any man who would dare put a hand on her, “to save your body, your secrets, and the most vulnerable parts of you for me. Please.”
“You say the most amazing things.”
“Just what I feel.” I kiss my way down her neck to her collarbone. Nora sighs and her body loosens under me, and I settle in to make love to the woman who’s suddenly stolen my heart.
Chapter Eight
~Nora~
For the first time in ten years, I can honestly say I don’t want to work today. Mondays have never bothered me. I enjoy my job and look forward to being in the office each day.
But after a weekend of laughter, relaxation, and the best sex of my damn life, I’m not ready for Monday.
The city is bustling this Monday morning. Winter has settled in, nestling New York in cold and snow. It’s uncomfortable at best. I don’t enjoy winter, never have. One day, I’d like to have a vacation place in the south, where I can escape a few weeks a year to soak up some sun.
But that’s a dream for another day. It’s back to work now, back to hiding my feelings for Carter and pretending that nothing is going on outside of the office.
I thought it would be an easy challenge.
I was wrong.
It’s not easy to be with Carter, touching each other freely, and then turning it off like a faucet at work.
It’s jarring. Uncomfortable.
It sucks.
But I still believe it’s necessary, so here I am, wearing Carter’s favorite shoes again, at his request of course, shoes that were slung over his broad shoulders just last night, walking into the building he’s built with his brothers-in-law.
I’m early, since I spent the afternoon away from the office on Friday, also at Carter’s request. I don’t regret it. We need time away from here, where we can just be ourselves and learn each other.
But being gone on Friday means I have a to-do list the length of my leg to work on today.
Few people are here this early, so I go ahead and make a pot of coffee in the lounge, then carry a fresh cup to my desk and get settled. I’ve managed to work my way through a third of my list before the other assistants walk in, waving on their way to fetch their own coffee, and maybe some for their bosses as well.
It’s just before eight when Carter walks in, nods at me, and walks into his office. I hate that I can’t jump up, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him. I can’t even show that I’m happy to see him.
This whole no-frat policy sucks big-time.
A half hour after Carter arrived, he walks to my desk and passes me the Dickinson file, then returns to his office.
I bite my lip and open the file.
N—
Good morning, darling. You look beautiful today, but then you look beautiful every day. Just heard from Finn that London has a show opening this Friday night, and we’re all invited, of course. I’d like to take you with us.
—C
I smile and shred the note, but before I can reply, my phone rings.
“This is Nora.”
“Hey, it’s Sienna. Do you have time to come to my office so I can bounce some thoughts off you?”
“Sure, I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.”
I shut down the computer, and grab my tablet, then walk down to Sienna’s tidy office. She’s sitting at her desk, her head in her hands.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Is Mary in HR always a royal pain in the ass? I’m trying to hire an assistant here, and she’s dragging her damn feet.”
“Lately, yes, she is a pain in the ass . . . so you decided on one?”
“Two, actually, and that’s why I called you. I need to make a final decision this morning, and these two candidates are both more than qualified. I liked them both. So I thought I could use a second set of eyes and ears.”
“Sure, who did you narrow it down to?”
She passes me the two résumés, and I remember them both from last week’s interviews.
“Good choices,” I say with a nod. “I liked them both, too.”
“Not helping. Did you like one of them better?”
I sigh, thinking it over. “Alice seemed more go-gettery, you know? But Victoria was calm and seemed more laid back.”
“Yeah,” Sienna says. “I’m leaning toward Victoria, now that you say that. I need someone willing to go with the flow.”
“I think she’d be a good choice.”
Sienna nods and then tilts her head as she examines