Page 20 of Off-Limits Silver Fox Billionaire

“Mr. Sanders?” a voice cut in from the doorway and we both jerked apart with speed. Bree turned away so she had her back to the intruder, I shoved down the curse about to erupt from deep within me and spun around to see who called for me.

A regular customer, and friend, Mrs. Stewart stood at the entrance. She wore a shocked look, and her cheeks were colored.

“Oh, God, I had no intentions of intruding, I didn’t know that … I’m so sorry, Mr. Sanders, I thought …” she stammered.

“It’s fine, Mrs. Stewart,” I told her, then combed my fingers through my hair and walked away from Bree to attend to her. “The gallery is not usually open on Saturdays, did you need something?”

“I know it’s not open, but I was driving past, and I noticed the shutters around were open, so I thought you would be in. I wanted to drop an invitation to my son’s wedding, I had no idea… I’m so sorry.”

I nodded. “It’s fine,” I told her.

“Thank you.” she reached for an envelope in her purse, handed it over then smiled. “I’m so sorry again.”

After Mrs. Stewart left, I locked the front door, and released a deep breath I didn’t even notice I had been holding. When I walked back to the display room, I found Bree standing by the window, her hands on her cheeks and her back to the entrance.

She didn’t turn around even when I called her name. I walked over to her, and put a hand on her shoulder, then spun her around to face me.

“We both can’t deny this,” I told her. “I want you, and I think you feel the same way too.”

Bree’s eyes searched mine as she asked in a shaky voice. “What do we do?” her eyes listened like she was about to cry, and I didn’t want to see that.

I smiled and shrugged. “We don’t do anything,” I told her. “We feel what we feel and let the rest fall into place.”

9

BREE

Samuel and I practiced riding his bicycle around the backyard while our parents were out the next day.

“Let me show you what I can do,” Samuel said so I stepped back from the bicycle to let him ride on his own without my guidance.

“Don’t forget Samuel you have to soft pedal,” I told him. “Try to keep your hands steady too,” I continued when he drifted off to the right and left without balance. Learning to ride a bike involved falling and getting back on your feet. It was how my mother taught me when I was little, and my dad was too scared to teach Samuel the right way because he didn’t want him to get hurt.

“Let me ride to you,” Samuel suggested in his tiny, cherry voice, and I agreed with a short laugh, then walked far off to let him ride towards me.

Samuel was getting it right at first, then he lost his balance, and nearly toppled off the bike. I moved quickly to stop that from happening, but he crashed into me at the same moment I grabbed his shoulders, so he didn’t hit the ground as he fell.

He fell on me instead and I bit back a groan as pain radiated through my shoulder in that instant.

“Ouch,” Samuel cried out.

“Are you alright?” I asked him as he sat up. Samuel rubbed his arm and I saw his ears get red like he was about to cry, so I hugged him tight and patted his head. “You’re alright,” I told him.

He nodded, there was a pout on his lips, and I helped him to his feet.

“You’ll get it right next time, honey,” I encouraged. “Okay?”

“Okay,” Samuel agreed. The earlier excitement had left his voice, so I put his hand in mine and walked with him towards the back door into the kitchen.

“Let’s eat lunch,” I suggested.

“Can I have a cookie first?”

I lifted him onto one kitchen chair, then brought him a cookie before checking the microwave for his meal. After warming it up and serving him, I sat down and watched him eat. It was then I felt the pain in my shoulder.

I massaged it slowly with the heel of my palm and noticed the bruise on my elbow. Sighing, I got up, walked over to the shelf and started a search for a first aid box.

The revving sound of engine pulling to a halt outside caught my attention, and Samuel’s too because he announced. “Mom’s back.”

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