Page 34 of Claiming Her Cougar
She looks away from her camera, blinking rapidly and sniffling.Crap, I didn’t want to make her cry.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Mallory.”
“Don’t apologize!Liam, that was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.You’re great at not flirting.Thank you.”
Huh, that’s not something I’ve heard before.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” I say with a laugh.
“Seriously, thank you, Liam.I need a friend.”
Ah, crap, I’m getting friend-zoned.I don’t want to be the creepy guy that pretends to be friends with a woman in hopes she’ll eventually sleep with him.If I do this, then I’m going to be her friend.That’s what I’d want someone to do for Kennie.Mallory is someone’s sister, so I need to treat her how I want Kennie treated.Not that it matters what Mallory’s relation to someone is.She’s a person and worthy of friendship and respect solely based on that.Okay, reset my brain to be friends.Hope my heart follows suit.
“Wow, this got heavy.I’m sorry,” Mallory says.“Do you want to keep watching the game, or do you want to go get drunk and cheer up?”
I chuckle.“I’m fine to watch the game if you are.You don’t need to entertain me or be fake cheerful.If we’re going to be friends, we have to be who we are, right?”
“You’re okay being my friend?”
“Mallory, I’m going to be honest with you.I like you.I think you’re gorgeous.You’re funny, you’re smart, and you get along with my friends and family.We know we’re compatible sexually.You’re the type of woman I’d love to date.But you don’t want to date me, and that’s your prerogative.You not wanting to date me doesn’t negate that you’re funny, smart, a good person, and someone I’d want to be friends with, even if you weren’t someone I was attracted to.I’m a grown-up.I can handle rejection.”
“I’m sorry, Liam,” Mallory says.“It’s not that I don’t like you, it’s?—”
“You don’t have to explain anything, Mallory.It’s fine.Let’s just leave it as it is and move on.Okay?”I really don’t want to hear all the reasons I’m good enough to fuck in Vegas and be a friend with in New Jersey, but not good enough to date.I’m a decent man, but I’m not a saint.
“Okay.So keep watching the game?”There’s a tentativeness to her question that I hate.She should never be tentative.
“Yeah, I’d like that.It’s intermission.I need to get out of my suit and get comfortable.Do you want me to call you back after I change, or can I point the laptop out the window?You can catch the view of whatever town I’m in now.”
“Ooh, let me see you in your suit first!”Mallory requests.
“I already took off my tie, but I’ll throw my jacket back on.”
I put on my dark gray suit jacket and angle my laptop’s camera to show me full length.
“You clean up good, Morgan!Very nice,” Mallory says approvingly, a smile gracing her lips.
“Thanks.Mom would be proud.I prefer jeans and flannel, but I’m here to represent the company and need to present the proper image.”I pick up my laptop and walk over to the window.I set it on the air- conditioning unit facing a park that has some holiday light displays set up, so there’s something to look at.
“Okay, you can enjoy the view while I change.It’s some sort of walkthrough holiday light display in a local park.”
“Ooh, pretty.Thanks.”
I get my clothes out of my bag and unbutton my shirt.It’s weird to get changed and not talk, so I continue our conversation.
“How was work?Are you guys all settled upstairs?”There’s no response.Did we lose our connection?“Still there, Sparky?”
Mallory coughs to clear her throat.“Um…yeah, we’re good.I’ve been closing out as many files as I can.I normally get an hour or two a day.We have lots to do with regular year-end work.Plus there’s the wrapping things up and preparing the open files for whoever the management companies go with for their next counsel.”
I drape my suit pants over the desk chair and pull on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts over my boxer briefs.I sleep naked, but I can’t get that comfortable while on FaceTime.
“Be right back.Need to brush my teeth,” I call out.
“No problem!”
This room’s vanity and sink are outside the bathroom proper, so she can probably hear me brush, but big whoop.At least she knows I have good oral hygiene.
“All done.”I pick her up from where she was facing out the window.I reach up to close the drapes and notice my reflection in the glass.Could she see me change in the reflection?Judging by the pink flush in her cheeks, I bet she could.I hope she liked what she saw.
