One Night with the Boss (12 page)

“Hmm. I didn’t know that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” she said smugly. Because he’d never really noticed her.

That personal thought made her concentration slip for a second, giving him the chance to reach down and lob a ball of snow at her in one lightning-fast motion. The hit was dead-on and caught her just where the cold trickled down the neck of her sweater all the way to bare skin.

“That does it.” Olivia was finished playing cat and mouse. “It’s time for shock and awe.”

“Bring it.”

She squatted down and started grabbing snow, chucking it at him as fast as she could. He blocked it with his forearm while moving in on her, a frontal assault. Before she could get to her feet and run, he grabbed her and stuffed snow inside her jacket while she squirmed to break his hold.

Unfortunately, he had her on size, weight and strength. That just made her more determined to get her licks in wherever she could. But the snow was slippery and he lost his balance. They fell into the icy softness with Brady on top of her.

He levered some of his weight onto his forearms to keep from crushing her, but showed no inclination to move away and let her up. Their faces were very close and his breath stirred her hair.

“Are you ready to concede defeat?” he asked.

“Never give up, never surrender.”

“Even though I’ve got you where I want you?”

If only that were true,
she thought. “This was my plan all along.”

He laughed and resumed shoving snow inside her jacket while she shrieked at the bitter coldness of it and struggled to get away. At the same time she was doing her darnedest to inflict some cold, wet damage on him. She managed to get some down his back and in his face, but she was tiring.

Apparently Brady was, too, because he said, “Care to talk terms of surrender yet?”

His mouth was inches from hers and she ached for him to kiss her again, but probably that wasn’t the negotiating point he meant. Just like that, the fight went out of her and the cold slipped in. She shivered and her teeth started to chatter.

“That’s it. Consider the white flag raised.” He levered himself off her, then stood and reached down a hand, pulling her to her feet. “You need to get inside and change those wet clothes before you catch your death.”

“C-cold doesn’t make you sick. V-viruses do.” She was trying to be sassy, but the violent shivering took the starch out of her words. “How c-come you’re not freezing?”

“Who says I’m not? If you hadn’t caved, I was getting ready to throw in the towel.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

“Is it working?”

“N-not so much. I can’t feel my hands and the feet are going f-fast.”

Brady hustled her up the front steps and grabbed her purse before opening the door. “Up there,” he ordered, pointing to the stairs. “Take a long, hot shower.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll find something dry for you to wear.”

Olivia nodded and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. She went into the guest room bath and shut the door before peeling off her wet clothes with fingers barely functioning, they were so cold. She turned on the shower and let it get good and warm before stepping inside.

As the soothing water beat down on her she breathed, “Heavenly.”

She stayed that way for a long time and was beginning to wonder how big Brady’s water heater was when she heard a knock.

“Liv?” The door opened.

Brady! The shower-door glass was frosted and he couldn’t see anything even if he walked in, which he didn’t. But her body responded as if he was staring right at her. Heat pooled low in her belly and her thighs quivered. Her breasts felt heavy and ached to be touched.

“Liv? Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“I left some sweats on the bed for you.”

“Thanks,” she called over the sound of the water.

“I’m going to make you a hot drink. Meet me in the kitchen when you’re finished.”

“Okay.”

The door closed and with a sigh of regret, she turned off the shower then grabbed a towel from the bar on the wall just outside it. She wrapped the terry cloth around her hair and took a second one to dry her body. On the bed she found black sweatpants, a long-sleeved gray T-shirt and thick wool socks. She had a few hair things in the bathroom and managed to comb through the wet strands then pull them up with a scrunchy. Looking in the mirror at her flushed, makeup-free cheeks, she sighed.

“Ready or not, here I come,” she said to the reflection.

In the kitchen she saw Brady pulling two mugs from the microwave. His hair was wet, too, and he’d changed into dry jeans and a T-shirt.

“This is, without a doubt, the weirdest day I’ve ever had at work,” she said.

“I know what you mean.” He was just setting the mugs on the counter.

“These pants are really big. I’m afraid they’ll fall down. So this workday could possibly get even more bizarre.”

Brady finally looked over and when he saw her, his eyes flashed with something hot and intense. He swallowed hard. “Call it a job perk. One of the advantages of working at home is having dry clothes available for a spontaneous snowball fight.”

“Easy for you to say. They’re your clothes and fit you.”

“You might not believe this—” His gaze met and held her own. There was a ragged edge to his voice that was different. Exciting. “It’s not that easy for me to say.”

Olivia’s heart skipped and she couldn’t think of a single sassy or coherent response.

