Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 46
“Would it be possible to give you my answer tomorrow?” I asked. Hopefully, that would give me time to see Shannon.
“I’m sorry. We need this done today,” he said.
There was an internal battle raging within me: a—all my wants and dreams from my past colliding with the ones of my future. If I hadn’t seen Shannon again, gone to the cabin with her, gotten to know who she was all over again, there wouldn’t be any hesitation now. I knew what I wanted a few weeks ago. But now it’s changed. I want what I wanted years ago. A family. And Shannon is that. She’s…my home.
“I’m sorry to have wasted your time, but I will not be taking the apartment.”
“Excuse me? You don’t want it?” the man asked, sounding as shocked as I was saying it.
“No. It no longer fits my needs. Have a good day.” I hung up the phone and spun my chair around to look out my window. The Bachelor Towers were still in my view, but no longer the focus.
Turning around, I got up from my desk and walked out of my office. Betsy was sitting there and wouldn’t even look at me.
“I take it you’re leaving for a meeting?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Fine. I hope you’re happy. You finally got everything that you wanted,” she snarled.
“I’ll be happy if you can do me a huge favor,” I said.
“I’m paid to do my job. If it’s under my job title, then I have no issue doing it. Did you need me to schedule a moving truck for you?” Betsy asked.
“No.”
“I suggest not waiting ‘til the last minute. That’s how things get broken.”
“I don’t need one. I’m not moving. Not yet, at least.”
She finally looked at me and said, “I know who was on that call. I know why they called.”
“Yes, thanks for that heads up, by the way. And I told them…no. I’m not taking it,” I said. “It’s not where I want to be.”
Her eyes widened, and then she rose from her chair and threw her arms around my neck. “I knew it. I just knew it. I’m so happy that I could…”
“Yeah. Fine. But before you get overly excited, I need your help,” I said, pulling her arms away from me.
She was grinning from ear-to-ear. “Does it have to do with Shannon?”
“Yes. Now, come into my office because you have some shopping to do.” Betsy went to hug me again, and I said, “Don’t make me call HR.”
She put her arms down and chuckled. “I think you should. I’ve earned a raise for sure,” she said with a wink.
I owe you more than you’ll ever know. “We’ll talk about that later. Now let’s go. We’ve got work to do.”
Chapter 22
Shannon
Betsy running late was getting to be a habit, one that she needed to break. It wouldn’t be so bad, but I hadn’t eaten lunch because I knew we were having dessert tonight. My stomach grumbled again, and I looked around. That was it. I wasn’t going to stand out here for another half-hour wondering when she was going to show.
I pulled out my phone and sent her a quick text.
STILL COMING?
NO.
Very funny. YA OKAY. GET YOUR BUTT HERE ALREADY. I’M STARVING.
My phone rang. “Betsy, I’m serious. I’m going to faint if I don’t eat soon.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m still at work. You know how it is. My boss is back from vacation, and I’m paying the price.”
It was more likely he was taking out his frustration at me on Betsy. That wasn’t right. All she’d done was try to fix us up. Betsy had no idea of the tangled web Jace, and I had. And with my father’s interference, there was no chance of Jace and I ever working out.
“I’m sorry Betsy. Did you want me to talk to him for you?” I offered.
Instantly her tone went from dull and high pitched excited. “Would you? That would be great. Call him now, and maybe I’ll still get out before the sun goes down.”
“Now?” I really meant text. I wasn’t ready to hear his voice again, even though not hearing it as killing me.
“Of course now. It’ll keep your mind off how hungry you are.”
I laughed. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d actually think you’re trying to be…”
“Thoughtful. A good friend. And you’d be right. Okay. You go call him, and I’ll get back to…work.”
Betsy ended the call even before I could argue with her. Why did I make that offer? Jace hadn’t reached out to me. I know I told him not to, but really, he could’ve at least made an effort. Now I’m going to look like I’m chasing him, coming up with an excuse to talk to him. That wasn’t it at all. I really only wanted to bring his mistreatment of Betsy to his attention.
I sat back down on the bench outside the restaurant and dialed his number. He picked up on the first ring.
“Hi Shannon,” he said.
I didn’t expect for him to answer so quickly. It didn’t even give me a chance to think about what I wanted to say. “Um…Hi. I…um... I was calling about Betsy.”
“You called my personal line to talk to Betsy?” he asked.
“No. Not to talk to her, but about her. Well, really more about you. Not exactly you, but you and her.” This wasn’t going well. “That doesn’t sound right. I’m not trying to imply”
“Good. Because there is nothing between me and Betsy,” he said firmly.
“I know that. I was actually talking about work. You do have a working relationship, you know,” I said as though it was Jace that had misunderstood, instead of me sounding like a babbling idiot.
“This might be easier if we