Just One Kiss (Very Irresistible Bachelors #2) - Layla Hagen Page 0,59

in here thinking I just had to put up some shelves...

But then again, things in the Winchester clan rarely went according to plan.

We finished just in time for Skye and Tess to open the store. I was the first to leave, because I had an early meeting at the office. On the way, I took out my phone, calling Heather. We hadn’t made plans after our dinner on Sunday, but after the conversation with my family, I wanted to see her tonight.

She didn’t answer, but I shot her a message.

Ryker: Dinner tonight, if you don’t have plans?

Heather: YES! Now I finally have something to look forward to. It’s going to be a crazy day.

I was right there with her. Wall Street was a fast-paced environment to work in even on calm days, but when international key performance indicators were confusing, fast-paced turned to breakneck speed. It was paramount to calm everyone down, talk them out of hasty transactions.

After my twenty-third phone call for the day, I went for a coffee break. Several of my colleagues were gathered there, discussing today’s developments in hushed voices. Most had their shoulders up to their ears from stress. I was just bone tired.

“How can you be so relaxed?” one of them called to me while I filled a cup with coffee.

I shrugged. “When you’re relaxed, you pass that calm on to the clients.”

“I’m shitting my pants right now,” he said.

“Stop. They’ll feel it. That’s the only piece of advice I can give you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Drinks after hours? To blow off steam?”

“I already have plans,” I said before strolling back to my office.

Meeting Heather and Avery for dinner sounded a million times better than going out drinking and mourning over the day.

Only a few months ago, I would’ve looked forward to performing tonight, or just enjoying a glass of whiskey in the quiet of my apartment. But now the things I was looking forward to were different.

Back in my office, I saw a missed call from Heather and called her back right away.

“Hey! So, I can’t make it tonight. A source I’ve been after forever just agreed to meet with me for an interview. I can’t say no. I’m sorry.”

“No problem. We’ll have dinner another day.”

“Thanks. I would rather be with you, but I just can’t pass this up.”

“I understand. But who is watching Avery?”

“Oh, I was thinking about talking to my neighbor. Natasha has always been supportive at the last minute, and Avery likes her.”

“Or... I can spend the evening with Avery.”

Was it too fast? Too early? I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was playing this by ear, following my instincts.

“Wow. Really? She’d love that. I’d love that too.”

Her voice was bursting with excitement. I liked that I was the reason for that.

“Perfect. What’s the schedule?” I asked.

“Well, the two of us are home already. I need to leave in about three hours. Isn’t that too early for you though?”

Damn, it kind of was. On days like this, I had to be on top of things even after the stock market closed.

“I’ll be there on time and just bring my laptop with me,” I said. I wasn’t missing out on time with my girls for anything.

***

I was at Heather’s place at six o’clock on the dot. She opened the door for me with a huge smile. She looked phenomenal, wearing a black suit. The skirt reached just above her knees. Her legs looked endless in high heels.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

“Good evening to you too.” Her smile grew more pronounced. She took my laptop bag, placing it on the small chair next to the closet. I kissed her as soon as I stepped inside the door. I hadn’t seen her in two days, but this hunger I felt for her was insatiable, as if it had been two weeks. I wrapped a hand in her thick hair, tilting her head, kissing, claiming, marking her as mine. Her lips were slightly swollen when I pulled back. I ran my thumb over her mouth, pressing on the upper bow.

“Ryker, don’t,” she whispered weakly.

“What? Just kissing you for good luck. So you can focus better.”

“Well, if you keep it up, all I’m going to accomplish is to daydream about you during the interview.”

I took a large step to one side, keeping my hands up in surrender.

“I don’t want to jeopardize your professionalism. Where’s Avery?”

“In her room. So, I’ve left puzzles out, and if she wants to watch cartoons, she’ll tell you what her favorites