Rural Romance by Alexa Riley

Chapter Thirteen

Lux

Istare at the clock on my computer, tapping my fingers on the desk. Time is dragging on today, but it’s like that all the time now. All I can think about when I’m away from Bastian is, when am I getting out of here so I can be alone with him again?

I have no clue how Bastian can sit at a desk all day, because it drives me crazy. I don’t want to be a bunny girl, and I don’t care for working in an office, so what’s left at this point? Should I be an astronaut? I’m probably too short, and I’m running out of ideas here.

“Katie!” A woman comes running out of the elevator and runs over to Bastian’s secretary.

I pretend to type on my keyboard while I eavesdrop, but in my defense, it's hard not to. They are only a few feet from me, and I’m not hiding behind a plant or under the desk. Maybe it’s just office gossip, which was probably my favorite part of working at the diner back home. When Juno and I were really bored we’d make up silly crap and see how far we could get it to spread.

“Something big is going on upstairs,” I hear her say and pause my fingers.

Bastian is upstairs right now, and I wonder if this has something to do with him. He sent me a quick text telling me he was going up and it might be a minute.

“It’s something with Bastian. What’s going on?” she asks, clearly here for gossip and has none of her own. I’ve been here for a little over a week, and I know there isn't a chance in hell Katie is going to tell this girl anything.

“Everything is fine.” Katie smiles up at the woman, who huffs in response.

“Fine, but you’re the worst.” Katie only laughs as the woman goes back to the elevator and gets on.

“She really thought she was going to get you to talk about Bastian?” I say when the elevator doors close.

“Sometimes I’ll let a few small things slip. That way she’s always spreading what I want shared. It’s one of the many ways I keep my eyes on the staff here.”

“That’s brilliant,” I admit as Katie goes back to work.

My worry begins to grow, and I wonder how she doesn't want to know what’s going on up there.

“So…” I say after a long minute, bringing Katie’s attention back to me. “What’s going on? You think they know about Bastian and me? Is this against the rules? Could I be getting him in trouble?” I fire off one question after the other, clearly starting to panic.

The first day we came back to the office together, I told Bastian we had to keep it professional around here. That lasted about ten minutes. We both cracked because it’s hard to keep my hands off him. It’s his fault that my body knows what he can do to it, and I’m addicted now.

“They’d be stupid to fire him and he’s not going to let them fire you.”

My stomach knots. Bastian has been working here forever and building his way to the top. It was one of the many things we talked about when we lay in bed at night. He never talked about it with excitement though; it was always more like checking something off his list. One of the biggest reactions I got from him was on the way to work together the morning after we made love for the first time.

The way he talked was as if I was already knocked up and he was planning every detail. There was a smile on his face the whole time as he spoke of family and our future. Whenever he talks about work, he gets this tense expression, and I can tell he doesn’t love his job.

The thought of having a baby with Bastian makes my heart flutter, and even though it’s crazy soon, it feels right. What we share is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, and if we’ve learned anything, it’s that life is short. We don’t want to miss out on anything, so we’re jumping in with both feet.

When I think of our future, I try to picture our family. Will our kids have his wavy brown hair or my green eyes? I start to daydream for a moment before I snap myself back to the reality that Bastian might be losing his job.

“It’s fine, I can leave.” I grab my purse and start throwing things in my bag. I can work anywhere, and this place means something to Bastian. I would never want to take that away from him.

“Good, you’re already packing up,” I jerk my head up and see Bastian’s sister standing there. I still haven't really met her yet, unless you count the time she busted in on me making out with her brother. Now he’s getting in trouble because of me, so she probably hates my guts.

“I’m so sorry.” My eyes fill with tears. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.” I’m not even sure what is actually happening, but it can’t be good.

“I think you meant to do it,” his sister Selma tosses back at me with a smirk, and I swallow.

Bastian loves his sister. I can see that love in his eyes when he talks about her and his mom. It’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with him so quickly. He understands the bond of a family. It’s important to me that the man I end up with knows what family means.

“Keep packing.” She motions to my stuff, and I nod, grabbing the last couple of things.

“Is Bastian coming back here?” I want to see him and make sure he’s okay before I leave. I feel terrible.

“He should be here any second. Let’s go pack his shit for him.”

“Wait, what?” My heart drops.

“Bunny,” Bastian calls to me as he steps off the elevator. He ignores everyone else and comes straight for me. He lifts me off my feet and kisses me deeply in front of everyone, and for a moment I get lost in him.

“Do I need to get the hose?” Selma asks, and I pull back to look at her. She’s smiling, and I feel relief as Bastian puts me back on my feet. “I should have known it would take a woman to knock some sense into you.”

“I got lost for a minute.” Bastian stares down at me and rubs his thumb over my cheek.

“Wait, you don't hate me?” I ask Selma, and she looks shocked.

“What? No! The first day I was surprised because I never thought in a million years I’d catch my straight-laced brother going at it with someone, let alone doing it in his office.” My face heats because we’ve gone at it all over the place.

“Did you get all your things?” Bastian asks her, and she shrugs.

“I got what I needed from this place. I came down to help you and your girl.”

God, I really have to stop jumping to conclusions.

“You’re fired?” I ask, but he doesn't look torn up about it.

“I quit.” As long as he’s smiling then I’m happy about whatever it is he wants to do.

“Bastian,” Katie calls, standing up from her desk. She holds up a piece of paper and then hands it to Bastian. “I’m not working here if you’re not. I’ll end up in prison otherwise.”

“I feel you,” Selma agrees with a laugh.

“You should have retired years ago.” He signs whatever she gave him and then hands it back.

“I think I stayed just long enough.” She gives him a hug. “Walk me down, Selma.”

“I’ll see you guys down there,” Selma says as she points to me. “We’re going to lunch or something.”

“We’ll be down in a minute,” Bastian agrees as he pulls me into his office.

“What’s happening? I thought this place was your dream.”

He holds me close and sighs. “That’s the thing. At the end of the day, a job that doesn’t fulfill me shouldn't be a dream. Besides, I’m tired of their good old boys ways and I’m not saving their asses. I’m going to watch them burn with everyone else. It’s what they deserve.”

I grab his tie and pull him down. “You really are one of the good ones. My brothers swore there weren't any left in the city.” I kiss him, and he smiles against my lips.

“I think we need to take a trip out there.”

“You’re ready to meet the whole family?”

“Bunny.” His hands tangle in my hair. “You’re it for me. Babies, marriage, and all the things in between.” My insides melt because I want all of those things.

“You don’t think it’s too fast?”

“Do you want me to slow down?” He gives me a cocky grin.

“No!” I say it a little too loudly.

“Good, because I’m not. When you know, you just know. I feel it in my heart, Lux.”

I know what he means, because that’s what I feel for him. It’s a love that’s so different than anything I’ve ever felt. He’s the other half of my soul, and the two of us are forever.

“I do.” I smile up at him.

I love you, Lux,” he says, and my eyes fill with tears.

“I love you too.” When he kisses me, it’s claiming, and my body warms all over.

I knew something in the city was calling me and my destiny was out there waiting. Now that I’m here and I’m in Bastian’s arms, he’s mine and I’m his.