Tempted by the Boss (Tempted Series Book 1) (6 page)

I walked by her desk every chance I could get. Sometimes I got
lucky and she’d be standing up when I came around the corner. Then I could
admire the lovely curve of her ass in her fitted skirts that were never short
enough, but at least she seemed to have appreciated the Macy’s voucher. And it
pleased me that she was making an effort to look nice since she was a
reflection of me and the company now. Though I had a feeling she’d look good in
a poncho. Especially one of those cheap see thru ones they always sold outside
the Giants’ games.

For the first week and a half I pretended to be too busy to
check on her even though the only thing I was too busy doing was undressing her
with my eyes. Her body was like buried treasure the way it was hidden
underneath her clothes. And I’ve always been all about the booty. Though her
tits were nice, too. At least they moved naturally.

I had no idea what other men saw in fake tits. I liked tits I
could squeeze and sensitive nipples that liked to be teased. Plus, I found nothing
more erotic than shapely breasts concealed beneath a conservative top. It made
me eager to see more of her. But not in the workplace. It was sexier that way.
When she showed me what she was keeping below her collarbone, I wanted to relish
the fact that no one else had gotten to see it but me. And I planned to reward
her accordingly for her discretion.

Unfortunately, she thought highly of me. That much was obvious.
Everyone did. But things were a bit sticky ever since I became her employer. It
was necessary to keep her around and learn more about her, but it meant there
was a line I couldn’t cross. Not without a direct invitation anyway.

And it was hard to tell where she stood with me. The way she
smiled in my direction when I walked by was adorable, but it was also the way
you might smile at a big dog before you’ve decided if it’s friendly. I know I needed
to be more approachable, but I’d rather that she felt intimidated by me than
think I was harmless. Cause I wasn’t. And even though I didn’t mean her any
harm, that didn’t mean that what I had in mind wouldn’t hurt.

Of course, I couldn’t do anything until I knew she was available.
Even though I didn’t blame the pool boy for Laura’s gravest error, I still knew
how it felt to have your woman seduced by another man, and it was the worst
feeling in the world, a feeling I would never deliberately make another person
suffer through. Ever. So before I pursued her, I had to know if her body belonged
to anyone else.

So I hatched the perfect plan to find out. After all, I was a
classy guy so I didn’t want to just ask. Instead, I sent her flowers.
Anonymously. It was a strategic move, but the fact that I got to see her face
light up when they arrived was a nice bonus.

“Those are lovely,” I said, stopping in front of her desk where
she was standing dwarfed by the arrangement. I may have gotten carried away.

“Aren’t they?” She ducked behind the flowers and searched the
area at the top of the vase for a card.

“Are they from your boyfriend?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“I’m surprised to hear that.”
And delighted.

“I don’t date.” Her nose disappeared into a flower.

“Ever?”

She looked at me. “Anymore.”

“Maybe you have a secret admirer?”

“That’s not possible… Unless it’s you or Emily.”

I smiled.

She squinted at me. “Are these from you?” She put her hands on
her gorgeous hips. “Did you send these to me?”

“Would I be in trouble if I did?”

She tried not to smile but one side of her mouth wouldn’t
cooperate. “Not
in
trouble.”

“What then?”

“Just trouble. Plain old trouble.”

“They’re just to welcome you to the team. I thought they’d
brighten up your desk a bit.”

“They brighten up the whole room.”

“Well, I’m always more relaxed when I have something pretty to
look at,” I said, locking my eyes on hers.

She looked down at her desk for a moment and when she looked up,
her cheeks were rosy. “That was very sweet of you.”

I laughed. There was nothing sweet about what I wanted to do to
her. “Don’t mention it.”

She twirled the thin chain of her necklace around her small fingers.

“How are things going with Emily?”

She looked over at Emily’s empty desk beside her and lowered her
voice. “I don’t think she likes me very much.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

She shrugged. “She’s very serious.”

“That’s what I pay her for. The more serious she is, the more
carefree I can be.”

“You must not have any worries at all then.”

“Let’s not get carried away.” The truth was I was never more
worried lately than I was around Ella. My list of worries concerning her went
on and on. Would I ever get to bite her plump bottom lip? Would she taste as
sweet as I imagined? Would she be too tight to handle my cock?

“Will?”

I stepped behind her desk so she wouldn’t see what it did to me
when she said my name. “Yes?”

“Is there anything I can do to make her like me more?”

“Don’t worry about it. She’ll warm up to you.”

Ella made a pouty face.

“Pumpkin Cappuccinos work, too.”

Her eyes smiled. “Thanks.”

I nodded. “And how is the research and planning phase for this
year’s party going?”

