Then went back to Ray.”
“Sounds like you looked after him.”
“I suppose,” she says.
“You’re used to taking care of people.”
It should be the other way around.
She turns to study my face. “What is it?” she asks, concerned.
“I want to take care of you.” In every way. It’s a simple statement, but it says everything for me. She’s taken aback.
“I’ve noticed,” she says wryly. “You just go about it in a strange way.”
“It’s the only way I know how.” I’m feeling my way in this relationship. It’s new to me. I don’t know the rules. And right now, all I want is to take care of Ana and give her the world.
“I’m still mad at you for buying SIP.”
“I know, but you being mad, baby, wouldn’t stop me.”
“What am I going to say to my work colleagues, to Jack?” She sounds exasperated. But an image of Hyde at the bar, leaning over her, leering, crowding her, springs to mind.
“That fucker better watch himself,” I grumble.
“Christian. He’s my boss.”
Not if I have anything to do with it.
She’s scowling at me and I don’t want her mad. We’re having such a chill time.
What do you do to chill out?
she asked me during the interview. Well, Ana, this is what I do, eat chicken stir-fry with you while we’re sitting on the floor. She’s still fretting, dwelling on her work situation, no doubt, and what she should tell them about GEH acquiring SIP.
I offer a simple solution. “Don’t tell them.”
“Don’t tell
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