Chapter 32
ISLA
“Isla…”
My attention snaps back into focus from the constant worrying about how I’ll pay for Charlie’s arm. The quote Tom gave me made my gut churn, and I’ve spent the last week looking at options for taking out a loan, as well as learning more about the charities that offer funding for this sort of thing.
Gabe is standing in front of my desk, and it’s clear that isn’t the first time he’s said my name, which makes a blush creep up my neck.
“Sorry. What did you need?”
“Are you solving the world’s problems or simply lost in a really good daydream?
Either way, I just wanted to check-in before I head home.
” He holds up one hand and starts checking things off as he continues.
“The press release for the charity game is in your inbox to be reviewed and approved. We’ve got the Dogwood Cove Animal Shelter and the Cedar Creek Wildlife Rescue on board.
I have to say, the idea of making it an animal adoption event at the same time was genius, and your friend from the rescue organization is bringing some animals that can’t be rereleased into the wild as well.
And the social media campaign is ready to go, pending your approval. ”
I manage a small smile. “Thanks for the update, Gabe. Have a great night.” He turns and leaves my office, and my mind immediately goes back to running the numbers on how the heck I can manage to pay for Charlie’s prosthesis.
If I had a permanent job, one with extended medical benefits, this would be easier. But my contract with the Thunder is up in just under four months, and I have yet to decide what to do next.
Luca has hinted strongly at wanting to hire me as the permanent head of marketing. But the idea of dating my boss long-term makes me incredibly uncomfortable. The problem is, the Cedar Creek job market is not exactly booming. Not for someone with my education and skills, at least.
My thoughts circle back once more to Luca’s offer to pay for Charlie’s arm. I honestly don’t know what to do. Do I want my child to have the very best? Yes. Do I want to owe the man I’m dating for making that happen? Definitely not.
Just then, my phone starts to vibrate with an incoming call. Seeing that it’s the prosthetist’s office, I answer quickly.
“Hello?”
“Isla? It’s Tom Shivari. I have some news.” He sounds excited, and my brow furrows as I wonder what it could be.
“Okay, I’m all ears.”
“One of the charities I applied to for funding just emailed me, and they accepted your application. More than that, they’re covering the entire cost of Charlie’s arm and the attachments he needs to play baseball.”
“What?” I cry, sitting up in my chair. My hand is trembling as I lift it to cover my mouth.
“It’s a charity that focuses on inclusivity in youth sports. I’m looking at the acceptance letter now, Isla, hang on. I’ll forward it to you.”
A few seconds later, it pops up in my inbox, and I open the email. My eyes are blurry with tears as I read the message that confirms Let’s Play Canada is paying for Charlie’s prosthesis.
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
“So, no worries on getting the deposit to me. I’ll get everything going on my end and let you know when we’ve got an idea on timing. How does that sound?”
“Amazing. Thank you, Tom. Thank you so much.” I can’t keep the emotion out of my voice.
Tom’s warm chuckle comes down the line. “You’re welcome, Isla, but all I did was fill out the application. This is great news, though. I’m sure Charlie will be thrilled.”
“He definitely will be.”
We hang up a minute later, and I look up the phone number for the charity. My heart is racing as I dial it.
“Thanks for calling Let’s Play Canada, this is Stacey, how may I direct your call?”
I take a deep breath. “Hi, my name is Isla Forrester. I was just told that your charity is covering the cost of my son Charlie’s prosthetic and I wanted to say thank you.”
The woman on the end of the phone makes a delighted sound.
“Oh hi, Isla, thank you so much for calling. We were thrilled to be able to fund your son’s request. Actually,” —she laughs lightly— “we were able to approve all of our recent requests with full funding, thanks to a new donor who stepped forward.”
My jaw drops. “Really? That’s incredible.”
“It truly is. With their donation, we’ve provided funding to over twenty families in the Vancouver Island area. That was the donor’s only request, that funding stay local to where he lives.”
As soon as she says that, I know exactly who the donor is.
I swallow, my throat suddenly dry. “I’m so happy for all of those families, and again, thank you for approving my son’s application.”
“It was truly our pleasure, Isla. Take care.”
The call ends, and I let my phone fall into my lap, only to have it drop to the floor when I abruptly stand. Leaving it where it is, I walk swiftly down the hall to Luca’s office.
