Page 39 of Unpredictable
“But…but—” she sputtered, attempting to reach behind me for the tablet. “This is a business trip. I’m here to explore the area for the bride—your daughter—as well as future clients.”
“And I’m here to help you lighten up. Have some fun. Though I’m beginning to wonder if you know what that is.”
She placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at me. “I know how to have fun.”
“Oh yeah?” I arched an eyebrow. “Prove it. Ditch the tablet. Ditch the schedule. And let’s see where the wind takes us.”
“Where the wind takes us?” she asked with a laugh. “Who are you—Pocahontas?”
“Can’t say that was one of Olivia’s favorite movies growing up,” I said, though I was familiar with the song “Colors of the Wind.”
“Lucky. I mean, it’s not terrible as far as kids movies go. But it’s not my first choice.”
I studied her. “And you watch a lot of kids movies?”
“My sister has young children, as does my best friend Alexis. So—” she held up her hands “—I babysit from time to time.”
“Ahh.” I tilted back my head. “Do you ever wish you had your own?” I immediately wished I could take it back because I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.
“A few years ago, my answer would’ve been yes.”
“And now…?” Why couldn’t I just let the matter go?
“Now…” She scrunched up her face. “Now, I’m not so sure. I think…what if something happened to me or my partner? Who would take care of our child then?”
I nodded. “As a parent, it’s one of the most difficult things to contemplate.”
“Yeah. I just think I’m getting a bit old to consider having children.”
“Old?” I barked out a laugh. “You’re not old.”
She leaned her hip against the railing. “Well, thank you. But in terms of getting pregnant and having children, I am. I’m thirty-seven.”
My heart was racing as I quickly tallied our age difference.Fourteen years.I was fourteen years older than her.
“That’s not old. Trust me. Besides, you don’t look a day over thirty.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re just being nice.”
“I’m being honest.”
She leaned forward, and I was distracted by the sight of her glossy pink lips. I wanted to kiss her. Fuck, I wanted to kiss her.
We were alone, outside the city, for the entire weekend. The sky might be cloudless and sunny, but the current forecast included lots of cold showers for me.
She brushed past me, momentarily distracting me. But I was faster. I tightened my grip on the tablet and held it away from her grasp.
“Sneaky, sneaky,” I said with a disapproving shake of my head.
“Harrison.” She jumped up on her toes, arms stretched above her as she reached for the tablet. I was getting hard from watching her attempts to reclaim it. “Give that back!”
“I’ll give it back,” I said, and she relaxed slightly. “At the end of the weekend.”
She growled and lunged for it. She landed against my chest with a thud, and I let out an “oomph.”
“You’re vicious.” I chuckled, slightly winded.
She seemed dazed, but then shook her head. “I’m determined. Now, give it back.”
