Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
It was like a great big kinky oil leak all over my head.
Sawyer was barely holding back a deep breath and looked like he was so uncomfortable the hives were ready to pop up. “If…if you need to talk about anything, I’d be glad to help.”
Really?
He was nice but I was pretty sure I’d give him a heart attack.
Some of that must’ve shown on my face—mostly because I was tired and frustrated with myself—because he chuckled. “God. How the guy with two partners ends up being the prude in the office is insane.”
Well, at least I hadn’t said it.
Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders like he was going into battle. “I promise I am not as easily shocked as I look.”
I wasn’t going to bet on that.
“I promise I am not as nuts as I look.” I wasn’t sure what I could say to actually make him believe that without giving him a heart attack…or having to talk about all the stuff Micha had said over the weekend.
I wasn’t going to pretend to have done much talking but he kept making little comments.
“Um, do you understand why I don’t believe that? Howard wouldn’t even believe that.” Sawyer’s duh tone had me trying not to laugh.
“He puts you in the weirdest positions.” That got another eye roll from the dramatic worrier. “How about I promise to keep to more normal hours, and you just tell him that it seems like Micha and I had a silly argument but we’ve worked past it?”
Clearly liking that idea, Sawyer tried not to show it as he studied me. “If I tell him that and then your life implodes like that guy downstairs who works at the law firm, Howard is going to kill us all with guilt.”
I would never understand how they’d managed to collect so many dramatic nuts in one company. Hell, even the straight guys were ridiculous. It was definitely Howard’s fault in some way but I still hadn’t figured it out.
“Yes.” I’d done this to myself but I had no idea how to get out of it. “Honestly. This is not going to blow up in anyone’s face. No guilt besides mine at driving my partner insane.”
And everyone at work too.
“Alright.” Not liking the situation, Sawyer glared at me. “Don’t make me a tattletale and a liar.”
Snickering, I shook my head. “You told me who sent you and I told you what to tell him. No tattletales here, just a boss who doesn’t understand limits or social situations.”
Oops.
There was a flash of knowledge in Sawyer’s eyes and it was enough to have him crossing his arms over his chest. “Limits are very important and should be respected.”
Well, clearly, he wasn’t as vanilla as he came across…two partners or not.
God. Somehow I’d dug myself a deeper hole.
“And sometimes pushing them and figuring out where the limit should be is healthy and frustrating.” I was hoping that would be enough and relief seemed to hit us both as he nodded slowly. “Howard doesn’t need to know that part.”
“Agreed.” Shaking his head, Sawyer’s mouth turned up at one corner. “But the offer to talk is still on the table if you need it.”
Since I was starting to think he might actually be able to handle it without dying, I nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
And I also appreciated someone pointing out I was making my coworkers and boss worry.
I wasn’t sure there was a lot I could do about the worrying in general, but I could make more of an effort to fake it. There was no way that Micha would buy the act, but my coworkers probably would as long as I left at a reasonable time and stopped wandering around at odd moments talking to myself.
That was probably what caught Howard’s attention, but I was glad he hadn’t explained that to Sawyer. Having Howard think I was losing my marbles was enough. But was telling Sawyer I was having a limits crisis any better?
I still wasn’t sure as he left, but I was glad I hadn’t killed him.
Howard really liked him and he was a hard worker.
“Time to go home.” Before someone else came to check on me. “But first I need to apologize to Micha.”
And distract him.
I wasn’t under any delusion that he’d gotten distracted or had decided to leave the whole new kink conversation alone. But I was hoping our odd stalemate would last a few more days so I could have more time to ignore it before he made me talk about it again.
It was only Tuesday and that was a long time away from Friday, so I’d know what to say before then.
Hopefully?
Ugh.
I needed more caffeine to be able to handle reality.
But first, I picked up my phone and studied it for a few seconds. “Text.”
He’d hear the stress in my voice if I tried to call and that wasn’t what I was going for. Stress meant I’d end up on his lap talking.