“How much money did you donate?”
He looks up from his computer. I watch his face go from confusion, to understanding, to a cautious sort of hopefulness, all in the span of a few seconds.
“To what, exactly?” he asks, and I choke out a laugh.
“Don’t be obtuse. You know what I’m talking about.”
He pushes away from his desk, stands, and moves slowly around to the front of it. Not coming close or touching me, as if he knows I’m a bundle of emotions that could explode at any time but not having a clue as to whether or not those emotions are happy or upset.
“I made an anonymous donation to a charity that supports an initiative near and dear to my heart.”
“You donated enough money to pay for the funding requests of over twenty families, Luca,” I whisper, feeling tears build behind my eyes again. “That’s a lot.”
He takes a cautious step forward and lifts his thumb to brush away the first droplet to break free. “I have a lot of money and I wanted to do some good with it. And I hoped this would be a way to help you and Charlie that you could accept.”
There’s no stopping the tears now. Pride be damned, I can’t be mad at him for this. I lift up on my toes and press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper.
When I lower back down, I lean in and wrap my arms around his waist. I can feel the thump-thump-thump of his heartbeat beneath my cheek as I just breathe him in. This incredible, kind, generous, and thoughtful man, who has made my son’s dream come true and helped so many others at the same time.
And my heart fills with an emotion I’ve never felt before.
I’m in love with Luca Calloway.
The song playing from his speakers changes into something instrumental, slow and moody. Luca’s hand trails down my spine to rest at the small of my back as he takes my other hand in his and lifts it to his lips for a kiss.
“Dance with me?”
A small laugh escapes me as my gaze darts toward his still-open office door.
Letting him hold me the way he has been was risky enough.
But dancing? Then again, it’s late enough that the office is probably empty.
It’s highly likely we’re the only two people in the building, aside from the nighttime cleaning staff.
“Don’t think about it, just dance.”
I blow out a shaky breath. “Okay.”
We slowly start moving. It’s nothing fancy, just a swaying motion, side to side.
But gradually, I feel my body relax again, and when he rests his cheek on the top of my head, it’s natural for me to soften into his chest. Our hands are clutched close together, resting over his heart as he moves us around in a circle.
The low music, dim lighting, and steady rhythm of his heartbeat makes the rest of the world disappear.
It’s just us, suspended in this one perfect moment.
The song ends, moving into another, this time with a slow, seductive rhythm. Luca’s grip on my back tightens almost imperceptibly, his fingertips digging in just above the curve of my ass. I shift against the bulge in his pants, which has been growing thicker and harder as we dance.
There hasn’t been an opportunity for us to be intimate in a couple of weeks.
Between my responsibilities with Charlie, and his with the team, finding time for just the two of us is a challenge, to say the least. I know how much I’m missing the feel of him holding me, being inside of me, and I know he misses it, too.
Which is why I dig deep to find the courage to seize this opportunity. Breaking free of his hold, I ignore his look of confusion and turn, walking to his door, which I close and turn the lock. When I spin around to face him, he’s leaning back against his desk, a knowing look heating his gaze.
“Why, Ms. Forrester. Are you wanting to engage in some scandalous workplace behaviour?”
I arch my brow and put an extra sway in my hips as I close the distance between us. “Is it still scandalous if there’s no one around to catch us?”
As soon as I’m within reach, he’s snagging me by the waist and pulling me flush with his body. “Does it matter?”
I’m already shaking my head when he dips down to kiss me, long and deep, erasing any lingering thoughts except one.
I want him.
Luca spins me around, then lifts me up so my ass lands on his desk.
“I’ve dreamed about having you here, spread out over my desk.
” His hands run up my thighs, bunching the fabric of the skirt I’m really glad I chose to wear today.
“If you would accept my offer of a permanent job here, think of all the opportunities.” He waggles his eyebrows, but instead of laughing like he probably expects me to do, I shake my head.
“Luca, we’ve talked about this. I can’t be in a relationship with you and work for you permanently.
You know that I already feel uncomfortable about it even now, and my contract ends in a few months.
If I took the permanent position, you’d always be my boss, and I…
we…” I trail off, unable to put it into words.
If I stay working here, I would have to end our relationship.