Chapter 6 Sassy
SASSY
I’m exhausted but happy.
I thought for sure that Elijah had created some kind of fake job for me out of pity, but my list of things to do is growing every day. It’s challenging but also rewarding. I actually feel needed and wanted here, so it has been a great experience.
I love the job, and it’s not just because of the work I’m doing.
I had hoped by working here, I could forget about my attraction to Elijah that consumed most of my younger life. But here I am, pregnant by another man, and my insides get all gooey just looking at Elijah.
And damn, the grownup version is even better than the childhood Elijah.
He’s muscled, smart, and confident, and when he talks, everyone listens.
He’s an amazing boss, and not just to me.
It’s obvious that the office staff and the crew out in the field love him and respect him.
It would be so easy to let my feelings get out of control.
But no, I’m going to keep tamping them down because I can’t go there. If I do, it will ruin everything.
He’s just being nice. He’s my brother’s best friend, and he’s looking out for me. He did it when we were younger, so of course he’s going to do it now.
Carrie comes into the conference room, breaking me from my wayward thoughts. She’s carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. “Oh my God, they’re so beautiful.”
She holds them up. “Thank you. I love them. My boyfriend gave them to me, and I couldn’t leave them at home since I spend more hours here than there. You’re not allergic or anything, are you?”
I stand up and come toward her, pressing my nose to the fragrant flowers. “Allergic? No! They’re so beautiful. What’s the occasion?”
She shrugs, smiling. “Just because.”
I gasp. “Ooooh, just because. That’s so sweet.” I softly touch a red petal. “You know… I’ve never been given flowers before.”
Her mouth drops open. “Samantha… you’re kidding me. No man has ever given you flowers?”
I wave her off. I don’t know why I confessed that, but I did now, and I can’t take it back. “Yeah, but it’s no big deal. I don’t even know why I told you that. Your boyfriend sounds like a keeper.”
Her smile gets even bigger. “Oh, he’s a keeper all right. I think he might be the one!”
We both giggle, and Carrie says, “Okay, I’m going to put all this up, check and send a few emails, and then we’ll continue with training, okay?”
When she walks out the door, I hear her say, “What’s up, boss man?”
Seconds later, Elijah is peeking in the door, looking at me worriedly. “You doing okay?”
I nod. “Perfect! The car is a dream, Elijah.”
He smiles. “Okay, well, your office is ready. I have your computer set up, and if you want to take a look, you can see what else you need to be comfortable. Carrie can show you how to order whatever you want.”
I stand up, grabbing my papers and notepads. “I’m sure it’s perfect.”
He shows me to the office, and his cologne wafts toward me.
I breathe him in, wanting to bottle it. His scent brings me a comfort that I crave.
Instantly my mind goes to sleeping next to Elijah with that scent surrounding me.
My whole body tingles, and I’m so lost in thought that he catches me staring at him when he turns around in my office.
He smirks as if he knows exactly what’s going through my head.
“Well. What do you think?” He sits down in my chair and bounces a little.
“I tried out the chair at the office supply store, and this one has a massager, foot rest, and a lumbar support.” He stands up and moves to the side. “Test it out.”
He takes the papers from my hand and gestures for me to sit down.
As soon as I sit down, he lays the papers on the desk. “This button puts the foot rest up.”
I shake my head and bite my lip. “This is too much.”
He puts a finger on my chin and lifts my head. “You deserve it.”
I suck in a huge breath. “I deserve it,” I say out loud, and to myself, I promise that I’m going to deserve this kind of treatment. I’m going to work hard and really make a difference here.
He puts his hands on the arm rests of my chair and leans over me.
We’re staring into each other’s eyes when suddenly he clears his throat and pulls back.
He crosses his arms over his chest as he leans against the open door.
“Okay, well, I’ll let you get settled. Everything going okay? You need anything?”
I shake my head. “No, this is perfect, Eli. Thank you.”
He points to the ceiling. “I left the windows open all night and ran an air purifier so there are no fumes, but you tell me if anything—”
I hold my hands up. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
He nods and is about to leave but stops suddenly. He taps on the door jamb. “Oh, one more thing. I’ve noticed some guys spending more time filling out time cards when they come in and interrupting your work—”
“They’re not. I’m fine.”
He nods, his jaw tightening. “Just let me know if anyone bothers you or makes you feel uncomfortable, that’s all.” He runs his hand through his hair. “The guys that work here are good guys, but I don’t want you dealing with unwanted attention or anything.”
I frown. He still thinks of me as Kane’s little sister. As if I can’t take care of myself. “First of all, I can handle if someone hits on me, but let’s be honest here, Elijah. Look at me.”
