“I wish you had been there too. I was afraid to call and tell you, even though I wanted to. I didn’t know your situation.”
“I understand and I wish you had called as it wouldn’t have mattered my situation. I would have been there.”
I pushed him away gently, just enough to see his eyes. “You were there. When things were tough, I just closed my eyes and thought of you and remembered you and your smile.”
He gave me a small grin.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not tonight. One day I’ll tell you all about it, but I thought you should at least know.” I shook my head.
“Thank you for telling me and when you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here this time.”
I smiled at him.
“You are the sweetest man.” I reached out and squeezed his hand in mine.
He laughed. “You probably think I’m some kind of idiot or a stalker.”
“No, I think it is romantic.”
“Romantic? I’ve never been called that before.” He laughed again.
“Well, then someone didn’t know how good they had it.” I looked into his eyes deeply, “am I to assume by the fact that you were parked in front of my house that you are no longer married?”
“No, I am no longer married.” He gave me that lopsided grin I remembered so well.
Chapter Seventeen
Kay
Ethan and I stayed up talking all night. When the sun started to come up, I got up from the couch to make us breakfast. We sat in the kitchen eating omelets and bacon with toast.
“I wish we didn’t have to work today.” I said.
“Me too. Maybe we can have dinner tonight?” he suggested.
“That would be nice.” I smiled. He smiled and took a bite of toast. “I’m sorry I kept you up all night, you’ll be dead on your feet at work.” I offered.
“Actually, I don’t think so. I think I have more energy that I have had in a long time.”
I rolled my eyes. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“Will you get any guff from your co-workers if you’re late?”
“Well maybe just from Logan, but only because he is my best friend. And he probably knows more about you than I do.”
“How so.” That struck me as odd and a little creepy.
“Well, when I thought I saw you at the dinner party that was sort of my breaking point. I refused to look you up on online or anything because I thought that would be breaking our code or something. Logan researched you.”
“Did he tell you what he found?”
“He tried but I refused to listen. I said I didn’t want to know from a computer. I wanted to know about you from you.”
I smiled. He made me feel like the happiest woman on earth. “That is sweet. And now I’m a little nervous about Logan.”
“Don’t be, he’s a cool guy and I’m sure he deleted whatever he found.”
“Well, whatever it was I’m sure it was boring. These days I spend my time in board meetings.”
“Quite different than the Middle East.”
“It is and I’m not complaining.”
“I’m glad you’re back.”
“You’ll have to come to the office one day let me show you around.” I smiled thinking of Sherry and her reaction which made think of her comment about holding out for Mac. Mac, I had forgotten all about Mac. Damn.
“Everything alright?”
“What? Oh yeah.”
“You looked like you drifted away there for a minute.”
“Sorry just remembered something about work.” I hedged. He accepted that answer and finished his breakfast. He left with a kiss on the cheek and a promise to call later about dinner. I stood smiling after he was gone.
Then my thoughts returned to Mac. Maybe, I was worried over nothing. I hadn’t heard from him so this might be a non-issue. I had a feeling I was going to have to face this sooner or later. Until then I had a company to run and I needed to get on it.
I drove myself to the office again. When Sherry greeted me with her cheerful morning self, I matched her smile for smile.
“Morning, Kay.”
“Morning, Sherry. Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I walked straight into my office and looked out the window at the water. Sherry waited and then came in to make coffee. “Sherry, you know I really can do that. You don’t have to do that every morning. I know you’re busy.”
“What are you talking about, of course, I have to do it. First, if I don’t, you’ll forget and be off to a meeting without any caffeine and I would feel sorry for the people you would be meeting with, and second, it is our girl time.”
“Okay, well you have a point. This morning I’ve already had a couple of cups and we can have our girl time without the coffee.” I smiled.
She eyed me suspiciously and came over to sit down in front of my desk.
“What?” I questioned her look.
“What’s up with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you are not a morning person, not in the four years I’ve worked for you.”
“With me, not for me,” I corrected her.
“Whatever.” Clearly, she was mentally rolling her eyes at me. “You have never once been rude or short with me, but you are not a morning person. What gives?”
“Nothing. I was just up all night and I’m already tanked up on coffee; I just already have a caffeine high.”
“I’m not buying it.” She crossed her arms.
I raised my eyebrows at her. “Okay, what’s your theory.” I stared at her hard using my best intimidating look.
“A man.”
“What?” I lost my composure. How did she always know?
“Nothing else it could be.”
“Unbelievable.”
“You’re right. It is unbelievable you haven’t already told me everything, now get to it.”
I had to laugh. “You should be handling some of my meetings for me Sherry, you’re a tough nut to crack.” She stared at me unamused, waiting “Okay, okay.” I threw my hand up in surrender. “Close the door.” Sherry eagerly returned to her chair and sat waiting for me to speak.
“I decided to drive around the block before I pulled into the driveway
