True Faces by Catherine Banks Read Free Book Online

Would it be alright if I came back
to check on you tonight?”
    I nodded my head and he left the house. Shit.
Shit. Shit. I was breaking every rule in the book now. Getting
involved with my boss was murder! I’d have to quit. I’d have to
call him and quit before he came over tonight. Why couldn’t my
hormones stop acting so crazy?
    I needed a distraction so I turned on
Slipknot and started my exercises. I needed to clear my head and go
to Akio soon because as much as I hated to admit it my third eye
had to open again. I took a cleansing breath and started my
routine, but no matter how hard I tried to clear my vision I could
only see Eric’s face and feel his lips on mine. Two hours of trying
later and I gave up. I had it bad and I had only known him for a
few weeks.
    I put in another movie and tried to entertain
myself, but all I could think about was Eric. I finally decided to
go for a run and locked up my house. My body healed a little faster
than a normal human’s so my head wouldn’t hurt as I ran. I ran into
the forest and down the nature trail, which was my favorite place
to go to get away from people. The birds chirped loudly as I ran
passed and the cool air cleared my thoughts. I jogged the trail
twice then went back to the house. I showered and changed and sat
at the television and waited for Eric. The day turned to night and
he didn’t come or stop by. I sighed. Who was I kidding? An
attractive man like him wouldn’t be seriously interested in me. I
would be just another notch on his belt. I stormed up to my room
and read my book, becoming lost in the story and forgetting my
life. It was the best therapy I had. Sunday was worse than Saturday
and Eric never called. Was he hurt? Maybe he had gotten attacked by
one of the guys he protected me from? I picked up my phone and
dialed his phone number. I stared at his number on my phone and
cleared it. I wouldn’t be the needy girl. I couldn’t be the needy
girl. We hadn’t even had a date or anything. I flopped down on my
bed to go to sleep when my phone rang. I answered quickly,
“Hello?”
    Eric laughed softly. “Did I wake you?”
    “ Uh, yeah. What’s up?” I
rolled my eyes. Great conversation starter.
    “ I just wanted to
apologize for not contacting you yesterday. It was the full moon
and as you know this town gets a little crazy then. Well I had a
lot to deal with at the club.”
    I interrupted him. “It’s alright. You don’t
have to explain yourself to me.”
    He exhaled then asked, “Will you go to dinner
with me tomorrow?”
    I stared at the phone in shock. “Eric…I…”
    He interrupted me. “I know you are worried
about me being your boss, but I like you…”
    I shook my head then realized he couldn’t see
me. “I’m sorry Eric, but I can’t. I just can’t risk ruining my
career.”
    He sighed and spoke very softly, “Alright. I
understand. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “ Eric it’s nothing against
you…”
    He interrupted me again. “It’s alright,
Ciara. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Great. I hadn’t thought about the possibility
of losing my job for turning down my boss. “Okay, remember that we
have a meet and confer at ten tomorrow.”
    Eric scoffed. “I know. Have a good night
Ciara.”
    “ You too.”
    I hung up the phone and groaned. Dammit all
to heck. Now he was pissed. Lawyers always got quiet when they were
pissed. He was probably going to go to the Chief and tell him to
fire me. Shit. I shoved a pillow over my mouth and screamed into
it. Why couldn’t I have an easy, normal life? Why me? I screamed
again in to the pillow then closed my eyes to go back to sleep.
    I got to work at seven o’clock, before Eric
arrived and pulled all of the files he needed for the day and
arranged them on his desk in appointment order. Then I hurried to
the kitchen and made him a cup of his favorite tea, adding one
scoop of sugar and then grabbed two donuts and put them on a plate.
I hurried back to his office and had them on