AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I dialed the PI’s number. He answered my call after just one ring. “Crawford? How can I help you?”
“I think I found another one,” I said. “I need you to go down to Harrington’s and secure this piece. I’m sending you a picture of it now.” I emailed him a photo of the bracelet.
“Got it,” he said. “I’ll take care of it for you.”
As soon as I hung up the phone, another call rang through. This one was internal and I smiled.
“How can I help you, Ms. Grady?” I said, leaning back in my chair.
“Colton, I need three hundred dollars,” she said, her voice steady.
Swiveling my chair to face the window, I watched her staring at her computer, her finger scrolling on the mouse. She wore a tan dress today and it drove me crazy. I usually preferred to pick out gifts for women, but I liked that Ava was being more forthright.
“All right,” I said. Then, visualizing some red lingerie, I added, “Is this something I can rip off of you?”
“No! Gawd, no. It’s for a baby’s christening.”
I didn’t think I could lose an erection that quickly.
“What?” I dropped my forearm onto my desk. “What baby?”
She blew out a frustrated breath, as though I were the one talking in riddles. “Robert Morgan’s daughter had a baby recently and this weekend is the christening. I thought it would be a good gesture for you to send a gift.”
“Oh.” I was about to dismiss the idea when I saw its merit. Morgan was a family man and he appreciated the gift Ava gave his dog. I wondered how grateful he’d be if I sent a gift to his granddaughter.
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
“How did you know?” I asked, then it hit me. “Social media?”
“Yep,” she said. “I follow his daughter and she posted something this morning. I don’t think anyone else will know about it but you.”
“Good work, Ms. Grady.”
“Thank you, Mr. Crawford.”
“Now, why don’t you come in here so I can thank you properly?”
“Sir, that may take longer than you have time for,” she said and hung up the phone. Still staring at her through my office window, she turned to face me and covered her mouth to hide a grin, but she couldn’t hide her eyes from smiling, though. Despite the distance, they danced with joy. I wanted to make her smile like that every day for the rest of my life.
Ugh! There I go again, thinking of the future. This woman had me saying and doing things I’d never thought I would.
I remained in my office for the rest of the day. Now that I had the mayor’s approval of our plans, it was time to push Morgan with our project. Everything lined up and I could already see the Crawford Corp sign staked on Morgan’s property. I imagined excavators digging up the land for the largest shopping mall this town had ever seen. Ava would stand next to me when we cut the ribbon. She would definitely look better cutting the damn thing than I would. Yes, Ava wearing that same tan dress would do the honors.
“Knock, knock.” Ryan tapped on my door. “What’s got you smiling?” he asked, taking a seat in front of my desk.
“Just picturing our sign on Morgan’s property,” I said.
“Are you sure it has nothing to do with the pretty brunette across the hallway?”
I smirked. “It might,” I admitted, then stood from my desk. Opening the top drawer, I pulled out a set of keys and threw them at Ryan. “Here.”
He caught them and stared at the logo. With a frown, he asked, “You went on a date?”
“Yep,” I said and sat back down. I didn’t even care that I’d given up my car or lost another stupid bet with Ryan. Huh, funny that. I smiled thinking of Ava’s reaction when I took her with me to find a new car.
“Man, I’ve never seen you like this.” Ryan crossed his arms and stared at me.
