Brice
It's been a few days since Kayla’s parents left and I feel like she’s pulling away. Yesterday, she suggested I go into the clinic like she didn’t want me around. She's been working more than before.
Miles and his team moved fast. With the help of Kayla's dad, they got someone in undercover and busted the place up yesterday. That didn't seem to change Kayla's mood like I was hoping. The only thing I keep coming back to is the brunch with her parents didn't go as well as I thought it did.
While I cooked, they talked, and then, just as Kayla predicted, her parents grilled me while we ate. I didn't mind. She survived dinner with my family, and I know her family did it because they care. I thought it went well. Her parents were smiling, and by the end of the night, we were all laughing.
The following morning, Kayla pulled out her laptop and started working. I keep telling myself if she didn't want to be here, she would just make an excuse and head back to Dallas. But she hasn't done that, so it's a good thing.
Right now, watching her on the computer, I can see she is irritated at something. She hasn't looked up from the computer or spoken to me in hours, so I figure one last ditch effort before I suggest maybe she should go back to her office to work.
"You’ve been attached to the computer for days. Let's go out tonight. Maybe have dinner at WJ’s. They have a live band tonight."
At my words, she finally looks up at me, and the tension in her shoulders eases as she stretches her neck side to side as if realizing she hasn't moved in hours.
"Yeah, that sounds good," she agrees, finally closing the laptop.
"Go get ready. We’ll leave soon."
I watch her head off to her room, where she has been sleeping for the last few nights. Her reasoning is that she’s been working late and didn't want to wake me. I've told her several times, I don't care if she wakes me, I just want to wake up with her but I still wake up alone the next morning.
While waiting for her to change clothes, I check my email on my phone. Nothing important, but it's a habit.
"Is this okay?"
I look up to see Kayla in a sundress that ends at her knees, and she’s wearing her cowboy boots. Her blond hair is pulled back, her brown eyes sparkle, and she looks stunning.
"It's perfect."
She offers me a smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
The drive to WJ's is quiet, and when we get there we grab a table.
"Whatever that smell is, it's amazing," she says as our server walks up.
"It's the BBQ brisket special," the server smiles.
"That’s what I’ll have," she replies.
"Make that two." I hand the waitress the menus.
"Well, that was easy. Drinks?" she asks.
We rattle off our drink orders and she leaves.
I decide to bite the bullet. "What did your parents say to you to have you attached to your computer the last few days?"
"Basically, I’ve been a bit too detached since being out here. Dad’s right. I was ignoring almost everything. I'm the CEO and I can't do that."
"So, you work yourself to death and ignore me?"
Her eyes meet mine and I think she is about to yell or scream, or maybe tell me I'm overreacting.
"I tend to do that. When I get lost in work, I don't realize how much time passes. You have to call me on it. Like tonight. It's just how I am. I'm used to my assistant coming in and reminding me to eat or when I have a meeting. It breaks things up. I don't have that here."
"Why haven't you been coming to bed with me as I asked?"
"I didn't want to wake you up."