XanderI was probably fucking myself over with this, but I was going to do it anyway. I couldn’t resist her.I thought I was over it. I’d ended things with her, but damn, the woman was stubborn. She didn’t take no for an answer, and quite honestly, I was glad she didn’t.The rest of my life was imploding. I wanted to hold on to her for just a little longer. I knew it would never work long term, but having her near right then felt good.I didn’t want to admit I needed her. Technically, I didn’t need her in the sense I wouldn’t survive without her, but if she was here and offering her company, why not take it? It would ease my misery for a bit. I didn’t have to commit to anything. We were having fun. We were friends. Casual friends. Nothing more.Then why did I introduce her as my girlfriend? That was a problem to be handled another day. I stepped off the elevator and walked down the quiet hall of her hotel until I came to her room door. I knocked, and when she opened the door, I felt

EvieI told myself I wasn’t nervous. There was nothing to be nervous about. I knew he liked my body. He wasn’t going to point at the little extra cushioning on my hips that felt extremely exposed and enhanced in the lacy red bit of lingerie I was wearing.When he invited me to dinner, I’d claimed I needed a dress. I did but then I happened to come across the lingerie and decided to spice things up.Spicy was one word for it. I fluffed my hair and pulled a few faces in the mirror until I was satisfied I had the perfect sultry pout. I hit the light and opened the door, slowly walking into the small living space with the kitchenette at my right. Xander was sitting in the chair, just as I ordered.The lights were mostly off and there was soft jazz music streaming through the TV. The man knew how to set a mood. I paused and posed. I watched his expression as he drank in the sight of me wearing the tiny little teddy that had ribbons that crisscrossed over my belly and connected to slightly w

Xander“True, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I’m not sure I want to be there anymore. I’m not sure about anything anymore.”She was quiet for a while. “I get it. I understand you are going through something. Can I ask you to do one thing?”“What is it?”“Don’t make any rash decisions just yet. Don’t sell your house. I’m not saying you need to come back right away but give yourself some time.”“I’ll think about it.”“My life is in San Diego,” she said. “Not that it matters, but I guess you will know where to find me if you ever want to talk.”“Evie, this doesn’t have to end between us,” I blurted out.“I live there. My father is there. My job is there. That’s where I need to be. I understand you don’t want to be there. I won’t ask you to do anything you don’t want to do.”“I’ll make this work,” I told her. “I don’t want this to be over. I want you to be a part of my life.”She offered a small smile. “You know where to find me.”“I do.”I wasn’t sure how I would make it work. I

Evie“You could start your own company and be a party planner wherever you are. I bet your lovely man would be more than happy to make a financial investment in your company. This might be your chance to do the one thing I know you have wanted for a long time.”“What would that be?”“To start your own company,” she answered.I did want to start my own company. “But my reputation is here in southern California. I have developed connections here. If I had to go somewhere else, it would be starting over. I would have nothing. No clients. No reputation. No anything.”“Everyone has to start somewhere.”“But I did already start. My dream is to start my own company here.”She waved a hand. “If you go somewhere else, you wouldn’t have to compete with your current employer. You wouldn’t have to worry about noncompete clauses and all that crap.”She had a good point. “I don’t know. I went up there to be with him. I assumed he would be coming back either with me or shortly after. I never expecte

Xander“My good senses are fine,” I told Charlie. “I’m embarking on a new stage in my life.”“What about the rest of us?”I shrugged. “Why does what I do matter? I’m not asking you to do anything. This is what I have to do.”“Your design for the new rudder system was one of the hottest topics in our world. My company beefed up our maintenance and install teams. We ordered the tools and equipment that would be needed to retrofit the older ships. All we were waiting for were the orders. We knew they would come once you gave your presentation. We already had a few companies in line, ready to send us their ships to be outfitted with your new design. And then you bailed. You left all of us hanging.”“I didn’t mean to cause anyone any trouble,” I told him, feeling the bite of his anger.“No, I know you didn’t. That’s not how you are. You are generous and responsible, and you have always thought about others.”“And you are saying I’m not doing that now?”He didn’t immediately answer, which t