Page 25 of Fate In Fiction

“Stella, thank you for mothering me, but I know what I’m doing. He wouldn’t have asked me to move in if I was just a fling.”

“What?!” Her jaw drops as Emery removes her earbud, now fully invested. “This is happening so fast, and almost out of nowhere.”

“You’ve always been the secretive type, though, so it shouldn’t be this shocking to me.” Emery’s blue eyes hold mine for a little too long. Dealing with her sly suspicion is not something I have the mental capacity for after today. “You’re not the type to do casual hookups, but you’re moving in with the handsome man who asks you a month or so after meeting?”

“He gets me.” With a shrug, I do my best to add a glint to my eyes as I smile.

“Damn, Josie Posie.” Stella pulls out her phone to snap a picture of the three of us for her social media. “We all need to hang out soon, get to know him better. We can admire how smitten he is over you.”

“You will. Eventually. We haven’t been getting as much one-on-one time as we’d like.” My skin crawls, knowing her prying personality might kick into full gear. “Let us get settled in and a routine going, and then you girls can come over.”

“Fine.” Stella turns back to her phone as Emery pops her earbud back in, shooting me questioning eyes.

My lungs fill, trying to calm my wired brain. My eyes fall closed, hoping I can get through this weekend without any further questions.

EMMETT

“Mr. Wheaton?” My assistant pokes her head through my open door. “You’re next meeting has been canceled due to a family emergency.” Her smile is forced from nerves as she adjusts her glasses.

“Thank you, Adrianna.” I nod and return a smile. “Would you reschedule the meeting I have before lunch, please? I need an extended break.”

“Right away, sir. Anything else?”

“Yes. Relax. You’re doing a great a job for your first week.” My previous assistant was fired on the spot for showing up in my office late one night offering a lap dance. I wasn’t a hundred percent against it until I noticed her camera phone hidden in the corner. It’s difficult to trust anyone when they know how much money is to my family’s name.

Adrianna takes a steady breath and heads out. I glance at the phone for the fiftieth time this hour, wondering when Josie will text her arrival. My brain filters through what it will be like living with a woman for the next few months. I’ve merely spent the night with a woman, and it was because we hardly slept. Living with Josie could potentially lead to us sleeping together if we both let a moment consume us. I’ve refrained from turning on my full charm and acting on my own damn impulses, because after seeing how her parents treat her, I want her to get the most out of life and explore the world. Getting physical just might mess shit up. Her life needs trump my physical needs. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop teasing and testing her, though, because her blush is too damn cute.

The tight dress she wore the other night at dinner showed off her figure that’s been hidden in oversized sweaters and dresses with cardigans. Ignoring the comment her sister made about Josie’s flexibility has been impossible, and I’d be lying to say I didn’t try to ease the thoughts by using my hand. The way she chose her moment to call out my secret restaurant habit was golden. Pure genius and, for the first time, left me a little choked up. Beyond her sass and perfect image she presents to her parents and the world, her heart is special. I’ve been paying for elderly couples’ meals for years and no one else has picked up on it. I may have never attempted to settle down, but I don’t want to die alone, and I take much appreciation for couples who last a lifetime.

She has such a level head for someone her age. Her attraction to me and being able to halt the actions I watch pass through her mind is a level of control I’ve yet to enforce. I suppress a groan and log out of my computer. It’s a good thing I work as much as I do. The less we see each other, the better. A protective side has awakened after the stunt she threw in my face after the dinner party. Skipping off to another state without telling the man you’re supposed to be dating is irresponsible. I don’t want to hold her back from her friends and adventure, but her safety is important. I glance down at our weekend texts, which consisted of me making sure she was still alive, and her doing nothing but giving my message bubble a thumbs up.

My phone lights up under my strand of messages, letting me know she’s in the lobby. I head down to meet her.

The elevator doors chime open, revealing Josie with two large suite cases and a daring smile. Noticeably, I let my eyes venture over her skinny jeans and a hoodie with ‘San Diego’ written across it. Her usually styled hair is piled on top of her head in a bun and her face is free of makeup. To say she’s making a statement in a ritzy hotel lobby is plain to see. I can’t help the grin at her taking control of another F-you to her parents. Her father would not approve of her outfit, especially in a place like this.

“You look best not trying to get all fancied up.” I pinch her nose and refrain from the impulse to kiss her nose. “I mean it. You look cuddly in that sweatshirt.” I try to hide my cringe, and her eyes widen with surprise.

“I don’t cuddle.” She glances down at her cases.

“That’s all you have?” I blink, tilting my head to see if the staff is following behind with more baggage.

“I’m not a prisoner, Emmett. I can always head back to my parents’ house if I need something.”

“Right.” I step forward, taking both cases and rolling them toward the elevator. I explain the code system and overly stress how no one but her can know the code, even though any of her family and friends are welcome. But they must first sign in with the front desk. We arrive on our floor and walk past the few suite rooms before arriving at mine on the far end.

“Welcome home.” I open the door and let her enter before me. She slowly moves her head from side to side at my underwhelming suite.

“It’s… cozy,” she says, taking a few steps to the left and entering the decently sized kitchen with an island.

The living room is barely large enough to host a three cushioned couch, coffee table, and average flat-screen that I have never turned on.

“You’re the CEO, right?” Her voice raises with uncertainty. “Don’t get me wrong, this is big enough for two people…” She trails off.

“I’ve been a bachelor, freeloading all my life. I didn’t get the large penthouse. That went to another high-ranking staff member and his family.” She shoots me a soft smile and walks toward the hallway. “It’s small, but I’m never home anyway.”

Josie folds her arms across her chest and walks past the door on the left, presenting the large, and only bathroom in this suite. “Wow, that jacuzzi tub is quite the selling point.”

“You should see the view from my deck in the bedroom,” I gloat. Josie pokes her head into the useless closet sized room, hosting a couch chair with a flat cushion like a bed, and a small nightstand with a lamp. Honestly, I don’t know the point of this room. Maybe it could work as an extra closet if the woman is bougie enough.