Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 111980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
I take a beat to consider my answer, weighing the tension clinging to my shoulders over the last week—the sexual tension, that is. I’ve had to avoid Chloe as best I can every damn day, including during a very painful team meeting to discuss the upcoming shoot. Being near her? Wanting her? Remembering the night we spent together? It’s fuck-all hard. In my pants. So I visit the other locations more than they honestly need me to. When I’m here, I hang out in my office, texting or Zooming with the other managers. I stay away from the front counter. I keep my head down.
“I like it a lot. I’m enjoying Dog Tails,” I say, reasoning that’s true enough. “I’m focused on growing it, running it smoothly, marketing it smartly.”
“Good. You’ve always been good at that. I was proud of the work you did for Dumont Management Consulting. You really think you can do that with…dog daycare?”
I bristle inside but remind myself these are not new concerns. They’re also, frankly, understandable ones, especially from a man who prides himself on taking work seriously. “I do, Dad. I can apply the same leadership skills across the eight franchises, but also the same philosophies of how we treat employees with respect while growing revenue and improving the bottom line. That’s honestly what I’m trying to do here. Take all the skills I acquired working with you and apply them to this business.”
He stops outside a sculpting studio, his brow furrowed, his eyes flickering with questions. “Is that all you’re trying to do?”
I furrow my brow. “What do you mean?”
With a tilt of his head, he gives me a thoughtful look, and he’s not unkind as he says, “Your ex. You wanted to get away from all that. How’s that working out for you?”
Not as well as your divorce. But I keep that thought locked up, just like I try to keep the bitterness to myself. I’d rather do well at things than publicly fail like I did at love.
“Great,” I say, since I just don’t want to talk about my ex. With anyone. Maybe especially with him. Don’t need to hash out my failures with my father. Especially since Katya would say her cheating was my fault.
“Sometimes I feel so alone with you,” she’d said, the night we hashed it out in the kitchen of the home we’d just bought.
“You travel for work! You’re alone on the road all the time,” I’d pointed out, trying to keep my cool but failing. Miserably fucking failing.
I’d been devastated. I’d loved her, I’d trusted her, and aside from the dog allergy, there’d been no red flags.
Maybe it’s best if I don’t date. I do not want to go through that pain again. Not the hurt to my heart, nor the annoying time it took to sell our home, sort out furniture, and cancel a wedding.
I push thoughts of unworn tuxes and unused napkin holders out of my head and look my dad square in the eyes. “I’m not really interested in dating anyway. I’d rather focus on Dog Tails.”
He arches a suspicious brow. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” I say, with as much damn certainty as I can muster.
Besides, isn’t his marriage proof that you can’t really have everything? He certainly didn’t have it with my mother—not if they divorced so late in life. Sure, he’s having a good time now, but he should. That’s what retirement is for.
“So are you going to show it to me, or are you hiding it from me?” he says, elbowing my ribs. “Or are you just worried all the lovely ladies you work with will wonder if your dad’s single? But I’m taken.”
“You’d never date one of my employees either,” I say, pointing out the obvious.
“You’re right there too,” he says, and that’s one more reminder of why I need to keep things exactly where they are with Chloe—it’s never a wise idea to let your guard down at work.
We turn around, and I take him to Dog Tails, hoping he won’t pick up on any tension I’m feeling around Chloe. Or vibes, either, like Esmeralda did.
When we head inside, I double down on my resting grump face. I barely break a smile as I introduce my dad to the team. I don’t even react when they call me “Mister Serious Boss.”
And I definitely don’t crack a smile when Chloe comes up to my dad at the front counter and gushes about what a great business I run. “He’s fantastic at this, Mr. Dumont,” she says.
My dad beams. “Aww, that’s sweet of you to say.”
“It’s just the truth,” she says.
And fuck, I’m an asshole.
I should smile. But I don’t. If you give an inch, you’ll be in her bed again.
* * *
A week later, the script arrives via email. I’m in my office, but I pop out to head to the training nook just as Chloe’s finishing with a client. When she’s done, I give her a chin nod. “Script’s here. Want me to help you break it down?”