Jennifer’s first reaction was to say no. Molly hadn’t stayed the night with anyone since the accident and she wanted to keep holding her tightly, but she also knew she’d have to be gone for a few days at a time with her new position, and it would be a good idea to see how Molly would do away from home for one night.
“I’d love to bring her over for the party, but we’ll wait and see about her staying the night,” Jennifer agreed.
“I’m glad to hear that, I can’t wait until the weekend,” Emily said.
“If you want to give me directions to your place, and what time, we’ll be there.”
The two women exchanged phone numbers and addresses and then Jennifer left the building, feeling good about her day. It had started out a bit rocky, finding out her boss was the far-too-sexy-for-her-comfort man in the park, but she’d have to get over her attraction, because it couldn’t lead anywhere.
Relationships, or even casual sex, came and went, but a good job and friendships were rare to find and you didn’t let those go. Sleeping with her boss, no matter how devastatingly gorgeous he was, would be a huge mistake she’d regret the rest of her life.
“Are you ready to head home, little girl?” she asked Molly, while tickling her tummy.
“Yes, can we have pizza for dinner?” Molly asked between giggles.
“I would say tonight is a perfect night for pizza. It’s been a day worth celebrating,” she told Molly, which earned her many kisses and smiles. She walked toward her car with a smile on her face and a dance in her step.
***
Trenton wasn’t in nearly as good a mood as Jennifer. He’d forced himself to stay away from her most of the day. He was both thrilled to have found her so soon and to have her working for him, yet at the same time thinking the fates weren’t on his side.
He knew there was no way he was going to be able to keep his hands off her. He was far to attracted to the delicate woman. He couldn’t remember wanting to take a woman into his arms so badly, and her attitude was a challenge he didn’t want to resist. He hadn’t been challenged by a woman, ever.
He should transfer her to another division so he could pursue her guilt free, but he wanted her close to him. He was unwilling to transfer her, at least for the moment. He wasn’t a teenager, who couldn’t control himself and he wouldn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to, but he wasn’t above seduction. He smiled at the thought.
“You’re obviously a million miles away, boy,” his father said, startling him out of his thoughts. He turned in surprise at the interruption. No one was ever able to sneak up on him, and he hadn’t noticed his father entering his office.
“Hello, Father - what are you doing here?” he asked, managing to control his features and tone.
“I wanted to see how you’re settling in,” George said. Trenton didn’t miss the look of hurt in his father’s eyes. He tried to block it out, but still felt guilty for being so disrespectful.
“I’d much rather be in Chicago, but it’s efficient.”
“I know you’ll appreciate the move before too long. It will be nice for you and your siblings to be around your cousins, again.”
“There won’t be a lot of time for socializing, as moving a corporation home office takes a lot of work,” Trenton said, not wanting to make things easy on his father.
“There’s always time for family. I messed up after your mother passed, and I’m trying to make it right,” George said, being honest with his son. “Can we please let go of the hard feelings?”
“A lot has happened,” Trenton said but not so sure in the face of his father’s grief.
“I know, and I’m sorry I fell apart. I loved your mother so much and it ripped me apart to lose her. I know I closed all of you out, but I’m trying to make it right. I hope you’ll forgive an old man for being heartbroken. I’ll leave you alone for now, but wanted to tell you your cousin Mark’s having a birthday party for his daughter this weekend. I’d love to see you there,” George said. He patted Trenton on the back, then headed out the door.
Trenton looked out the window and inhaled. He’d been too hard on his father and maybe it was time for a second chance for all of them. He’d have to give it time, and see how it worked out. His father used to be his hero. He realized he blamed his dad for his mom’s death. He knew logically his dad couldn’t have prevented the death from happening, but his heart had hurt so badly he’d needed someone to blame.
He was also realizing he couldn’t continue to punish his father for something out of his control. Seeing the pain in his dad’s eyes hurt him. Trenton shook his head, trying to clear the depressing thoughts.
He gathered his belongings and headed out. He wasn’t in the mood to be alone so he called his brother, who luckily was in town, and they met for a beer and some talking. It lifted his spirits up.
“How are you settling in the rainy city of Seattle?” Max asked.
“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, but there’s no way I’m admitting that to the old man,” Trenton said.
“Am I detecting you’ve already met some local ladies?” Max teased him with a waggle of his brows.
“Well, there’s a smorgasbord of women to be feasted upon,” he said, but his mind was only on one particular woman.
“Yeah, but I sure wish our father would’ve gotten the idea to move somewhere warm like California or Florida. The women wear far less clothes there,” Max said with a laugh.
“I agree,” Trenton said, but without his usual emphasis. He was starting to feel empty escorting different women every night. He was thinking a longer relationship may be interesting, especially if the woman didn’t bore him. He had a feeling Jennifer wasn’t boring.
“Where did you go?” Max asked.
“Sorry, it was a long day at the office. When are you taking off?”
“I need to go up to Alaska next month. I’ll be up there off and on over the next year. We finished that facility and you know I like to check on things first hand. Seattle feels like the freaking tropics compared to the weather up there.”
“You can always make snow angels,” Trenton laughed.
“No thank you, not when it’s like fifty degrees below freezing on the average day. I’m amazed at how many people actually want to spend months on end up there,” Max said.