Nightie Night: The Lingerie Series (Stir Sticks & Stilettos) by Yvette Hines Read Free Book Online Page A

to
pick up his phone and have Gabrielle’s voice greet me while I’m staring at the
picture of their family on his desk.”
    “Oh, shit.” Oriana had a hand over
her heart. “How long have they been married?”
    “I don’t know. Didn’t ask. Wasn’t
sticking around to find out.” Picking up a brush, I dragged it fiercely through
my hair and then picked up one of my old bands and pulled it into a ponytail.
    “Gabrielle. Is she Latin or
something?” Oriana crossed her legs and folded her arms.
    “Nope. A pretty black woman who
looked so happy in the picture with Aaren and their son, who was at least
four.” I removed my shirt, skirt and unhooked the front latches of my corset. I
didn’t bat an eye about being all natural in front of her. My best friend had
seen me nude almost as many times as my mother. Moving to my closet, I pulled
on a robe.
    “So, even if not married long
they’ve been together for a while.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Kalan.”
    “Don’t apologize. You’re not the
ass, he is.”
    “Yeah, but I know how much you cared
for him. Two years is a long time to have your mind set on someone…I’d almost
say you were in lo—”
    “Don’t you dare say it!” I set my
hands on my hips and aimed a glare at her.
    Holding her hands up in defense, she
stood. “Okay. Fine. You going to talk to him about it? You know, ask him why?”
    “Never. This internal audit is
finished. On Monday, he’ll pick up all the packets for the shareholders meeting
Tuesday morning. It was already set for him to give the presentation alone.” I
brushed my hands against each other as if knocking the dust from them. “Done.
Case closed.” 
    “Whatever you feel is best, Kalan.
You know I got your back.” Crossing the room, she gave me a hug. She moved away
and headed to the door. “That means even if you want to catch him in a dark
alley, I gotcha back.”
    I laughed and it felt good. I knew
she was only joking, neither one of use were vengeful people, but it gave me a
nice thought. “Thanks, girl.”
    Smiling, Oriana left.
    Turning to the bathroom, I headed
for the shower. I would make myself put Aaren Reston out of my mind. It was
over. Yes, I had spent the better part of the last two years pining for him and
imagining a relationship with him…maybe even falling for him a little, but
lesson learned. After tonight, the book of us would be burned on the bonfire of
heartache.
    ~YH~
    “Knock, knock.” Glancing up from my
computer, I saw Tashi, Mr. Reston's secretary, as I liked to refer to him now,
standing in my doorway.
    “Yes.”
    “Sorry to bother you, Kalan, but Mr.
Reston needs a favor from you.” The petite Asian woman took a couple steps into
the office.
    No, he doesn’t. Especially not after I’d spent all
weekend forcing myself to not think about him. Repeatedly an unknown number had
shown up on my phone but I had ignored it out of fear it was him. I just needed
my subconscious to get the message. This morning like the last two, I’d
awakened from an erotic dream of the two of us and had to masturbate twice to
calm my body and shower for work.
    “I’m sorry, Tashi, I’m busy. He’s
going to have to find someone else.” Smiling to take the sting out of my words,
I turned back to the monitor.
    She moved further into my office.
“There isn’t anyone else. You two completed the internal audit together.”
    Oh, shit. Now she had my full attention.
Had I messed up something in my mad dash away from him? “What’s wrong with the audit?”
    “Nothing’s wrong with it. However,
Mr. Reston left early this afternoon.”
    Shaking my head, I said, “I’m still
not following.”
    “Because of a family illness, he
will be out a few days. He will need you to give the presentation tomorrow.”
    “What?” I stood up. In a way, this
was good news. If I gave the presentation to the shareholders, I’d be more than
just a name on the credits of a PowerPoint slide, but someone they could