Free Hard Choices by Theresa Ellson Page A

that there were emails from an account that probably belongs to Aaron Sellers, which were sent to you,” he said slowly.
    I felt the blood drain from my face. Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit oh shit. I loved Robert, and considered him one of my best friends, but I didn’t want anyone seeing those emails! Despite Molly’s pleading, I had not forwarded them on to her. I must have looked horrified because he said quickly, “I didn’t read them! It was just that once I saw a couple, I checked our overall email traffic and noticed that you and he had exchanged several emails a day .” I felt the blood rush back to my face as I blushed the deepest shade of red that was humanly possible.
    “I… uhhhh,” I stuttered.
    Robert looked even more uncomfortable. “Lyssa, relax. All I want to know is if you want his attentions. If he’s harassing you via email, I will rescind our job offer to him.”
    His protectiveness touched me deeply. I put my feet down, leaned forward, and took his hand. “You are the sweetest man, do you know that?” I felt his concern like a warm blanket of love around me. “I love you, you know. And I love that you worried about me.”
    “I love you, too, Lyssa,” he said quietly. “You know that. So I take it Mr. Sellers’s attentions are invited by you?”
    “Hells YES!” I said in my most fabulous voice.
    He shook his head. “You know, a lot of women, after coming out a marriage that took up their twenties and thirties, would be a little reticent. I should have known you would come out swinging. Or prowling, as the case may be,” he said wryly. I laughed. “I would tell you to be careful, but I know you’re too smart for that. I don’t have to worry about you falling in love and running off with some idiot.”
    “Nooo,” I said emphatically. “You do not. I won’t run off with him… but can I play with him? Please? Just for a little while!” I held my hands together, pretending to beg.
    Robert shrugged. “He won’t be working for you, so what two consenting adults from this office do is none of my business,” he held up his hands in a position of surrender. “And I can’t see how any woman could possibly resist that ,” he said, shaking his head.
    Now I really laughed. “OK, Robert. ‘Fess up: he charmed the crap out of you, with all his earnest talk, didn’t he? You would have hired him on the spot no matter what his references were!”
    “Pish. He’s not that gorgeous. But I never got to tell you that I talked to some of his professors before the interview. Apparently, he’s just as smart as he is pretty.”
    I whistled and nodded, “Good to know. Of course, he has excellent taste in older women, so he’s clearly a genius!”
    We both laughed, but then Robert said, “Come on – you ‘fess up. Isn’t a little scary to think about dating after all these years? If, god forbid, I found myself suddenly single… I don’t think I could dive back into that pool so fast.”
    “Meh. It’s just emails. I’m not so much diving in as I am dipping my toe.” I thought for a second. “Honestly, Robert, if I stop to overthink it, I’m sure I will terrify myself out of enjoying it. I’ve been so careful and methodical all these years. I was always so focused on the kids, or school, or my work. Everything is finally settled in my life. I’m ready to have some fun!”
    “Atta girl,” he cheered, sounding just like Molly. “Sadly, I won’t be privy to your tales of fun. If you and Aaron do move this thing along, please do not share details with me. I have to sit at a conference table with this man. I do not want to be thinking about his enormous schlong when we’re talking to clients.”
    My jaw dropped. Robert was always so proper; it was always Alan, Molly and me being total idiots. Finally, I burst out laughing. “Oh my god, Robert, did you just say that out loud!?”
    He laughed too, but said, “I’m serious. I know you’ll fill in Molly and Alan, but keep me out of