"Connie,” Blake slid the plastic folder to the lady sitting across from him in his office. “You know, a lot has changed over the years. My father is not the only one who calls the shots in the business anymore.”“What do you mean?” Connie pushed forward in her seat, placing an elbow on the edge of Blake's desk. “So you will not help me? Is that what you are saying?”He gave her a frustrated sigh. “Are you saying I will get the contract?” Her eyes brightened up. “if I do that?”“No, Connie, don't misunderstand me,” he darted a hard look at her. “If you write your proposal properly, I will submit it to the board who will deliberate on it as they will do to the several proposals that others have submitted. And if they find your proposal good enough, they will give you the contract.”“In other words, you are not going to at least put in a nice word for me?”“No, I won't,” he told her. “I hope you can still remember what happened when I stuck out my neck four years ago for you?”She got a

“I miss you so much, sweetie,” Grant smiled and winked as if Tasha could see him through the phone. “It’s not the same with you not being here.”“I miss you too,” he heard her voice loud and clear from the other end. And it sent currents of excitement down his spine. “Remember, you are the one who encouraged me to stay for the wedding. I would have just returned to Berkeley tomorrow.”“I know,” he rubbed his chest. “Don't worry, I will cope and I will be here for you whenever you come back. It's good for you to socialize, you know.”“Well,” she groaned into the phone. “If you say so.”“How about Tyson, I hope he's enjoying his summer very well over there?”“Tyson is fine,” she told him. “He's already registered for swimming class. He did the beginner’s class last summer, now he's in the intermediate class.”“Wow, that's very fantastic,” Grant remarked, feeling so much love for Tyson as if he was his own. “I love how active the boy is.”“Yeah,” Tasha laughed from the other end. “Yes,

Travis stood still with a hand in his pocket, watching her car until he couldn't see it anymore. He walked to where he parked his car in front of the pharmacy. When he got to his dad's house about twenty-something minutes later, his older brother, Tony, was already there, having finished his shift at Sandville General. Tony was at the kitchen table eating. He and his wife, Rosie, were medical doctors. He was going to stay over at their father's until Rosie finishes her own duty at night and they would leave for their house with their kids. The brothers greeted each other briefly and Travis went to give their father the drugs he bought for him. Travis went outside to sit on the porch after that. His kids and Travis’s kids, who had been with their grandpa since morning, were running around happily in the garden. He wondered for the umpteenth time since Tasha drove away what his life would have been if he started that relationship with her years ago and they eventually got married. “

Grant's hand parted Tasha's legs. He inhaled through clenched teeth when he slipped his finger into her core and realized how wet she already was. The finger came out and found her clit, stroking it.“Grant yes, like that,” Tasha moaned wildly, gripping the sheets in her fists.“Sweetie, you are so wet,” his voice came out gutturally low. His fingers slid into her sopping-wet cunt. She cried out in bliss, lifting her hips to take his fingers in as deep as possible. “Yeah, oh yes, fuck me with those fingers,” she begged shamelessly. He gave her a randy smile and started fucking her until she shuddered and came all over his hand. A tremor of excitement ran through his body just looking at her convulsing beautiful body. His gaze moved up into her eyes, “I love you so much, Tasha. He proclaimed his love to her in a trembling voice. “I will never stop loving you.”“I love you too,” Tasha cupped his face. He leaned down and they shared a long languid kiss. Tasha’s nipples peaked tautly

Tasha’s phone rang on the desk beside her hand. She looked away from her computer screen and reached for it. She glanced at the screen and the corners of her mouth curved with a smile. It was Grant. She swiped the screen. “Hey babe.” “Hey, sweetie, how are you doing?”“I'm fine.” She removed her reading glasses and dropped it on the desk. “I'm about to finish the second chapter for today.”“Wow,” Grant said excitedly from the other end. “That's fantastic, well-done, my love.”“Thank you,” she beamed as if he was there with him. “What do you want me to get for dinner?” He asked. “I don't want us to cook tonight. I want us to relax.”“Mmmm,” she moaned softly. “I like that. Chicken wings and mango tropical salad are fine.”“Okay good,” he said. “I will get it before coming to pick you up. Is that okay?”“Yeah, it's fine. I need to go to the faculty office to see Prof. Sinclair. I will have enough time to see her before you come over.”“Okay then,” he said reluctantly, not wanting to g