Page 55 of Just Desserts

I was fairly sure I had hidden my infatuation with Myles well, but I always paid attention when Wes brought him up. I knew they had met up a few times over the years to catch up but both were busy with work. I didn't even know Myles last name or what he did. That bugged me. I needed to see him again. I needed to make sure it was him with Isla but I couldn't keep checking on the bakery.

Finally, desperate, I googled him thinking it would take some time to find him only to be hit with another blow. Myles Bennett. He owned The Bennett House, Jonathan and my favorite rendezvous spot. I felt like such an idiot, but I had never seen him there the few times Jonathan took me. Or was I just too focused on Jonathan to notice? No, I would have sensed it if Myles was near.

Jonathan and I were keeping our distance. At work we avoided each other, keeping our heads down trying not to make any waves. That didn't mean I wasn't keeping tabs, I know he was going to have to put the house on the market soon. Forthe moment I was ready to let that play out without any intervention from me. No one knew that we weren't together, my family still studiously avoiding me.

All of this just gave me more time to obsess over Myles. Which brought me to the hotel today. My previous times here had all been at night, which is why I was here on a weekday. I took special care with my outfit, not wanting to stick out but wanting to make sure I looked my best. I was in a tight pencil skirt and satin blouse.

Designer shoes and purse accompanied the look. I carried a leather portfolio with me so I could sit and pretend I was meeting with a client, while observing what I could. I entered the hotel, taking it all in as if it was my first time there. My gaze swept the entry from left to right, trying to imagine where Myles' office may be, or where the best spot to keep an eye out was. I decided to sit in the lobby near the front desk, assuming he would stop there at some point.

It had been over an hour and I hadn't seen anyone who resembled Myles. I didn't know how much longer I could stay there, I had told my supervisor I had a doctor's appointment to buy me some time but I couldn't push my luck at work, I was on the higher ups radar for all the wrong reasons. I was about to give up and leave when I saw him. Out of the door in the far back corner, hidden away from any of the guest entries Myles came striding through.

Today he had a full suit on, the dark grey making his eyes pop. I watched as he headed for the front desk, his long strides quickly eating up the distance. He approached the pretty girl behind the counter and I frowned. Annoyed at her perfect face and striking features. I returned my gaze to Myles, watching as he pointed to the computer screen and then down at his notes. I debated going up and talking to him but I wasn't quite sure what to say.

What if he knew about me? How did he know Isla? I saw him turn to leave, heading back towards where he came from. I stood up, smoothing my skirt, still debating whether to get closer. He was already leaving the main area and there was no way to catch up with him without making a scene. I didn't have enough data yet to pull that off in a way I could insure benefited me.

Following him with my eyes, I clocked the entrance to his office. Once he disappeared, I gathered my purse and folder and headed out of the hotel. A large man, broad shouldered, dressed in all black was outside on the phone as I left. His hair was cut close to his head, in a vaguely military fashion. He was incredibly muscular and his emotionless face was intimidating.

He barked something into his phone as I gave him a coy smile. I felt his eyes on me as I walked to my car, adding an extra sway to my hips. I unlocked my car and was about to slide in when I felt someone come up behind me. I turned and saw the man from earlier. He gave me an impassive look before pointing down.

"Looks like you have a flat. Do you need me to help you change it?" Confused, I looked down and noticed my tire was indeed flat. What the fuck? When was my bad luck going to end?

"Yeah, please I have to call my brother and find out where to take it." I said trailing off, realizing there was no way Wes would take a call from me. I frowned, unsure of what to do.

Should I call Jonathan? Would he even answer? I looked at the man standing in front of me, waiting for me to do something.

"Why don't I check your trunk and see if you have what you need for me to fix it." I nodded, unlocking the trunk while standing and looking at my phone.

"You have a spare but no jack. Let me go grab one and I'll swap these over for you. Should do the trick to get you to a shop where you can get a new one put on." I nodded, not sure what to say. The lump in my throat was alarming, suddenly I was feeling dreadfully alone.

"Thanks, I'll take care of it." I told the man, unwilling to admit that I had no one to help me.

"Okay, well here's my number, my name is Mike if you need anything." He handed me a piece of paper with his cell written down. I smiled, the confidence boost helping wipe away my morose mood.

"Thanks Mike, I will." I got in my car and drove back to work.

When I got into the office I stayed at my desk most of the day, debating my next move. I saw Jonathan leave the conference room and almost went to talk to him. I was craving some sort of closeness or at least acknowledgment of my multitude of woes but his face was shut down, not once bothering to look towards me.

At the end of the day I stood in the parking lot staring at the sad spare tire on my car. I know I could just take it to a shop and get it fixed but that burned me. My dad or Wes always helped me, knowing how little I cared about mechanics and not wanting me to get ripped off. Not to mention I wasn't exactly rolling in dough right now.

Things were tight, and without access to the company or Jonathan's card I was just barely making ends meet. I started the car and headed back to my lonely apartment. How did things get this bad? I felt like my entire life was being held together by a frayed rope that was already shredding in all the wrong areas.

Without realizing it, I missed the turn to my apartment complex and was pulling up to the house I grew up in. Both my parents' cars were parked outside, indicating they were home. Not giving myself enough time to second guess, I parked in the driveway and quickly approached the house.

I went to let myself in but hesitated, deciding to ring the doorbell, knowing my father would appreciate the sign of respect. It felt like hours before the door finally opened, my moms smiling face morphing to one of shock then disappointment once she registered I was standing there.

"Mom. Hi. I'm sorry to just drop by like this but I was having car trouble and I just, well I wanted to see you." Shit, that's not what I meant to say that but the clear disdain in my mothers face was rendering my thought process sluggish.

"Susie? Who's at the door?" My dad's voice rang out as he headed over from the back of the house. He caught sight of me and stiffened.

"Please, can I just come in for a minute?" I begged, seeing my window of opportunity shrinking by the second. Looking between each other my father gave a small nod which I took as acceptance and I squeezed my way in between the doorway and my mother.

I went to the living room and sat down, dropping my head into my hands. It shouldn't be this hard to see my parents, I shouldn't have to wait to be invited in, treated like an intruder. I was grateful Wes wasn't here, I didn't need his self righteous act right now.

"Alyssa. What brings you here?" My father asked, guiding my mother to the chair across from the couch then standing guard at her side, a hand on her shoulder for strength.

"I'm not allowed to see my parents?" I asked, fury boiling through me.

"Well, you haven't exactly been family minded of late." My father said, staring pointedly at me. "Have you come to realize the error of your ways? Jonathan not all he's cracked up to be? Have you come to apologize to your family? It's going to take a lot more than some words to make up for what you've done." He continued.

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