The Proposal (Forever Bound Book 2) by Bree Callahan Read Free Book Online Page A

“Everything’s fine.  I swear,” she started.  She waited to see if Jamie would interrupt when she didn’t Charity went on.  “What did you tell him?”
    “Well, the truth.  I told him that we hadn’t talked since you quit, but it’s strange isn’t it?”
    “Not that strange,” Charity replied with a short laugh.  She cleared her throat to maneuver the conversation.  “I’ve taken a few days off work, and it’s unfortunately put him in a bind.  That’s all.  I’ve been busy and have ignored his calls.  So, he’s probably just curious.  You didn’t know anything, so he’ll go about his life and won’t bother you again.”
    Jamie laughed on the other end of the phone.  “Um…it’s no bother.  He’s really handsome to look at, so I deal with it.”  She laughed, and Charity snickered.  “So, you’re doing well?” Jamie asked.
    Charity slowly nodded.  “I’m doing great!” she lied. 
    “Good.  We miss you, Charity.”
    “I miss you, too,” Charity replied softly.  She almost asked if they were hiring, but that would’ve contradicted everything she just got done telling Jamie.  “How’ve you been?” Charity asked.
    “Can’t complain.  Hours have been better, but that was to be expected with you quitting, so I guess I should thank you.” 
    She laughed, and Charity pretended to be hurt by her words.  “Gee…thanks a lot.”
    “I’m just teasing.  It isn’t the same.”
    Charity looked to the door and found Damian looking through the glass.  She couldn’t hold him off for much longer.  “I know you are.  Hey, I have to go, but I appreciate you calling me.  Take care!”
    “You too.  Bye, Charity.”  They disconnected the call, then Charity slid it back in her purse.  She got out of the car and headed up to where Damian had the door open for her. 
    “Hello!”  Charity leaned in and brushed a kiss on his lips.
    When they parted, he asked her, “Everything alright with whomever you were on the phone with?”
    She nodded.  “Yeah…just an old co-worker wanting to catch up.”  She took in a whiff of the food and sighed.  “Food smells amazing.  I’m starved.”  She moved past him, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. 
    “Me too,” he mumbled.  He kissed her with a passionate hunger, making her fall into him and briefly forgetting the meal.
    As they kissed, all she could think about was how she needed to call Derek and tell him to stop stalking her, because she was trying to move on and he was stopping her from searching for her own happiness.  She was getting a nice start.
    When they parted from one another, they went into the kitchen, and he put together two plates of his homemade spaghetti.  They sat down at the table and did some small talk, as they ate their Italian and drank their wine.  “How have things been at the office?” Damian asked bringing back her back.
    “What?” she asked, nearly coughing up her wine. 
    He laughed.  “No reason to look surprised by the question.  I figured I haven’t really said a whole lot about your job and thought It’d be a nice time to show you I care about that.  Work going alright?” he asked, as he took a drink from his wine glass.
    She hadn’t mentioned that she was taking a few days off, a week, or maybe even more, and now she felt odd for letting him have to ask the question.  Yet, she still didn’t feel comfortable telling him that she hooked up with Derek, and now she wasn’t speaking with him.  Even though they could sleep with other people, while in this relationship, it was like she worried, she just stabbed him in the back. 
    She nodded, taking a bite of her meatball.  “Unless you happen to have a job open and I can apply?” She laughed nervously.
    He snickered.  “What?  Why would you ever want to leave the life of luxury to work for me?”  He took a drink from his glass and stared at her from over the top.
    She smiled.  “To see more of you,