Page 68 of The Heart You Kept

Oh….

“Thank you.”

“I just thought I’d have a bit of fun with you before I left.”

“Our ideas of fun must be different.”

“We’re seeing other people and….” He shrugs. “We need to keep this strictly professional.”

“I agree.” Relief fills me. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Then I remember something. “So why tell Pascal that you wanted to fuck me if you had no intention of going behind his back?”

“Make no mistake, I do want to fuck you, and I would have no problem taking you from him.” He gives a subtle shrug. “The problem comes from my end.”

He loves her.

“Well, I don’t want to have sex with you anyway,” I add.

“Liar,” he mouths. “I do have one condition on stepping away.”

“A condition?”

“I want you to be my intern.”

“What?”

“I have no interest in antiques, but you do need to know business. Which just happens to be my specialty.”

“What are you proposing?”

“We meet one afternoon a week and I will mentor you.”

I roll my eyes.

“Not that kind of mentoring.” He smirks. “Business acumen. Accounting, sales, targets, things like that. Last time we met, you were a math teacher; I read up how you came into this business, and it can’t have been an easy transition.”

“I was and it hasn’t.” I think for a moment. “Why would you do this?”

“Because I care what happens to you.” He shrugs. “And if I cannot pursue you⁠—”

“Why did you kiss me the other night?” I cut him off.

“Honestly?”

I nod.

“I couldn’t stop myself; I was so happy to see you that it overflowed, and before I knew it I had you in my arms.”

I get a lump in my throat as I stare at him, a silent message runs between us. A distant memory of a wonderful weekend in each other’s arms.

“If things were different…” he murmurs as his eyes hold mine.

“I know.” I nod. “Why did you bait Pascal?”

“Because I can.” He shrugs. “He’s an easy target.”

“You’re evil.”

“Motivated.”