Page 53 of Legal Seduction
Simon had given her a heads-up about the going-away party. He’d told her that morning, as they lay in bed together. Since that first night he’d stayed, he’d spent every subsequent night. She should have been freaking out because she felt smothered or overwhelmed. But those weren’t the reasons she was freaking out. She was freaking out because she was beginning to expect him to stay.
And she knew that was stupid. No woman held Simon Kramer’s interest for very long. She wasn’t sure how she’d had him for two weeks. In the two years she’d known him, that was probably the longest he’d dated anyone.
Not that what they were doing was really dating. She wasn’t sure what the hell it was, but that she wasn’t ready yet for it to end. Would it—once she left Street Legal?
Should she stay?
Not forever. Not even full-time...
But she could help out for a while, make the transition easier for her replacement. Even while she’d been working for Simon full-time, she’d had the time—and maybe the inspiration—to come up with the designs that had become her own line.
But staying, after her going-away party, would be awkward and anticlimactic. No. She had no choice now but to leave Street Legal.
What about Simon?
Should she just end that—whatever it was—too?
Her heart ached at the thought of no longer seeing him, of being with him. Was she in love with him? No. That wasn’t possible. She wasn’t that stupid.
She drew in a deep, bracing breath and stepped out of her office. Someone called out, “There she is!” Music began to play and confetti rained down on her from some kind of gun Miguel blasted at her.
She blinked against the bits of paper and wished now that she’d worn her glasses. But since Simon had accused her of using them to hide, she only wore them when she was sketching now. Otherwise, she really didn’t need them. She also left her hair down, too, which meant it would probably be full of those bits of paper.
But she forced a smile since she was the guest of honor. At least for some. The gossips from the bathroom glared at her with resentment. To them, she was probably the guest of dishonor.
No. Leaving was a smart move. Working with Simon and sleeping with him was stupid. She’d known that when she’d started and couldn’t believe it had lasted two weeks. But she was glad now that it had.
She only wished it would last longer.
Sleeping with him...
Not the work.
The gossipy women weren’t the only ones glaring at her. A couple of Simon’s partners were, as well. Where was Simon? She peered around the crowd of faces but couldn’t find him.
With his good looks and charm, he always stood out in any crowd. So he hadn’t arrived yet.
Was he coming? Had he authorized the party and warned her about it only to not attend himself? It made no sense.
“Here’s a drink,” Miguel said as he pressed a flute of champagne into her hand. “Not that I care to celebrate. I’m really going to miss you.”
Warmth flooded her heart. “I’m really going to miss you, too,” she said. Despite his past, she’d always felt safe with Miguel—like he had her back and wasn’t going to stab it like some of their coworkers. She hugged him.
As he pulled back, he peered over her head. “Guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t feel like celebrating,” he said. “Simon’s not here.”
She’d already known that, but a twinge of pain struck her heart with Miguel’s confirmation.
“He hasn’t even interviewed replacements for you yet,” he said. “Of course quite a few current employees have been jockeying for your position.”
“I’m sure they have,” she said with a sigh.
Miguel squeezed her again before releasing her. “They don’t understand you’re special to Simon. They will never have the relationship with him that you do.”
She wasn’t sure what they had could be called a relationship. Yet it was deeper and more meaningful than anything she’d had before.
“You should take the job,” she told him. “He can hire someone else for your position.”
Miguel tilted his head as if considering it. “I love Simon. But I kind of like being the guy at the door.” That was kind of what he was—the bouncer, allowing people into an exclusive club or throwing them out.
