Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
He appeared, pushing a chair and an empty box. Our eyes met, his blue soft and tender as he looked at me. The change in his expression caught me off guard. It was warm and open. His lips were curled into a smile. The dimple I saw so rarely was on full display. He was intoxicatingly handsome.
We were quiet as we cleaned up, and soon, all traces of what had occurred were gone.
“What will you do with the, ah, chair remnants?”
He chuckled. “I’ll tell maintenance I leaned back too far, the chair broke, and I gouged the desk as it did. They’ll fix it, I’ll get my incredible assistant to order me a new chair, and no one will be the wiser.” He stroked my cheek. “And I’ll smile every time I run my fingers over the marks or look at the top of my desk. I’ll never forget the sight of you splayed out on the top, wet and begging me.”
I looked away, and he chuckled. “Myers, have I discovered another trait? Talking about sex makes you uncomfortable?”
“Talking about sex with you does,” I admitted. “It wasn’t expected today.”
He cinched his arm around me, drawing me close. “But enjoyed.”
“Yes.”
“And something that you want to do again?”
“Yes. But, Bane—”
He silenced me with a kiss. “We’ll figure it out. Now, let’s get out of here.”
“Okay.”
BANE
I sat on Myers’s love seat, looking around in curiosity at things I hadn’t noticed last time I was here. There was a sewing machine in the corner, a basket of material on the floor beside it, lace spilling over the top. Vintage curtains hung in the windows, and the floor was covered with old rugs.
She came in, carrying two plates, handing me one. I was starving, and I picked up a thick sandwich, biting down and chewing. “You make the best sandwiches, Myers. I mean, Magnolia.”
She grinned. “You can call me Myers. I’m used to it.”
“It might be easier, so I don’t slip up at work,” I agreed.
She frowned, eating her sandwich, looking worried. “I don’t know exactly how to ask this…” She trailed off. “I’m not used to… I mean, I don’t know how…”
I swallowed my bite and leaned over, tracing her cheek with my finger. “You don’t know how to act when you and your boss have sex for the first time?”
She tossed her hair, the light behind her catching the reddish tints. “I don’t know what it meant to you.”
“I don’t either, except it meant something.” I thought about her words as I chewed another delicious bite. “You’re an excellent assistant, Myers, probably the best I’ve had. And I can’t deny the attraction I feel for you. But they’re two separate things. We have to keep them that way.”
“I agree. I don’t plan on running up and down the hall, yelling about our private matters.”
“Good plan.”
“So, we keep our private lives private. In the office, we’re Myers and Bane. No more, ah, chair-breaking accidents.”
I had to laugh. “But we can break things here or my place?”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Bane.” Then she became serious. “You went to bat for me last week with those awful women. I don’t want to give them a reason to come back at you, saying you were doing it because we’re, ah, screwing around.”
“I would never allow them to do so. I value both our reputations. I agree, we need to keep it business in the office.”
“Okay. So, no touching—or anything else during business hours.”
“Agreed. Outside is a different matter.”
She took a bite, the worry still on her face. “You want that?” she asked.
I put down my plate, sliding closer to her. “Yes, I do. Today wasn’t a one-and-done. I like you. You make me laugh. I feel…different around you. I want to see where this goes.” I studied her. “As long as you do.”
“I do.”
“Then we’re in agreement.”
“You can’t treat me differently.”
“I can’t promise that. I feel very differently about you than anyone else.” I paused, rubbing my lip. “When I realized it was you those women were disparaging at the dinner, I almost lost it. After Rylee told me what had happened the day before, I was furious. Angrier than I could ever recall feeling.” I barked out a dry laugh. “And that is pretty angry. Usually, my mother holds that spot. I have never felt the need to stand up for someone else the way I did for you. The need to make sure you were shielded from them was intense.”
She smiled. “No one has protected me that way since my dad got sick.”
I returned her smile with one of my own and leaned close to kiss her cheek. “So I will try to be the boss during business hours. But if someone comes after you, I can’t promise anything.”
“The same goes for you.”
I grinned. “Yeah, Myers?”