Brady picked up a steaming mug and moved close, holding it out to her. “Another perk of this job. It’s probably safe to say that you’ll never have another one where the boss makes you hot chocolate.”

“It’s true—”

Without warning the reality of the situation hit her. She wanted to say that where she was going in California there wouldn’t be any snow and the Pacific Ocean was a perk, but she couldn’t get the words past the knot of emotion lodged in her throat.

To her horror and humiliation, tears started rolling down her cheeks. She turned away and covered her face with her hands. Behind her she heard Brady swear, then he was there, his hands on her shoulders, turning her against his chest. Strong arms came around her, warming her as surely as the hot shower had done.

“Don’t cry, Liv. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad. Please stop. I’m a jerk. An idiot. A moron. Everything you’ve ever said about me.”

“I n-never called you a moron—” She laughed but the sound was more like a choked sob. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she lifted her face away from his chest and looked up. “Don’t feel bad. It’s nothing you said. I’m just tired and emotional.”

He cupped her cheek in his big, warm palm and brushed a tear away with his thumb. “You’re allowed.”

He was looking at her in a way that made her feel intensity rolling off him and wrapping around her. If someone snapped a video of them right this minute, she was sure it would show her body language begging for the touch of his mouth to hers.

In the next instant he kissed her and it was as if a switch flipped on. His mouth was greedy and demanding and she met him with a hunger that could no longer be ignored. Their breathing escalated, mingled, and the sound of passion was all she could hear.

And then she felt his hand move, sliding up under the big shirt, easily finding her bare breast. Finally. Finally she had his attention. He noticed her the way she’d always wanted.

Chapter Twelve

O
livia sighed as Brady cupped her breast in his wide palm. She’d waited forever to be in this moment with him and it felt better than the best day she’d ever had. His thumb brushed over her nipple, just the lightest touch, but it zapped her and sent sexy signals straight to her core.

She slid her arms up around his neck and he dropped his hands to her waist, pulling her closer, nestling her against proof that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Standing on tiptoe in the wool socks out of his dresser, she kissed him with everything she had, everything that was in her heart.

It was a while before Brady dragged his mouth from hers and struggled to catch his breath. “You pack quite a wallop, lady, and not just throwing snow.”

There was desire in his eyes, but it was laced with something that looked a lot like surprise.

He hadn’t expected to want her?

So why had he kissed her? The last time it had been about challenge and restoring his reputation. Moments ago she’d thought he was caught up in the moment, just as she was. But what if it was something more underhanded? Like part of a campaign to convince her to stay.

Her best day ever just went south and she took a step back, out of his arms.

“Nice try, Brady.”

“What?” His eyes narrowed as he blew out a breath, on his way to regaining control.

“You’re trying to trip me up.” She hoped she was wrong, but if not, he’d stooped that low, so why shouldn’t she? “That was an attempt to drive a wedge between me and Leonard.”

“Believe me when I tell you that just now Leonard never crossed my mind.” His voice was deep, edgy, just this side of dangerous.

If only she didn’t find that so darned exciting.

Olivia gripped the elastic waistband of the sweatpants she was wearing. Partly to keep them from falling off, but also to keep him from seeing that her hand was shaking. That wouldn’t project the image she was going for in forcefully declaring that seducing her wouldn’t work. “Okay. You didn’t deserve that. But this needs to be said. Whatever crossed your mind just now isn’t a good idea.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“This was nothing more than a weak moment.” Olivia did her best not to be disappointed that he didn’t try to change her mind. “And weak moments are the best way to ruin a perfectly wonderful friendship.”

“Right again.” He dragged his fingers through his hair.

“So we understand each other. Good.” It gave her some satisfaction that his hand was shaking, too. “I’m going to put my wet clothes in the dryer now.”

“Okay.”

She started out of the kitchen, leaving the mug of hot chocolate that was now cold. In the doorway she stopped and looked at him. “This has to be said, too. Just in case you’re thinking that I’ll have another weak moment for you to capitalize on and take something to the next level, you should know that it’s not going to happen.”

Without waiting for a response, she left the room, wondering if she’d become a proficient enough liar to convince him he couldn’t take her to bed. Because if he ever kissed her like that again, he could take her anywhere he wanted to go.

* * *

Several days later Brady walked into his kitchen to open a bottle of wine. His gaze was drawn to the spot by the island where he’d stood with Olivia when the need to kiss her and touch her had overwhelmed his rational thought and common sense. Though she was in the other room with O’Keefe Technology’s chief website designer, the same feeling overtook him.

