“I’m sure he just got a late start home. I’ll give him a call.” Since she’s still giving me a nervous look, I decide to give her a mission. Hell, anything to get her out of my office for a while. “Could you go to Madeline’s office and see when the quarterly numbers are going to be ready? I’ll need those soon to prepare for my meeting tomorrow.” I hide a smile as she immediately snaps into bulldog mode. Poor Madeline; Cindy will be on her all afternoon now, and I really don’t even need the damn numbers. I stay on top of the finances for my company daily; I don’t like surprises where money is concerned.
I click an open line on the telephone and punch in Aidan’s number. It rings four times before going to voicemail. I try texting him next, getting no immediate reply. Aidan never falls off the grid, and he damn sure wouldn’t on a workday. Fuck. Now, I’m right there with Cindy. Something is going on; I can feel it in my bones. I try to push it aside while I return calls from the previous day.
At lunchtime, I decide to have a sandwich at my desk and check in with Lia. I’m not sure if she’s in class or not, so I settle for texting her.
Lucian: Hey, baby.
Lia: Hey, yourself. I was just thinking about you. :)
Lucian: All dirty thoughts, I hope.
Lia: Behave. I have to sit in a boring classroom. I can’t be thinking of that…
Lucian: Why not? I’m sitting in a boring office thinking of nothing but that…
Lia: You can show me tonight.
My cock stirs to attention at her teasing words. I hadn’t been thinking of sex before our verbal wordplay, but thoughts of fucking her have now moved to the forefront of my mind. I want to continue this teasing conversation, but I don’t relish having to jack off in my bathroom after lunch, and that’s where it’s headed. Practicing a little self-preservation, I change the subject grudgingly.
Lucian: So…you made arrangements for Sam to pick you up this afternoon, right?
I grin, knowing Sam’s not far away. I had him stay close to the school today just in case Lia needs him for something.
Lia: Yep, I’m all set. I gotta run, need to grab a drink before my next class. See you later?
Lucian: Of course. See you at home, baby.
I marvel at how easily I refer to my apartment as both of our homes now. This woman has so quickly become my constant. When she mentions staying at her apartment, I firmly nix the thought. I know she doesn’t really want to leave my place, but she feels like she should offer to give me space. Strangely enough, though, I don’t want that space. I’ve grown fond of going home to her in the evening. Hell, I’ve put Cindy on finding us a housekeeper now because I’m tired of Lia insisting on cleaning up after me to pay for her schooling. I admire her independence, but we’re together now; I want to take care of her without strings.
Standing, I toss the wrapper from my sandwich into the trashcan and stroll to my bathroom where I keep my workout clothes. I have a workout room adjacent to my office with a treadmill, elliptical, and weights. At some point each day, I run for several miles then lift weights afterwards. It’s a good way to stay in shape and relieve stress. Throwing on some basketball shorts, I hit the treadmill, going through a warm-up before my feet start pounding the surface. I watch the news on the television suspended from the wall as I pound out the miles.
I finish my workout and shower quickly before redressing. When I sit back at my desk, I pick up my cellphone, seeing I’ve missed a call from Aidan. It’s about damn time; I was getting ready to send out a search party for his ass. I click to return his call and am pleased when he answers on the first ring. “Luc…hey.”
“Hey, man. Where are you? I’ve barely been able to stop Cindy from hunting you down.” Aidan laughs softly, knowing how Cindy is.
“Sorry ‘bout that. I’ll give her a call next so she won’t worry.” When he doesn’t add anything further, my earlier feeling of foreboding returns full force.
“So…what’s going on? We don’t usually have to resort to hunting you. Are you back in town?”
“No.” Just when I think I’m going to have to prompt him again, he finally continues. “Luc…something happened here. I don’t really know what it means, but when I stopped by yesterday on my way out to tell her goodbye…fuck, she knew me. She called my name.” I sag back in my seat, weak with shock. Aidan’s voice is choked, as if he’s overcome by emotion.
“Fuck!” I hiss, feeling a strange urge to end the call and sever the connection. I don’t want to hear anymore, but I need to know. “What exactly happened?”
The sound of him taking a breath fills the line. “I—I stopped to see her after I checked out of my hotel, like I always do. I had been there about an hour, you know, just talking about everything and nothing. When I was leaving, I kissed her cheek and told her I’d see her soon. When I pulled back and started to straighten, she…shit, Luc, she touched my face and said, ‘Bye, Spence.’”