Maisie
I left the conference room, Ali following quickly behind . "Then what?" she demanded.
"Shh, hold on," I ordered, and led her into my office, closing the door behind . "He showed up."
"He joined you for dinner?" Ali squeaked.
"For about ten minutes, love," I said, and sat at my desk.
"Ohmigod, had I known the happiness of your vagina was at stake, I would have picked up both girls and taken them back to my house."
I didn’t fill her in on any of this the night before considering Grace was with and we were making sure all was good. I rolled my eyes. "Let’s not rush any of this, Alison. Good lord, he’s just a nice man who offered to pay back for dinner."
"By taking you out!" She grinned. "He wants into your panties."
"Alison," I admonished. "You know how I hate that word."
Alison flopped into the chair across from with a groan. "You run one of the largest sex toy businesses in the United States! How is it you get all squirrely at the word ’panties’?"
I shuddered. "Because it’s gross."
"Moist panties."
"Gah! You’re disgusting."
Alison laughed like she couldn’t stop, and I rolled my eyes. When she got on a tear, there was no stopping her. As Alison continued to giggle (having to grab for a tissue because her nose was running), my phone rang, and I fished it out of my purse. "Bloody hell," I whispered.
"What?" Alison asked wiping her nose.
I jabbed a finger toward my phone. "It’s him."
"Don’t answer it. Be cool."
My stomach roiled. "But I’m not cool."
"I know, babe, but he doesn’t need to know that."
This was very, very true. I set the phone on my desk and let it go to voicemail. "What if he doesn’t leave a ssage?"
"Then you wait for him to call again."
I bit my lip. "Shouldn’t I call him back?"
"No. Let him chase you."
"I don’t want him to chase ."
"Yes, you do," Ali argued.
I shook my head, the panic really setting in now. "No. I don’t."
My phone buzzed on the desk and I jumped with a squeak. Raising my head to et Alison’s dancing eyes; I grimaced and whispered, "He left a voicemail."
"I see that." She grinned. "Listen to it."
"I can’t."
"I’ll do it." She snatched the phone off my desk and dialed the voicemail, putting it on speaker.
"Hey, Maisie, it’s Hatch. I’m in the area. Thought I’d see if you wanted to grab dinner. I’ll be here for another half-hour or so, so let know."
Then he hung up, as did Alison. "Sexy voice," Alison said.
"What do I do?" I asked.
"You call him back."
"I have a daughter. I can’t just go to dinner with soone on a whim."
"I can take care of Poppy." She waved her finger toward in a circular motion. "You need to take care of your vagina."
"Stop with the vagina talk!" I snapped. "I’m not having sex with him. Or anyone. Ever again."
"We’ll see." She smirked. "Call him back."
"No."
"Niall has been dead for almost ten years, Maisie. Ten. That’s a long ti. If you want to move on, it’s okay."
I blinked back tears. "I don’t want to move on."
"Well, you should." She rose to her feet and walked to my side of the desk where she sat on the edge facing . "I have never seen you this affected by a man. And not to diminish the mory of Niall, but let’s be honest, you didn’t even react to him like this."
"That’s not true."
"Honey, it is true. You loved him fiercely, I’m not saying you didn’t, but he didn’t make you nervous and fluttery like this Hatch person does."
"You just didn’t see us at the beginning." Although, admittedly, I’d never been fluttery to this degree with Niall.
"You’re right. I didn’t." She smiled gently. "But n have been falling at your feet forever, Maisie. Long before Niall passed away, honey, and even as recently as last week—"
"What? Who?"
"Jeremy."
"Marville?" I squeaked.
"Yes."
I let out a rather inelegant snort. "He’s a client, Alison. He is not interested in ."
"He’s totally gagging for you."
I blushed again. Alison loved to make squirm. "Ali," I rasped.
"Sorry. Sotis it’s just too easy." She giggled. "Anyway. Jeremy sends flowers, he’s asked you out several tis, but this Hatch guy is the first one you’ve showed any interest in. Have a little fun."
"Ali, I have a daughter to think about. I can’t just ’have a little fun.’" I shook my head. "I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m going to decline."
She frowned and snatched my phone off the desk, jumping away from before I could grab her.
"What are you doing?" I snapped.
"I just accepted his invitation." She handed the phone back to . "You’re welco."
I saw she’d texted him and I scowled. "Why would you do that?"
"Because you need this. I’ll take care of Poppy and you can pick her up from my place later. Or tomorrow."
"He’s probably a serial killer."
"Well, then stay to public areas and you’ll be good."
"Why are you not concerned I might be super murdered by a serial killer?" I challenged.
She shrugged. "Because you need so kind of adventure in your life."
My phone buzzed in my hand, startling again. It was a text from Hatch, and I bit my lip, my heart racing as I read it.
The Q? How does an hour sound?
"He wants to et at the Q."
"Hmm, one of your favorites. Definitely a serial killer," Ali retorted.
"You suck."
She pointed to my phone. "Tell him yes."
"God," I whispered.
"God’s not going to text him, Maisie. So, you do it, or I will."
She started toward and I stepped behind my desk again.
"Don’t you dare. I’ll do it myself." I fired off my acceptance and then lowered myself into my chair, dropping my forehead to my desk. "What did I just do?"
"You just opened the pages of a new Chapter , honey. I’m proud of you."
I wasn’t so sure this was true, but I sent my assistant ho early and texted Poppy to let her know she’d be hanging out with Grace for a few hours.
After taking several cleansing breaths (which didn’t really help), I refreshed my makeup and brushed my teeth, then ran a comb through my hair and headed downstairs. Our offices weren’t far from the Q, and even closer to my condo, which was beckoning . I could just blow this guy off and go ho. Have so ti, take a bath, drink a bottle of wine.
I groaned aloud and continued toward the restaurant. My word was my bond and I rarely lied unless it was to spare soone’s feelings, so my fate was sealed... at least for the mont.
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