Boss I Love to Hate An Office Romance - Mia Kayla Page 0,59
one hand on my hip. My shrimp was still in my mouth, for heaven’s sake! My eyes widened, and my whole body stiffened into a wooden pole.
He held me there for a second before he moved his free hand up the length of my body to cup my face. “Breathe.”
Breathe? Shit! What I need to do is swallow the shrimp in my mouth.
“Don’t turn around,” he said discreetly, his breath hot on my cheek. “We have an audience.”
So, what did I do? Yes, I turned around to see Jeff and Jean staring directly at us.
I gulped down my shrimp, and my pulse increased in tempo.
Brad linked our fingers together. “Do you live to do the opposite of what I tell you?” he asked.
I wanted to slap his amusement away. “Whatever. I do practically everything you tell me to do.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I do everything you say.”
“You do not,” he argued lightly but looking just a little slighted.
“I do, too,” I said, raising my voice a little.
“If you do it, it’s not without complaint.” He shook his head. “You don’t think I hear you whisper stuff under your breath, but I do.” He ducked his face close to mine. “You think I don’t know what you say to your friends about me, but I know that, too.”
I popped the last shrimp in my mouth, chewed slowly, and pretended not to react.
Well, shit, that couldn’t be good.
“And don’t pretend you don’t make stuff up at work,” he continued, making his point. “Like they didn’t have my sandwich at Bello’s or that restaurant was fully booked when I requested reservations when it was clearly not.”
Busted. I looked away. “Sometimes, you’re a pain in my ass.” Honesty leaked out of me. And I wasn’t even drunk yet. Was there any hope for me tonight?
“I know,” he sighed. “I’m trying to be better.”
I blinked up at him. “Since when?” I asked, noticing the seriousness in his features.
He scratched the back of his neck and shook his head. “Since Sarah said I should try being nicer to you.”
“Oh.” Recently then.
“I’m just wired the way I am, and sometimes, I don’t realize I’m being an asshole, okay?” A waiter with a display of ham croquettes passed us. Brad grabbed one off the tray and handed me the little wrapped appetizer in a napkin. “But I’m trying at least.”
“Okay.” I took a bite of the croquette, noticing the grease staining the napkin. “I’ll be nicer, too.”
“You? Nice?” A louder laugh escaped him. “To me? That’ll be a first.”
I barely contained a growl. Maybe this was too much honesty for one day. “I think I’ve filled my belly enough.” I reached for his hand, dragging him toward the bar area. “Let me buy you a drink.” I winked.
“It’s an open bar.”
“Exactly! I’m being nice already.”
We stopped by Krystal and Helen and Brandy on our way to the bar. They were a few girls that I knew, acquaintances from college. I didn’t miss the way their eyes scanned Brad from his head down to his shiny designer shoes.
“So, you’re in business?” Krystal said with a little lilt in her tone. She flashed Brad her pearly whites even though her date stood right beside her. “I was a business major in college, minored in international finance.”
She began to tick off her résumé while Brad smiled but looked not a bit impressed.
Brad being polite? This was new. He stayed silent, but I could read his thoughts.
I was surprised, given Brad’s ego, that he didn’t just shut her down and tell her he owned one of the biggest printing companies in North America.
When she placed her hand on his forearm, I stiffened. She was blatantly flirting, but I didn’t know what to do because it was clearly in front of me, and we were playing a part. Any other normal girlfriend would be livid.
When I stepped back, Brad’s arm circled my waist. “It was nice meeting you, Krystal. I should get my bae a drink now.”
I choked on my own saliva and coughed. “Bae?” I whispered when we approached the bar.
“Before Anyone Else. Like babe.” He reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers. “I learned the lingo from my niece.”
I laughed. “Who are you right now?”
“Your bae.” He chuckled darkly before lifting his arm up to get the bartender’s attention. “Long Island?” he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.
I scrunched my face, wondering how he knew my drink of choice.
“I pay attention,” he said, answering my silent question.