Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Adalyn
I threw myself back on the bed and placed my hand on my forehead. That was by far the best sex I’d ever had in my life. My body was still on fire, and my mind was more than fucked up. I sat up, grabbed my phone, and FaceTimed Carly.
“Hello. Oh, wow. You look different. Why do you look different?”
Before I could spit out the words, she placed her hand over her mouth and widened her eyes.
“YOU HAD SEX!” she shouted.
“I did.” I grinned.
“Holy Shit, Adalyn. With whom?”
I sat there in silence and just kept smiling.
“No. No way. Harrison Grant?”
“Yes, and he was—I can’t even explain how good it was, Carly.”
“Oh my God, you slept with your boss. How did this happen?”
“He came to my suite, and it just did. There’s chemistry between us. I think. At least on my end there is. I’m in trouble.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t control my feelings for him right now.”
“What do you mean? You said he was rude, arrogant, and disrespectful. You don’t like guys like that.”
“I know. He’s a different man, though, during sex. He was attentive and sweet and acted like he cared about me.”
“Oh lord, Ad. You just experienced the best sex of your life, and now you’re in lust. It’ll pass. Where is he now?”
“He left.”
“What do you mean he left? Where did he go?”
“Home.”
“Why didn’t he stay the night with you?”
“I’m assuming he doesn’t do that sort of thing. Afterward, he got dressed, so I had to play it off as if I wanted him to leave. But deep down, I didn’t.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I told him it was just casual sex, and that’s what people do; they leave afterward. He agreed, we had one last drink, and then he left.”
“Are you going to continue to have casual sex with him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Girl, your boyfriend of three years just left you for another woman. You’re down and feeling sorry for yourself and rejected. You reached out to Harrison because he’s there, and you needed to feel wanted. Guys like Harrison Grant don’t change. Don’t get caught up in the game. He’ll only break your heart, and I don’t want to see you go through that again. It’s LUST. Nothing more!”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I know I am. Just focus on getting that townhouse done so you can come home.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you later.” I smiled.
I stumbled out of bed. That was the worst night’s sleep ever. Okay. Maybe not ever. Because I didn’t sleep at all after everything I’d gone through with my job, Stephen, and my apartment. I was up all-night thinking about Harrison. I grabbed my phone with the hope there would be a good morning text. There wasn’t, and I let disappointment rule. I popped a K-cup in the Keurig and made myself a cup of coffee to wake up before I got ready to go. I was meeting with the contractors today and needed to be at my best. Those guys could be very trying and challenging to deal with.
After I arrived at the townhouse, the doorbell rang, and four good-looking men in their dirty jeans and white t-shirts stood there staring at me.
“You must be the contractors. I’m Adalyn Banks. Come in.”
“I’m Pete, and this is Jeff, Ron & Georgie.”
“Nice to meet all of you. Which floor are you?”
“We’re doing the basement and the entry floor.”
“Well, you’ll need more than just the four of you.”
“Our other guys are just finishing up at another job. They’ll be here later.”
Because Harrison was impatient, he hired a crew for each level of the house. Except for the sixth floor. The crew for the fifth floor would also do the sixth because that floor only consisted of his study and the terrace.
I spent much of the day out of the townhouse shopping while the contractors started tearing everything apart. I needed to consult Harrison, and I hadn’t heard from him all day, so I called him.
“Adalyn, I’m really busy right now. Is it important?”
“Yes, Harrison, it is. I’m at the cabinet shop, and I need your input on colors for the kitchen.”
“Do you have something in mind already?”
“Yes.”
“Then go with it. I don’t have time to deal with any of this right now. I’m having problems with the new hotel we’re building. You asked me to trust you, so consider this my trust. Pick out whatever you think I’d like. I have to go.” Click.
I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at it in disbelief. Looking at my salesman with a smile, I showed him what I wanted for the kitchen and the bathrooms and scheduled him to come out first thing tomorrow morning. When I arrived back at the townhouse, I saw Athena in the kitchen talking to Pete.
“Athena, what are you doing here?” I asked as I hugged her.
“Just dropping by to see what was going on.” She smiled as she hooked her arm around mine and led me out of the kitchen. “That Pete guy is hot. I think he was flirting with me.” A wide grin crossed her face. “Where were you?”
“Shopping for cabinets and countertops for the kitchen and all eight bathrooms. Who the hell needs eight bathrooms? Harrison is one person, and he’ll be living here alone.”
“He got a steal for this place. You can see why.” She looked around. “Once it’s remodeled, he’ll be able to sell it for double or even triple what he paid for it.”
“I thought he was moving in permanently?”
“He is for the time being.”
“I spoke with him earlier and he sounded very stressed out.”
“When isn’t he stressed.” She rolled her eyes. “We’re building a new hotel over on Fifth Avenue, and it’s off schedule, and there was an accident. One worker got hurt and had to be rushed to the hospital.”
“That’s awful. I hope he’s okay.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. Anyway, I just wanted to drop by and see how you and Harrison were getting along. I worry he’ll scare you off.”
“We’re getting along great.” I smiled. “Because of this hotel ordeal, he told me to pick out whatever I think he’d like. He said he trusted me.”
“No way. My brother doesn’t trust anyone. I’m taking my grandmother out to dinner tonight, and we’d love for you to join us. I’m asking Harrison too.”
“I’d love to.”
“Great. Meet us at Per Se at seven o’clock. The dress code is proper attire. In fact, that cute little black dress you bought when we went shopping would be perfect.”
“Then I shall wear that.”
“My grandmother will be so happy to hear you’re joining us. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Excuse me, Adalyn?” Pete spoke.
“Yes, Pete.”
“Is she your sister or something?”
“Who? Athena? No. She’s Mr. Grant’s sister.”
“Oh.”
I could see the disappointment in his eyes.
“If you’re interested in her, ask her out.”
“Nah. She’s way out of my league. I’m sure she only dates rich asshole guys.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I think if you asked her out, she would say yes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.” I smiled.