Love (Gimme 6)

“Oh hush. We still have a long time. It didn’t take us that long.”

“Are you trying to say that I was too fast?”

“Goodness no. I came twice, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’d say you were just on time.” She stretches out like a satisfied little kitten before sliding off the bed lazily. “Now if you’ll excuse me; I need to get ready.”

We make it down to the restaurant with two minutes to spare and my future wife looks like a goddess. I wish I had a massive rock on her finger so everyone knew she was taken or that seed I’ve been trying to plant for the past week had been growing for the past six months.

Rossellini isn’t with his wife. He’s alone. “You didn’t bring your wife tonight?”

“I thought you enjoyed enough of her smiles today at lunch.” I’m going to kill this bastard. I wanted nothing to do with his wife and he knew it. I snarl at him about to protest when he adds. “I’m only teasing. I’ve sent her away. I know she can be a bit overbearing and I didn’t want her to behave as she did earlier. Now who is this charming creature you have been keeping to yourself?”

“I’m his assistant, Haley Smith.” She stretches out her hand and he takes it, kissing it before I snatch it away.

“Ah, not just the assistant I see.”

“Yes, you have good eyes, and if you’d like to keep them I suggest you focus on me. In fact, better yet. I believe we are done for the evening. Haley, come along we’re going back to our room.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You haven’t. Maybe he was expecting more company. How about you boys discuss business. I’m going to the room without you.”

“The hell you are. Goodnight, Rossellini.” She storms off just as our waiter steps in the way, blocking my exit.

“A ring. The sooner the better, my friend.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” The waiter’s smart enough to jump out of my way and I reach her before she hits the elevator button.

“So that’s why you don’t want me at meetings?” she screeches, pressing the button.

“Yes.” The rage burns in her eyes like I’ve just lit a match to gasoline.

The elevator door opens and a couple steps out, giving us a polite nod which we return, before she enters and I follow. “You like to have your cake and eat it too, I see,” she hisses through clenched teeth as I hit our floor number.

“What?”

The ire is back in full force. “What? Did you just expect me to sit there and let you and her make passes at each other if she showed up?”

I could kick myself, understanding that I mistook her question. “Wait. No. Shit.” I run my hands through my hair. “He’s the reason I didn’t want you at meetings.”

“You’ve lost me.” She storms out of the elevator, but we’re nowhere near done with this conversation and I’m not letting her get away from me, ever. We’ll work this out. She can be upset with me, but we’re not parting ways.

“You’re fucking sexy. Too fucking sexy. Do you see how men stare at you? We’ve gone to places where testosterone runs at fucking bull levels and you’re perfect for mating. Every man sees how hot you are and they want to do you. How the fuck am I supposed to make a deal when I want to fucking deck them in the face at the same time?”

“So what about his wife?” She grabs her heel and I hope to fuck she isn’t going to chuck it at me, but she just takes them both off and sets them down.

“She was flirting with me and I told her to back the fuck off. I don’t know if he brings her in to negotiate or what, but I nearly walked out on the deal because of her antics. She stopped and apologized.”

She puts up her hands like she’s had enough. “I just want to go to bed and go home.”

“You’re not hungry?” I ask, wanting to make sure she eats before she gets sick.

“No. I’ve lost my appetite and I’m tired.” Fuck. I feel like an asshole.

“We leave first thing in the morning.”

“Good.” She heads into the bathroom without a word and then I hear the shower turn on.

I want her to get over the fear that I’m not all in because we come from two different worlds. When we get home things will be perfect. I have plans and she’ll understand what she means to me.

Chapter Eight

Haley

We land at O’Hare and then he has his driver take us to the southside for some odd reason. “Look. I know I wasn’t really an assistant to you and the past week was really just us fucking around in Europe, and I shouldn’t ask for the money because that would make me a prostitute, but I kind of don’t have a place to live anymore and since you clearly regretted taking me on.”