you manage to get released so quickly?”
“I was done with that hospital nonsense. All I did was lay around killing time, and there’s no reason why I couldn’t do that here.”
“Very observant of you, Dad.” She smiled.
Speaking of observant, Alvin thought. “So how are things at the office? Matthew said the shipment arrived at its destination yesterday. You two taking care of things?” he asked watching for a reaction to Matthew’s name.
Cali took another sip of her coffee, her voice shaking slightly as she answered.
“Yes. Absolutely. As you said, Matthew is very good at his job.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Yes, quite,” he replied, draining the last bit of coffee. Alvin was even more curious as to what was going on than he was before.
***
Matthew and Cali said very little to each other as they slowly walked back to the car to go home. Reaching for her door, Cali paused and looked at him. His shoulders were still set in that now familiar rigid posture he’d adopted since they entered the house. Opening the car door and getting into her seat, she settled herself into the plush leather. This was going to be a long drive home.
For his part, Matthew tried to block out the woman sitting beside him and concentrate on the road. He knew he was letting his emotions rule his response, and although it unnerved him, he didn’t care. Something in him sparked when he saw her all chummy with, whom he later found out to be, the grounds keeper.
When David—Matthew gritted his teeth at the thought—wrapped his arms around Cali and pulled her against his body, I saw red.
He knew it was irrational. He had no claim on her. He couldn’t have a claim on her. But logic wasn’t doing him much good at this point.
He drove and watched the sunset, and as they drew closer to the city, he knew.
He was jealous—jealous that David, who Cali clearly had a history with, could openly show her affection, could be her friend and more, if she wanted, without any barriers between them.
It was too late to deny it anymore; He wanted Cali Stanton more than he’d wanted any other woman in his life. The problem was he couldn’t have her; nothing had changed. She was still his boss. He’d even heard her tell her father tonight that she had plans to go back to Africa after her dad was back on his feet.
A relationship between the two of them was out of the question.
He’d just have to stay away from her. Somehow. Staying away completely was impossible; he knew, but he would have to try because the closer he got to her, the stronger his feelings seemed to grow. As of now, Cali Stanton was not a part of his life.
Chapter 15
It wasn’t until Sunday morning that Matthew realized he’d forgotten to call Martinez about an update on the video; yet another reason why he needed to stay away from Cali Stanton. She was messing with his head in more ways than one. Not about to bother his friend on his day off and given he wouldn’t be able to take any action on the information until Monday anyway, he sent an e-mail to himself as a reminder to call.
After making himself breakfast, he put on some relaxing music and did a little reading. Sunday was the only day he really allowed himself to unwind. He and his brother spent the day hanging out. Jason was due at one, and they were going to grill some burgers and watch the game.
Matthew spent a few minutes straightening up before his brother arrived ten minutes late, as usual, with a grocery sack full of food. Not that he didn’t love his brother, but the man was insane about food. “Did you buy out the whole store?”
Jason laughed, “Of course not, little brother. I only got the essentials.”
Apparently, the essentials included three different kinds of potato chips, potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni salad, cookies, and cheesecake. There were so many carbohydrates, but Jason obviously wasn’t worried. He finished unloading the last of his goodies and promptly
“I was done with that hospital nonsense. All I did was lay around killing time, and there’s no reason why I couldn’t do that here.”
“Very observant of you, Dad.” She smiled.
Speaking of observant, Alvin thought. “So how are things at the office? Matthew said the shipment arrived at its destination yesterday. You two taking care of things?” he asked watching for a reaction to Matthew’s name.
Cali took another sip of her coffee, her voice shaking slightly as she answered.
“Yes. Absolutely. As you said, Matthew is very good at his job.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Yes, quite,” he replied, draining the last bit of coffee. Alvin was even more curious as to what was going on than he was before.
***
Matthew and Cali said very little to each other as they slowly walked back to the car to go home. Reaching for her door, Cali paused and looked at him. His shoulders were still set in that now familiar rigid posture he’d adopted since they entered the house. Opening the car door and getting into her seat, she settled herself into the plush leather. This was going to be a long drive home.
For his part, Matthew tried to block out the woman sitting beside him and concentrate on the road. He knew he was letting his emotions rule his response, and although it unnerved him, he didn’t care. Something in him sparked when he saw her all chummy with, whom he later found out to be, the grounds keeper.
When David—Matthew gritted his teeth at the thought—wrapped his arms around Cali and pulled her against his body, I saw red.
He knew it was irrational. He had no claim on her. He couldn’t have a claim on her. But logic wasn’t doing him much good at this point.
He drove and watched the sunset, and as they drew closer to the city, he knew.
He was jealous—jealous that David, who Cali clearly had a history with, could openly show her affection, could be her friend and more, if she wanted, without any barriers between them.
It was too late to deny it anymore; He wanted Cali Stanton more than he’d wanted any other woman in his life. The problem was he couldn’t have her; nothing had changed. She was still his boss. He’d even heard her tell her father tonight that she had plans to go back to Africa after her dad was back on his feet.
A relationship between the two of them was out of the question.
He’d just have to stay away from her. Somehow. Staying away completely was impossible; he knew, but he would have to try because the closer he got to her, the stronger his feelings seemed to grow. As of now, Cali Stanton was not a part of his life.
Chapter 15
It wasn’t until Sunday morning that Matthew realized he’d forgotten to call Martinez about an update on the video; yet another reason why he needed to stay away from Cali Stanton. She was messing with his head in more ways than one. Not about to bother his friend on his day off and given he wouldn’t be able to take any action on the information until Monday anyway, he sent an e-mail to himself as a reminder to call.
After making himself breakfast, he put on some relaxing music and did a little reading. Sunday was the only day he really allowed himself to unwind. He and his brother spent the day hanging out. Jason was due at one, and they were going to grill some burgers and watch the game.
Matthew spent a few minutes straightening up before his brother arrived ten minutes late, as usual, with a grocery sack full of food. Not that he didn’t love his brother, but the man was insane about food. “Did you buy out the whole store?”
Jason laughed, “Of course not, little brother. I only got the essentials.”
Apparently, the essentials included three different kinds of potato chips, potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni salad, cookies, and cheesecake. There were so many carbohydrates, but Jason obviously wasn’t worried. He finished unloading the last of his goodies and promptly
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