One night stand with my daddy's best friend
97

Dane

It was difficult to work when I knew Bridget was a hallway away from me. Too many times I daydreamed about going to her office, just to see her. Maybe to kiss her too. Those thoughts were followed by guilt that I was lusting over my best friend's daughter.

Today, all my gray cells were required to deal with Bran. He came in, sporting his usual smug smirk.

"I can't help but feel this will be a waste of time." He sat in a chair.

"And yet you're here." I sat at my desk, hoping I exuded confidence. Based on my passive performance at dinner and dad's insistence that this deal gets done, he probably thought I'd roll over and agree to anything.

He shrugged. "I had a good talk with your father at dinner."

I laughed. "You walked out without a deal." I shook my head. "The two of you are so self-absorbed, you couldn't see the answer right in front of you."

Bran gritted his teeth. Clearly, he didn't like being told he was a conceited jerk. "And what is that?"

I handed him the new proposal I'd worked up this week. It had taken me twice as long as it should have because Bridget always lingered at the edge of my thoughts.

I walked through the proposal point by point, occasionally glancing at Bran to get a sense of what he was thinking. At first, his expression suggested he didn't think I had anything worth his time. But then he nodded. He sat up and studied the proposal with greater attention.

"I have to hand it to you, Dane. I didn't think you had it in you." "You made that abundantly clear. Does that mean we have a deal?"

His head seesawed. "There are a couple of areas I'd like to change." He walked through the few points he disagreed with. They were minor and I felt we could concede them.

"With those changes, we have a deal?"

He nodded. "Write up a new copy and I'll sign." "You're not going to have your lawyer look at it?" "I know what I'm doing." He rose.

Since he'd been much more agreeable, and we'd finally found common ground, I stood and walked him out of my office.

"I look forward to getting the new paperwork." He shook my hand. "I'll have it drawn up right away." The sooner the better.

"You know, Dane, you and I aren't that much different." Lane snorted but tried to cover it up with a cough.

I started to walk with Bran to the elevator. "Oh. How are we possibly alike?"

"We were born into families that want to decide our destinies. You tried to fight it, but here you are."

I shrugged. I didn't want to tell him I didn't plan to stick around. "Any other similarities?"

"You're sleeping with one of your staff while officially seeing mother- approved Anne Francis."

Anger boiled along with wondering how the hell he knew about me and Bridget? It had to be a guess on his part.

"So, you're saying you're sleeping with your staff while seeing a mother- approved woman?"

He laughed. I knew then he was purposefully yanking my chain.

"Anne and I are friends. There is nothing romantic between us," I clarified.

"You should probably tell your mother that."

We passed the copy room heading toward the elevator.

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We reached the elevator and Bran poked the down button. "What?"

"My father said he saw your mom at the country club inquiring about

renting the venue for her son's wedding. You're her only son, right?" He was enjoying telling me this. The fucker.

"Your father probably thought he heard my mother. It was probably someone else. She's not the only mother wanting to marry their kids off there."

Bran shrugged. "You can tell yourself that. But she's got a date only a few months away. I'm sure it will be a lovely wedding."

I rolled my shoulders, trying not to look tense. I didn't want to give him the impression that he was getting under my skin.

"I'm not marrying Anne."

"Mr. MacLeod?" Lane hurried up to me. "Your father is on the line."

Bran laughed. "Go talk to daddy. I'm sure he'll be proud of you." The elevator opened and he stepped inside the car. Good thing too, because I was on the verge of punching the guy. "I'll get that paperwork to you." He saluted me as the doors closed. I strode back to my office.

"The deal is done," I said when I picked up the call. "What are the terms?"

I walked my dad through the proposal. He was quiet for a moment. My breath held as I waited to find out if he was pleased or pissed.

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"I don't know why neither of us thought about that."

Because you're both selfish obnoxious jerks. "I'm just glad that he agreed."

"I have to admit, Dane, I had my doubts about your ability to do the job. You had done good work when you worked for me in high school, but twenty years is a long time to be away. I guess it's like riding a bike. You wobbled a bit, but now you've found your balance again."

I was a forty-year-old man who found himself craving his father's approval. His praise felt very good.

"Listen, has mom said anything to you about planning a wedding to a woman I'm not dating?"

My dad barked out a laugh. "As far as your mother is concerned, you're beyond dating. Hell, she's picked out a ring for you to give Anne."

I sat back in my chair and rubbed my temple. "I don't love her. I'm not right for her." And she definitely wasn't right for me.

"Because I don't want you distracted by wedding nonsense, I'll talk to

your mom about slowing things down." No, not slow. Stop.

"I want you focused on the job. Just because the deal is made doesn't mean we can let our guard down around Bran Erickson."

"I agree. And thanks for talking to mom." "Just keep doing a good job, Dane."

I hung up with my father. I'd gone a long time without hearing praise from him. I liked it, and yet at the same time, I hated how his love had conditions.

He only cared for me when I was successful in business. If I ever had kids, I'd love them no matter what. Like Troy loved his kids. Guilt swirled in my gut at the reminder that I'd fucked his daughter. Thank God she was on the pill. If she had gotten pregnant, I'd be well and truly fucked.