Free Late Nights by Marie Rochelle Page B

can throw on some sweats and we can order Chinese food. We can curl up on the couch and then you can fill me in on everything.”
    Akisha smiled at her but shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Go on your date and have a good time. I shouldn’t have ever opened my big mouth anyway. I don’t want to ruin your dinner. My problem with Ethan will still be here tomorrow and days after that.”
    Sasha still didn’t feel right about leaving her baby sister. “Are you sure? I can call the restaurant and leave a message for Sterling. I’m here if you need me to be. I want you to know that.”
    “I know you are and I appreciate how you want to change your plans for me, but you don’t have to do it. I’m good. Please leave for your date. I will feel so bad if you didn’t go and see what he had to tell you. Besides, you look too gorgeous in that dress to be staying here with me. I swear to you I don’t need a shoulder to cry on.”
    “If you’re sure,” Sasha hedged, standing up as she grabbed her purse off the chair next to her. “Do you need me to give you the code again for the alarm?”
    Akisha waved her hand at her as she stood up. “Sasha, go before I shove you out the door myself. I know how to lock up your house. This isn’t my first time doing it and I’m pretty sure it won’t be my last. Now, stop stalling and get your ass out the door.”
    Running up to her sister, Sasha gave her a hug and then kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for doing this for me. I love you and I own you one.” Spinning around, Sasha hurried from the bedroom and down the hallway.
     
    ****
     
    Sitting in the restaurant, Sterling glanced at his watch for the fourth time, wondering where Sasha was and if she had stood him up. He wanted to pick her up at home but she insisted on driving herself. He didn’t understand her reasoning behind it, but he agreed since he wanted to do everything in his power to make up for his earlier mistakes.
    He made a promise to himself on the drive over that Sasha was going to see a different side of him. He wasn’t going to be her boss, but a man enjoying a date with a beautiful woman.
    Tonight would be about impressing Sasha. He wanted to take care of her every want and need. He would do everything he could to show her how much he wanted to move beyond the boss and employee relationship he shared with her.
    Actually getting her to agree to this date with him was a lucky break on his part. He could tell when he asked her out she was still very upset with him. However, he already planned to wipe all of the bad memories from her mind. He had been more than a little nervous when he got here first and hadn’t found her waiting for him.
    Yet, he hadn’t allowed it to bother him for too long. He hadn’t gotten through his horrible childhood and became a success by not fighting for what he wanted….and he craved every inch of the sexy Sasha Williams. After dinner was over, he hoped she would see him as more than her boss —as a man she could have in her life.
    For years, Sterling had confidence in his ability to run a winning company—he could carry out any project with purpose and passion. He was raised by his father to think that work was more important than friends or family. His ability to understand how people responded to him through his work achievements only made everything more balanced in his world.
    In his mind, one of the main reasons he was still single was his fear of allowing anyone too close to his heart. If he felt it happening, he would break things off and move on to the next woman.
    Sometimes, Sterling almost felt like his second career was avoiding getting romantically involved with a woman. For more years than he could count, taking care of himself was his top priority and finding a good woman wasn’t a thought in his head until Sasha unexpectedly breezed into his world.
    The second he laid eyes on her, she made him want more than he currently had going on in his lonely life. He may not seem