Mid Life Love (Mid Life Love #1)(63)

I started throwing things at the small window that was above the toilet—soap dishes, shampoo bottles, the plunger— attempting the break it, but it wouldn’t crack.

Hayley was crying hysterically—beating her hands against the shower glass, and I was trying my best to get that damn window open. After a while I didn’t hear her erratic screams at all. She’d passed out.

“I didn’t know what to do so I just kept throwing stuff at that window. I didn’t have time to stop and help her.”

“She died?” Claire looked saddened.

“No.” I ran my hand through my hair. “I managed to get the window open by beating at it with a metal trash can. I picked her up and threw her out of it, and then I climbed out minutes before the whole trailer exploded...If I were to write about it in my bio, it would read something like: My parents left me and my little sister in an exploding meth lab alone and we were eventually separated and put in different foster homes while they served out long prison terms. That’s not something I really want my employees or competitors to know about. People are sick these days and will use anything in a smear campaign.”

“I’m so sorry...I wouldn’t have asked if—”

“It’s okay. I don’t think about it that often.”

She was quiet for several moments. “Can I ask you something else?”

“Is it something else depressing?”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s about the women you’ve dated before.”

“Ask away.”

“Have you ever dated anyone else older than you?”

“No.”

“Any reason why?”

“I don’t need to know how old a beautiful woman is before I ask her out.” I watched her blush. “It just never happened before you. There’s no other reason.”

“And you’ve really slept with seventeen women?”

“Would it make you feel better if I lied to you about it?”

“Maybe. Try it.”

“Okay, Claire.” I tried to sound as sincere as possible. “No, I haven’t really slept with seventeen women. That’s a ridiculous number...I made that up to seem like I was more experienced than I was. The truth is, I was a virgin when we first met. But I knew that the moment I saw you and heard a few words come out of your smart ass mouth, that it was you that I wanted to lose my virginity to. I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I cried after the first time we—”

“You’re so full of it.” She playfully hit my shoulder and I pulled her close to me.

“I don’t lie.” I ran my fingers across her soft lips. “Unlike some people I know...” I stifled her laugh with a kiss and laid her against the park bench, but she suddenly jumped up.

“Oh my god...” she said as she shook her head. “I knew we should’ve left earlier...”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Claire? Mr. Statham?” Mr. Henderson, one of the campaign directors, stopped running right in front of us and took out his ear-buds. “You two are here...together?” He raised his eyebrow.

Claire sighed and looked like she was about to say something, but I stood up. “Not at all, Mr. Henderson. I saw Miss Gracen running by and asked her to sit with me for a minute. Do all directors meet here on Saturday mornings? Am I keeping her away from the rest of the group?”

“Oh, not at all.” He shook his head. “But I may have to start coming here more often...Claire, I had no idea you ran. Maybe we can run here together sometime?”

This secret dating shit isn’t going to work for too much longer...

“Um...” She looked over at me. “I’m not so—”

“It was nice seeing the two of you today. It’s good to know that employees are friends outside of the office.” I looked back and forth between the two of them. “I’m going to go back to relaxing on the bench now. Have a great Saturday, Mr. Henderson.” I narrowed my eyes at Claire. “Miss Gracen.”

I walked back over to the bench, only a few feet away from them, and pretended to be engrossed in my phone.

“What were you saying, Claire?” He smiled at her.

“I was saying that I wasn’t sure if that’d be a good idea...We’re coworkers in the same department and—”

“You and I both know the fraternization policy was canceled a while ago.” He reached over and caressed her cheek with the side of his palm. “It’s just a run, Claire. If you enjoy it—and I think you would, we could even do lunch later. There’s this great sandwich shop two miles down.”

“I—”

“I’ve always wanted to ask you out—you’re beyond gorgeous, but with the policy and all, and you being so—”

“Me being so what?” She tilted her head to the side and smiled.

Is she actually entertaining him?! In front of me?! Right in front of me?!

“Nothing...I just always wanted to ask you out, that’s all. Would you like to run with me next Saturday?”

“I can’t. I mean, thanks for the offer but I can’t go out with you...I’m kind of seeing someone else right now.”

Kind of?

“Is it completely exclusive or are you open to dating other people?”