Page 39 of Nailed

Chelsea was the perfect girl for my son. But the more I looked at it, the more the ring made something slick and painful slide over me.

I knew this was only the beginning. Seamus was head over heels for Chelsea, and I’d seen them when people teased them with talk of marriage and babies. They’d looked at each other with this sweet hopefulness. I saw Chelsea cooing over babies on TV when they visited. She’d probably be pregnant by this time next year.

I knew this day was coming. I’d been fine with this day coming.

That was, until I met Sarah.

I ran my hand through my hair, noticing how wiry the gray was. Noticing how when I sat up straight, a spasm of pain went through my neck. I glanced over at her.

Sarah’s hair spilled in waves across her pillow, her eyelashes dark against her cheek. That little mole I kept kissing last night the perfect accent on her perfect face. Her gorgeous tits were exposed, too.

I pulled the sheet up.

I knew this was supposed to only be a weekend mistake. A freebie because we were out of town, away from home.

But I also knew I was in love with Sarah Cooper.

I’d tried to deny it. I’d distanced myself as much as possible. I’d even been a dick to her in the hopes that she’d start to hate me. Because not only was she my employee—and I’d already broken the cardinal rule of staying away from my employees—I was on the other end of life than she was. I’d bought the property I wanted to retire to, eventually. I was looking into my fucking golden years.

For her, the best was still yet to come.

I swung my legs out of bed, needing to get some space. When I stood up, I bit back a curse at the pain in my knees. That was from kneeling on marble while I pleasured the woman of my dreams. The one I’d met far too late.

More voices came from outside, and I started pulling on my clothes. Whatever happened, I had shit to do today. A committee meeting at eight thirty, the morning sessions I should show my face at, and the closing plenary at ten. After that, I had the drive home with Sarah and, presumably, Sam.

I cringed at the potential awkwardness of that. I gave Sarah Cooper one last glance, my chest squeezing. I should have written her a note, but what would I say?Thanks for the good time?I fucking love you but can’t have you wasting your life with me?

So, I didn’t. I did the chickenshit thing and slipped out of her room.

CHAPTER14

Sarah

When I woke up to find Jamie gone, I had a moment of panic.

I sat up, wincing at the tenderness between my legs.

He’d left. I looked around—no note, either. My stomach churned. Both with the memory of everything we’d done—I’d slept with my fuckingboss—and with the fear that it might not have meant anything. If he acted like he always did when I saw him downstairs today…

But he couldn’t, could he? Not after all his confessions from last night.

Calm down, Sarah.

I flopped back on the bed, and for one delicious moment, I allowed myself to replay everything that had happened. The sex came up first—how could it not? It was the best I’d ever had by an absolute long shot. By a thousand laps around a racetrack. I ached all over from it, and it was exquisite.

But the sex paled in comparison to Jamie showing me his true feelings before we’d even done anything. Jamie confessing what I’d prayed for all along—that he had feelings for me. That I hadn’t been imagining what we’d had between us.

I smiled a little dopily and headed for the shower. He wouldn’t back off now. We’d crossed a line he couldn’t silent-treatment his way out of.

And he’d apologized.

I scrubbed myself down, taking my time. The breakfast session didn’t start until nine. Today was the last day of the conference, and there were only a couple of morning sessions before the thing wound down at noon to ensure everyone could make their travel arrangements. Maybe, if we could manage it, we could come back to one of our rooms for a last go before we had to check out.

Everything back at home… well, I’d think about that later.

It was only when I heard a loud buzz on my bedside table that I thought to pick up my phone. I hadn’t touched it since the party last night.

My heart nearly stopped when I saw the screen.

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