Unwanted Fate (29 page)

“Are rethinking moving in with me?”

“No, not at all. I just want you to know I’m probably going to be a mess until I get comfortable in your house. It’s nothing like I’ve lived in, and even though you don’t act like it, flaunt it, you have a lot more money than I do. I don’t hold that against you at all, but where you might just go out and buy something, I will have to think about it and rethink about it, and organize my finances. I don’t even want to start to think about how messed up my routine—”

“Gorgeous, I know. I understand. If you didn’t freak out a little, I’d be worried. I know this is a big change for you.”

“I love you,” she says, putting her face down so she can’t see my reaction. I pull off on the side of the road, and I lift her chin so she can look me in the eyes.

“I love you too, Emily.” She smiles, tears welling in her eyes. I lean over and kiss her, giving her everything I feel for her. We release to catch our breath, placing our foreheads together, not letting go.

“Ready to go home?”

“Yes, I am. I’ve missed the stars.”

“Me too.” I pull the car onto the interstate, driving a little faster than what I should to get us home.

A
fter enjoying vacation for the past eleven days, I don’t want to get up and go to work. I think I’d like being my own boss and working from home. Like that’d ever happen. I open my eyes and look at Patrick’s side of the bed, I notice he isn’t there, and I feel the bed to see if it’s still warm. Luckily, it is, or we would discuss him leaving me.

He walks in the room, looking at me, smiling, and with a tray of food in his hands. “I was trying to surprise you with breakfast in bed.”

“I’m totally surprised. Although at first, I thought you left without me.”

“No way.”

“Good.” I frown a little. Now I have to drive myself.

“Do you not like what I made?”

“No! I love it. Thank you. I was thinking I can drive myself to work now since my SUV is here.”

“That makes you sad?”

“Yeah, I enjoy having you to talk to before and after work. It’s like my time to decompress.”

“I can still drive you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Gorgeous, if it was an issue, we wouldn’t have done it over the past month and a half.”

“True. I love you, handsome.”

“I love you too, gorgeous,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

He takes a piece of the toast off my plate and eats it. Good thing he’s sexy in his shorts and bare feet or we’d have issues.

“I’m going to take a shower. If I keep standing here looking at you dressed like you are, we won’t get out of here on time.”

“Um… I’m not wearing anything.”

“Exactly.”

He walks out of the room as I stick my tongue out at him. I hear the shower turn on and shortly after, I hear him warbling “Woman Woman” by AWOLNATION. He’s a train wreck. I place the empty plate on the tray and set it on his side of the bed. Getting out of bed, I run to the hallway restroom to relieve myself and back in the bedroom to the en suite bathroom.

I prop myself up again the door jam, watching him sing into his shampoo bottle and getting down with his sexy self.

“I wouldn’t quit your day job,” I deadpan.

“But I’m a good singer. I can sing real good.” He looks hurt, but he can’t keep the serious face and laughs. “In my dreams. Get in here with me, gorgeous. I’m lonely in here all by myself.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” I say as I get in as he shuts the door behind me. “Keep your hands to yourself, mister. We have to make it to work on time since we’ve been off.”

“I know. Luckily I had Kristin keep me up to date on everything, and you…”

“I’m my own assistant. Maybe there will be good news when we return. Maybe we’ll have an update on the grant.”

“Perhaps. The quarterly numbers that I saw last week looked excellent and they were finalized Thursday. So today we should definitely hear something.”

“Fantastic. Move out of the way, mister. I need to wash my hair.” I bump him with my booty and he swats at it.

“Yes, ma’am. Kiss me, I’m finished showering and I’ll get out of your way.” I pull him into me, kissing him like a lovesick fool.

“I love you.”

“Love you too, gorgeous.” He gets out, grabbing a towel, and dries off his body. The things that man’s body does to my desire are enough to make me crazy with need. I have to look away or I’d have to please myself before finishing my shower.

I hurry up and finish with my shower, getting through my routine in record time. Even though I didn’t want to get up when I first woke up, I do miss seeing the kids. Something good is going to happen today. I feel it.

Unlike usual, Patrick walks me into the building, walking with me as we were inside the doors of the entrance. He gives a kiss on the cheek, and I continue my way farther into the building. I notice several of the parents dropping off their children staring at me. I get to the main office and all of the office staff is here. Did I forget the monthly meeting? Once Kelly sees me she screams, “Emily!”