He suddenly realized that he could never be in this room again without thinking about her, wanting her. What was he supposed to do with that information? She was determined to leave—and had flat out said that seducing her into changing her mind wouldn’t work. The devil of it was when he’d kissed her, he’d had no ulterior motive. The only thing on his mind was having her; it had nothing to do with talking her into staying.

“Brady?” Olivia’s voice came from behind him. “Do you need help?”

Yes, but not the way she meant.

Brady braced himself, then turned to look at her. Fortunately Ian Bradshaw was there, too.

“Why don’t you get some glasses, Liv?” He looked at his friend. “Is a Jordan Cab okay with you?”

“One of my favorite wines.”

Ian had come to Blackwater Lake a couple days early for the employee weekend so they could get some business out of the way before the fun started. Because Brady was breaking the news about her leaving the company, Olivia had agreed to his request to stay for this meeting. Now, for the first time ever, he had mixed feelings about her sitting in on business.

Ian Bradshaw was over six feet tall with dark hair and eyes. They’d met in college and became friends. When Brady grew his company to the point of expanding, he’d thought of his buddy to take over website design so Brady could focus on the business end of things. Olivia had once said Ian was very good-looking and could leave his shoes under her bed any time.

The comment had annoyed him and he hadn’t understood why. Now he wondered if it was jealousy that had been simmering for a very long time.

“How was the weather in California?” Olivia asked.

The other man leaned back against the counter and crossed his legs at the ankles. “Cold.”

“Define cold,” she said wryly.

“About sixty.”

“Oh, my. However do you stand it? Makes me shiver just thinking about it.” She took the filled wineglass and handed it to their guest.

“What?” Ian said. “Does it really get that cold here?”

“Yes.” She grinned.

“Then you’ll be very happy when you leave Blackwater Lake.”

“I have mixed feelings about the move,” she admitted.

While he poured wine into the other two glasses, Brady listened to them banter and decided the teasing behavior could be called flirting. Leonard would be jealous. However, if there really was a Leonard, he would challenge Brady to a duel for what had happened in this very room.

“Do you want me to put together some appetizers? It could be awhile before dinner.”

“Don’t go to any trouble,” Ian protested.

“You always say that.” Olivia smiled. “Makes me want to fuss over you.”

That comment twisted Brady’s gut into knots. He took a healthy sip of wine, then asked his friend, “How’s Georgia?”

“We split up.” Ian’s mouth pulled tight and when he looked up, his expression was bleak and colder than the dead of winter in Montana. “After losing our son, the odds of our marriage surviving were against us, but we were determined to beat them.” He shrugged. “We didn’t.”

Olivia made a sympathetic sound and touched his arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you all right?”

“Fine as I can be. Georgia, too. We just weren’t fine together anymore.”

“If there’s anything I can do—” Brady didn’t like knowing there was a problem without a solution. It was messy and complicated and why he didn’t get serious or personal.

“You’re keeping me busy,” Ian said. “That’s the best thing for me.”

“Good. Let’s go sit in the family room. Relax.”

“You two go ahead,” Olivia said. “I’ll make up a few snacks. It’s no trouble.”

The two of them walked into the other room and sat on the leather corner group, at a right angle to each other. There were coasters on the dark wood coffee table, thanks to his ever-efficient executive assistant. Not for the first time he wondered what he’d do without her. But the feeling was becoming less about business. It was personal.

Brady made small talk with Ian and a few minutes later Olivia brought a tray of cheese, crackers, olives and marinated mushrooms along with plates, forks and cocktail napkins. Left to his own devices, he was pretty sure it would be a bag of chips and a can of peanuts. Mixed nuts, if he was feeling in a gourmet frame of mind.

“Here you go, gentlemen.” She set everything out, then sat beside Brady. But far enough away so that no part of their bodies touched.

Still, he could feel the heat from her body and that was exceedingly distracting.

“Okay, guys.” She looked at each of them. “It’s time to entertain me with college stories. Tales of your misspent youth.”

“You’ve heard all the good ones,” Ian said. “If there were any more, neither of us would have graduated.”

Brady felt a jab, because he hadn’t technically graduated. He’d left before finals in his senior year. Burnout was a bitch.

“There was that art class we took,” he said.

“I’d forgotten about that.” Ian’s grin was immediate and wicked with memories.

“Go on.” Olivia looked at each of them. “What? No details? Let me help. What kind of art class? Origami? Sculpture? Water colors? History of Impressionism?”

Brady smiled at his friend and at the same time they both said, “Sketching.”

“I have a feeling where this is going, but let me be the straight man.” She tapped her lip. “Did you draw flowers? Landscapes? Ocean scenes?”

“The human body,” Ian clarified.

“Parts? Hands, arms, feet? Noses? Mouths?” she asked sweetly.

