on.
“So the earliest that we can go back to the office is on Tuesday?”
It was such a simple question and yet it held many implications. Did that mean that Holly was coming back to work? Was she going to stay on with him? Stephen truly wished that but really all he could make himself focus on at the moment was that this new development with not being able to go to work meant extra days that they would have here together in his home. In his bed.
God, this was insanity. He had to force himself to focus here and to get his mind out of the bedroom. “It seems that way,” he finally remembered to answer. “I guess we have no idea how extensive the damage really is going to be until we’re out driving in it. I’m glad we found out now rather than on Monday morning when we couldn’t have gotten near the place.” Holly nodded in agreement. “Do you need to call Margret or do anything?”
She took a minute to answer because she was partially still paying attention to the comedy on the TV. “Um…I’m sure Margret has it all under control. Besides, won’t it seem suspicious if I call her after she couldn’t get through to me? And from your phone?”
“What about your cell?”
“Dead. I forgot my charger. I’m sure my mom is getting slightly frantic by now but I’ll talk to her when I get home and put her mind at ease.” She was being pretty casual about the whole thing even though her insides were jumping around. More time with Stephen. More opportunities to lock away from the rest of the world and live the fantasy for a little bit longer. It was more than she would have dared ask for but was so thankful to receive.
Sensing that all was all right at the moment, Stephen returned to his spot besides Holly on the couch and allowed himself the luxury of just relaxing on a Sunday afternoon with a beautiful woman by his side. It was a new sensation – yet another one – and he found it to be very comfortable.
Chapter Seven
As Holly drove away from Stephen’s home on Monday afternoon, they had carefully agreed upon the fact that she would be returning to work at Ballinger’s the next day. As awkward as it might be, Holly was too dedicated to the company, and to Stephen, to leave him high and dry without an assistant.
That had been an easy decision. How to handle what had happened over the weekend had been a little more awkward to handle. Holly had been the first to address it.
“You realize that I’m more than willing to stay on at Ballinger’s, Stephen, on a temporary basis, right?” He had nodded and let her continue. “I know I’m going to be a little more paranoid than normal because I’m just going to be looking for someone to say something off color or to look at me weird; I’m not quite sure how I’m going to handle it.”
“You may be worrying for nothing, Holly. I mean, just because Derek made a comment doesn’t mean anything. Derek thinks everyone is having sex. Hell, he sleeps with most of his assistants. In his mind, he can’t imagine why I haven’t.”
“But you have,” she said quietly.
He studied her quietly. They had been lying in his bed having this discussion and she was on her side facing him. One breast was exposed as the sheets had draped over her and he had to fight the urge to trace its roundness with his fingers. But now was not the time. This was a serious discussion and it was one that had to be had before she left his house.
“I know I have, Holly. I’m just not sure where we’re supposed to go from here.” His voice was raw with honesty and he was leaving the choice to Holly as to whether or not they continued.
The urge to throw caution to the wind was almost more than she could bear. But Holly was a sensible woman and knew herself well enough to know that she had more of a future as Stephen’s assistant than she did as his lover. The revolving door of women she’d
“So the earliest that we can go back to the office is on Tuesday?”
It was such a simple question and yet it held many implications. Did that mean that Holly was coming back to work? Was she going to stay on with him? Stephen truly wished that but really all he could make himself focus on at the moment was that this new development with not being able to go to work meant extra days that they would have here together in his home. In his bed.
God, this was insanity. He had to force himself to focus here and to get his mind out of the bedroom. “It seems that way,” he finally remembered to answer. “I guess we have no idea how extensive the damage really is going to be until we’re out driving in it. I’m glad we found out now rather than on Monday morning when we couldn’t have gotten near the place.” Holly nodded in agreement. “Do you need to call Margret or do anything?”
She took a minute to answer because she was partially still paying attention to the comedy on the TV. “Um…I’m sure Margret has it all under control. Besides, won’t it seem suspicious if I call her after she couldn’t get through to me? And from your phone?”
“What about your cell?”
“Dead. I forgot my charger. I’m sure my mom is getting slightly frantic by now but I’ll talk to her when I get home and put her mind at ease.” She was being pretty casual about the whole thing even though her insides were jumping around. More time with Stephen. More opportunities to lock away from the rest of the world and live the fantasy for a little bit longer. It was more than she would have dared ask for but was so thankful to receive.
Sensing that all was all right at the moment, Stephen returned to his spot besides Holly on the couch and allowed himself the luxury of just relaxing on a Sunday afternoon with a beautiful woman by his side. It was a new sensation – yet another one – and he found it to be very comfortable.
Chapter Seven
As Holly drove away from Stephen’s home on Monday afternoon, they had carefully agreed upon the fact that she would be returning to work at Ballinger’s the next day. As awkward as it might be, Holly was too dedicated to the company, and to Stephen, to leave him high and dry without an assistant.
That had been an easy decision. How to handle what had happened over the weekend had been a little more awkward to handle. Holly had been the first to address it.
“You realize that I’m more than willing to stay on at Ballinger’s, Stephen, on a temporary basis, right?” He had nodded and let her continue. “I know I’m going to be a little more paranoid than normal because I’m just going to be looking for someone to say something off color or to look at me weird; I’m not quite sure how I’m going to handle it.”
“You may be worrying for nothing, Holly. I mean, just because Derek made a comment doesn’t mean anything. Derek thinks everyone is having sex. Hell, he sleeps with most of his assistants. In his mind, he can’t imagine why I haven’t.”
“But you have,” she said quietly.
He studied her quietly. They had been lying in his bed having this discussion and she was on her side facing him. One breast was exposed as the sheets had draped over her and he had to fight the urge to trace its roundness with his fingers. But now was not the time. This was a serious discussion and it was one that had to be had before she left his house.
“I know I have, Holly. I’m just not sure where we’re supposed to go from here.” His voice was raw with honesty and he was leaving the choice to Holly as to whether or not they continued.
The urge to throw caution to the wind was almost more than she could bear. But Holly was a sensible woman and knew herself well enough to know that she had more of a future as Stephen’s assistant than she did as his lover. The revolving door of women she’d
Similar Books
