Accepting Destiny Read Free

mean I’m thinking about me too or will he understand that I’m really thinking about him?
     
    J - Really? You’re thinking about you too?
     
    Shit. He must really think I’m stupid.
     
    A - No silly. About you. :-)
     
    I know, emoticons are for teenagers, but I needed to get a point across. What that point is, I have no idea. But I press send anyway.
    About that time my desk phone rings. “Ally Sanders,” I answer.
    “Ally? It’s Carly up front. You have a delivery, shall I bring it to your office?”
    “No thanks, I’ll come get it,” I say as I lay the phone in the cradle and head to the front desk.

Chapter 2
     
    I round the corner behind Carly’s desk and I see a small picnic basket sitting on the floor, next to her desk. “Carly?” I ask her and she has an amused look on her face.
    “Oh, hey Ally. That was quick,” she says as she bends down to pick up the basket.
    “What is that?” I ask, Carly shrug s her shoulders.
    “A delivery guy just dropped it off for you.” Interesting. I grab the basket from her and head back to my office, setting it on my desk. I peek at the note attached to the handle of the basket, hand written in Jackson’s sexy handwriting.
     
    You didn’t let me feed you this morning, and you’ll need your energy for tonight. Enjoy your breakfast. - J
     
    He sent me breakfast? I’m astonished as I dig in the basket. I find a bowl of cut up fruit, two bagels with honey-cinnamon , cream cheese, orange juice and a box of Hazelnut K-cups. He’s thought of everything, even my favorite coffee. Though thinking back, I’ve never told him my favorite coffee. How did he know?
    And then it comes to me.
    Heather.
    Yes, my darling and interfering best friend Heather Langley. She’s the best friend a girl can have, but she really needs to get her own life and quit messing with mine. I figure she’s the one that keeps letting Jackson in through the gate so he can surprise me and giving him private info about me, so he can be......sweet. Damn her and damn me. That’s all he’s trying to do, and would I have let him on my own? Nah, probably not.
    I grab a bagel and take it to the kitchen to toast it. I love bagels, but I prefer them toasted and warm, the cream cheese melting in to the crunchy roll. “Where’d ya get that?” I hear Sally behind me, peering over my shoulder. One of these days she’s going to catch me in a bad mood and I’m going to go off on her, but today isn’t that day.
    “Just a bagel, ” I say as I continue to spread the cream cheese around, making sure it is covered to the very edge.
    I place the smothered and covered bagel on a paper plate I found in the cabinet and turn back towards my office, effectively ignoring Sally.
    “I didn’t see you bring that in when you got off at the elevator,” she says, following me out of the kitchen, and into the hall and I stop short, turning to her, my eyes now filling with irritation.
    “Sally, what do you want? You’ve been following me around all morning, snooping and minding everyone’s business instead of your own. Getting bored with the office gossip and now you’ve set your sights on me?” I say to her and she flinches, but she doesn’t back away. Great, I’m about to get in a knockdown, drag out fight with my nemesis, right here in the office, my pleasant mood quickly dissipating.
    “No, of course not. You just seem.....d ifferent, that’s all,” she says without backing down.
    “Yeah, well I guess I am, but the reasons for that are none of your business,” I tell her as I turn on my heel, heading back to my office. I was already late and now I have Nosey Sally breathing down my neck. “Don’t you have work to do?” I ask in a huff as I make a hasty exit.
    “Yeah, I do. But you’re more interesting right now. What’s got you so giddy today?” She just won’t stop.
    “Sal, I told you. It’s none of your business, now I have to get back to work and I suggest you do the same.”
    She’s