Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Valerie
I stood frozen outside the office when I heard the words “baby girl” and “love you.” It solidified to me that Lucas was off the market. Not that I was thinking about getting back together with him, I wasn’t. But… What? I wasn’t ready to have my heart broken again.
Lucas was free to date or be involved with anyone he wanted. Enough. Pushing away my inappropriate thoughts, I walked into the office and straight to my desk, shoving annoyance at who he’d been talking with to the back of my mind.
I had no right to be annoyed or upset.
“Find what you needed?” he asked, barely glancing up from his computer.
“Yes. Thank you.” My words were clipped, but he didn’t seem to notice. Damn man.
I congratulated myself for smacking down the urge to throw the ledger paper at his head and, instead, placed it on my desk as though it was a fragile treasure and reopened the file I’d been working on.
Time to get to work and ignore Lucas. Like that was possible.
His energy flowed around me, and I felt a pang of resentment at the energy I knew it would consume to ignore its pull.
Some things never changed.
* * *
Three hours later, I came up for air. That wasn’t unusual for me. When I dove into accounting records looking for discrepancies, I zoned everything else out. Usually, I set an alarm on my phone, so I didn’t sit too long or forget to eat. Today, I’d forgotten.
I shook my head, stood, and stretched.
“Welcome back to the world of the living,” Lucas commented.
“What?” When I glanced over at him, he was staring at me. The intensity of his gaze made me forget to breathe. For several seconds, I even questioned reality. Was I reading something that wasn’t there?
“You were concentrating pretty hard.”
“I get lost in my work sometimes.” I stretched, arms extended, hands over my head, and leaned side to side. The amount of tension confirmed I’d been sitting way too long. As I lowered my arms, I glanced at the computer monitor. One-fifteen. Whoa! My stomach rumbled, the sound loud to my ears.
“I was beginning to wonder if I should interrupt you or not.”
“Don’t. I get a little snappy when people stop my flow.” Some of my co-workers found that out when they tapped me on the shoulder or waved their hand in front of my face. My reaction was to swat first and ask questions later. Well, I didn’t hit hard, more like swiping a fly away.
“I remember. Ready for lunch?”
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“No, I was waiting for you.”
“You don’t need to do that, Lucas. I’m a big girl and can take care of myself.” How many times had I said that to him in the past? A pang of longing joined the memories of the times Lucas took care of me when we were together. I pushed it away. He was involved with someone else.
“Yes, you are.” His gaze roamed over my body.
Heat flowed through me. “Don’t annoy me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Lunch?”
I rolled my eyes. I could refuse, but what would be the point? “Sure, why not?”
“Good. We can go to the café in the building.”
“Great idea.” There would be other people around, and that was a good thing. I followed him out of the office, trying to ignore the way he moved.
The café was not what I was expecting. It had an open floor plan, and the menu was extensive.
It took me a few minutes to settle on a turkey and cheese sandwich, fruit, and water.
That would keep me full. Lucas ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries, soda, and two chocolate chip cookies.
His appetite hadn’t changed a bit. I rolled my eyes. Why should I care?
Lucas led the way to a table by the windows. The sun was out and warmed me through the glass.
“I see you still eat the way you did before.”
So do you. How do you manage to eat so much and stay in such great shape?
“Yes, I’m still a carnivore.” He lifted his burger and took a big bite.
I laughed. My heart tightened as I realized how much I missed watching his enthusiasm for everything from food to his work.
“At least you’re not the “only eat salad” kind,” he commented, jerking his chin at my tray.
“Nope. I need protein, but I do limit my red meat.”
“Why?”
I answered without thinking. “Cholesterol issues.” Not that I minded sharing. We ate in silence for a few minutes.
“Tell me what’s happened with you in the last five years, Valerie.”
Part of me was surprised at his demand; the other should’ve expected it.
Wasn’t it natural to want to catch up if two people hadn’t seen each other after a long time?
But we weren’t just friends or acquaintances.
And Lucas had never been shy about bringing up painful subjects.
I decided to play this from the friend zone. No more.
“Mainly work. I have a little place in the Heights area. I’m lucky. I rent from an older couple who moved in with their daughter but didn’t want to get rid of the family home.”
“That’s nice. On the water?”
“Yes, that’s why I was so lucky. I found it at the right time. I really enjoy being able to stare out at the water.”
“I remember you said you always wanted a beach house.”
“You do?” Why did that surprise me? Lucas had a phenomenal memory.
“Yes, what makes you think I wouldn’t?”
“Maybe because it’s been five years.” It’s not like I’d forgotten things about him.
“Would you believe me if I said I remember a lot of our conversations.”
My eyes widened. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Let’s see. You have an older sister. You have an aptitude for math. You enjoy the beach, and you hate thunderstorms.”
I blinked. What else did he remember? I didn’t want the answer to that question.
“And”—he lowered his voice—“You enjoyed it when I tied you up and played with your body.”
He would remember that. Heat expanded throughout my entire being. “That isn’t something we should be talking about on the job or anywhere else for that matter.” I tried to insert some sternness into my voice but failed.
“Why not? You are aware of what kind of company Fantasies, Inc. is.”
“Yes, but my job is to look at the financials of the company you want to buy, not discuss our past together.”
“Come on, Valerie. I’d like us to be…friends, at least. More if you’re willing.”
“Are you serious?” I snapped. Why did my heart speed up?
I couldn’t be contemplating starting a relationship with Lucas again, could I?
No. Hell no. This morning he’d been talking to a woman, calling her “baby girl” and saying “Love you too” and now he’s flirting with me?
“No, Lucas. That is not going to happen.” I had to stay firm.
“Look, I know our breakup was totally my fault.”
“You walked away with another woman.” And shattered my trust. I wasn’t prepared to have this discussion. Standing, I picked up my tray. “I’m going back to the office.” I walked away before he could say another word.
Why didn’t this damned elevator move faster?
How dare he try and charm me? Did he have a faithful bone in his body?
Probably not. The man was a player, and that’s all there was to it.
I would not get involved with him. And once this job was complete, I could leave him behind.
My job was to go through the financials, and that was it.
I didn’t need or want Lucas in my life. If only my body would agree with me. The quicker I finished this job the better. Too much time with Lucas and I was sure I’d lose what sanity I’d regained since our breakup. I wasn’t going to jeopardize my peace. Not again.