Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 13
“Hello? Earth to Nathan.” Courtney snaps her fingers then waves toward me. “I’ve been talking to you for a solid two minutes.”
“Don’t call me, Nathan. No one calls me that. Ever,” I snap.
“Jesus. I’m sorry. You’re high-strung today. You need to lighten up.”
“I’m well on my way.” I hold up my glass of whiskey.
“Speaking of, who is that girl you walked over to talk to?”
“My administrative assistant. I wanted to say hello.” It’s not technically untrue. I just leave out the portion about wanting to scope her date out.
“She’s pretty.”
Pretty. Jesus. That word isn’t even good enough to describe what Piper Kingston is.
She’s a pain in my ass, but I’m completely captivated by her, and when she receives her drink and turns around to meet my eyes, I know, even as fucked up as it is, I want her.
***
The rest of my meal is eaten in complete distraction. I’m conversing with Courtney, of course, even though she’s laughing at everything I say as if I’m a fucking comedian, but my eyes won’t stop moving across the restaurant.
Who is this Ryan asshole; who somehow thought he was good enough to be in her presence? And picking a place like NoMad means he was trying really hard to impress her. I don’t think this is something that would impress her. She’s simple, easy, in the best way.
“Have you been up to your house in the Hamptons yet this year? You’ve told me how beautiful it is, but you have yet to take me,” she pouts, trying to be whiny, but it’s mostly annoying.
“Uh huh. Yes,” I answer, without even hearing the question in its entirety, I’m too distracted by the fact that Piper is standing now, and I’m finally able to get a full look at her.
She’s fucking incredible.
She passes by my table, keeping her eyes trained on the ground as she walks back toward the bathrooms.
“I need a moment. Restroom. I’ll meet you back here then we can get going.”
I place my napkin on the table, buttoning my suit coat when I stand, and I follow in her footsteps.
My pace is much slower than it normally would be. I don’t want to seem as if I’m chasing after her, even though I suppose I am.
When I turn the corner into the corridor that houses the restrooms, she is nowhere in sight. I have to assume she has already slipped into the ladies’ room.
The hallway is long and sparsely lit. The walls are a blood red with black crown molding stretching from one end of the hall to the other, directly in the middle of walls. Perfectly placed so I’m able to run my hand down the smooth wood as I step closer and closer to doors at the end.
I’m not even sure why I am compelled to follow her back here. My body is working of its own volition, and I am completely at its mercy.
I pause about twenty feet away from the door. I don’t want to startle her. I just want to see her, and I want to know more about this man she’s with.
I lean my right shoulder against the wall, crossing one foot over the other and shove my hands into my pockets.
I don’t have to wait long. Light slices through the darkness when she opens the door and pauses, staring directly at me.
“Why are you following me?” she asks, but there isn’t fear in her voice. It’s mostly curiosity.
“Did you enjoy your drink? Macallan 18 is a nice bottle. I thought you would enjoy it instead. Kudos on not making a face when you were drinking that wine.”
“I like red wine, thank you very much.”
“Liar.”
She takes a step toward me, and the door I didn’t realize she was still holding open swings closed, shadowing us in near darkness once again.
“Shouldn’t you get back to your… friend? She seemed to be very interested in what you had to say out there.”
“Paying that much attention to my date, are you?” I tilt my head and grin.
“She seems very… equipped.”
“She is… very much so… but she lacks, what’s the word? Substance.”
“You don’t strike me as the type who looks for substance in his companions for Friday evenings.”
“I’m full of surprises, as I’m sure you’ve gathered over our time together.”
“You’re full of something, that’s for sure.” She clears her throat. “Well, I should get back to my date. We are planning on grabbing a nightcap somewhere, and I shouldn’t keep him waiting.”
I don’t have time to fully process, nor come to terms with the caveman-like jealousy that instantly bubbles in my veins because the moment she moves to step around me, she wobbles on her heels and falls chest first into my body.
I cradle her back in my hands. “Whoa, whoa. Careful.”
“I’m sorry… These shoes… the wine and whiskey…” she says breathily, not making any move to push away from me, in fact, I can feel her fingers wrapping in the lapels of my coat, holding herself to me.
“So you did drink it.” I smirk.
Her eyes bolt back and forth between mine. I would give anything to be able to read her mind right now. I want to know what is happening behind those beautiful eyes of hers.
The rest of her body, however, I can read perfectly right now. I can feel the pounding of her heart. The trembling of her hands. The heat of her breath. The slender, dainty feel of her body in my hands, and the delicious scent of rose and vanilla that must belong to her lotion or perfume.
Fuck, if this were anyone else… Anyone else in the world… This would be signed, sealed, and delivered.
But she’s my employee.
I’m her boss.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Piper? You okay down there?” a voice calls from behind me and she pushes away immediately.
“Yeah, yes. I