“I came out of nowhere all right. Emma still throws in my face that I didn't even want to dance with you, and she made me. She thinks it is hilarious. I’ll never live that down.” I shook my head. “But I truly know what you are saying. I had been in bad relationships for various reasons, one that was a dead end, going nowhere, one where I was cheated on, and one where my heart was broken.”
“I’m sorry,” he said with sympathy.
“It’s okay. Now I can look back and see they were never going to work. But after the heartache, I learned. I know what I can bend on and what I can’t. I know what I want and what I don’t. And most of all, I know I can love someone and want love back. I want to care for someone and be cared for back. Not one-sided. And I know, despite what I had felt for a very long time, I deserve that.”
I moved closer to him, keeping my eye contact with him. He smelled amazing tonight, masculine yet fresh. A scent I had come to know was his.
He didn't take his eyes off me for one second.
“Wyatt, please don't break my heart.”
I kissed him, sealing it, hoping he really heard me, thankful I said it, and hoped his response would be as sincere as his kiss.
“Likewise, baby.”
The kiss gave me goosebumps. We stayed cuddled kissing and talking softly about us. I wanted time to freeze and the earth to halt around us. I wanted us to stay on this couch and hide from reality.
21
BREIGH
As a legal assistant with Frank, he had really let me take the lead and generally run the office. But at this point, I was doing everything. I had dropped by his home on three different occasions to no avail. He was calling me here and there and sending me things through email, but the clients were piling up, needing his expertise. I had asked now twice in the last month if I could start referring some of the work to another attorney who specializes in Estates and Wills. Those two messages were the only two messages that were returned, notifying me that it was not time yet. I didn't understand what that meant and when I questioned it, I was left with zero answers. My patience was wearing thin.
Finally, after two months, I called another office that was thirty miles from Hilltop. I couldn't keep up anymore. At this point, I was going to have to beg for forgiveness rather than permission.
I had planned to go to Frank’s home and let him know he would have to step up, take on his workload, or I would have to get all the paperwork together sent. I was spending far too much time doing his job and I had succumbed. Life was too short to work this hard and not be able to follow through with the work that Frank had promised clients.
At 6:30 p.m., I knocked on Frank’s large fancy designed door, nervous as all get out. I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out, but I was okay with walking away from the job if I had to. Over much thought and prayer I decided, I couldn't handle it anymore. I was beginning to lose my sanity.
His wife answered the door with a frown and hugged me, welcoming me into their home. Jean was always a sweet woman but had never liked her husband practicing law. She was born privileged and expected nothing less, including his time. It was a hard sale. Just with the clothes and jewelry she had on tonight, it showed the distinct style and lifestyle she maintained. I could honestly say for certain, nothing touched her body unless it was designer, expensive, and way out of my league. Her wedding ring alone probably cost my yearly salary.
I personally thought he worked as much as he did to stay away from Jean. She seemed to drive him crazy.
“He hasn't been returning your calls either, I gather?”
“No. Here and there, but not what I need.”
“I’m sorry, dear. Have a seat in his study, the room on the left, and I will go get him.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can I get you a coffee?”
“Yes, coffee would be great.”
Entering his study was nothing less than what I had expected. I had never been to his house, but he had always been flashy. He liked to show he had money, apparently just like his wife. The walls were lined with bookcases, a ladder slid along the wall, and in the center an oversized picture of his wife. Jean was wearing a large fur coat, sitting in a gold chair. Completely gaudy and I had no doubt it was her idea. The portrait sat over a large brick fireplace that was ancient, seeming to be from the 1800’s era.
I touched the books, tempted to pull them out one by one to take a smell of the pages. Running my fingers along their spines would have to do. I wondered if they appreciated them like I would if they were mine.
I took a seat and noticed the piles of paper in different sections on his desk. His cherrywood desk was massive, shiny on the areas that weren’t covered. He had a laptop on his desk but it was buried by more paper.
“I was wondering how long you were going to let me ignore you,” Frank said, walking into his office, making me jump.
His voice was shaky, not the confident bass I had come to recognize as my boss.
I stood to see him and was disappointed and speechless when I saw his stature.
“Have you been sick?”
Good job, Captain Obvious.
He muttered, but I couldn't hear him and wouldn't dare ask him to repeat himself. He seemed out of breath and irritated. Instead of the suits he wore on a regular basis, he had on a pair of jogging pants and a white shirt
