My phone rang and I checked the time. Nine o’clock. I groaned. When was the last time I had overslept? Not all that surprising given the weekend’s activities, but it wasn’t like me, or at least not like the recent me.
“Hey, Liam.”
“You okay, sis?” Liam asked as I gave a grumbly okay. “Well, it’s after nine and I’m a little spoiled when I need something from HR, because my VP is always in by five a.m. Kelsey has a check–up with Doc this morning, so I really wanted to look over those two applicants you mentioned while they aren’t micromanaging my life to death.”
I laughed despite it all. “You realize I took two weeks leave, right? And it’s New Year’s Eve?”
“Oh come on, you aren’t hiding from him anymore, and I need to get this done. Even if just for a few hours, you can come in, right?”
“Yeah, fine, okay. Let me get up and I’ll head on in.”
“Pat keep you up late last night? Man, was Chase butt–hurt when he had the grand epiphany that he might not have his escape couch to hide from Dad anymore.”
My face felt like it was on fire thinking of what Patrick and I had done on that couch just a few hours earlier.
“What the hell did he say to you? Your face is some new shade of reddish purple I’ve never seen before,” said a deep, sexy voice next to me. I could tell he found it funny as I could feel the rumble of laughter, shaking at my back, as he tried to contain it.
“Ew! Elise. Tell me you didn’t do it on Chase’s favorite couch?” Liam was practically yelling into the phone. I said a quick prayer that he was in Kyle’s office with the door closed at least, so that the entire office hadn’t just heard that. Patrick definitely heard it, though, and started laughing as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me flush against him, spooning me from behind. I elbowed him in the gut, but he just kissed the top of my head.
“Top of the day to ya, Liam,” he said in a rich accent more reminiscent of the leprechaun on the Lucky Charms commercials than him, and I assumed it was some sort of inside joke with them, cause Liam whooped with laughter.
13:59
Billionaire Alnha’s 00 n…-J1
Chapter 172
“I don’t even want to know what that was all about.” I dared a look back over my shoulder to find a very happy mate. He thoroughly kissed me good morning.
“Um, guys, I can hear that. Gross! Release my sister and send her back to work already.”
“Fine, she’ll be there within the hour,” Patrick assured him.
“Half hour… get your ass in here in the next half hour, Elise…” His voice trailed off in protest as Patrick reached over and ended the call.
“I really have to go.”
“I know, but I don’t want you to.”
“I can come back tonight,” I offered.
“Ladies‘ night. I’m not crossing Lily on that. You’re going.”
“But I’d rather spend time with you,” I blurted out, and was shocked to realize it was true. I loved my girls, and I loved ladies‘ night, but I wanted to be with Patrick. I really, truly didn’t want to be anywhere else. It made me hesitate and my head whirl at the realization. Once I let my guard down and stopped fighting it, being with Patrick was as easy as breathing. There was nothing awkward or uncomfortable about it. I had slept better in his arms than I could ever remember sleeping in my life, and the thought of coming home to him tonight made me … happy. Knowing it equally terrified
- me.
“You are welcome to come back after ladies‘ night.” He got up from the bed as I protested the cool air that replaced his warmth surrounding me. He opened his dresser drawer and pulled out something, then walked over and handed me a key. I knew it was a key to his house. I knew I shouldn’t accept it. So much had changed in the last few days that I was overwhelmed. “I’m not going to ask you to move in here, though you are certainly welcome whenever you are ready, but I want you to have this and know you can come and go as you please. I will happily take whatever time I get with you. I also want you to understand that for me, there will never be anyone else, Elise. What’s mine is yours. I know I don’t have much to offer you yet, but I will never stop proving I’m worthy.”
I wanted to protest that he had nothing to prove, but I was too surprised by the tears that sprung up in my eyes, and found myself nodding. At what, I didn’t even know. I took the key he offered with a deep, cleansing breath.
“There’s always wine at ladies‘ night. Even with Kelsey not partaking, that just means more for me and Lily.”
13:59
D:11:
Chapter 172
“Are you saying I’m going to be a drunk booty call tonight? You’re going to get ossified and take advantage of me?”
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