Read Online Running From Forever by Ashley Wilcox - Free Book Online

We ended
up eating the dinner that she’d prepared then popped some popcorn
and watched a movie, but it was quiet. Stiff. You could’ve cut the
tension in the room with a knife.
    All was forgotten, or at least put on hold, when
those infamous elevator doors opened, revealing Miles inside.
Seeing him was just what I needed.
    “No meeting this morning?” I asked, a smile
replacing the somber look on my face as I took the space next to
him.
    “Not that I’d miss our ride for,” he answered,
pulling me into his side to gently peck the top of my head. It was
sweet, just as sweet as his comment. “Are you joining the others in
Thirsty Thursday this evening?”
    “I had planned to,” I admitted. “Were you
thinking of hanging with the commoners again?”
    He chuckled. “I just may. That is, if I’m
invited?”
    “Since when do you need an invitation?” I looked
at him, puzzled. Were the higher ups not invited to happy
hour?
    “I received a few curious looks last time. I
just wanted to confirm my welcome.”
    “From who?” I quickly questioned. Though I knew
that some people were shocked to see him at McShane’s, I hadn’t
noticed anyone giving him discriminatory glares or anything.
    “No one in particular,” he blew it off.
“Although I will say the bartender looked very perplexed when I
arrived standing beside you.”
    “Merrick?”
    “If that’s his name.”
    Mystified, I answered, “I wouldn’t know why.
That was the first I had met him.”
    I hadn’t even noticed the elevator skip his
floor—not until it opened to mine. We stepped out together, his
hand now on my lower back. It felt uncomfortable. Good, but not
where I’d like it to be while we’re on ETV property. Sami’s smile
was bigger than normal and she winked at the sight of the two of us
together as we walked the hallway towards my desk.
    “To what do I owe this pleasure?” I whispered as
we walked.
    “Connie is here this morning. I needed to speak
to her about something.”
    “Oh.”
    “With you,” he added.
    “With me?” I questioned, looking up at him in
panic.
    He left it at that, glancing down quickly with
that grin that stole my heart every time, though it was currently
scaring the shit out of me. I didn’t know what he was up to and I
didn’t have time to find out. Unfortunately, the walk from the
elevator to Connie’s office and my desk wasn’t a long one. There
wasn’t time for me to verbally react; we were already at her door,
walking in, before I could even think to formulate a coherent
response.
    “Miles. Kayla,” was all she said, barely looking
up from her computer.
    “I’d like to continue the discussion we had over
dinner last night with Kayla present, if you wouldn’t mind?” Miles
said with a sense of authority and a satisfied smirk on his face.
He was amused. About what, I had no clue, but I had a feeling I
would very soon.
    Connie looked anything but. Not that I was
surprised. I had yet to see the woman smile. I wasn’t sure she knew
how to. “Okay. Would you like me to start or you?” she answered,
taking her glasses off and placing them on her desk.
    “Here, beautiful.” Miles turned, gesturing for
me to have a seat in one of Connie’s chairs.
    My body stiffened in shock. I didn’t like his
title for me in this situation. It was personal; entirely too
personal for work. My blood was getting more heated by the moment.
I wasn’t sure how this impromptu meeting was going to end. Visions
of me cleaning out my desk and carrying out a crate of my
belongings was dancing in my head—I’d only been here a few days! I
couldn’t tell if they noticed my discomfort. Miles was acting cool
as a cucumber as usual, and Connie, well, she was being Connie, the
consummate grump with a scorned look upon her face.
    Miles took the seat next to mine, falling back
comfortably into the chair with one foot crossed and rested on his
knee. Connie was still looking at him to answer her question. So
was I.
    “Last