Read Online Choice Matters (Southern Heat Book 1) by Jamie Salisbury - Free Book Online

rings, I settled in and enjoyed
every bite. We sat in comfortable silence as we ate. Every now and then between
mouthfuls, one of us would make some off the cuff remark about nothing in
particular.
    “You know, feeding me all this stuff, you’re going to make
me have to hit the treadmill for an extra half hour.”
    “But it’s worth every bite, treadmill be damned.”
    “Easy for you to say. You’re a man. Food doesn’t seem to
have the same effect on you.”
    “Perhaps on a younger man. I have to watch what I eat and
exercise.”
    “Where do you work out? A gym?”
    “No, well, yes. I have my own gym at home.”
    “Of course, you do,” I teased feeding him an onion ring from
my dwindling stack. I was very near my limit.
    “I have a personal trainer as well. He’s on call…because of
my schedule. If you’d like, I could set you up with him. He could recommend
someone for you, if you’re not comfortable with him.”
    “Baby steps, Choice. I’m not big into the whole gym thing.
My treadmill does just fine.”
    “Oh, but it’s so different in the privacy of your own home.”
    “We’ll see, okay?”
    “Fair enough.”
    “I don’t know about you, but I’m stuffed.”
    “As am I. But I see neither of us left any leftovers.”
    “No chance of that happening.”
    A few minutes later, he headed the BMW back toward the
office to my vehicle. We sat silently, trying not to recognize the sexual aura
in the car. It was there, no doubt about it. Pulling into the space next to mine,
he shut the engine off before turning to me.
    “Thanks for dinner. I enjoyed it.”
    “You’re more than welcome, Caitlyn.”
    His lips slanted over mine in an instant. What started out
as a slow, passionate kiss turned into something bordering on erotic as we both
explored the depths of each other’s mouths. Finally breaking free, he pecked my
cheek and ear. “This is the hardest thing I’ve had to do, but I will do it,” he
whispered.
    “Thank you, and by the way, Choice? It’s no easier for me,
either.”
    “Well, come on, let me see you to your car so that you can
get home. I’m sure your roommate is wondering where you are.”
    “Oh, she knows, but I do need to get going. HR gave me a ton
of papers I know they want yesterday.”

 
    * * * *

 
    According to the clock in my dash, it was nine forty-five
when I shut the engine of my Honda off in front of my apartment. Izzie was home. I caught a glimpse of her as she scurried
away from the sliding glass door. Grabbing my purse and briefcase, I groaned as
I bent back up.
    Izzie opened the front door, a
glass of wine in one hand and a smirk on her face. “Rough first day, dear?”
    “You have no idea,” I joked. “Is that for me, or are you
going to pour me one while I grab a shower.”
    “Oh no, you’re not getting off that easy. I didn’t figure
you’d keep normal hours, but I’ve had to deal with your mother. So, sit your
ass down and spill, girlfriend.”
    I kicked off my heels and let them fly where they may. My
briefcase and purse got dumped next to a chair as I sat my butt down and waited
for my drink. “Was my mother here before she barged into my office, or after?”
    “She did what? Izzie stuck her
head around the kitchen corner. “No, it must have definitely been before,
otherwise she would have been ranting a lot more than she was. And she’d
probably still be here, waiting on you.”
    Handing me some Chardonnay, she sat down on the sofa. I took
a long swallow before recalling the events of the misfortunate visit.
    “I tell you, Izzie , she’s going to
have to back off. Especially now. I get that she wants me married—we’ve been
through it a million times—but dammit this is my career, my future, and I don’t
need her causing a scene like she did this afternoon.”
    “So, she went all postal on you?”
    “Oh you know how she acts, like she’s the queen of fucking
Sheba.”
    “How did Apolo take to her
rudeness?”
    “Cool as a