“Okay so far.”

“I really need better than okay. Everyone looks forward to this
party all year and many of my staff will talk about it for years to come
if
it’s a knockout.”

“I understand.”

“I can’t wait to hear your ideas. I assume you’ve already come
up with some?”

“Of course.” She rolled her shoulders back and cleared her
throat. “It’s just a matter of narrowing it down now.”

“Great.” I looked at my watch. “Why don’t we discuss them at
dinner on Friday?”

“Dinner on Friday?”

“I know we’d be mixing business with pleasure-”

She pushed her hair out of her eyes.

“But the rest of my week is jammed.”

She pursed her lips.

“And I’m obligated to take you to dinner as part of your prize
for the raffle.”

“Oh right.” Her shoulders relaxed. “The raffle dinner.”

“And I think it would be the perfect time to discuss the ideas
you have for the party because we’ll have some privacy.”

It looked like she’d stopped breathing.

“Because the party is really supposed to be as much of a
surprise for the staff as possible.”

“Whenever is convenient for you.”

“Dinner on Friday then?”

She clasped her hands together. “Okay.”

I nodded and turned towards my office.

“Will-”

I spun around quickly. Too quickly.

“Where should I meet you?” She put her fingers down on her desk
and leaned forward. “I don’t know what your favorite place to eat is.”

“I can send a car to-”

“No.” The smiled fell from her face. “I’d rather make my own way
if that’s okay.”

I sighed. Her timing for when to be difficult baffled me. I
opened my wallet and flicked through some cards. When I found the one I was
looking for, I held it up and placed it on her desk. “Capulets. It’s about 15
blocks south of here.”

“Thanks.”

I turned around.

“Will-”

I let my shoulders drop and turned around at a more appropriate
pace. “Ella?”

She rocked up on her toes for a moment. “I’m looking forward to
it.”

“Me, too,” I said. “I recommend you skip lunch.”

“How’s the new job treating you?” Jackie asked.

“How was your burrito?”

“How did you?... Oh that’s attractive,” she said, picking a
black bean off her shirt.

“Can you move your webcam so I don’t have to stare at your chest
while we’re talking?” I asked, shaking some red nail polish.

“Sorry.” She tilted her screen so I could see her face.

“That’s better.”

“And the burrito was good, thanks. At least the parts that made
it into my mouth.”

I smiled.

“So tell me about working for the sexiest man in New York.”

“He might even be the sexiest man in the country. The guy just
drips sex appeal.”

“And you’ve only seen him in his clothes.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Oh my god you have only seen him in his clothes, right?”

“Yes. Obviously. Why? What’s he hiding?”

“I wish I could say I knew firsthand. All I know is that the
girls in wardrobe talked about his abs for a good two weeks after he was here.”

“They’re that good, huh?”

“Apparently he’s a total gym rat.”

I put my foot on a magazine in front of me and unscrewed the
polish. “Well that’s not intimidating at all.”

“I guess if Trevor asks me for your address again, I’ll just
tell him you’re too busy sleeping with your millionaire boss to take his
calls.”

“There are so many things wrong with that sentence I don’t know
where to start.” I fixed my eyes on hers. “First of all, I’m pretty sure he’s a
billionaire.”

“Ha! Brilliant. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend either of
you by suggesting he was a mere millionaire.”

“Second, you shouldn’t respond to notes from Trevor for any
reason. No matter how good he is as getting you to feel bad for him.”

“He is good at that. I think it’s probably why you pity-dated
him for so long.”

“And most of all, I’m not sleeping with my boss.” I was only
fantasizing about it in my spare time.

“Yet. You aren’t sleeping with him yet.”

I rested my chin on my knee and focused on my toes. “What makes
you so sure that’s where things are headed?”

She put her hands on her head. “So many reasons! Where do I
start?”

I raised my eyes towards the laptop where it sat at the end of
my bed.

“First of all, you can never tell when a guy likes you so I
can’t trust your judgment at all.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes it is. You’re beyond dense. Subtlety is lost on you.”

“No it’s not.”

“I can’t even humor you on that so let’s move on.”

“Let’s,” I said, annoyed. I wasn’t stupid. I could tell if a guy
was blatantly flirting with me, and Will hadn’t done anything blatant. Or had
he?

“Plus, I’m sure the guy is a sex machine.”

“How do you know that?”

“Cause he’s like the poster boy for everything that’s sexy and
powerful. I mean, everything about the guy works overtime. I don’t see why his
libido wouldn’t be the same.”

“But basically this is all just based on your own unfounded
theories?”

I heard the pitter patter of something on her desk.

“What was that?”

