Chapter 9
Ithink I’m going mad.
I’ve pored over Pippa’s social media for the past few days—she’s on Instagram, and I’ve sent her a friend request on Facebook, and there’s no sign of a boyfriend.
There are photos from her uni days of her with groups of people, and a couple of photos where she’s with a particular guy I assume she was seeing at the time. But nothing matches what she was saying yesterday.
I’m neglecting my work, scrolling through endless photos and looking at captions.
“I’m just going for coffee,” Pippa calls. “Want one?”
“Yes, please.”
She appears in the doorway, a bright smile on her face. “I’ll see what food they have too. Be back in a minute.”
“Okay.”
After she’s gone, I study the empty doorframe for a moment. When I saw her photo on that application, I never anticipated her. While I thought it would be nice having her back in my life, I never foresaw myself having such strong feelings.
I don’t want to mess this up.
“Deacon?” Mallory walks straight into my office. “Where’s Pippa?”
“Gone for coffee.”
She drops into the seat on the other side of my desk. “I wanted to ask for her help for organising this next product launch. I know it’s not for another couple of months, but Simone helps out and an extra pair of hands would be great.”
I nod. “If there’s anything she can do, I’m sure she’d be happy to. Just as long as it doesn’t interfere with her work.”
“It won’t.” Malloy sucks on her bottom lip. “How are things going with you two?”
Snorting, I shake my head. “They’re not.”
Arching one eyebrow, she leans forward. “Really? I thought you’d be on the way down the aisle by now the way you pounced on her.”
“I didn’t pounce. I’ve been the perfect gentleman.”
Mallory laughs. “I’m sure, but I thought you’d have made a move.”
I pick up a pen and tap it on my desk. “She’s got a boyfriend.”
“No.” Her expression straightens. “I’m so sorry, Deacon.”
I shrug. “I’m still trying to find out about him. I overheard her telling one of the guys about him. It’s serious too.” I stab a piece of paper on my desk with the pen. “What kind of name is Bob anyway?”
Mallory slams her hand over her mouth, but her laugh still echoes around the room.
“What? What did I say?”
She shakes her head. “You know, for a modern man, you’re not always that smart.”
I narrow my eyes at her.
“Clearly, she’s made up an excuse not to go out with this guy. I don’t know why, but she’s giving him the polite brush off instead of just saying no.”
I frown. “Huh?”
“Go to the Urban Dictionary on your computer and look up Bob.”
Giving her the side-eye, I pull the keyboard closer and do what she says. Nothing makes sense. I scroll down through the first couple of definitions before I hit …
“No.”
Mallory laughs. “Yes.”
“Battery operated boyfriend. She’s talking about her vibe?—”
“I’m back.” Pippa waltzes in the door, coffee in one hand and a bunch of bags in another. “They had those savoury muffins you like, so I grabbed a couple. Oh, hey, Mallory.”
“Good morning, Pippa.” Mallory stands and meets my gaze. “I’ll leave you two to it.”
Pippa’s chewing on her bottom lip as she watches Mal walk away. “Uh oh. What did I do?” She places the cup holder on the desk and divides the food up between us.
“Take a seat.”
Her face falls and she hesitates before dropping into the seat recently vacated by Mallory. “What’s going on?” she asks.
“It’s come to my attention …” I know I’m being mean, but I want to see her face when she realises what I’ve been doing. “… I know who Bob is. Or rather what Bob is.”
She snickers.
“Very funny, young lady.”
Pippa bites her bottom lip and looks up at the ceiling. “You worked it out.”
“Why did you make up that story to reject Matthew? You had me going there. I thought I had competition.”
Her gaze shoots back to me, and her mouth hangs open.
I nod. “Pippa, we’re both adults. There’s something there that wasn’t—couldn’t be there before.”
To my relief, she nods. “I made up the story because despite no being a complete answer, it’s not always enough for some men.”
My brows knit. “What do you mean?”
She drops her gaze to the floor. “I had a bad experience once with a guy in a bar who didn’t want to take no for an answer.”
In an instant, I’m around the desk and kneeling in front of her, placing my hands on the arms of the chair. “Please tell me that doesn’t mean what I think it does.”
Her eyes flicker and meet mine. “Oh, no.” She places her hands on mine and squeezes. “After pestering me in the bar, he … he followed me home and tried approaching me again. My flatmate at the time was a six-foot-three rugby player built of solid muscle. He dealt with it.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. “If anything had happened to you …”
“That was three years ago. Since then, I’ve used the old boyfriend excuse. Still doesn’t always work, but most guys back off.”
“Most?”
She gives me a smile, a warm and genuine one that tugs at my heart. “I’m fine, Deacon. I appreciate you looking out for me.”
“I’d have killed the guy.”
Pippa cups my face in her hands. “I’m fine.”
“I’m beginning to think I’m going to have to wrap you in bubble wrap.”
Her laughter makes me smile, and she drops her hands.
“So, when do I meet Bob?” I make an extra-special effort to enunciate the word and take in the glorious sight of her cheeks going pink.
“No one meets Bob.” She laughs again, leaning forward in her chair.
I meet her, pressing my forehead to hers. “I’d like to be the first. I’m sure we’d work together well.”
Her breath hitches. “Deacon.”
“Have dinner with me. Tonight.”
She pulls away, her eyes searching mine. “Deacon …”
“After work, go home and do whatever you need to do before we go out. I’ll pick you up from there.”
Pippa nods, a smile spreading across her lips.
This is it—our fresh start.
It doesn’t matter what came before.
This amazing woman is stealing my heart—regardless of our past.
Could she really be my future?