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Chapter 12 by cphi cphi

Come to your senses?

YES!

"Kayla..." you pull away from her embrace, turning to lean panting against the roof of the Mustang. "We can't! I'm a married man...and your boss." Your vision is filled with spots. "I'm sorry." You re-clasp the button of your shorts, retrieve the keys from the ground, and regard Kayla from a safe distance.
Kayla seems to have come to the realization of what had almost just occurred. "Oh my God...James...OH MY GOD!" she's frantic. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what possessed me. It's just..." her face drops into her hands, and she kneels against the car door, shaking. "Whenever Frank would buy me something or, do something nice for me...there was always an...understanding." She looks up at you, and you get it. What a sleazeball he had been.
"Kayla, I'm not my dad. I'm not going to be him. I'm not going to be anything like him." I hope.
She stands up, tears in her eyes, and hands the key to the Mustang back to you. "I'm so sorry....I'll go clean out my desk."
You are puzzled. "What?! Why? Kayla, didn't I just get done telling you how much I need you...professionally!" you add that last word rather quickly. "Let's both take a deep breath, here. This little incident doesn't need to mean anything." You push the key back toward her. "And I'm not taking back the car, either. You know I hate these new 'muscle car' wannabes."
She's a little bemused. She really expected that you would kick her to the curb for this. You give her a hug: a chaste hug.
"Come on, Kay. You're freaking me out. Where's that bitch I fight with on a daily?" her fist in your ribs brings a grunt. "Theeeere she is." When you break the hug, she's smiling.
"Thanks, boss. For the car..." and with a trembling intake of breath, she adds, "and for being you. Not your dad."

As you both head back, she to the office and you to your Javelin, you ask, "What are you doing tonight, Kayla?"
She pauses at the door. "I didn't...have any plans."
"Come over to the house around 4:00. We're having dinner and drinks and we're going to kick it by the pool to celebrate our full house. I don't want you to be lonely anymore. Come have dinner and fun with us!"
Kayla's face blooms into a big smile. "You're sure it's not, you know, fraternization? Jenna won't care?"
"Your more than an employee, Kay. You're family. Jenna won't mind."
She thinks for a moment, then nods.
"Okay, James. 4:00 sharp. I'll bring a lasagna or something!"

You leave work, shaking your head at the bewildering encounter. it could have gone very differently if you had lost control. But you didn't. Now it was time to get back home and tidy before the in-laws arrived...and Riley. Your angel.
You arrive home with time to clean up before Jenna returns with the groceries. Just as you finish putting the last bit of food away, twin horns honk as they pull into the driveway.

the story continues...

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