You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors #1) - Layla Hagen Page 0,77
be able to make it out of the building without having a good cry first. What would I tell my parents?
They’d sacrificed so much to help me through law school, and I’d just trampled on all of their hard work.
I went through the motions for the next hour. Down to HR, signing papers. Up again, packing my belongings in the box they gave me. It all took no time at all. No one gave two shits that I was leaving.
I had such difficulties breathing when I walked out of the building, I thought I was going to suffocate. The October chill wrapped around me like an icy blanket. It was raining too.
New York had never looked more depressing to me. But I was going to get through this—I’d always managed to see the positive part. But for the life of me, I couldn’t be upbeat now. I hadn’t just lost my job. My entire career as a lawyer was in danger. For the first time in years, all I wanted to do was wallow.
Once at home, I read for a few hours, then took the panna cotta Amelia had brought yesterday as a welcome-home treat, filled the Jacuzzi with water and bubbles, slid inside it, and shut out the outside world. I’d break the news to my parents later... and to Hunter.
Now, I simply wanted to focus on the warm water and the delicious sweet treat. What was it about sugar that made any situation a little better?
I knew there was a scientific explanation, but I liked to think that this exquisite panna cotta carried Amelia’s warmth and calmness.
The water was almost cold when I heard movement around me.
I took out a headphone, peering at the door. Sure enough, Hunter was propped against it, his eyes dark, his mouth set in a beautiful smile.
“Should’ve told me you were home already, wife. Would’ve gladly ditched the last meeting for you.”
I placed both earbuds on the floor, and the plate. Hunter’s eyes widened when he saw it.
“Holy shit. Was that all the panna cotta? What’s wrong, babe?”
“Got fired.”
In a matter of seconds, Hunter crouched in front of the tub, until he was at the same eye level.
“Babe, I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“They caught wind of our run-in with the immigration officer.”
“Fuck. Cole told me today she’s been asking questions at my office.”
“She did the same at mine... and, well, long story short, they don’t want anyone even remotely connected to a sham marriage suspicion working there.”
“That’s bullshit. They can’t just fire you. I’ll have my lawyers talk to their CEO directly.”
“No.”
“Babe, it’s my fault.”
“It’s not.”
“I asked you to—”
“And I said yes. I’m not going to blame you for a decision I made. I don’t want to go back to a workplace where I’m not welcome. Even if they don’t fire me, they’d give me less cases, refuse to promote me. Anything to make me quit eventually.”
He swallowed, rocking back and forth. “Okay, then we’ll—”
“Hunter... I don’t want... I’m not in the mood to brainstorm about solutions.”
He sat on the edge of the tub, looking straight into my eyes.
“How can I be useful?”
“You could distract me. I mean, the music and the panna cotta did a decent job, but they’re nowhere as good as you.”
A sly smile popped up on his face.
“I see. Well, that’s something I can definitely help with. I do need more precise instructions though. How exactly do you want me to distract you?”
“Foot massage?”
“Whole-body massage?”
“Sounds promising.”
He slid closer, planting a quick smooch on my lips.
“Whatever the lady wants.”
I grinned. “Strip, then.”
He stood up, doing a ridiculous twirl (with a delicious ass wiggle) before turning to face me.
“Start with the shirt.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He started unbuttoning his shirt with exquisite slowness, torturing me. I watched, enraptured, sighing. I’d never get enough of him. Ever.
“I mean... just look at these muscles. Now, pants off, Caldwell.”
“I aim to please.”
Once he was completely naked, he jumped in the tub, splashing water everywhere.
“Hey,” I protested. “I didn’t say you could get in.”
“Tough luck, beautiful. Because I’m done watching you. I want to touch you. Kiss you.”
He kissed me so deep that I hummed against his mouth.
“We’ll get through this together, I promise.”
Chapter Thirty
Josie
For the next few weeks, I tried to gather my faculties, to make an action plan. I didn’t tell my parents the real reason I’d been fired, just that it hadn’t worked out. They had been so understanding that I felt even more guilty about everything.