He glances down my body, and his gaze softens as he looks at my hands on my round belly. “I am looking at you.”
I point at my stomach. “Right, well, I don’t think we gotta worry about anyone hitting on me. This is a pretty good turn-off.”
He laughs and then stops short, his expression sobering. “Wait. You’re serious? You think you being pregnant is a turn-off?”
I shrug. “I mean, it’s not a turn-on, that’s for sure.”
“I disagree.”
He says it quickly, and almost instantly I can see the regret on his face. He takes a deep breath and then shrugs. “Sassy, you’re beautiful. Breathtaking, really, and yes, even pregnant, you’re still sexy.”
My mouth drops, and then Elijah shakes his head. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. Just let me know if you need anything from me.”
He’s gone before I can utter a word.
Elijah Wolfe just said I was sexy… and I’m not sure what to do with that information. But I don’t have time to think about it because Carrie shows up at my door, ready to continue training.
It’s later in the afternoon when Kane walks into my office. “Sis, I’m so sorry.”
I try not to let my sadness show. “You can’t go?”
He shakes his head. “There’s been a hiccup with the hospital site, and I have to go over there, but…”
His voice trails off when Elijah appears in my doorway. “You ready?”
I stand up. “Ready? Ready for what?”
Elijah walks into my office and picks up my purse. The man even looks good carrying a bright pink purse. My belly pulls just devouring him with my eyes.
He puts a hand at the center of my back. “To go to your doctor’s appointment. Something came up for Kane, and I told him I’d go with you.”
“No,” I tell him without budging. “I can go by myself.”
Kane looks at his friend. “See, I told you she wouldn’t be happy about this.”
I look between the two men and see them talking to each other without saying anything. They’ve always been able to communicate silently. I shake my head. “Look, you both have work to do. I can go by myself. This is just to get me established as a patient. That’s it.”
Elijah looks at me, and before he utters a word, I know I’m not getting out of here without him going with me. “Sassy, please, I want to go.”
Kane slaps him on the back. “Okay, I need to get across town. I’ll see you two later. Love you, sis.”
“I love you too,” I grumble before giving Elijah another out. “Seriously, I can totally do this on my own. I know you probably think I’m falling apart with all the crying, but it’s just all these hormones. I can handle this.”
Elijah wraps an arm around my waist. “Good. I know you can handle this by yourself, but why should you when I want to go with you? It will be fun. We can grab an early dinner afterward.”
I still don’t move. “You really want to do this?”
He looks down into my eyes and nods. “Yes, I want to go with you.”
I sigh. Why did I fall for someone like Jason? Elijah is everything I would want in a man. Unable to stand this close to him in this small office a second longer, I start to walk. “Okay, well, I guess we’re going.”
We walk outside and agree for me to drop off my car at Kane’s apartment.
As soon as I park, Eli is at my door, helping me out and then to his truck. He helps me in, even wrapping the seat belt around me and then shutting the door.
As soon as he gets into the driver’s side, he starts up the truck. “Okay, where are we heading?”
I wince. “To the hospital in Jasper.”
I wait for him to be upset that I’ve completely ruined his schedule, but he just nods, smiles at me, and takes off toward Jasper.
I turn in my seat. “Can I ask you something?”
He brings up one arm and lays it on the console between us as if he’s completely relaxed. “Anything.”
“How, or I guess I should say why, are you still single? You like just playing the field? Hooking up, as the young kids call it?”
I laugh, but Elijah just looks at me with a smile. “I don’t play the field or hook up.” He sighs. “At least I haven’t in the last five….” He clears his throat. “Five or so years.”
I can’t hold back my gasp. “Five years? You haven’t had sex in five years? Why?”
He looks straight ahead, making it hard to read his expression.
Finally, he looks toward me. “I haven’t found someone I’m interested in.” He shrugs. “Well, not someone that I could have.”
I laugh and playfully whack him on the shoulder. “Please… you could have any woman you wanted.”
He tenses under my touch, and I pull back. He’s my boss. I’m pregnant by another man, and I’m basically hitting on him. What the hell is wrong with me? Hormones. That’s my only excuse.
We ride in silence the rest of the way to Jasper, and the longer I sit here next to Elijah, the more aware I am of him.
I glance over. It would be so easy to fall completely in love with him.
Hell, who am I kidding? I’ve been in love with him since I was a kid.
Being away from him, dating another man, none of those things changes the fact that the only man I’ve ever loved is Elijah Wolfe.
But I need to come to terms with the fact that he will never be mine.