Defining Love: Volume 3 (Defining Love #3) Read Online Free

everything that happened last night, I knew I was lucky she was here with
me today. I didn’t want to push it. Even before my conversation with Bea this
morning that had me spitting out my orange juice, I’d been nervous she might
start feeling uncomfortable working for me. Mia had completely ignored
Henrietta last night. Henrietta might be young, but it’d been more than
established she wasn’t naïve. She must’ve had at least an inkling, even before
Bea told her what Mia’s issue might be. Now that she knew the galling truth, I
wasn’t sure what to expect.
    I hadn’t even wanted to call Henrietta that morning after I got
off the phone with Bea. I figured if she’d changed her mind about coming on
this trip she would’ve called or texted, and if she was still undecided, it
might be easier for her to cancel over the phone. I wouldn’t make it that easy
on her. It felt devious, but I just couldn’t chance it. What if she did cancel
or worse—quit? I thought maybe if it could at least be in person I’d have a
better chance of convincing her otherwise.
    Now I had other worries. My out-of-control reactions were
becoming reckless and unpredictable even to me. At one point during lunch,
she’d gone over a certain part of the presentation. She’d held her notebook up
with one hand and read while her fingers on her other hand tapped nervously on
the table. I had to refrain from reaching over and touching her hand. It
would’ve come across as me trying to assuage—calm—her nerves. But I knew it was
more. The inappropriate urges I’d had to touch her even from the very beginning
were reaching a boiling point.
    With lunch over and us back at the trade show, I tried to compose
myself, focusing on setting up for the next presentation. I took a seat as she
took front and center on stage. Within seconds, I was transported back to that
night, New Year’s Eve, when I’d felt so blown away by her. I already knew she
was a natural. We’d practiced enough back home. But seeing her now in her sexy
outfit and watching her make this presentation her little bitch, I was floored.
    Halfway through it, I forced myself to focus on the actual
presentation. She’d glance at me every now and again and smile as if wanting my
approval. I knew she’d want feedback once she was finished. So far, all I could
think of was you were beautiful and can I fucking kiss you?
    By the time she’d finished, I was in what had become too familiar
of a daze lately. In the weeks and days leading up to this trip, I’d begun to
feel that the little girl I’d had that conversation with back on New Year’s
Eve—my kid sister’s young friend whose slam dunk first impression I’d tried so
desperately to convince myself had been just a fluke—might be the real deal.
What my dad had been talking about when he said I’d know. Everything about
Henrietta had slowly begun to bring me to my knees. Now here I stood, ready to
drop down on them and pray I hadn’t imagined everything that’d been happening
between us.
    I knew I couldn’t—shouldn’t—because I had to respect that she was
in a relationship and remember that I was her boss. Damn it. Not to mention
that while it was likely the end of the road for Mia and me, after everything
we’d been through, I owed her a dignified break-up.
    In person .
    Not over the phone. I knew I’d be tempted to break up with Mia
over the phone if by some miracle Henrietta actually admitted not just to
feeling the same for me but that she’d be willing to do something about it.
Henrietta wouldn’t be the reason I was breaking up with Mia. I wasn’t even sure
yet if everything I thought was happening between Henrietta and me was
all in my delusional head. There was still the very real possibility that she’d
adamantly object to anything happening between us. Not just because of Edi, but
her home and only family member she knew of were in California. She might be so
uncomfortable by any admission she could