and has a face that looks as if it was carved out of stone. He is lick-worthy and I spend too much time wondering if he still has the eight-pack abs like he did back in high school.
He gives me a half smile, making him seem more boyish than manly and my heart flutters in my chest. Looking at him and knowing I can never have him hurts… it hurts a lot. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say with a shrug, hoping he will let it go. “Just a migraine.” The words barely pass my lips before he’s putting his stuff down on my desk so he can slip behind my chair, his huge hands gripping me by the shoulders as he starts to slowly massage my tense muscles.
“Where are your glasses?” Reed leans down and whispers the words into my ear, his woodsy scent filling my nostrils while his breath fanning against my ear sends a flurry of goose bumps across my skin.
“I left them….” I sigh, losing my train of thought as his fingers works the muscles into goop. It’s times like these when he touches me that I fantasize about what being his would be like.
He finishes the sentence I forgot I was saying with a hint of laughter in his voice, “At home, right?”
“Yes, they’re next to the paperback I was reading last night.” He knows me well. I’m forgetful, and I hate wearing glasses.
“Bring them tomorrow or else…” There is a note of danger in his voice and it makes me clench my thighs together with need.
My voice wobbles as I think about the possibilities. I want to ask if he’ll spank me, but I’m not that brave, so all I say is, “Or else what?”
Reed stops massaging the muscles and grips the top of my arms tightly, his full lips pressing against the sensitive flesh below my ear. “Or else you’ll get another headache.”
I blink, realizing he is messing with me, and not really about to threaten to spank me ... or fuck me against the desk like I wish he would.
Clearing my throat, I try to cover my disappointment with a small smile and agree. “Right…Yeah another headache.”
“I’m assuming you got Dad’s email?” He pauses in the act of grabbing his things off my desk but doesn’t wait for my response before giving me instructions. “I’ll need you in the boardroom in thirty minutes to take notes.” Looking down at his phone, he continues, “I need to talk to him beforehand.” He startles, looking down at me like he’s just remembered something. “Oh, and after that I’m leaving so please cancel all my meetings for the day. If anyone asks, just tell them I’m out of the office. They don’t need to know specifics.”
I swallow hard, finally finding my voice now that his hands aren’t on me. “Of course, Reed. I’ll let everyone know.”
Sadness tightens my chest as I watch him walk away and into his office, his perfect butt beckoning me. God, why does he have to be so handsome and so fucking off limits at the same time?
I shake my head, making mental note of all that he said and try to turn my focus to the stupid spreadsheet he wants me to work on.
Falling in love with your best friend shouldn’t be this hard.
Chapter Two
Reed
My cock goes rock hard the minute I put my hands on her. I know I shouldn’t have touched her. I should’ve walked away instead of making some lame joke in the hopes she would flirt back. Knowing she has a migraine, and I can’t cure it, irritates me. The fact that she isn’t mine, and it’s not really my job to care for her, irritates me further.
I’ve spent years pining for her, wondering if she wants me like I want her. Hell, I even gave her a job here so I could keep her close when she could’ve gone anywhere. That was three years ago, and I’m still single, fucking random women left and right in an attempt to kill these feelings I have for her, and refusing to settle down because it isn’t with her.
Slamming my stuff down on my desk, I push the things I can’t change from my mind and instead ready myself for my father’s announcement. I’ve been waiting for this day for years. The day he’ll finally give the company over to me and Winston Industries will be mine.
I run a hand through my hair nervously before slumping down in my leather