Chapter 9 Ledger
NINE
LEDGER
Opening one eye, I couldn’t fathom where I was.
The room smelled like the Gibsons, and it wasn’t until I sat up that I realized I was in Theron’s suite. It took up half the floor and had huge windows overlooking the back garden and the woods beyond.
I had vague memories of us moving to the second floor from my suite but couldn’t remember why. Maybe he didn’t like my mattress.
But my boss—oh gods, the same boss I’d had sex with—wasn’t in the bed with me. The sheets on his side were still warm. No, they were hot, because nothing about that man ran at a normal temperature. His pillow smelled like him, and I brought it to my face and inhaled that smoky, almost sweet aroma.
Voices drifted up from downstairs. Theron was telling the kids to hurry up, so he hadn't scuttled off to his office, not wanting to face me. Fraser was chattering, and there was the clink of plates. My boss was feeding the kids. It was a weekday, so I'd overslept, and he'd let me.
My muscles ached, and I was tempted to flop back onto the mattress and go back to sleep. But sleeping with the boss didn’t negate my duties, and I should have gotten the kids up and fed them.
Peering around the room, I took in the spacious suite and the three framed photos of babies on the wall.
They had to be the three kids, and there was another on the nightstand of a man holding a newborn.
It was angled toward the bed so it was the last thing Theron would see at night and possibly the first he caught sight of as he opened his eyes.
I glanced away because that pic was so private, and what was I doing in the bed his husband had slept in and where they’d made love and created a family?
I peered over the mattress, hoping to see my clothes. There should have been a Hansel and Gretel trail leading from the corridor into the room. Had Theron been the fairy tale birds in this scenario and removed them so I’d never be able to find my way back? Nah, I was being ridiculous.
Going up to my suite was possible, but everyone would hear me sneaking about. That was one of the puzzling aspects of this family. They all had supersonic hearing. Unless I wanted to waltz down to breakfast in a towel or Theron’s bathrobe, I’d have to wear one of his T-shirts and pants.
But I hesitated before going into his walk-in closet. That was kinda like snooping and was as intrusive as rummaging through his private papers. I sprinted in, grabbed a tee and sweatpants, and raced out. It didn’t count as invasive if it took less than a minute, right? Right.
The shirt was two sizes too big, and I had to roll the pants at the waist. I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror and looked ridiculous wearing my boss's clothes. That was the same man who transferred me money every two weeks and who’d been inside me for most of the night.
Deep breath, Ledger!
Theron had his back to me as he stood at the stove, but the kids were sitting at the kitchen island. Fraser was demolishing scrambled eggs, Rory was reading something on a tablet, and Skye was lining up pieces of bacon in order of size.
“You're wearing Daddy's clothes.” Fraser glanced up.
Thanks, Fraser. I’d been hoping to sneak in, grab a coffee, and blend in with everyone, but that plan had crashed and burned.
“Mine are in the wash.” That could be true if Theron took them to the laundry, though if he regretted last night, he might have tossed them out and have my packed bags waiting by the car.
I kept glancing at him, but he didn’t turn around. Oh gods, not only did I sleep with the boss but I was about to get fired.
“Morning, Ledger.” Damn, that man using my name. It was his secret weapon.
“M-Morning,” I choked out.
“The clothes are too big.” That was Rory.
“Mmmm.”
“You smell like Daddy.” Skye was watching me across the island.
Damn, this was worse than being stretched on a medieval rack, not that I had personal experience of torture methods from the Middle Ages.
“Probably because these are his clothes.” I grabbed a coffee and tossed a mouthful down my throat. I made a face ‘cause it was too damned hot. When were the kids going to stop? Theron wasn’t looking at me, and whatever he was cooking was well stirred.
“No.” Skye tilted her head. “You smell like him.”
I plonked myself on a stool and told the kids to hurry or they’d be late for school while sending glances at my boss. He finally turned around, but whatever was on the stove stayed there. He caught my eye, but his expression didn’t give much away.
I couldn’t expect a hug and kiss or the kids would know something was up. But as he didn’t speak other than to greet me, I was interpreting his body language.
But he stared at me—no, right through me—and I squirmed. I wanted to reach for the same cup, or for us to say the same thing or for both of us to squeeze through the door at the same time.
I drove the kids to school because that was my job and because pretending today was a normal day felt important, even though nothing was normal.
Fraser talked about his chili plants the entire way and how he was going to grow the hottest chili in the world and enter a competition.
Rory corrected his pronunciation of "jalapeno" twice.
Skye sat quietly in the back, and when I glanced in the rearview mirror, she was watching me.
“You're happy today, Ledger.” She grinned. “Your eyes are smiley.”
“So are yours, pumpkin.” That was the term of endearment we’d settled on, because while Fraser was all about chili, Skye wanted to grow pumpkins so she could make a jack-o-lantern for Halloween.
Her first choice was dragon’s fruit, but Theron said they’d need a greenhouse, as it got too cold here in winter.
When I got back to the house, I sat in the car, wondering if I’d still have a job when I walked through the doors. Or would my boss sweep me into his arms and declare undying love for me? I hadn’t given myself time to think about the implications of last night.
I lusted after my boss and was teetering close to being in love with him. But his first consideration had to be the children. How did I figure into that? Maybe I didn’t. Or perhaps he slept with all his mannies and that was why they left.
When I walked in, Theron was loitering near the bottom of the stairs.
“Ledger.”
Gods, no, not my name. I had a list of questions to ask, but by using my name, he’d befuddled me, and I couldn’t think straight.
“That’s me.”
Theron studied his hands.
“Do you do that deliberately?” I was scared, so I needled him when I should have said how much I loved being with him last night.
He head shot up, and I wanted to take back my snarky question. He looked distraught, with pale cheeks, something I’d never seen, and he’d bitten his nails.
“Say my name like that as if it’s on a slow boat meandering along a stream.”
“Huh?”
Poor guy, I’d bamboozled him.
“What I want you to say is that last night meant something and it wasn’t a mistake and—”
“No mistake. Never.”
I sagged against the wall, but Theron caught me before I slid onto the floor. He kissed the top of my head.
“The mistake I made was ignoring you in the kitchen earlier, but my children are very perceptive, as you witnessed.”
“You’re my boss and we live in the same house. You have three kids.”
“Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed.”
I whacked his butt. “Hey, I’m the snarky one.”
“Oops, sorry.”
We sat on the stairs with Theron’s arm around me. We didn’t have to work out every little detail about how to move forward. Maybe if we took one step at a time, but I had to know if this, whatever this was, was serious.
“No, I’ve never slept with any of the other mannies.”
“I didn’t ask that. Are you a mind reader?”
“No, but I can see it on your face.”
I screwed up said face. “You can not.”
“I don’t have all the answers.” He chuckled. “I was going to say your name, but thought you might swoon.”
I elbowed him and rolled my eyes.
“But I care for you very much, manny.”
I giggled, and he kissed me. This was less urgent than last night, though he was as warm as he had been. His hands roamed over my body while his tongue explored my mouth. And when he smiled against my lips and whispered, “Ledger,” I think I swooned, not that I was 100% sure what swooning was.