sex thing will work out.”
“How did you get to be so smart?”
“I’m fucked if I know.”
Sarah and Bella laughed so hard. Sarah was grateful for the day this beautiful young woman came into her life. She had a clear path forward now. She’d talk to Brock. If he agreed about the work arrangement, she’d stay on in the company. The new place to live, her car, and all of the rest wasn’t up for negotiation.
Sarah needed to sort her life out herself, and the next step would be going to see her parents. She swallowed, and her mouth went dry. Sarah took a gulp of wine. She could do this. She would do this tomorrow.
Chapter Seven
“So what you are saying is, Jason will give me the personal reports on a weekly basis and we’ll just need to touch base via email or text. Then, you and I will have a monthly meeting in person.”
“Yes. I need to run this job my way. I love it, but I have to make it my own.” Sarah’s voice didn’t falter.
“I see.”
“Of course, if there’s any urgent situations that come up, I’ll be here on the front line. For the company we’ll always show a united front.”
“Heather has been at me forever to update the way we all interact. She insists it’s way more efficient to use technology most of the time. I know she’ll like it.”
“Bella and Ryan are speaking with the youth board, and they’re going to set it up. This is the only way I can continue to do this job. I need to know that I’m here on my own merit and not because there’s anything between us.”
Brock looked hard at her then. “Is there anything between us?”
“I can’t discuss that now. This space, for me, can only be about work. The lines can’t be blurred. If you give me a call this evening, we can talk about where I see us.”
“Why do I get the feeling that we’re not in Kansas anymore?”
Sarah sat down in the chair opposite him. The wide expanse of hardwood desk between them seemed very symbolic. She took a breath and exhaled. Brock’s direct stare gave her the familiar surge of need inside her. She did her best to ignore it.
“I need to get control of my life. You need to sort your own life out. I’ve a lot to deal with, and so do you. I’m just not ready to expunge things the way we did in the warehouse. If I, we, don’t deal with the issues that came to the forefront, then it’s just another cover-up job. I need to deal.”
Sarah waited until the buzz from the memories subsided before she continued. “The BDSM isn’t the cure-all. That’s putting a Band-Aid over a bullet wound for me. Dealing with the problem from the source is the answer. After that, I can think about the emotional side of it. I’m not sure how long that’ll take. But if we have something, there’s no rush, right?”
Sarah heart hammered because he might just tell her to leave. Maybe her getting the job had nothing to do with her ability. Brock looked away and didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. She thought she pretty much had her answer.
He looked back at her, and his intense stare had softened. “I’m sorry I railroaded you. You’re right. This is business, and you are the best person for the job. Personal lives need to be separate.” He sighed. “And, yes, I need to sort my shit out. But that has nothing to do with you; it’s up to me to make the changes I need.”
Sarah felt for him then. God, she hated her soft heart sometimes. “Railroaded might be a bit harsh. I just need to have my life back on my terms. Here at work, it can only ever be about work.”
“I’ll respect your wishes. I’ll back off. Just take pity on me now and again and invite me for dinner.” He grinned. Oh, that smile melted her every time. She could punch him for it.
Sarah relaxed. It was done. “Only if you bring Romeo and Juliet.”
“Done deal. They like chicken best.”
“Right. The first thing we need to do is have a meeting with Rick and get this crap sorted out. I’ve drawn up a contract,
“How did you get to be so smart?”
“I’m fucked if I know.”
Sarah and Bella laughed so hard. Sarah was grateful for the day this beautiful young woman came into her life. She had a clear path forward now. She’d talk to Brock. If he agreed about the work arrangement, she’d stay on in the company. The new place to live, her car, and all of the rest wasn’t up for negotiation.
Sarah needed to sort her life out herself, and the next step would be going to see her parents. She swallowed, and her mouth went dry. Sarah took a gulp of wine. She could do this. She would do this tomorrow.
Chapter Seven
“So what you are saying is, Jason will give me the personal reports on a weekly basis and we’ll just need to touch base via email or text. Then, you and I will have a monthly meeting in person.”
“Yes. I need to run this job my way. I love it, but I have to make it my own.” Sarah’s voice didn’t falter.
“I see.”
“Of course, if there’s any urgent situations that come up, I’ll be here on the front line. For the company we’ll always show a united front.”
“Heather has been at me forever to update the way we all interact. She insists it’s way more efficient to use technology most of the time. I know she’ll like it.”
“Bella and Ryan are speaking with the youth board, and they’re going to set it up. This is the only way I can continue to do this job. I need to know that I’m here on my own merit and not because there’s anything between us.”
Brock looked hard at her then. “Is there anything between us?”
“I can’t discuss that now. This space, for me, can only be about work. The lines can’t be blurred. If you give me a call this evening, we can talk about where I see us.”
“Why do I get the feeling that we’re not in Kansas anymore?”
Sarah sat down in the chair opposite him. The wide expanse of hardwood desk between them seemed very symbolic. She took a breath and exhaled. Brock’s direct stare gave her the familiar surge of need inside her. She did her best to ignore it.
“I need to get control of my life. You need to sort your own life out. I’ve a lot to deal with, and so do you. I’m just not ready to expunge things the way we did in the warehouse. If I, we, don’t deal with the issues that came to the forefront, then it’s just another cover-up job. I need to deal.”
Sarah waited until the buzz from the memories subsided before she continued. “The BDSM isn’t the cure-all. That’s putting a Band-Aid over a bullet wound for me. Dealing with the problem from the source is the answer. After that, I can think about the emotional side of it. I’m not sure how long that’ll take. But if we have something, there’s no rush, right?”
Sarah heart hammered because he might just tell her to leave. Maybe her getting the job had nothing to do with her ability. Brock looked away and didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. She thought she pretty much had her answer.
He looked back at her, and his intense stare had softened. “I’m sorry I railroaded you. You’re right. This is business, and you are the best person for the job. Personal lives need to be separate.” He sighed. “And, yes, I need to sort my shit out. But that has nothing to do with you; it’s up to me to make the changes I need.”
Sarah felt for him then. God, she hated her soft heart sometimes. “Railroaded might be a bit harsh. I just need to have my life back on my terms. Here at work, it can only ever be about work.”
“I’ll respect your wishes. I’ll back off. Just take pity on me now and again and invite me for dinner.” He grinned. Oh, that smile melted her every time. She could punch him for it.
Sarah relaxed. It was done. “Only if you bring Romeo and Juliet.”
“Done deal. They like chicken best.”
“Right. The first thing we need to do is have a meeting with Rick and get this crap sorted out. I’ve drawn up a contract,
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