In Bed With The Boss Page 0,44
was being possessive and clingy. For a minute there he’d been worried this might be a one time thing. But he wanted to play hard-to-get a little, too. “I guess we can. Let me know and I’ll see if I’m free.”
“I’ll check with my friend and let you know tomorrow at work,” Brad said.
There was no talk about making plans to get together for dinner…or a real date. When it occurred to Richie that he had plunged back in the same situation he’d once sworn he’d never be in again, a wave of despair passed through his body. But he liked Brad and he thought there might be a chance for them to have something more than just a dark, clandestine relationship. He wasn’t in love with Brad…at least not yet. Though he’d never been in love with anyone, he could love a man like Brad. It wouldn’t be difficult.
When they were dressed, they cleaned up the apartment and tried to put everything back the same way they’d found it. When Richie glanced at the bed it didn’t seem quite right. The bedspread appeared off center and the pillows weren’t tucked in as neatly as they had been. So while Brad waited for him out in the living room, Richie went back one last time to straighten out the pillows. When he glanced down at the nightstand he saw a small photo of a familiar face next to the telephone.
He lifted the photo and took a closer look. The familiar face in the photo belonged to Toby MacFarlane. He was standing with four other guys and they were all wearing baseball uniforms. The photo looked recent, as if it had been taken in college. Richie set the photo down and left it where he’d found it. Then he wondered if Toby MacFarlane knew who Brad was bringing to his apartment.
Chapter Three
“I’d like to discuss something with you that I think will benefit both of us,” said Brad Lindsay. “Please have a seat. It won’t take long.”
Toby had just entered Brad’s large corner office with the wall of glass and the view overlooking the Manhattan skyline. He crossed to one of the black leather chairs in front of Brad’s sleek, Lucite desk and sat down without saying a word. He had no idea why he’d been summoned to Brad’s office on that Monday afternoon. But he had a feeling it had something to do with the blow job he’d given Brad on Friday night. He folded his hands and tried to smile. But deep inside his stomach was turning around in circles.
Brad sat back in his large leather recliner, lifted his arms, and laced his fingers behind his head in that way smug, powerful people often do. He smiled at Toby and said, “I’ve seen your work and I think it’s very good. I know the senior partners have mentioned how talented you are, too. We all think you have a great deal of potential here.”
Toby nodded. This didn’t sound as bad as he thought it would. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“In fact, you have all the qualities it takes to move up in a firm like Johnson, Frederick, and Lindsay. And I’d like to be the one to help you do this.”
Toby still wasn’t sure where all this was going. He’d always believed that if something sounded too good to be true it probably was too good to be true. But he smiled anyway and said, “I’m glad you think so.”
“And that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about,” Brad said. “I can help promote your career and put in a good word for you whenever I can, especially with my father-in-law. There’s going to be an opening for a new art director in the spring and I think you’d be perfect for it. Is this something you’d be interested in?”
Toby took a quick breath. This was the last thing he’d expected to hear. “Ah well, yes. I’d certainly be interested in the position.” He couldn’t think of anything that would have made him happier. To move up from assistant art director to art director in less than one year in the same firm was unheard of. It also meant more money, which was something he could use.
“I thought you might be interested,” Brad said. He rubbed his jaw and leaned forward. He rested his elbows on the glass desk and folded his hands. “You live alone, right?” He lowered his tone and lifted one eyebrow.
“Yes. I have