Trust Game (3 page)

Reese

It’s five
o’clock, so I’m promptly walking to Everett’s office. Kyle and Sarge have left, so the hallway is dark and quiet, which only ups my anxiety.

My stomach is chu
rning, and I need to get a grip, but my boss freakin’ kissed me on the second day of work! And I liked it. What does that say about my professionalism?

“Hi.” I stand at his
doorway, with a self-assured pretense.

“Come in and have a seat, and shut the door please,” he says, barely glancing up and gesturing t
o the chair in front of him. I sit down, and after a few seconds, he sets some papers he was looking at off to the side.

“Mr. Casteel–”

“Don’t call me that. I’m Everett or Ev.”

“See
, this is a problem. We have to have a professional relationship, and I’d like to repair the breach we had with that earlier. I know your whole staff is … well, lacking in that department, but I need professionalism to continue working here.”

He smirks at me. What a piece of work.

“First off, Reese, my employees are always professional when they need to be. As soon as I met you, I figured you took your work seriously. You don’t need to prove that to me.” He’s quiet for a minute, staring at me intensely. “I retract my apology for kissing you.”

My mouth falls open. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The damn corners of h
is lips twitch, while his so-called
professionalism
and audaciousness duel it out. “Are you going to share your ridiculously
un
professional reasoning for this?” I purse my lips and cross my arms.

“I like
d it and didn’t get to finish.”

My eyes want to bug out of my head as my
face warms. “Is this why you have almost no female employees? You run them off?”

His smirk disappears. “What transpired between us this morning has never happened
before, but I definitely want it to again … with you, Reese.”

“I’ll stay until I find another job, and then I’m ou
t of here.”

Everett

She springs toward the door, and
I can’t let her leave like this, so I’m in front of her by the time she reaches it. “Mr. Casteel, let me out.”

“
It’s Everett, and can you tell me that you didn’t want me to kiss you?” Her gaze falls to her feet. “If you weren’t working for me, would you push me away?”

Her eyes are covered as she presses
her thumb and fingertips against her forehead. Reaching out, I lift her chin. “Reese, look at me.” Moving her hand, she stares into my eyes. “Trust me; no matter how you answer, your job is not in jeopardy.”

She’s trembling as she bites
the corner of her bottom lip. “I wouldn’t push you away,” she replies softly. Sensual eyes tilt up at me, and along with the uncertainty, I see excitement in them.

“Then I won’t let you
. You’re the first woman I’ve wanted to kiss in over two fucking years, so I’m taking what I want.”

I’m still holding her chin when I press my lips to her
s. She doesn’t push me away as our tongues meet. The heart I thought was shattered and unrepairable is pounding in my chest, blood coursing through it at lightning speed.

Our tongues are stroking faster and harder,
and the physical contact throws the desire I have for her to full throttle. Taking hold of Reese’s hips, I turn us and push her against the door. My fingers thrust into her thick hair, causing it to fall as I shove my body forward.

Groaning, I grip it hard as her hands latch onto my waist. “
Fuck, the way I want you is maddening,” I say before my tongue is probing its way back in.

Lust has
my cock not backing down, throbbing to be against her tight body. Reese’s lustful whimpers permeate more than my mouth, suggesting a desire in her to be ravished, and god I have to be the one to do it. I want to fuck her right here–right now.

Reese

Is this a fantasy come true or a nightmare? Our tongues collide, and his dick is hard against me. No man has ever exhibited this profound desire for me, and it has my body wet and eager. Two months without sex has been difficult.

Hell, if I’m the first woman he’s wanted to kiss since his wife died, then he probably hasn’
t had sex, either, so this is likely only sexual frustration.

No,
no, no. He loves someone who I could never compete with. I try to push him off, but his lips are the only thing he’s willing to move.

“No, Everett. We can’t do this. You
’re my boss, and you love your wife.”

“What are you talking about?” he asks breathless.

“I heard you speaking with Sarge.”

“I … it’s been
over two years.”

“
Exactly. Your brand new accounting manager should not be on the receiving end of your pent-up sexual frustration.”

“Reese, I could’ve been with a woman at any time s
ince, but I haven’t been attracted to anyone until you.” His alluring, blue eyes are searching mine, looking for the confirmation that I believe him, but it doesn’t matter.

“
I’m not having meaningless sex with my boss.”

He moves his face to the side of mine, his mouth hoverin
g right at my ear. “It would be far from meaningless. I know it’s irrational but you want it, too. I feel it.”

In seconds, I’m
out from under him and squeezing my way out the door. I grab my purse and run to my car. Although administrative staff have left, the store is open until eight, so a few customers and employees witness my escape.

I’m shaking as I start my car. The large garage doors are open to
the maintenance bays, and a few of the guys are staring at me from inside. Seeing only males is making me crazy.

