Law #2: Don't Play with a Player: A Sweet Office Romance Story (Laws of Love) by Agnes Canestri (web ebook reader .txt) 📕

Pete has a point, unfortunately.

Also, it’s almost two o’clock. The park is at least twenty minutes walking distance from my building, and with Pete’s usual pace, we might miss Laia and her mystery date.

“Okay, fine,” I say, determined. “I’ll go alone then. Enjoy your soccer game.”

“I will. And, you, go and charm that assistant of yours. Unbury all the good boy stuff from deep in your heart, and onto which I helped you toss a thick protective layer, and you should be all set.”

I smile at Pete’s encouraging words.

I know he’s sorry I’m quitting our common lifestyle, but I appreciate that he backs me up even if he doesn’t agree with my choice.

“Thanks! Speak to you later, Pete.”

I hang up and at the speed of light change into my workout clothes. I sprint down the stairs to warm up my calf muscles. I greet Phillipe at the entrance, then take the road toward the park where Laia must be with the guy I already hate.

Chapter 33

(Devon)

I dash by an old lady dragging a cart for her groceries and a young woman dressed in a miniskirt who throws a dazzling smile at me.

From the corner of my eye, I check her out, and despite realizing that she’s pretty, there’s not one fiber in my body that would want to stop and chat her up.

I guess I left my player self behind for good. 

Now my only task is to convince Laia about this, too.

When the crosswalk light pings, I push my way through the afternoon crowd loitering on the sidewalk and hurry to the other side of the road.

I don’t know Margaret T. Hance Park well, because, as Pete has so cleverly pointed out, I never jog there.

I’ve only been there once during a jazz festival. I remember seeing a lovely pathway that goes all around the park and thinking that the tall buildings as a backdrop looked suggestive when the band played. But I have no idea where that big panda Laia mentioned could be located.

I enter the park, and thick green grass greets me, together with a couple posing for their wedding pictures. I lose a few precious minutes as the photographer set up the camera with a wide-angle, and unless I want to end up in their family album, I need to wait until they take a break so I can pass behind them.

I peek at my watch. Two-ten. I need to hurry up, or I risk Laia and her date changing location.

I’m glad for the fluffy clouds that tame the sun’s power to a bearable, almost agreeable level because without their help, I would have arrived at the park drenched in sweat instead of only slightly out of breath.

My intention is to jog past Laia and her guy without being seen so I can take a good look at him. After that, I could maybe circle around and—

I freeze mid-thought because a giant bronze sculpture of a mama bear and her cub comes into sight.

I slow my pace and scan the area.

I don’t need to look for Laia long.

There’s only one blanket on the grassy clearing that stretches behind the statue, and it’s occupied by the woman who managed to turn me inside out in less than two short weeks.

Laia is with a man and two small children. One kid is sitting on her lap and the other on the guy’s knees. The two of them are engrossed in an animated discussion.

My heart rate picks up, even though I’ve slowed my tempo. It beats so fast in my throat it’s as if I’ve just completed three Iron Man competitions in a row.

Laia is dating a man who has kids?

I’m so distracted I don’t realize that my legs keep moving, bringing me closer.

Suddenly, as if Laia felt my glare, she glances up, and her eyes travel to me. Her face moves into a grimace of utter bewilderment. I think I can even read a shocked, “Devon?” on her lips.

Her companion turns, and I notice that he’s more or less my age. He has light-brown hair in buzz cut and, as far as I can tell, a rather robust frame.

The little girl in his arms reaches up to the man’s chin and grabs at it. He encompasses the child’s hand in his palm and blows a kiss at it, but his eyes remain fixated on me.

I decide to go and greet them.

I mean, what else can I do now that my spying act is busted?

I approach, trying for a relaxed three-fingers wave that could demonstrate I’m just as surprised to see them here as they are to see me, while also stating that I’m totally cool about our encounter. Unfortunately, since my entire body is locked up with tension, my movement comes out awkward.

“Hi, Laia,” I exclaim, determined to make up for the ridiculous gesture with an upbeat tone. “What a coincidence!”

Laia peers up at me, her dark eyebrows drawn together. “But I told you I would be in this park.”

The man gives me a narrow-eyed glance. “Who is he, Laia?”

Ah, so far along in their relationship that the guy feels entitled to know who I am? Has Laia been dating him this whole time, and I didn’t know?

Laia shifts the small brunette, whose hair color matches the blanket, and raises herself to her feet.

I notice she’s wearing a delightful orange spaghetti dress that leaves her shoulders bare and flatters her complexion.

“Brian,” Laia points at me, “this is Devon Griffin, my boss. Devon, this is Brian Smith.”

Brian immediately jumps up, lifting the child he’s holding to his hip as he straightens. He extends a hand to me. “Oh, I’ve heard about you. It’s a pleasure to meet Laia’s boss. You’ve got an extraordinary girl on your team, I can assure you.”

He winks at Laia, and she blushes.

I press my teeth together to stifle a growl. What does this man think? That I don’t know how precious