problems. I brought my laptop. I can do all of my work on it. Then all I need is an Internet connection to send files to my clients.”
He merged onto the Beltway then shot her a glance before returning his gaze to the freeway. “So, you could live anywhere really. That’s cool.”
She ground her molars together. And there it was, the first counterargument. She could live anywhere. It didn’t mean she wanted to. “Yes, but most of my clients are in New York City.” She wrote trading software for financial services companies, both small and large. “I like to meet with them in person on a fairly regular basis.” Her clients liked that as well. Who wanted to trust the making of millions to someone half a world or even half a continent away?
“But look how easy it is to catch a flight from here to there.” He grumbled as an 18-wheeler passed on each side. As soon as the one on the right cleared, he jerked the wheel and cut off the car behind them, which then promptly honked. In typical Nate style, he gave the driver the bird.
“But not cheap, and I’d rather save my money for vacations.” The man still had anger-management issues. His poor future children were in for a rough ride. Thank God she w asn’t going to be their mother.
When he slammed on the accelerator, s he gripped the arm rest. As they merged onto I-45, he swore. Why he hadn’t gone down 59 instead was beyond her. It usually had way less traffic, and they could get to the Med Center either way.
“Yeah, but Houston’s cheaper to live in than New York City. Think of all the money you’d save. Besides, if we were together, you wouldn’t even have to work.”
Her mouth fell open. He’d gone from hypothetical to specific faster than he accelerated onto the freeway. Why in the world did he think she’d consider starting a new relationship with him, much less giving up her independence for him? The only things that saved Nate from her ripping into him were the fact that he was driving and the ringing of her phone. The display showed a New York City number, though not one she recognized.
“Sorry, I have to take this. Could be a client.” Or rather a potential one. Not that she was in the right frame of mind to do business and she did have voice-mail, but any distraction was appreciated. “Hello. This is Rachel Harrington speaking.”
“Hey, is this a bad time?” Stephen’s seductive voice rolled through the phone and her belly quivered while at the same time tears clogged her throat.
He’d called, but how the heck had he gotten her number? She could ask later. At the moment, she needed to hear a friendly voice.
After swallowing hard, she cleared her throat. “Hey.” She slid a glance toward Nate, who appeared to be concentrating more on her conversation than the road, but at least the man couldn’t talk to her while she was on the phone. “It’s fine.”
Nervous perspiration along her upper lip and under her arms surprised her. She hadn’t experienced it yesterday when confronted with the reality of Stephen in person. Of course before yesterday she hadn’t experienced such amazing, mind-blowing sex and her dad hadn’t been in the hospital facing a dangerous surgery.
Stephen’s breath blew into the phone. Had he been worried? “Okay, good. I’ve tried calling a couple of times, but it went straight to voice-mail. I didn’t want to leave any messages, thought it might be too stalkerish, though I guess confessing that negates it all.” His chuckle sounded forced to her ears.
Amazement over his nervousness soothed her jitters. “My phone was off. I had to fly home. My dad’s in the hospital.” She squeezed her eyes shut tight to stave off tears. Why was she turning into a drippy water faucet now?
“Is he going to be okay?” Concern laced Stephen’s tone.
She sniffed. “I’m on my way to the hospital now. They’re waiting on him to stabilize before they operate.”
“Do I need to let you go? You’re not driving
He merged onto the Beltway then shot her a glance before returning his gaze to the freeway. “So, you could live anywhere really. That’s cool.”
She ground her molars together. And there it was, the first counterargument. She could live anywhere. It didn’t mean she wanted to. “Yes, but most of my clients are in New York City.” She wrote trading software for financial services companies, both small and large. “I like to meet with them in person on a fairly regular basis.” Her clients liked that as well. Who wanted to trust the making of millions to someone half a world or even half a continent away?
“But look how easy it is to catch a flight from here to there.” He grumbled as an 18-wheeler passed on each side. As soon as the one on the right cleared, he jerked the wheel and cut off the car behind them, which then promptly honked. In typical Nate style, he gave the driver the bird.
“But not cheap, and I’d rather save my money for vacations.” The man still had anger-management issues. His poor future children were in for a rough ride. Thank God she w asn’t going to be their mother.
When he slammed on the accelerator, s he gripped the arm rest. As they merged onto I-45, he swore. Why he hadn’t gone down 59 instead was beyond her. It usually had way less traffic, and they could get to the Med Center either way.
“Yeah, but Houston’s cheaper to live in than New York City. Think of all the money you’d save. Besides, if we were together, you wouldn’t even have to work.”
Her mouth fell open. He’d gone from hypothetical to specific faster than he accelerated onto the freeway. Why in the world did he think she’d consider starting a new relationship with him, much less giving up her independence for him? The only things that saved Nate from her ripping into him were the fact that he was driving and the ringing of her phone. The display showed a New York City number, though not one she recognized.
“Sorry, I have to take this. Could be a client.” Or rather a potential one. Not that she was in the right frame of mind to do business and she did have voice-mail, but any distraction was appreciated. “Hello. This is Rachel Harrington speaking.”
“Hey, is this a bad time?” Stephen’s seductive voice rolled through the phone and her belly quivered while at the same time tears clogged her throat.
He’d called, but how the heck had he gotten her number? She could ask later. At the moment, she needed to hear a friendly voice.
After swallowing hard, she cleared her throat. “Hey.” She slid a glance toward Nate, who appeared to be concentrating more on her conversation than the road, but at least the man couldn’t talk to her while she was on the phone. “It’s fine.”
Nervous perspiration along her upper lip and under her arms surprised her. She hadn’t experienced it yesterday when confronted with the reality of Stephen in person. Of course before yesterday she hadn’t experienced such amazing, mind-blowing sex and her dad hadn’t been in the hospital facing a dangerous surgery.
Stephen’s breath blew into the phone. Had he been worried? “Okay, good. I’ve tried calling a couple of times, but it went straight to voice-mail. I didn’t want to leave any messages, thought it might be too stalkerish, though I guess confessing that negates it all.” His chuckle sounded forced to her ears.
Amazement over his nervousness soothed her jitters. “My phone was off. I had to fly home. My dad’s in the hospital.” She squeezed her eyes shut tight to stave off tears. Why was she turning into a drippy water faucet now?
“Is he going to be okay?” Concern laced Stephen’s tone.
She sniffed. “I’m on my way to the hospital now. They’re waiting on him to stabilize before they operate.”
“Do I need to let you go? You’re not driving
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