No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 11



"Felicia, Mr. Wagner's on the line for you." Deborah Walker, who had tagged along with me, extended the phone toward me.

I had underestimated Conrad's persistence. In such a situation, I could only take the phone and respond formally, "Mr. Wagner, what can I do for you?"

"Felicia," Conrad's voice was deep, laced with evident remorse, "Why did you leave so early today? I got home, and you weren't there."

Realizing he wasn't talking shop, I stepped away. "Went out for breakfast."

Conrad apologized to me. "Sorry, I... got held up last night. Couldn't make it back."

A chill ran through me, my lips curling into a mocking smile. "And why was that?"

Conrad was silent.

I held my breath, giving him a way out. "Couldn't find a caregiver?"

Conrad replied calmly, "Yes."

said nothing more before Conrad spoke again, "Felicia, when are you free? I'll

last had a meal together. According to what Jimmy had said the night before, Conrad had been staying with Haley. Was his sudden invitation for lunch a guilt trip for

won't finish up by lunchtime.

grew heavy, perhaps catching the sarcasm in my voice, then fell silent for a beat. "Don't

there to think about if he could walk out on me the night

into it. "I'm busy right now. If there's nothing else, I'm

so I

inspections. After wrapping up the

overseeing a theme park construction project, with me in charge of monitoring all its phases.

had to make the trip as part of the process. Walking the site left my

and rest, and Deborah

I didn't hide it. If we weren't in the field, I'd have loved to kick off my shoes and give my feet a

Deborah observed my face. "Felicia, you

before Deborah gestured to her

anyone. And when a woman's mood was off,

PMS," I found an excuse, then pretended to be busy on my

and I feared her probing would leave me struggling

a shadow loomed