Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)

“Look,” he continued, “I feel a little nuts here. I mean, I’m here for business, I decided to play at Finnegan’s to pass some time and, damn it, in you walk. When we sang together I felt like I knew all I needed to know about you, but I wanted more. Then you were at the meeting . . .” Tension made quick work of filling my room.

“Don’t do that.” I put my coffee down and faced him, my legs crossed. “I’m still here. You’re still here. We’ve got this week. I felt the same things when we met, Bo. I had to force myself to pull away from you after our first kiss. I thought it was a dream; this couldn’t be happening at some bar that I’ve been to every weekend for the last four years. But it did - you did.”

I pressed my hand into his cheek. He leaned into it, kissing my wrist as I spoke. “Can we just enjoy this week and weekend and just see where it takes us? That’s what you said yesterday, right? If our agencies end up working together, we’ll sort out whatever needs to be at that time.” I tried to sound positive, but the thought of only seven days left weighed heavily on my words. There would be no way we could carry on like this if we were coworkers.

“God, could you be any more perfect?” He whispered as he reached for my face.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, perfect. You’re smart, driven, you sing, and last night . . .” a grin overcame him, “last night was amazing.” He looked up at me, his eyes still dancing with excitement.

“I’ve never felt anything like that before, Bo.”

Suddenly my room felt like it’d been transported south of the Equator. My palms began to sweat and I felt like my shirt was made of wool. I wanted him even more than I did last night.

Bo leaned forward, kissing me deeply with little regard for morning breath. Thankfully I’d at least sipped my coffee, but I realized I didn’t notice at all - I just loved his taste. He pressed me back into the bed with kisses so soft it was as if he worried I would crack beneath his weight. So, naturally, the phone rang.

“Ugh, it’s probably Monica,” I said as I absentmindedly reached for my phone. I let out a grumble when I saw the number.

“What?” Bo laughed.

“It’s her.” I rolled my eyes. “We didn’t talk about my plans for last night. This is as long as she could contain herself.”

Bo’s smile faded, but I waved it off.

“Hey Mon, what’s up,” I answered, maybe a little to blasé.

“What’s up? Do you mean after the Spencer revelation yesterday you two didn’t get together last night?” She sounded annoyed, and I pictured her arms folded with a tapping foot.

“Monica. It’s fine. Look, we’ll talk about it when I get to work, okay?” She’ll see right through it.

“November Blue Harris, is Bo Cavanaugh in your apartment right now?” A fifteen-year-old girl took over her voice.

“Yes.”

“Did he just get there or did he stay all night?”

I paused, not wanting to let Bo know that I was going to tell Monica about last night. Monica didn’t miss a beat.

“Ember, did he stay last night?”

“Yes.”

“Shit! Ember!” She exclaimed excitement and panic in one breath. “Can you be to work by 7:30 so we can talk about this before Carrie gets there?”

“Sure, Mon. See you soon.” I hung up as Monica grumbled something unintelligible and I looked at Bo. He seemed frozen in the same position he was when I answered the phone.

“Does she know I stayed last night?” There was no inflection in his tone.

“She’s a smart girl. She’s also my best friend and won’t say anything. I know we’ve only known each other a couple of days but you have to trust me on that.”

Bo’s sigh of relief took his shoulders down with it, “I just don’t want to ruin anything for anyone.” It was hard for me to determine if he was speaking about our jobs or us.

“It’ll be fine. I do, however, have to get to work early. Crap, we’re supposed to set up a meeting. What are your other commitments this week?” Discussing business in the bedroom only served to highlight the issues present.

“Today is the local high school, tomorrow I’m free after ten.” He rested his head against my headboard.

“So how about we do a lunch meeting tomorrow, in our office? Just text me later to confirm that’s OK.”

“Sure thing. David Bryson will be there too.”

A devious smile erased all concern from his face. He took our coffee mugs and placed them on the bedside stand.

“Hey, I need that!” I joked.

The scorching heat from his lips melted me into my bed. He pulled away as quickly as he came in, and swiftly dressed.

“And I needed that,” he teased. “Talk to you later.”

He kissed me on the head before moving out of my bedroom.

“Hey!” I called out. “Don’t go trying to stalk me on Facebook or anything, I don’t have an account!”

“Hey!” He called back, out of sight, “Neither do I. Looks like we’re both out of luck!”

I hurried to my bedroom window when I heard the door shut. Bo reached the sidewalk, paused in front of my car a moment, and glanced up to my window. I waved and he grinned before getting in his car and driving away.

***

Monica and I got to work at the same time. She was already shaking her head at me as she put her car in to park.