Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(26)

It was apparent even more now than it had been before that I needed to avoid Analyn, if only to protect her from Catherine. Catherine struck me as just the sort of person who might question Analyn's intentions. Since I hadn’t wanted to hire her at first, Catherine could be suspicious of my attention toward Analyn, thinking it was Analyn’s doing.

I remembered how annoyed Catherine was about the call I missed when I’d met with Analyn to offer her the job. She’d been suspicious, but I felt I’d done a good job covering up where I'd been and why I’d changed my mind about Analyn. But maybe I hadn’t. If I wasn’t careful, Analyn’s fears could come true. Catherine wouldn’t play nice if she felt Analyn was trying to get special attention from the boss.

As long as I followed through on my promise and kept my distance from Analyn, Catherine shouldn't suspect anything between us. God, I hoped that was true. Even more, I hoped I could keep my promise.





14





Analyn





I was five minutes late getting home, but Betts was so preoccupied trying on dresses that she didn't notice. I swept in, looking at the dresses strewn on the bed that she'd already tried on, which was nearly every one in her closet. Then I took in her current ensemble.

"I just don't know what to wear. Should I put on something sexier? I don't want to look like a skank when Paul proposes to me, but I want to look great, you know?"

In my mind, Betts always looked good in everything she wore. "What makes you feel beautiful, confident?"

She stopped in the middle of discarding the next dress she'd been about to try. "I don't know." She looked at me with an expression of panic and excitement.

"Maybe you should go with something bold." I remembered the red dress I’d worn to the bar the night I decided to be bold and go clubbing on my own. As much as my current situation messed up my life, I couldn’t deny how great that night was. All because I’d been bold.

Betts looked at the dresses she'd thrown on the bed. "What do you think would be bold?"

All her dresses were nice, and several were sexy, but I wasn't sure that any were bold. "I think you should go with the emerald or royal blue one. Both make your red hair stand out.”

Betts put on the emerald-green dress, and I was right. She looked confident and smoking hot. If Paul wasn't planning on asking her to marry him already, surely, he would when he saw her in this dress.

I helped accessorize the outfit and do her hair. By the time Paul arrived, she was ready. She looked so happy, and I was happy for her.

Once she and Paul left for their date, I went to my room and changed into pajamas, which was actually a pair of shorts and a tank top.

I grabbed some dinner, and while I knew I should think about what I needed to do in my job, I didn’t want to. I liked the distraction that helping Betts had given me, and I didn’t want to spend the rest of the night in a tug-of-war over my feelings about Reed. Instead, I decided to distract myself with ice cream and wine and bingeable TV.

I considered watching a romcom but decided that might make me think of Reed, so instead I watched back to back episodes of Deadly Women, surprised at how often true love could turn to murder.

I was well into the middle of the fourth episode when Betts and Paul charged into the condo. Betts was absolutely beaming with happiness, and both of them looked like they had been celebrating, if the glassy eyes and giddiness were any indication.

"I'm engaged." Betts thrust her hand forward, showing me the lovely ring Paul had given her.

I gave her a hug and then hugged Paul too. Congratulations."

Betts whirled around, looping her arms around Paul. "I don't want this night to ever end."

He smiled. "It won't. Marriage is forever, right?"

Betts got a sappy look on her face. "Isn't he romantic?"

I smiled and tried not to roll my eyes. Of course, had Reed said something like that to me, I’d probably have a sappy smile too. God, I was a mess.

"I want to keep the party going. We should have another toast." Betts headed to the kitchen but then a few moments later came out pouting. "We don't have anything to toast with." Then she lit up. "I'm going to run down to the corner store and grab a bottle."

Our area was safe, but it still seemed like she shouldn’t go alone. When Paul didn’t chime in, I said, “I’ll go with you."

Betts shook her head. "You're in your pajamas. You stay here and keep Paul company. I'll be back, ten minutes max."

She was out the door before Paul or I could stop her. I looked at Paul, shrugging at Betts's behavior. But I stopped mid-shrug when I caught him looking at my body like he wanted to lick it from head to toe.

“So, these are your pajamas?"

Immediately, I went on alert, but I calmed down by reminding myself that he’d had a little bit to drink. Maybe it was messing up his thinking.

"How about I go make something to eat? I think you and Betts could use something to sop up all the celebratory champagne."

I went to the kitchen looking for something bread-like to soak up all the alcohol. I was putting some crackers on a plate when hands settled on my hips and lips nuzzled my neck.

Shocked, I jerked away, gaping at Paul.