Stay With Me (6 page)

My mouth fell open. My father was not asking me this. Squeezing my eyes shut, I cleared my throat and looked away. I knew if I avoided his question or tried to change the subject, he was not going to give up. “Yes, I have been with other women since Savannah. None of them meant anything. None of them ever will. I loved Savannah and no one will ever make me feel the way she did.”

He gave me a regarded look and stood up as he looked out over the mountains.

“Then ask yourself something, son. Why do you stand out here with such a conflicted look on your face if your heart is not arguing with your mind?”

Opening my mouth to say something, I snapped it shut.

“Life moves on, Athanasios.”

“I wish it could for me.”

With a sad look on his face, he looked into my eyes. “It could . . . if you let her go.”

My eyes stung with the threat of tears. “I can’t. I want one more day to tell her I love her. To show her no one could ever love me like she could.” My voice cracked and I sucked in a breath. “I want to hold her in my arms one more time.”

“Y
OU SAW HIM
again and you’re telling me that’s not a sign?” Claire asked as she followed me into the elevators.

Sighing, I closed my eyes. “I’m not interested, Claire.”

Grabbing my arm, she turned me to face her. Her eyes looked so sad and I knew what was about to come. “Kilyn, when are you going to let go of the past and move on?”

My lip trembled as the memories rushed through my mind. Pushing them out, I stood taller. “I’ve moved on, Claire. Just because I don’t like to talk about it doesn’t mean I haven’t moved on.”

She shook her head. “Then why won’t you open your heart? Why?”

With a forced smile, I said, “I have a black heart.”

My phone buzzed, saving me from any more of Claire’s questions. Reaching into my purse and pulling out my phone, I smiled when I saw his name.

“Cody,” I said as I lifted my eyebrow. Claire made a gagging sound and looked away. Cody had been the only constant in my world, or as Claire would say, he was my fuck buddy.

“Hey sweet thing. You down for some dancing?”

“Dancing? Tonight?”

“Hell yes! You in?”

With a smirk, I replied, “Count me in. How about I meet you there?”

“Smartest thing you’ve said all day,” Claire mumbled.

I reached over and hit her on the shoulder.

“Sounds good. And Kilyn, don’t wear panties.”

My smile grew bigger. This was what I needed, I was sure of it.

“Oh, I’m sure I can arrange that. See ya tonight.”

Hitting End, I dropped my phone back into my overly-expensive periwinkle Dooney and Bourke purse. The only reason I bought it was because I loved the color.

“Please tell me you’re not going to have sex with him.”

The doors to the elevator finally opened on the twenty-first floor. Glancing over my shoulder at Claire, I winked and said, “That’s exactly what I intend on doing.”

“Oh gawd! What do you see in him?”

“Nothing. That’s what makes it work, Claire. He wants nothing from me but a fun night out. Same goes for me.”

Walking up to the receptionist’s desk, I flashed a bright smile and said, “Kilyn O’Kelly and Claire Paige here for our one o’clock appointment.”

The young blonde nodded and replied, “I’ll let Mr. Conner know you’re here.”

“Thank you!”

I knew I was being a tad over the top, but for some reason knowing I was going to relieve this insane need for an orgasm tonight had me flying high.

As the girl walked away, Claire leaned over and whispered, “Are you that excited to see Cody?”

Not bothering to look at her, I stared straight ahead at Mr. Conner walking toward us. “No. I’m that excited to get laid.”

“Ugh. I just threw up in my mouth, bitch.”

Extending my hand, I flashed a smile at the head of Conner Law Firm. He was redoing their lodge in Chipita Park as a surprise for his wife.

“Tell me you have something to knock my socks off.”

“Oh, I think you’ll be very pleased,” I replied.

The second we got into my car, Claire let out a squeal of excitement. “We got the job! I can’t believe we got the job!”

With a smile on my face, I pulled out and headed back to the office. “This is huge for us. If we can move more into home interior, we can actually take on additional jobs!”

“I feel like celebrating!” Claire giggled.

“Why don’t you and Blake come out with me and Cody tonight?”

Claire moaned. “Ugh . . . Cody.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “Why do you hate him so much?”