They all run over to me, all talking at once and I don’t even understand what they are saying, even Victor’s in the office, but he’s hanging in the background.

“Okay, one at a time. What’s going on?” I ask, trying to figure out what is happening.

“How could you not tell us you’re Ken Reeves daughter?” Kelly semi shouts.

I knew this was coming. These ladies are on their celebrity gossip.

“Short story. I’ve only known for a little over two months. Some things happened between my parents and now, they are together, married and we are getting used to being a family.”

“Awe. That’s amazing. We saw you on the red carpet. The celebrity rags are trying to figure out all about you. We had a few sketchy looking people come in looking for you, but we kindly said no comment and they left after the realized we weren’t giving them any info.”

“Ugh. I’m sorry. I was hoping that my family life wouldn’t affect work.”

“It’s okay. We had some signs made to protect everyone.
Photography in this area is strictly prohibited
, since there are kids here. We not only need to protect their privacy, but yours as well.”

“I agree. If you realize that this becomes a huge issue, I’ll take a leave—”

“You will do no such thing. You’re an asset to the center. Don’t let a few nosy people ruin what you do here,” Kelly’s assistant, Cheyenne, speaks ups.

“I agree,” Kelly chimes in.

“Thank you, that means a lot to me, because I love working here, with you, the children, and everyone we are able to help.” Kelly hugs me, knowing how much I love being here.

“Okay, now that we got all that out of the way… How was your vacation?”

“Fantastic. Ate too much, drank too much, and didn’t sleep enough.”

“Sounds like the perfect vacation,” Kelly says with a laugh.

“It was.” I smile.

“Well, it’s time to get to work, the other staff is probably wondering what the holdup is.

Have a good day everyone,” Kelly dismisses everyone with a wave.

I turn to head to my office and stop when I hear my name called out, and turn around.

“Hey, I…um… Can we talk in your office?” Victor asks, picking at his nails.

“Sure.” I turn and go to my office, unlocking the door, and walking in the room, trying to place the desk between him and me. He doesn’t come in all the way; maybe he can tell I’m hesitant about being alone with him.

“Thanks for talking with me, I wanted to apologize for my behavior a few weeks ago. I’m really sorry and I wanted to thank you for not holding it against me.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sorry if I lead you on in any way.”

“You didn’t, I just wasn’t thinking straight…I thought you were playing hard to get… Well, you have a good day.”

“You too,” I call out after him as he walks out of my office.

I sit down at my desk, trying to figure out if I can trust Victor or not. I think he was being honest… I’ll just keep an eye on him. I get going about my morning routine I’ve missed and check my voicemail, sixty-four new messages, and I put the phone down, deciding I’ll need a cup of coffee to get through all of those messages. I can’t wait to see what my email looks like.

An hour later, I’m frustrated because most of those messages were from people trying to get a hold of me for a statement or an interview. I’m afraid to answer my office phone now, and my cell phone rings with an unknown or blocked number. I never thought that this would be how it would be.

I grab my phone and text Patrick, I hope he’s free to talk.

M
E:
Hey, babe. How’s your day?

I wait for a few moments before I set my phone down and work on paperwork for a new grant lead I have. Fifteen minutes later, my phone chimes with an incoming text.

P
ATRICK:
Crazy. Has the media been bothering you?

M
E:
A little. They are blowing up my phone and email. You?

P
ATRICK:
I’m going to have to give Kristin a raise.

M
E:
That bad?

P
ATRICK:
Yes, but I think after the newness wears off, they will go away.

M
E:
I hope so too.

P
ATRICK:
Remember not to believe a word that is in the gossip mags or from someone else besides your parents or me. These people print anything for a dollar.

M
E:
I know. That was one thing Kenneth made sure was stuck in my head.

P
ATRICK:
Good. I have to go into a meeting now. Call if you need anything. I love you.

M
E:
I love you more.

His comment has me curious to what’s in the celebrity rags, but I don’t tempt myself to look at the unconfirmed news sources. I have more things to worry about than what someone thinks about a celebrity they don’t even know.

I sent a few quick texts off to my parents, telling them I miss them and I hope they are enjoying themselves. I have no idea where they are, and that is fine with me—not knowing is sometimes the best. Putting my phone on my desk, I resume filling out the twelve page grant document. Every bit of money will help and I hope I’ll be able to get this for the center.