Choosing Lillian by Rania Battany

Author:Rania Battany [Battany, Rania]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648431176
Published: 2020-03-10T16:00:00+00:00

13

Him

‘This is a nice surprise.’

After spending an entire day drowning in paperwork, I looked up to see Lillian. She beamed like sunshine, and I couldn’t help my smile.

But my smile instantly faded. ‘Is everything okay?’ I asked.

‘Fine. Everything is totally fine.’

‘And with work … are things okay with work?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. I think the police may have sorted out my problem.’

My muscles unclenched, and I released a pent-up breath.

Hovering in the doorway, she flicked uncertain glances between the papers scattered all over my desk and me. ‘I’m sorry for showing up unannounced—I just wanted to say hi. But you look busy, so I won’t stay.’

‘It’s just paperwork.’ I groaned. ‘It’s the worst part of the job.’

She took a few uncertain steps into the room. ‘I was thinking—if you’re free later—we could have dinner and play chess at your place? I won’t stay long because I have to be up early tomorrow, but even if we hung out for an hour or two?’

Her eyes caught mine, and I saw something different in them. She didn’t have the same assertiveness—the same confidence—she usually had.

If she thought I’d be uncomfortable by the spontaneous catch-up suggestion, then she’d be wrong. I’d missed her like fucking crazy this week.

‘I’d love to,’ I said. Scanning my desk, I sighed. ‘Although I won’t be done here for another two hours or so.’

‘That’s okay. I don’t mind waiting.’

I tapped my fingers against my desk, thinking. I couldn’t expect her to wait around the city until I finished work. Reaching into my desk drawer, I pulled out my car keys and unclipped my apartment key from the loop. I held it in the air toward her. ‘How about I meet you back at my place when I’m done?’

Her lips curled into a subtle smile. ‘You don’t mind me being at your apartment without you?’

‘Not even slightly.’

I liked the thought of her waiting at home for me. A little too much.

Reaching her hand across my desk, I dropped the key into her palm. She bit her bottom lip, studying it for a moment, then glanced at me. Her smile grew until it lit up her entire face, and my heart skipped.

‘Okay,’ she said, a glimmer in her bright eyes. ‘I’ll meet you at your place.’

She strolled away, her yellow skirt dancing around her knees, and I peered blankly at my desk. Something tightened in my chest—anticipation, excitement.

Something I wouldn’t acknowledge.

Carter barged into my office the moment Lillian left, his eyes accusing and his smirk teasing. ‘Did you just give the social worker your apartment keys?’

‘Do you do any work?’

He laughed. ‘Of course. But I can’t help noticing when a beautiful woman comes strolling into the office.’ He flicked up his eyebrows, and his lips kicked into a sleazy grin. ‘Especially when she’s wearing a skirt like that.’

Fisting my palms underneath the desk, I clenched my jaw at the thought of him fantasizing about her. But my tone, like my expression, remained neutral. ‘How about this—if you talk about her like that again, I’ll break your fucking nose.

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