How to Have Your Boss's Secret Baby - London Casey Page 0,29
pushed from the doorway. “I came up with this idea because of you, Maya. You’re smart. You’re strong. I was hoping to sit at the dinner and work at him while you watched. Because I knew you would observe it all. That’s why I brought you here.”
“How’d that work out, Cole?”
“It didn’t. He brought me for the same reason. And he thought I brought you for a different one.”
“You knew that though,” I said. “You wanted eye candy hanging off your arm. You wanted someone to make jokes about. Right?”
“No, Maya.”
“You were shocked when you saw me in a dress. I met your standards for a little while.”
“It was shocking because I never saw you like that before.”
“What? Never got a good look at my chest before? Never got the chance to see my ass and imagine fucking it?”
Cole snarled his lip. “You want to get mouthy right now? Do it. I thought I could apologize and be human with you, Maya. You’re drunk. You’re looking for a fight. I get it. You want me to fix this? You want me to make this up to you? Fine. I’ll do it right now.”
“And what exactly are you going to do?”
Cole flexed his big, strong hands. “I’m going to go beat the shit out of Mr. Pickle for what he said to and about you.”
“Yeah, do that,” I called out.
Cole turned and disappeared.
I stood for a few seconds.
He was only kidding, right?
I ran to the bedroom door and looked down the hallway.
Cole wasn’t there.
So I ran down the hallway to the living room and there he was.
Making a line toward the front door.
“Cole!” I called out.
He stopped and turned. “What?”
“What in the hell are you doing?”
“I told you. I’m going to go beat the shit out of Mr. Pickle. He had no business talking to you like that. If he wants to talk to Rissa like that, that’s his business. He’s paying her. I’m paying you. And it’s not the same. I’m paying you to work because you’re good at your job.”
“He’s paying for the same thing, Cole.”
“Oh well,” Cole said. “I didn’t bring you up here to feel like a doormat. Not from him.”
“Cole, stop it,” I said. “You’ve made your point. You’re such a hero. Such a tough guy. Wow. I’m so lucky to have you as my boss.” I looked to the fireplace. There was a fire starting to grow. “You got the fire going…”
“Yeah, I did,” he said. “So relax and write. Let me take care of everything else.”
He made another move toward the front door again.
When he opened the door, I gritted my teeth.
And I ran after him again.
Believe me, I got the picture.
He wanted to be the hero and beat up the guy that offended me. He was feeling guilty, and that was only because of the drinks.
I ran out on the porch after him.
The cold air hit me and I stopped.
“Holy fuck, it’s cold out here,” I said.
“Go back inside, Maya,” Cole ordered.
He ran down the steps.
I went after him again.
My feet burned from the cold porch, steps, and ground.
“Fuck you, Cole,” I called out.
He spun around. “What?”
“Fuck you.” I hugged myself. “Don’t be a hero right now. Don’t ruin your deal. Not for me. I’m far from worth it.”
Cole came toward me. “I tried to apologize to you, Maya. That wasn’t enough. So I’ll make it enough.”
“It’s enough,” I said. “You’re drunk.”
“So are you.”
“Then let’s go inside and be drunk together, Cole. You go your way. I go my way. Everyone gets what they want.”
“You think so?” Cole asked.
My body ached with shivers.
I was literally wearing a long sleeve shirt and a pair of panties. Nothing else. I felt my nipples painfully hard, pressing against the fabric of the shirt.
My teeth chattered.
And every couple of seconds a stray snowflake danced around Cole and then fell to the ground.
“You’re not some cheap whore, Maya,” Cole said. “I don’t want you to ever feel that way.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “It’s not your job to protect me. It’s my job to protect you. So get the fuck back inside right now. Please.”
I shuffled my feet back and Cole grabbed my arms.
“Maya,” he said. “You looked beautiful in that dress tonight. But you look beautiful without it too. Okay?”
“Cole…”
“Just hear the words and stop being so stubborn,” he said. “Don’t make me fire you right here. You’re outside in the cold.”
“Do whatever you have to do, Cole,” I said. “I just want-”