“All of the above. At first,” Brady said. “Then we put the parts together.”

“The final exam was a live model.” Ian’s voice was full of wistful nostalgia. “Nude.”

“The professor said yours had two heads,” Brady reminded him.

“It was shadowing,” Ian protested. “I think that was my only B in college.”

Olivia tried to look stern and disapproving but couldn’t hold back the laughter. “You guys are pigs.”

“Oink,” Ian said.

“Thank you.” Brady grinned at her. He loved making her smile. It just plain made him feel good inside.

“Do you remember Henry’s sketch?” Ian asked. “He drew a stick figure.”

Brady’s smile faded. He still missed his best friend, the one he’d followed to that particular college where they’d almost finished growing up together.

“Are you talking about Henry Milton?” Olivia looked at each of them.

“That’s right.” Ian’s smile was melancholy around the edges. “The art class was his idea, and he was quite clear that naked girls were the reason we should take it.”

Olivia nodded then looked at Brady. “He was your best friend in high school, no?”

“Yes.” The loss and waste of such a brilliant mind and sparkling wit got to Brady as if it had happened yesterday.

Olivia was staring at him, but before she could say anything, Ian’s cell phone rang. He took it from the case hooked on his belt and looked at the ID. “Sorry. I have to take this. It’s from my assistant. Could be awhile.”

“You can go in the office,” Olivia said. “It’s quiet in there.” Olivia put her hand on Brady’s arm as Ian walked out of the room. “What’s wrong? And before you say nothing, you should know I’m not letting you blow me off. It’s about Henry. You were fine until Ian mentioned him. Wasn’t he killed in a car accident?”

“Yeah. Our last semester of college. We were rear-ended and the guy was going so fast we were pushed into a tree. Henry died instantly.”

“And you weren’t hurt,” she guessed.

“Bumps and bruises.” He shook his head. “It wasn’t that long after my dad died.”

“I knew about the accident but didn’t put it together that it was so soon after losing your father. The loss still affects you deeply.” Statement, not question.

Brady nodded. “One minute Henry was alive and we were full of plans for the future. The next he was gone.” He looked at her, the sympathy swirling in her eyes nearly shattered him. “He was like the brother I never had. When we weren’t in art class, we were working on computer technology. After graduation we planned to start the business together.”

“Is that why you didn’t take finals?” she asked. “Because Henry couldn’t?”

“I don’t know.” But probably.

“And sometimes your accomplishments feel disloyal?” she asked.

“He never had a chance to see our plans come to be.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Here’s the thing...I could tell you to stop it, but I know you and that’s not the way you roll. So, think about it this way. Your friend is still here.”

“Come on, Liv—”

“Seriously,” she protested. “If not for knowing him, you wouldn’t be the man you are. The
businessman
you are. Henry is in every product you’ve developed, every client signed on, every new app. Every time the business grows it’s because of ideas the two of you brainstormed together. Even the new corporate offices will have a part of him.”

“Maybe a plaque in the lobby with his name on it. A public dedication.”

“Great idea,” she said. “If you could change what happened, you would. If you could bring him back, you would. No one doubts that, but it’s not possible. All you can do is make sure he continues to live in hearts and memories.”

It was weird, Brady thought, the sensation that a weight had just lifted from his chest. As if she’d given him absolution. He dragged air into his lungs.

“Thank you, Liv. I never thought about it like that.” He drew her into his arms.
Just a hug,
he told himself. But the fresh, pure scent of her skin, her hair, made him crave more.

He pulled back a little, but didn’t let her go. Staring at the tempting curve of her mouth, he recognized the irresistible feeling coming over him again. Kissing her was something he wanted so much his chest ached from it and he started to lower his mouth to hers.

“Okay. If anything changes call me back.” Ian was just outside the room.

Olivia slid away from him and folded her hands in her lap, the image of a good schoolgirl who’d almost been caught doing something wicked and wild. She could try and say this temptation was about trying to get her to stay, but that wasn’t it at all.

This wasn’t about O’Keefe Technology. It had nothing to do with the fact that the clock was ticking and she’d be gone soon. What he felt was far more simple and basic than that. Kissing her had tapped into his lust and he couldn’t forget about it, no matter how hard he tried. He
wanted
her.

And as she’d told him more than once, he always got what he wanted.

* * *

It was Friday night and the O’Keefe Technology employee-appreciation-weekend cocktail-party kickoff was getting started. Olivia’s feelings were conflicted on every level. Relief that the big shindig was finally here. Sadness because it was finally here and she’d be leaving soon. Then there was her personal confusion about the mixed signals Brady had been sending her.