A Life More Complete(12)
“Of course I remember.” He pauses and kisses my head again. “I have to admit something to you.” I giggle because I can only imagine what he has to say. “When you dissed me that day, it only made me want you more, sort of that wanting what you can’t have mentality.”
“Thanks for not stalking me and just so you know, I kind of wanted you too. You were all wet and shirtless and looking like you do. I thought about you a lot after that.”
“See and I thought you were a good girl. But I did stalk you. I just did it in secret. Did you really think it was a coincidence that I met up with you every morning at the beach?”
“I am a good girl, obviously, I had no idea you were stalking me. I’m glad you did, I wouldn’t have pursued you.”
“There’s something about you that I can’t ignore,” he says and his voice turns to a whisper. “I’m drawn to you.”
I close my eyes and a shudder runs over my body. I knew this day would come, but I’m still not prepared for it. His words terrify me, but I don’t say anything.
---Chapter 5---
Rolling over, I cover my face with my arms as a waffle print of sunshine glows on the wall across from Ben’s bed. His arm is thrown over my stomach and his leg is intertwined with mine. Sunshine? Holy shit! Without even giving it a second thought, I fling Ben’s wayward body parts off of mine and jet out of bed. I grab the alarm clock off the nightstand and launch it back onto its home with a crash. 7:55?
“Ben!” I yell startling him even more as he emerges from sleep. His eyes heavy and his hair all mussed as if someone just woke him casually. He stretches and every muscle in his body flexes and tenses. Through a yawn, he finally speaks, “Just call in sick. We can lay here all day.” His smile, lazy and full of sensual promise that I can’t even begin to think about or it will be my undoing.
“Why didn’t you set an alarm? Now I’m late for work and I have no clean clothes, not to mention underwear.”
“Seriously, call in sick. No point in going in now. Too late already.” He closes his eyes and rolls over pulling the sheets up to his neck.
“Not everyone is the boss. I have a boss and she is gonna be pissed.” I scramble to find my clothes that managed to get strewn around the room in at least eight different locations. I pull on the same seersucker suit I wore yesterday and cross my fingers that no one notices. I was only in the office for an hour yesterday. Who am I kidding? That will be the first thing Melinda and Bob notice. I can’t get it together fast enough. I pull my hair back into a ponytail and brush my teeth with Ben’s toothbrush. Stumbling through the room I lean down and kiss Ben good-bye. He mumbles incoherently as I fly out the bedroom door.
I rifle through my gym bag as I pull into the parking garage. I find nothing but shorts, a stick of deodorant, a yoga tank, socks and a pair of running shoes. It’s useless, looks like I’m doing the walk of shame into my office.
I try to move as quickly as possible, but Maggie eyes me suspiciously from behind the reception desk. Not sure if this is because I’m late or if it’s because I’m wearing the same clothes as yesterday. I try not to dwell on it.
“Morning, Maggie,” I say as breeze by.
“Good Morning, Kristin. Trini called about an hour ago, asked me to page you. She said she was sure you were here, but she couldn’t reach you on your cell or at your desk.” Her voice begins to grow quiet since I don’t stop to listen.
“Okay. Thanks.”
I make it to my desk virtually unscathed. I start up my laptop and login to my email. I scroll through emails and answer some absentmindedly as Bob strolls into my office.
“I come baring gifts. Someone put it on my desk. I think they’re trying to kill me,” he says holding out a blueberry muffin. Bob is what he likes to refer to as a “glutard”. He has Celiac disease, so in his honor I have learned to bake just about any dessert that is gluten free. I also don’t mind taking one for the team and eating any baked good that might jeopardize his health.
When I stand and walk toward him he nearly stumbles backward. “Did you seriously do the walk of shame at work? Have you no thought to leave clothes in your car? You’ve been friends with Melinda for how long now and you forgot the one piece of advice she hands out willingly?” He tsks and shakes his head at me.
I shrug my shoulders while picking at the top of the muffin, popping a few small bites into my mouth in an attempt to avoid conversation. “Do I look shamed?” I ask.