Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 8

“Well, I’m sure it will go better next time,” Betsy stated.

“There won’t be a next time, Betsy.” Hell, there shouldn’t have been a first time.

“Of course there will be. I explained to Shannon what happened and how you were an innocent party to all this.”

Innocent? Ha. “I don’t need your help explaining myself, Betsy.”

“You could’ve fooled me. From what it sounds like, you two didn’t do much talking at all last night. So I took the liberty of apologizing for you.”

I closed my eyes, trying to hold my tongue. Did I owe Shannon an apology? Yes. But I could only imagine what Betsy had said. Shannon wasn’t going to fall for any of Betsy’s bullshit lines. Shannon knows me better than that. But if it put an end to it, then maybe it didn’t matter.

“Good. So now we can drop this subject.” I don’t want to hear her name again.

“Not exactly. But we can talk about that later,” Betsy said. “You have a meeting shortly and security has already notified me he’s on his way up.”

Shit. At least it wasn’t a business meeting. It was a college buddy who texted me late last night, putting feelers out for job opportunities. Happens all the time. Normally I just tell them there aren’t any openings. But Carlton was different. We had spent a lot of time partying back in college. The competition between us had been endless, from betting on sports to a conquest with a beautiful lady. After graduation, I lost touch with him. If I wasn’t in such a pissy mood, I might actually be looking forward to seeing Carlton. But now my mind was a million miles away, and I couldn’t stop thinking of Shannon. A distraction might be just what I needed. Maybe talking business would help me get my head out of my ass.

“Send him in when he gets here.”

“He’s just getting off the elevator. God, he’s handsome,” she said. “I wonder if he’s single.”

“You’re not,” I reminded her.

Betsy chuckled. “I was thinking of Shannon. I mean if you’re not interested, maybe he would be.”

The twist of a knife in my gut shouldn’t feel this bad thinking of Shannon with another man. We’re nothing. Not dating, and after last night, evidently not even friends. If Betsy decided to fix Shannon up with another man, then good for them. Hopefully it worked out and they lived a happy life and had a bunch of kids. Shannon deserved someone nice, because she was the most genuine, gentle soul I’d ever met. But there was a secret side of her that any man would be lucky to know. When the doors closed in the bedroom, she left all that sweetness outside. Shannon made sex not just hot, but fun, and always gave at least as much as she got. Fuck, I miss that.

What dinner revealed to me last night was that it wasn’t just my cock that missed her. I could drown in those deep sea blue eyes. Hell, that’s why I didn’t see that glass of water coming my way in time to do anything about it. But it was exactly what we needed to end the night. If she hadn’t knocked it over, it’s possible I would’ve done something we both would regret. Make love to her all fucking night.

There was a knock on the office door and it opened. “Hey, Jace, thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.”

Carlton Bayer sure as hell didn’t look like he was here for an interview. “Are you off to the beach?”

He laughed. “Haven’t decided yet.”

“Must be nice not having to worry about working.” It wasn’t something I allowed myself to do. If you turned your back on your business, someone was waiting to snatch it up from you.

“Not everyone works like you,” Carlton said as he plopped himself down on the sofa across the room.

“Don’t want to sit by the desk?”

Carlton shook his head. “Too stiff.” Looking around the office, he made a face and added, “I have no idea how you do this every day. Look at you. Who sits at those old wooden desks anymore? You’re not a hundred years old. You’re thirty. Act like it. Have some fun.” He looked around the office and said, “Put some pictures on the wall from this century. I know a woman who could redesign this place and you’d never recognize it.”

I bet you do. “I don’t believe you’re here to talk about my décor. And if you are, then you’re wasting my time.”

“I was actually thinking you might want to head out and grab a coffee and breakfast. Not used to being up this early and I’m starving.”

I cut to the chase. “Carlton, you’re here for a job, right?” I wasn’t about to let him waste my time. I don’t give handouts. If someone works for me, it’s because they bust their ass. I expect a lot of my staff, and that’s why I pay them well.

“Yes and no.”

“Which is it?” Either way, right now, I wasn’t hiring his ass. I dealt with professionals and Carlton obviously wasn’t one any longer.

“I’m here to remind you to have fun. Not to be so fucking serious,” Carlton stated.

“Fun? You think what I do here is fun? It’s hard work running a company,” I said firmly.

“Not talking about your 9-5 job. I’m talking about when you clock out.”

There’s no such thing when you’re the owner. Doesn’t matter if I’m in the office or at a club, I need to be ready for the next big opportunity.

“Carlton, I don’t have time for this. So why don’t you email me your resume and I’ll call you sometime.” It wasn’t going to be anytime soon, that was for damn sure.

“Seriously, Jace. There is more to life than chasing the next deal. Money won’t make you happy.”

“Seems to be working now.” I had no complaints about my life. And money was what it was going to take to get me into the Bachelor Towers.

“So you’re happy?”