“Skittles.” She held up a purple one and plopped it in her
mouth. “Look, my theories are not totally unfounded. I was on the set for all
the bachelors’ shoots this year and every single one of them is known for having
an insatiable sexual appetite.”

My chest felt tight. “Even Will?”

“More like with the exception of Will.”

“So you don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“The only reason I can’t prove it is because the guy is super
private, but I can’t see why he wouldn’t be a freak like all the others.”

I looked down at my toes. “Maybe he’s gay.”

“Oh my god you like him!”

“Of course I do. He’s a nice man.”

“No. I could tell by your face that you don’t think he’s gay.”

“No. I don’t think he’s gay. But I’m still never going to sleep
with him.”

Jackie scowled at me.

“He’s my boss, Jackie.”

She leaned her head back and dropped a handful of Skittles in
her mouth.

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have this sweet job that I need
so bad. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize it. No matter how hard it
is.”

“More like no matter how hard
he
is,” she said, covering
her full mouth.

I shook my head. “I want him to think highly of me. If I spread
my legs I’d just be like every other woman he meets all day every day. I want
him to know I’m different.”

“I know what you’re saying makes sense. It’s just not nearly as
interesting for me.”

I laughed. “Sorry to be such a bore.”

“It’s okay.” She took out her ponytail and put it back up.

“If I don’t blow it, this job could get me out of deep shit.”

“And your Mom’s place.”

“Exactly.”

She sighed. “All right. I know you’re more into losers anyway.”

“It’s not that I’m into losers. I just seem to attract them.”

“And then fall for them.”

“Which is why I’m not sleeping with anyone until I get my career
going.”

“So lame, but whatever.”

“I might not even get to keep this job much longer if I don’t
think of something amazing by Friday.”

“Why? What’s Friday?”

“I’m going to dinner with Will to tell him my concept for the
party.”

“Dinner?”

“Yeah.”

“Sounds serious.” Her face was so smug I wished I could reach
through the screen and slap her.

“It’s part of my raffle prize. Plus he’s too busy to do it any
other time.”

“Are you sure? That sounds pretty suspicious to me.”

“That’s what he said anyway.”

“And he hasn’t done anything else that seemed unprofessional or
flirtatious?”

I wasn’t sure if I should tell her. She could be so
incorrigible.

“Ella?” She leaned in towards her camera lens. “What are you not
telling me?”

I looked down at my toes and tried as hard as I could to sound
matter of fact. “He did get me flowers.”

“What?! Why?”

“Just as a welcoming gesture, I guess.”

“Like a dozen yellow carnations or a big ass medley in a glass
vase.”

“A big ass medley.”

“Oh my god. This is by far the most exciting thing that has
never happened to me!”

“Settle down. I’m sure he gets everyone flowers when they start.
Why wouldn’t he? It’s not like he can’t afford it.”

“True.” She rested her chin in her hands. “So let me make sure
I’ve got this straight. He hired you even though you have no experience. Then
he got you a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. And now he’s asked you to go to
dinner with him on Friday?”

“At his favorite restaurant.”

She clapped her hands in front of her. “At his favorite
restaurant!”

I screwed the lid back on the polish.

“You know what? You’re right. I think that sounds like totally
normal boss behavior. He clearly has nothing in mind except for his career. I
want to apologize for implying he might be having any impure thoughts about you
whatsoever.”

Her sarcasm was so thick I half expected her to choke on her
words.

“I hope you have a very professional dinner on Friday, and I’m
sure if he does anything that impresses you it will be entirely coincidental.”

“Are you done?” I asked. “I don’t appreciate being mocked.”

“I just can’t wait for you to call me and tell me I was right.”

“Don’t hold your breath. That won’t be happening.”

“Oh Ella. Poor naïve, Ella.”
She shook
her head. “You better be careful.”

“Or what?”

“Or this guy will wreck you.”

“He’ll do no such thing,” I said, scrolling over the end call
button. “But I have to go or I won’t get to keep my job or your fantasies
alive.”

“Please do then.” She puckered her lips. “Mwah. Chat soon.”

After ending the call, I grabbed the single flower that was lying
on my nightstand and brought it to my nose. If I closed my eyes, it still
smelled as lovely as if the whole bouquet was surrounding it.

Jackie was a pain in the ass- my favorite pain in the ass- but
still a pain. At the same time, part of me hoped she was right. Part of me
wanted Will to want me even though I knew it wouldn’t make anything easier. Even
the thought of his five o’clock shadow made my insides curl. But I needed to
focus. Because if I couldn’t come up with an idea that would impress him by the
time we had dinner, my job- and the opportunity to get to know him better-
would be over before it even began.