Surrendering to Us by Chelsea M. Cameron Read Free Book Online

the couch. That wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
    “So we have those interviews today,” I said to Lucah the next morning as he rinsed the shampoo from my hair. We’d decided to conserve water and shower together, even though my shower wasn’t as big as his had been and we were both a wee bit hung over and sluggish. It was a delicate dance of switching places without falling, or tripping over the other’s feet.
    “Any good candidates?”
    “A few, but I’m sure the ones I like won’t get chosen.”
    “Maybe you’ll be surprised and the person you don’t want to hire will turn out fantastic.”
    “You wouldn’t be speaking of my last assistant, would you?”
    “Maybe. Maybe I’m talking about something completely different. My turn.” I faced him and squeezed some shampoo in my hand. He’d started using my shampoo because he said it gave his hair good volume, but I knew it was because it smelled like me. I scrubbed my fingers through his hair, being careful not to get any in his eyes.
    “There are actually a few women who made the cut and one who’s our age, which could be kind of fun.”
    “Oh really? I’d be shocked if they picked her, unless she’s super hot.” I made a disgusted sound.
    “You men. Always thinking with your dicks.”
    “Why do you think they call men who are jerks, dicks? For that very reason.” I’d never thought of it that way.
    “You’re smart sometimes.”
    “You’re smart and sexy all the time.” I used the shampoo to turn his hair into a mohawk before I made him tilt his head back so I could rinse his hair out.
    When we finally made it out the door, we grabbed a cab and stopped at a bakery near work. I didn’t know what Lilia might like, so I did the same thing Lucah had done on our first day. Got her one of everything.
    “You’re sweet,” Lucah said when he realized what I was doing.
    “No, I’m really not. I am a cold and calculating businesswoman. Don’t you think anything otherwise,” I said, pointing my finger at him and giving him my best glare.
    He held up his hands in surrender.
    “Okay, okay. You win, Miss Clarke.”
    “Don’t you forget it.”
    “Never, ever.”
     

     
    Lilia acted as if I’d given her the world, or at least a very expensive and rare purse when I handed over the bag of breakfast goodies.
    “Just take what you want and leave the rest in the break room. I’m sure they’ll get eaten in no time.” It was a universal truth that pastries left in the break room would not survive for long.
    I waited to see what she would pick as she dug through the bag.
    When she dug out the strawberry frosted donut, it was like kismet.
    “Good choice,” I said and she handed me my messages.
    “Oh, and your mother called, about five minutes ago. She said she tried your cell, but it went to voicemail.” What? I pulled out my phone only to find that my battery was completely dead. I’d forgotten to charge it last night. I really needed to stop drinking so much wine on weeknights.
    “Okay, thanks Lilia.” I took the messages and went to my office, closing the door. My mother calling me in the morning could be a catastrophe, or it could just be her STILL trying to set me up with Fin Herald. I happened to know, from Marisol, that he was currently in Japan, so it probably wouldn’t be that.
    I dialed out and she picked up after the second ring.
    “Hi Mom, everything okay?” I kept my voice light, but my heart was pounding and my hands shook a tiny bit.
    “Oh, Rory. I’m glad you called. You really ought to remember to charge your phone.” Yes, yes, get to the point.
    “I know, Mom. I’m sorry.” I waited and she sighed.
    “I’m worried about your father. He’s spending too much time at work, and it’s not healthy. I’ve talked to him over and over about it, but he won’t listen to me. Have you talked to him?”
    “Of course I have, but he won’t listen to me either. Yesterday I tried to tell him to