10. Kate

Chapter 10

Kate

I wake up to my alarm that I had set for six am on Monday morning so I can get ready for work. I go through my routine, drop Emma off at school, and go to work. I can’t help but think that being with Bull was like a dream now that I’m back in the real world.

My friends stop by my office and ask me if I ever called the hottie from Friday night, and I’m surprised by how quickly I lie and say I didn’t.

The morning flies by and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve thought of Bull. I’ve already accepted the fact that I’m going to break my own rule and call him as soon as I’m alone in my car on my lunch break. My friends would die of jealousy if they knew just how incredible my weekend truly was.

Lunch hour has finally arrived, and I stand up to get my things together so I can leave for lunch. I’m in a hurry, so I bend over my desk to grab my purse from the bottom desk drawer.

When two strong hands squeeze my butt, I let out a surprised squeal and straighten up, ready to punch whichever perv from tech decided it was okay to touch me.

But it’s not a perv from tech. No, right now, it’s worse. It’s Bull.

The door to my office is open and a crowd has started to gather. Many of them look concerned and I think I hear one of them ask if they should call security.

I can feel my face burning and I wave them off. “No, everything is fine. He’s uh, here to see me.”

He crowds into me, dipping his head. “You look so hot in that skirt. It makes me want to yank it up and – “

I look at the crowd out in the hall and back to Bull. “Whoa-kay there, that’s plenty. Thank you for the… uh, compliment. Is there something wrong? Something you needed?”

He reaches for my hand, but I pull it back.

“Uh, I came to take you to lunch.”

I try to look him in the eye, but I can’t lie to him, looking into his trusting eyes. “I shouldn’t leave for lunch because I have so much work to do.” I point to the stacks of work still in my inbox, hoping he’ll accept my answer and leave.

Bulldog

I take in her deep blush and look over at the nosy crowd watching and know why she’s acting like she is. With barely a nod, I walk away from her, and I’m pretty sure I pass her friends from the other night. They are all gawking at me. But I just look straight ahead and try to hide how pissed I am right now.

Kate follows me but doesn’t say a word until we’re out of the building. As soon as the door shuts behind her, she speeds up. “Bull, wait.”

I turn on her and she stops in her tracks. I know I shouldn’t, not here, not with how mad I am, but I call her out on her behavior. “You’re embarrassed of me and worried about what other people might think. I can’t waste my life living like that. I’m proud to be with someone that makes me feel the way you do, but if that’s not enough for you, then fuck it.”

She’s saying my name over and over, but I don’t stop. I get on my bike and pull out of the parking lot. The whole way I’m swearing to myself that I’m not going to have anything to do with her again.

Kate

I return to my office and it seems everyone is staring at me. My boss brings me to his office to reprimand me on proper office etiquette.

My friends, who’d been encouraging me before, are scandalized now by my choice to actually call him.

I finish out the workday and am miserable when I get home. It was bad having everyone look at me like I’d done something wrong. It was bad when my boss threatened to write me up for allowing a visitor to grope me openly in front of so many people.

But the worst part was when Bulldog looked at me like I’d betrayed him. It was worse to hear the truth of my feelings come out of his mouth in that cold, pained tone of his voice. Worst of all was watching him leave and knowing that I deserved to be left behind.

I try to hide my sadness from Emma, but she notices it because she asks me when Bulldog will be around again.

With sadness, I tell her what I did today and that he probably won’t ever be around again.

“He’ll come around. Besides, Mom, aren’t you always telling me you shouldn’t care what other people think? You should practice what you preach.” She opens the refrigerator and peers in. “Can we order Chinese?”

I nod and she goes about ordering the food, but I’m still stuck on what she said. I really should practice what I preach. Man, did I screw up.

I put on my pajamas, the soft ones that are almost threadbare, but they always bring me comfort, and then I sit on the couch with a glass of wine.

The knock at the door sounds and I grab my wallet and open it, pulling my cash out. When I raise my head, I look straight into the eyes of Bull. He shakes the wetness from his hair. “I couldn’t stay away,” he admits, his hair wet from the rain and his clothes clinging to his hot body.

I’m so happy to see him I throw my arms around him and pull him into the house.