Page 14 of Miles
I’m just passing by my father’s office when I overhear Miles say, “What are we going to do about Elsa?” Miles says.
“I’m not sure. She’s not…” Whatever they were going to say is cut off by Miles’s phone ringing.What the hell are they talking about? I hear his unmistakable footsteps again, so I pick up my pace and rush toward the kitchen instead of my bedroom.
“Oh, sweetie, what do you have there?”
“Oh, this is one of Miles’s mistresses. At least this one is pretty,” I answer with a bit of attitude.
“I told you, Princess. I have no others. I’ve only had business dinners, and some of them happen to be female clients. One day you’ll see,” he says, stepping up behind me. Is he implying something between us? I can’t handle him.
“I thought you were in a meeting,” I challenge, wondering why he’s bothering me after talking about me. I want to challenge him, but then I’d have to admit to eavesdropping.
“Something came up and I have to run.”
“I bet.”
“Why don’t you run Mistress to my house and get her settled in with her things?”
“Because she’s your bitch,” I snap, feeling annoyed by the fact that he’s running off suddenly.
“That’s not nice talking about your baby like that. She’s yours too.” He scoffs and shakes his head. He whispers, “She didn’t mean anything by that. She’s just grumpy about school and she probably didn’t eat all day.” He bends down and kisses the top of her head and then smiles up at me so sweetly.
“I’m grumpy because you are…”
My mother cuts me off. “Elsa, would you like me to go with you and help?”
“That would be a great idea, Mrs. Martín,” he adds, using his perfect charm as always. “I really must go. See you later.”
“Mom, I’m going to change and then I’ll be ready to take Mistress to his place.”
“Did you really name her that?” she asks with her eyes wide.
“Yes. Dad is the one who came up with it after Miles said it was the only mistress he’d have, but I know he’s full of shit. There’s always a different name for his hookups.”
“You sound jealous for someone who always protests that she doesn’t like him.” My mom is always telling me that, but I can’t help denying my feelings. Miles is so much older and just wildly more mature than me.
“He’s annoying.”
“Yep. Handsome, rich, powerful, protective, and sweet, but yes, very annoying.” She smiles and shakes her head.
I roll my eyes and take Mistress with me as we walk back out of the kitchen and then up the stairs toward my bedroom. Once inside, I set her down and finally kick off my shoes. “Your daddy is a major ass, but I’m sure you’ll love him like every other female of any species.”
She wags her tail happily like she already agrees. Damn—I knew it. He’s already got her hooked. “Let me get changed, and don’t you go messing up anything in my room or your daddy is going to pay.” I point at her and scowl. She huffs and jumps on my bed, making herself comfortable, ducking her head into my pillow like she owns the place. She’s just like Miles.
I don’t take too long because I don’t trust my new companion, but she’s a good girl and is exactly where I left her, completely snuggled up on my bed like she’s unwilling to move and it’s her spot.
“Come on, girl. It’s time to go and move in with your daddy.”
She perks up and hops to her feet, wagging her tail. I snag her off the bed because I don’t want her to jump and hurt herself.
When I get downstairs, my mother is ready to go, so we take the puppy outside to do her business before hopping into the SUV. I’d hate for her to do her business in the back of my mom’s ride. Miles would get an earful when she saw him next along with a hefty cleaning bill.
“She’s so precious, Elsa.” My mother has fallen under her spell too. Honestly, so have I, and I wonder if that was Miles’s plan all along. I wonder why he’d want me to look after his dog. He obviously doesn’t have romantic feelings for me, so I bet my dad has something to do with it.
We arrive at Miles’s property, which is only twenty minutes from ours, and the guards let us in. “Mrs. Martín, Miss Elsa, good evening,” Carl says as we’re welcomed into the front door of his estate. I love Miles’s home, but it reminds me that one day he’ll have a wife and family living here. A pang shoots through my chest at that image.
“Thank you. It’s good to see you,” my mother says with her perfect civility, but I just smile through the pain. They know I’m probably here under duress as usual. I’ve had to come here to drop off some documents that my father wanted to deliver, and once when my mom made a special treat for Miles. It was like I was their delivery service even though we had twenty other people they could have sent.
“Is this the new addition to the household?” Carl asks, staring down curiously at the cutie in my arms.
