Manage My Heart (New Year New Me 2)

I snicker and climb into bed, burrowing under the blankets. The lingering warmth lulls me into a twilight. West tucks the sheets around me and does as he promised, lying on top of the sheets. I curl onto my side, inhaling his woody, rain-soaked scent. He smells like the untamed outdoors and a masculine musk that’s his alone. I shut down the voices inside of my head, screaming at me for being naïve and making a bad situation worse. If this is the only time I’ll get to be this close to him, I’ll milk it for all its worth. It’ll be a worthy memory to take with me when I depart.

AN INSISTENT KNOCKING on the door makes me groan. I roll onto my side and pull the pillows over my head. My alarm hasn’t gone off yet, and I’m protective of my sleep. A throaty chuckle hits me like cold water. What? Tensing, I feel the pillow lift, and it all comes rushing back.

“Morning.”

I groan. “What time is it?” My throat is scratchy and dry.

“Seven-thirty.”

I groan. “Why?” Rolling onto my back, I return the pillow to my face. “We don’t have to meet for breakfast until nine.”

“It might be the hotel with information about a room for you. I’ll get it.” The bed moves as he climbs out.

“What are you doing here?” He’s cold and curt. I toss the pillow aside and sit up, ears straining.

“I wanted to see if you’d like to get together and catch up.” The whining, nasally sound is a knife to my eardrum.

“I told you I wasn’t interested. That hasn’t changed, Priscila.”

I sit up. My stomach clenches. Is this where we start to pretend in front of others? Should I go to him? I glance down and immediately rule out that option. When I see Priscila, I need to be at my best, not half asleep and in a vulnerable state of dress.

“What?” she purrs. “Can’t we have a friendly little chat?” From the sound of things, what she wants to eat this morning is him. I bristle.

“No.” His deep, deadpanned voice makes me smile. I’ve seen him when he’s like this. He becomes an unmovable force. She’s not going to get anything from him.

“It would make my father really happy to see us together. You know Mr. Alby told Daddy he’s planning on retiring next year and taking a backseat. But he wants things settled here first.”

Wow, could she be any more transparent? I wonder if she’s acting on her own, or Alby put her up to this. It’d be the ultimate power play, marrying him off to his daughter, so he could run the Alby software from the sidelines. That’s too much mixing of business and pleasure. I often think he wants mini-mes instead of skilled workers.

“If I’m chosen, it’ll be because I’m capable of running the business.” Disdain drips from his words, like the sweetest honey.

She laughs. “Well, of course, but it couldn’t hurt to bend his ear in your favor. I mean, you were brought here to close the deal, weren’t you?”

I can picture his strong jaw clenching as he struggles to hold his sharp tongue. Patience isn’t his best attribute.

I clear my throat loudly. “West, who’s at the door?” I call.

“Who is that?” The charm flees Priscila’s voice so fast it makes my head spin.

So fake. She can turn the pleasantries off and on like a light switch.

“The woman I’m seeing.”

“You brought her here on the company dime? Does Mr. Alby know this?” Her voice is an octave higher this time.

He chuckles. “Trust me, he knows.”

“And he approves?” She sounds scandalized.

“If he didn’t, I’m sure you’ll inform him. If you’ll excuse me, breakfast isn’t until nine o’clock, and I had a late night.” His insinuation hits. Priscila huffs loudly. A few moments later, the door is closed.

“Well, we just painted a target onto my back,” I say as he walks over. His hair is mused and falling into his eyes in an adorable way I’ve never seen before. I smile as I study the light brown strands streaked with gray. His beard is neatly trimmed and gives him a dignified professor vibe I’m very much into.

“Is it wrong that I’m happy I’m not in this alone?” He walks over to the bed and sinks down on the edge. His thigh presses into mine. My nipples harden, and I find myself grateful for the robe that covers me.

“Yes,” I snap.

“My sweet one didn’t get enough sleep last night, did she?”