Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Blair
“Bend over and take a deep breath,” the yoga instructor said in a soothing tone. I had to squeeze my mouth shut to keep from making a sound that could’ve gotten me kicked out.
I needed to get a hold of whatever was happening to me. It was like every time I was around Drea, I either wanted to slap her or rip her clothes off. She was insufferable, but anytime she kissed or touched me, I lost control.
It wasn’t like I was deprived of pleasure. I had an array of toys that got the job done, and I supposed I had options if I really wanted them. It was just… I didn’t want anyone. I wanted her, and the thought made me want to punch my stupid horny vagina.
Those warm chocolate-brown eyes. Her small, yet still perfectly sized chest. That damn piercing below her plump suckable lips…
I cleared my throat and squeezed my thighs together. This yoga class was not helping me relax. I needed to get my mind off of her, but it was impossible.
The universe kept throwing us alone together like it wanted bad things to happen. Really filthy but, if I had to guess, extremely pleasurable bad things. Enough! I hate Drea Voss. I hate Drea Voss. I HATE DREA VOSS!
I forced my thoughts to go elsewhere. To think about our first meeting together and about all of the times she made my life so infuriatingly difficult. About how rude, pig-headed, and unprofessional she was.
There, that was better. I was starting to get annoyed, and I would take that over lusting after her any day of the week.
After my yoga class, I had a meeting with Cara. We called it a business lunch for tax purposes, but it was really a girls lunch. Even though we were colleagues, we were friends first.
Today, we were meeting at The LunchBox. I was excited to spend some time with her, without Drea, and catch up on life outside of work.
“Why do you always look so good?” I asked as I saw her approaching.
She laughed and threw her arms around me. “Stop, you flatter me. But please, keep going. You look stunning, too, doll.”
I wasn’t as put together as she was. While she looked flawless in a navy-blue form-fitting dress with black heels and her blonde hair in a high ponytail, with ruby-red lipstick, I was wearing a plain black dress and black flats.
Still, I blushed and sat down. The waitress came, and we ordered lemon waters while glancing over the menu.
“I’m so glad to have this time with you. I feel like it’s been nothing but work for the past few weeks, so it’s nice to take a break from it.” She smiled and took a sip of her water.
I nodded, mirroring the gesture. “I agree. I love my job, but I needed a little break.”
“We both do! You and Drea aren’t my only clients giving me a hard time.
Two others are being extremely difficult.
I have a few other authors releasing books around the same time, so it’s been a challenge scheduling them without the signings colliding with each other.
” She groaned, and I felt bad for her. She worked really hard to build her business up from the ground, and she still took it just as seriously as she did in the beginning.
“Excuse me?” I scoffed. “I am not difficult!” She gave me a look that said she disagreed with that statement. “Okay, so maybe sometimes. I just know what I like! But I’m your favorite client and you know it!”
She laughed. “That you are! So, besides the signing, how are things going?”
“They are fine. I’m finishing up this next book and planning a new series, and I just spoke to my brother not that long ago. We’re planning a trip to see our parents on their anniversary.”
Her smile fell. “It’s coming up already? What’s it been, eight years now?”
I nodded. “Almost. It still feels like I lost them yesterday. I really miss them.”
There wasn’t a day that passed when I didn’t think about my parents. Growing up without them was really hard. I was lucky enough to have a grandmother who loved me and supported me, but it wasn’t the same.
I didn’t get to have father-daughter dances at school. I wouldn’t get to have my dad walk me down the aisle when I got married or have our own dance. I wouldn’t have my mom there to give me her wedding dress, or tell me stories about her wedding. It sucked. It fucking sucked.
She rubbed my arm in a comforting gesture. “I know, I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “No more sadness. Let’s change the subject please.”
“Okay, well, don’t forget we’re meeting Drea in a few days to go over the outline of the setup.”
“Can we go back to talking about my parents again?” I groaned.
“Blair, do not forget!”
“How could I forget? You’ve only reminded me a few times this week, Cara. I’ll be there with bells on.” I sent her a fake smile.
She rolled her eyes. “You two will be the death of me, I swear. I thought things were getting better? You both told me the festival went okay. Did something happen that you’re not telling me?”
I groaned. “For the millionth time, nothing happened. We aren’t best friends despite your plotting.
But I can promise we won’t bicker—at least, not in front of you.
” I winked. “I know you want us to get along, but I’m sorry, it’s just not going to happen.
We will never see eye to eye, but for you, I can put all of that aside, at least until this project is done. ”
It wasn’t a lie. Technically, nothing did happen, besides her pushing me against the wall and painting a very pleasurable picture, causing my legs to nearly give out. But Cara didn’t need to know that. I was trying to pretend like it never happened anyway. It couldn’t happen.
What happened in her office, again, still played on repeat in my mind, but that didn’t mean it was a good idea, or something to ever be repeated again.
She sighed in defeat. “Fine. It was worth a try. You both are important to me, and I just wanted us all to get along. I won’t press it anymore as long as things are at least civil between you two.”
“I assure you, they are.” And they were, at least for now.