Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Let’s toast,” he says, and I swivel his way, meeting his warm gaze.
“What are we toasting to?”
“The unexpected but appreciated.” He taps his glass against mine then takes a sip. I follow suit, rolling the warm liquid around in my mouth, really trying to comprehend why it cost so much. I don’t get it; it tastes like my favorite red that I get from the grocery store for seven bucks, and if I’m honest… my grocery store wine tastes better.
“What do you think?”
“I think whoever paid for this should ask for their money back. I don’t have magical powers, and I don’t think you do either.”
He laughs, and my chest warms. I really don’t know how I can go from being so angry at him to just enjoying his presence. I’m totally falling for him, even though he’s a liar, overbearing, and probably the completely wrong man for me.
“Dig in before your food is cold. I called my mom for this recipe, and she’ll be disappointed if you don’t like it.”
I pick up my fork and take a bite of tender chicken, salty capers, zesty lemon, and perfectly cooked rice. After I chew and swallow, I lock eyes with him. “You can tell your mom it’s delicious.”
“She didn’t cook it.”
I grin. “Are you digging for a compliment?”
“Absolutely, I’m trying to impress you.”
“You don’t have to try too hard,” I say then add, “When you’re not annoying me, I actually really do like you.”
“That’s good to know.” His eyes search mine like he’s trying to see into my soul, only I have no idea what he’s looking for. “So how was work today?”
“Work.” I shrug, taking another bite off my plate, unwilling to talk to him about it—not with him being my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss.
“You know you can talk to me about work—as a friend, not the CEO—right?”
“Like I can talk to you about other things and have you respect what I say without going behind my back?”
“I haven’t gone behind your back.”
I guess he hasn’t. He’s put it all out there with everyone, including now my coworkers, who I’m sure will have questions for me tomorrow. “All I’m saying is I would like to keep a little bit of separation between what is happening between you and me and work. I don’t want to make things even more complicated.”
“So what happens with work when you’re ready to admit you’re mine?”
“Yours?”
“Mine,” he confirms with a hungry look. “I’m not going to pretend we aren’t together, Dakota, just to make other people who don’t mean shit to me feel better.”
“Do you always have to be so aggressive?”
“I think you know the answer to that.” Judging by the way my body is feeling, I guess I do.
“Fine, work was good. Hanna is very nice, and I thought I was making progress with the people I work with, but now I’m sure they’re wondering why you showed up at the bar and what’s going on between us. I’m also nervous about what will happen when that news gets back to Kathy, because it will. Maybe not tomorrow, but it will. I do believe you when you say nothing is going on between you and your assistant, but I think Kathy is convinced otherwise, and so is everyone else.”
“Fuck what everyone else thinks.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“It’s not complicated, Dakota,” he says, sounding pissed, which annoys me. He has nothing to be mad about. I didn’t lie to him or come in and disrupt his life.
“You have a penis, Braxton, and you’re sitting upstairs in your private office bossing everyone around. No one would dare make it seem like you’re in the wrong.”
“If anyone ever made you feel uncomfortable, I’d deal with them.”
I groan, tossing my head back. “That right there is exactly what I’m talking about! You can’t just come in and piss all over the place or throw the fact that you’re the boss around to get your way.”
“I have to disagree with you on that.”
“This is pointless.” I set down my fork and let out a deep breath, back to being frustrated. It’s like talking to a brick wall trying to make him see things from my point of view.
“I’m sorry.” He sets down his own fork and turns his stool toward me before swiveling me around to face him. Once he has my knees trapped between his, he takes my hands.
“Sorry for what?” I mean, let’s be honest; there is a whole lot for him to apologize for, and I really doubt he thinks he’s done anything wrong.
“For upsetting you.”
“You piss me off, Braxton. You don’t upset me.”
“Is there a difference?” he asks, sounding curious.
“Yes, being upset is when you are disappointed or unhappy. Pissed is when you are just plain mad, and you make me angry to the point of seeing red. You’re not just some regular guy; you’re the CEO of the company I work for, which means you have the upper hand. And when it comes to my career, I need to know my success is my own, and I don’t want anyone to think I’ve gotten where I am because I’m sleeping with the boss.”