I could feel her eyes on me. “Seriously, you don’t know why?”

With a shrug, I quickly glanced at her. “Nope. No clue.”

“Kilyn, he uses you for sex.”

Letting out a roar of laughter, I tried to ignore the tightness in my chest. “And you don’t think I do the same? Claire, that’s what I like about Cody. He’s upfront and honest. And he’s not bad in bed.”

“So you’ll have meaningless sex with him?”

Coming to a stop at a light, I turned to her. My smile was gone and the feeling in my chest was heavier. “I’ve had sex with two guys in my twenty-eight-years, Claire. Two. And one of those . . . one was—”

My voice cracked and I turned away and forced myself to talk. “I’m not a slut, Claire. I just want to have fun.”

Claire took my hand in hers. “I know you’re not a slut. I didn’t mean anything by it. I only want you to be happy, Kilyn. I’m sorry.”

I reached up and quickly wiped a tear away while trying not to get pissed at Claire. I vowed I would never let Peter make me cry ever again. Closing my eyes, I was haunted by the sound of his breathing.

Quickly snapping out of it from the honk behind me, I hit the gas and didn’t utter another word to Claire. I didn’t have to. She knew me well enough to know I needed silence.

Twenty minutes later, I walked into my office and shut the door. Dropping into my chair, I pulled in a few deep breaths and tried to clear my head. The light knock at the door had me moaning internally.

“I’m fine, Claire. I need a few minutes.”

She didn’t say a word, but I knew she was still standing there. She’d probably stay there until I got up and opened the door. I never kept my office door shut. Not even during meetings. It was just the three of us. Claire, Kasey, the office manager, and me. Kasey kept this place running by doing everything from paying bills to running and grabbing coffee on late nights.

My phone buzzed in my purse. Pulling it out, I saw I had a message from Cody.

Cody: Can’t make it tonight. Something came up. Sorry.

With a sigh, I dropped my head back against my chair. I knew what that meant. Someone better came along to occupy his time. Claire was right. I didn’t need that asshole. I had a perfectly good vibrator waiting at home for me.

Pushing my chair back, I grabbed some files and my purse. I needed to get out of here and get some fresh air.

Before I had a chance to even gather everything up, there was another knock on my door.

“Claire, I’m fine!” I called out.

The door opened and Kasey walked in. “Um . . . Kilyn, it’s not Claire. There is someone here to see you about some decorating.”

I rolled my eyes and looked at her. “Did they have an appointment?”

She pulled the corner of her lip in between her teeth. “No. But I think you might know him. When he saw your name he started laughing pretty hard. Like, it took him a good minute or so to get himself together.”

Narrowing my eyes at her, I contemplated on what to do. On one hand, I couldn’t care less who was out there and what job they wanted us to do. On the other hand, I was intrigued.

“He doesn’t want to make an appointment?”

She shook her head and stepped into my office. Quietly shutting the door, she smiled. “I could ask, but he is drop-dead freaking gorgeous. I mean, I’m pretty sure he melted my heart the second he looked at me and smiled. I’ve never in my life seen someone so good looking.”

She leaned in closer and whispered, “And he has tattoos. Lord. Help. Me.”

Giggling, I shook my head. “What was his name?”

“Oh, I think he told me, but I was too distracted by his body.”

My hands came up to my hips. “Kasey! Good Lord, you act like you’ve never seen a man before.”

She smiled. “I’ve never seen one I wanted to crawl on top of and—”

Curling my lip, I held up my hands and said, “Stop! I’ll see him. Where is Claire?”

Her smile faded. “She said she was going home. She left after she knocked on your office door and you told her you were fine.”

My heart pained for a moment. I knew it was just as hard for her as it was for me. After all, Peter was her brother.

Shaking my head, I said, “I’ll call her after I meet with this potential client.”

Kasey wiggled her eyebrows. “Want me to have him come in?”

Glancing down at my desk, I began arranging the files I was taking home. “Sure. Have him come in.”

Kasey spun on her heels and headed out of my office while I placed a few files in a bag.

Something in the air changed. Almost as if electricity was being charged through the air. Goose bumps spread across my skin as I glanced up.

My heart dropped and I fought against the lump in my throat.

How did he find me?