Bang (Blast Brothers #2) - Sabrina Stark Page 0,76
me or not?"
"Not," he said.
I searched his face. "But where do we go from here?"
"That's up to you," he said. "You're smart. You'll figure it out."
Me. Not us. In my whole life, I'd never been so irritated by a compliment. "I can't be too smart," I said. "Or I would've seen it the same as you."
Looking almost bored now, he said, "Seen what?"
"That it was a bad idea. You know." I lowered my voice. "For us to sleep together." A bitter scoff escaped my lips. "You told me. And I guess I should've listened, huh?"
His jaw clenched. "Yeah. You should've."
His words felt like a slap. "So you're saying this is my fault?"
"No. It's mine," he said. "I take full responsibility."
It was a decent sentiment. And yet, his cold businesslike approach was making me just a little bit crazy.
And besides, we all knew it took two to tango.
I muttered, "Well, I'm sure the shareholders will be delighted."
"I don't have shareholders."
"I know," I said. "I was being sarcastic."
"I wasn't," he said. "I answer to no one." He gave me a hard look. "And maybe you should remember that."
I crossed my arms. "Maybe I will."
Once again, he looked down to his paperwork. He picked up a random document and frowned. "Now, if we're done, I've got stuff to do."
I stood there in front of his desk, staring as he set aside the first document and picked up another.
Part of me wanted to lunge for his paperwork and scatter it to the floor. And then, assuming I had his full attention, I could tell him exactly what I thought of his icy demeanor.
His words from the other night haunted my thoughts. "If I could love anyone, it would be you."
What was that, anyway?
Just a line? Maybe an easy way to give me the brush-off?
He'd also claimed to like me. But that couldn't be true. Because if you truly like someone, you don't sit there shuffling through paperwork while they stand in front of you like…well, an employee, actually.
I froze. Oh. That's exactly what I was – his employee.
The Help.
But of course, I did have a choice in the matter. I mean, I could walk off right now and let him replace me with nanny number-eighty-seven, or whatever it was. By now, he probably had several agencies on speed dial.
But Willow – she'd be the one who'd suffer.
Over the last few months, I'd seen her really blossom under the love and stability I'd been trying to provide.
And what if I left now?
It was only two weeks until Christmas, and we'd made all sorts of plans – to bake Christmas cookies with Arden, to put up a giant Christmas tree, and to decorate the house for the first time ever – at least according to Willow.
Did I have the stomach to walk away now, just because I'd been unable to resist my boss?
I shook my head. No.
I didn't.
And I couldn’t.
Right then and there, I decided that regardless of whatever was going on between me and Mason, I'd still keep my promise. Even if it killed me, I'd stick around until next fall.
For Willow's sake.
Not mine.
And certainly not Mason's.
The lunk-blaster.
He was still sorting through his paperwork, but he surely realized that I hadn't left. So either he truly didn't care, or he was making a point to ignore me.
Either way, I was more than ready to move on.
I said, "I've got a question."
Without looking up, he said, "Yeah?"
"Christmas is two weeks away. And as you know, I'm planning to spend the week at my parents' place."
This was something we'd discussed a couple of months ago, before everything had gotten so crazy between us.
It had been a good plan, especially because, thanks to Arden, Willow wouldn't be left in the lurch. On Christmas Day, she and Brody were planning to host a traditional Christmas dinner at their beach house. They'd invited Willow and Mason. Chase, too. Plus me.
But as much as I'd appreciated the offer, I'd decided to take the opportunity to spend the holidays with my own family.
And now, more than ever, I was beyond eager to see them.
Or maybe, I just felt like running away, at least for a little while.
To Mason, I continued, "And about the vehicle, the one I drive for my job. You know how I took it home for Thanksgiving? I just wanted to make sure that it's still okay if I drive it home for Christmas."
Without bothering to look up, he said, "You don’t need to ask."