Being Harrison Bloom’s Girl

He knew that Leigh might be angry that he had told them about their breakup, but at that point, he didn’t really care much about that. Leigh couldn’t have everything her way, all the time. He couldn’t live her life to suit her, when she had chosen to take herself out of his life.

By the time he got home, Harrison was beginning to feel as if life might not be so bad, after all. He even thought that the charity dinner he had been planning to skip, despite his responsibilities, might actually be fun.

He had always had fun with Diane. Diane was obviously more than willing to explore fun again.

Maybe he would just embrace the moment and stop thinking so much about it.

This time, Harrison didn’t stay awake, wondering how Leigh was doing and what she was thinking. This time, he washed up, got into bed, and fell fast asleep.

But in sleep, the iron control he had imposed over himself slipped. In sleep, he saw Leigh again, and his dreams were filled with her – Leigh, in love with him, surrendering herself to him, telling him that she had no doubts and no misgivings, and she never would.

Leigh, beautiful and full of need for him.

Leigh, so lovely and soft, so dark and desirable.

In his dreams, all of the thoughts that he had locked away in wakefulness seemed to break loose and take him over, until he tossed and turned, his body nearly tortured with his need to touch her, to take her.

It was four in the morning when he woke up, his eyes flying open. He found the sheets twisted around him, making him feel trapped.

Four in the morning. It had been twenty-four hours since Leigh had left.

A lot had changed.

A lot more would change.

Maybe he couldn’t control his dreams, but he could control his actions, and his choices. His choice was to move on with his life. He thought he had made a good start.

Leigh was the past. He would live in the present.

Harrison got to work, and banished all thoughts of Leigh from his mind once again – as he was beginning to understand he might have to do every single day, for the rest of his life.

Work helped. He buried himself in work, making his admin, the formidable and very honest, very dependable, long-serving Anna, without whom he couldn’t function, look at him with disapproval again.

When she saw him going to his office dressing room to change to go to the charity dinner, and heard the name of his companion, her face tightened, her lips pursed.

“Where is Miss Wells?”

Harrison looked away.

“Miss Wells does not wish to be my escort anymore. Is there a problem, Anna?”

“It’s not my place to have problems, Mr. Bloom.”

Harrison sighed.

“Anna, you’re the only one here who calls me that and you’re the only one here who would, I do believe, put me across your knee and spank me if you felt I needed it.”

Anna snorted a little.

“I would not waste my time and effort on something that would have no effect. I do not like futile endeavors. Please don’t forget the pocket square. I’ve set it out.”

Harrison nodded.

“I won’t. Thank you, Anna. I know I’ve been brooding and difficult for the last few weeks. It’s changed. It’s different now. It will be.”

Anna hesitated.

“Please, Anna, you’ve always been honest with me.”

“Before she left for college, it was better. You were happy. You meant it when you smiled. Now you don’t smile, and when you do, you don’t mean it. I worry about you, Harrison. I know you tell me not to, but I do.”

“I am touched. But I promise it’s better now. It is. And I won’t forget the pocket square.”

Anna nodded and left him to get ready to take Diane Masters to the function. There would be extravagantly dressed women, men dressed like penguins, bad music, mediocre food, boring speeches, and polite backstabbing.

Normal life for the rich and the powerful, he mused, as he finished dressing and checked his phone.

There was a message from Diane. It was short and to the point:

Come and get me.

Maybe he would, thought Harrison, feeling reckless. Maybe he would do just what she implied, blatantly and with no pretensions to subtlety.

Diane’s laughter was infectious as they drove back after the function.

“That was as boring as I thought it would be, until I upset that little champagne fountain.”

Harrison grinned.

He was stripped down to his shirt and trousers, because Diane had needed his jacket, and the spare shirt that he kept in the car. She was currently wearing only that and her shoes, because the upsetting of the little champagne fountain had drenched the incredible red dress she’d been wearing.

Impossibly, she looked even sexier in the shirt and jacket than she had in the dress. Her legs, long, toned and shapely, were bare, and she didn’t seem to feel the bracing chill in the air.

“I am glad for the heater, I have to admit.”

Harrison chuckled.

“Can’t have you freezing, can we?”

“It would’ve been worth it. I would’ve paid the price, Harrison. It was so boring! I had to do something. I can’t believe you managed to make it through that long without throwing a bunch of bread rolls at somebody.”

“Ah, but I have to pretend to be all respectable now, remember?”

Diane pouted very prettily, her lips, still painted flawlessly crimson, looking like a ripe fruit perfect for plucking and nibbling.

“I do hope it’s an act. The whole point of being rich and successful is that you can do whatever you like, be whoever you want to me.”

Harrison smiled.

“I am, usually. You make me think of the old days. But they are the old days.”

Diane’s smile gentled.

“I guess we have both changed.”