I cocked my head. “Is this my fault? Because I made one comment about your clothes?”
I’d known right away I had hurt her feelings, but it hadn’t been intentional. She’d appeared uncomfortable in her dress that had barely fit over her bump. Seeing her yank and tug at her dress had been like nails on a chalkboard to me. I’d wanted her to remedy it so I didn’t become consumed with her comfort when I had ten thousand other things I had to deal with.
“It’s nothing like that.” She blinked again, slower this time. “I’m going to go. I’ll see you Monday. Have a nice brunch with your friends, Elliot.”
“Wait. One more thing, then I’ll let you go.”
She lowered her chin into the fabric of her sweatshirt, waiting for me to proceed.
“Girl or boy?” I nodded toward her middle.
She brought her hand up to the top of her belly, slowly smoothing it along the curve. “She’s a girl.”
“All right. Elise wanted to know—”
“Goodbye, Elliot.”
When she walked away this time, I didn’t stop her. But I waited there on the street corner, watching her until she disappeared into a nearby parking lot.
Our food was on the table when I got back to the restaurant. I was hoping I could dig in without any further discussion, but Miles had to have the last word.
“So, I have to ask the question I know everyone is dying to know,” Miles stated.
I kept my focus on my omelet. “Do you really have to?”
“I do.”
I raised my eyes to meet his. “Then tell me, Miles, what is everyone dying to know?”
His mouth slid into a lazy smirk. “Tell us the truth, Elliot. Is the baby yours or what?”
Groaning, my head fell forward. Miles had better hope we didn’t run into a mountain lion on this hike. I’d offer him up for lunch without even thinking twice.
Chapter Seven
Catherine
P.S. I’d rather give birth a hundred times than be in your presence.
It was mean and most definitely overkill, but my grumpiness had reached nuclear levels. Insomnia was an absolute bitch. I’d know since I’d been dealing with it since childhood. If I got two or three hours of consecutive sleep, it was a good night.
I leaned back in my chair and smoothed my hands over my bump. It had grown to epic proportions, and I still had two more weeks to go. There was no way I’d ever look the same after this, but that wasn’t anything I needed to worry about now. My cup was already overflowing with worries.
My eyelids were growing heavy when Elliot’s lean, imposing figure came into view, cutting down the long corridor like an apex predator. It wasn’t until he was almost at my desk that I noticed he was holding a drink carrier and headed for me, not his office.
“Good morning, Catherine.”
“Hello, Elliot.”
He placed the carrier on the edge of my desk, and the scent of coffee wafted toward me. I’d been trying to wait until lunch and hadn’t had my hit of caffeine yet. Seeing as I’d almost nodded off, that probably wasn’t happening.
“This is for you. Iced, with milk and vanilla syrup.” He nudged the cup toward me and placed a paper straw on top.
I almost couldn’t form words, but my mother’s voice in the back of my head overpowered my shock. “Thank you. This is exactly what I needed.”
He inclined his head. “I’m early, so take your time.” Then he swiveled around and walked away without another word. “I’ll be in my office when you’re ready.”
His kind gesture almost made me feel guilty for my postscript, but I’d learned not to give Elliot too much credit this early in the day. I didn’t doubt he’d earn my harsh statement by the time I left our morning meeting.
I sipped my coffee, which was exactly how I liked it and took five minutes to let the caffeine work into my system before I ventured into Elliot’s office.
Our meeting went as usual, going over his schedule and taking note of tasks he wanted me to do. Once we reached what I thought was the end, Elliot clicked his mouse twice and leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily.
“Have you chosen your replacement?” he finally asked.
“It’s between two candidates. I was going to send you their résumés this afternoon.”
“Their names?”
I swiped my tablet, double-checking since my memory was shit lately. “Daniel Nussbaum and Ariel Seagram. They both graduated from CU this past spring. Their qualifications are pretty similar.”
“Daniel,” he pronounced decisively.
“Daniel? But…is there a reason?”
He sat up, his forearms sliding forward on his desk. “I don’t hire single young women.”
I couldn’t hide my reaction. My eyes flared and lips parted, surprised he’d come out and said that. “Are you allowed to say that? Or even think it?”
“No, definitely not, but I trust what we say in the office won’t go any further.”
No further than my postscripts.
“I have no one to tell, but will you explain why you don’t hire single women?”
“Sure. I’ve had enough experience to know unwanted complications arise too often. There’s nothing more annoying than losing a perfectly fine assistant because she threw herself at me.” His mouth twisted before he went on. “I’m aware it sounds bad, but I didn’t come to this decision lightly. In my position, I can’t be too careful with whom I surround myself with.”
I lowered my tablet and notebook to my lap, frowning at him. “I would hope hiring me disproved that theory. No complications have arisen in all these months, and I have not, nor will I, ever throw myself at you.”
“True, but I was under the impression you had a partner when I gave you the job.”
My eyes narrowed. I knew for a fact I hadn’t mentioned Liam in our interview, and I certainly never would have referred to him as my partner.
“What kind of background check did you do? Did you look at my dental records?”
“Yes. You’re due for a cleaning,” he deadpanned.
Oh, my middle finger twitched. I’d been schooled in manners by my society queen mother, but I’d also spent a fair amount of my teenage years in the punk scene. Flipping rude people off came as instinctively as saying please and thank you.
“I went a few weeks ago, actually.” I tapped my pan on my notebook. “I would ask for a refund on that background check since I don’t have a partner now, nor did I then. Someone gave you faulty information.”
“Like I said, I trust you now, so no harm, no foul.” He opened a drawer in his desk and slipped out an envelope, extending it to me. “Here. For you.”
I took the envelope from him, my heart fluttering. I should have waited to open it, but I was too eager to see what was inside.
I ripped the top and pulled out a card with the name of a spa I could never have dreamed of setting foot in. Opening it, I found a gift card for five hundred dollars inside.
“What’s this?” I squeezed out of my tightening throat.