OK, Reese. Get it together. I’ll start looking for something else tonight. I’ll hire them a new person right away, so they won’t be
entirely deserted. How will I explain in interviews why I left this job so soon?

This is all Craig’s damn fault. My ex decided two months ago tha
t I wasn’t the woman he was destined to spend his entire life with, so he saw no point in us continuing our relationship and felt I should move out immediately.

After crying over it for a day, I realized I felt the same. We’d been living together for two years, dating for three. All at once, I needed more income to live on
my own, so I began looking for a job that paid more. This one did, so I jumped on it.

W
hy did he have to touch me? Why?! I throw my head back against the seat. I need my sister. Rummaging through my purse, I find my phone and dial her as I drive.

“Hey, chick.
How’s the new job going?” Becca asks.

“I kissed my boss!” I yell into the phone.

“No way. Oh, this is some good shit. Get over here. I have ice cream.”

“I’m going to be homeless, destitute, worthless—”

“Tell me he’s hot.”

“More than hot. I’ll be there in
twenty.” I swing by my apartment and throw on some sweats and a t-shirt. Looking in the mirror, I put the hair Everett had his way with into a ponytail.

“
Why?” I ask aloud with a groan. Why couldn’t he let me admire him from afar? That would’ve been difficult enough but doable.

Becs
opens the door and stares at me. She’s trying to weigh whether she will be able to laugh at my expense or have to console me as I cry. Since I’m not sobbing, she covers her mouth and snickers.

“Sis, it’s
not funny. He runs the company.”

“I’m impressed. You go, girl.”

Becca is twenty-two but can act like she’s twelve at times. I’ve always been independent, whereas Becs prefers to be taken care of. Since she’s the baby, Mom and Dad have given her anything she wants.

She’s gr
aduating college in two months, but I’m sure they’ll still be helping her out. She has a roommate, but our parents pay most of her share of expenses since they hardly want her working while in school.

“Here’s a bowl of butter pecan. Now, tell me everything,”
Becca demands as she shoves a bowl of ice cream in my face.

“My boss, Everett
Casteel, made a pass at me. He’s this rugged yet gorgeous man. His eyes are a deep blue. Part of a tattoo shows under his shirt sleeve, and I bet the man has more of them on his remarkably fit body.”

My sister’s eyes are wide
. “Tell me more,” she says before shoving a spoonful of ice cream into her already open mouth.

“I’m not sharing every detail, but I will say that he pushed me up against the door, and it was like something you see in the movies, all raw and passionate.”

“Then what happened?” Becca tucks her legs under her ass and waits for the next juicy detail.

“
I stopped him.”

“Why?”
she asks in a drawn out, high pitched tone.

“Uh, for one, he’s my boss of two flippin’ days.
Two, his wife died. I don’t believe he’s had sex since, and I can’t compete with that.”

“Oh, come on.
People remarry all the time after losing a spouse. At least have some fun with the man. How old is he?”

“I think early thirties, but I can’t risk my job to have a good time.”

“Does he have any brothers?”

“Yes, three. The place is crawling with men. One of his brothers is probably around your age, and he’s a cutie.”

“Oooh, I need to meet him.”

I hurry and swallow the dollop of ice cream in my throat while adamantly shaking my head no at her.

“I can’t have any other connections to Everett.”

“You gotta l
ighten up. Tons of people in relationships meet at their place of employment.”

“I need to see statistics on all these so called ‘facts’ you’re throwing out.”

Becs rolls her eyes at me as she twirls a piece of her golden blonde hair around a finger.

“
You did some wild shit with guys before you got with boring Craig. He made you uptight. Why not live a little … or a lot, before you settle down?” She gives me a wicked grin.

I was wild in college, livin
g the whole sorority life to its fullest. I partied too much, and since there was no in between with me, I was drunk a lot, which meant I was an uninhibited guest at the parties.

Unfortunately, one of the times I was drunk, I
spilled some of the details to my sister when she was about to begin college. I was on my way out and felt a need to prepare her. She’s never let me live it down.

“Sis, come back to earth.”
I snap my head up and find her staring at me. “You were thinking about those crazy days, weren’t you?” There is that wicked grin again.

“Listen, the stud of a
man needs a refresher before getting back in the game, and you need to live some before you likely pick another boring ass man since we both know you deny the carefree woman you want to be.”

M
y sister finally stops to suck in a breath. “So, take advantage of this opportunity to have a wild fling with a smokin’ hot, biker dude of a boss.”

“You make it sound as if it’s no big deal.” I shovel the last spoonful of butter pecan in my mouth.

“It’s only a big deal if you make it one. Shut off your brain, Reese, and find your sensual self again. Ride that man a hundred different ways in a hundred different places. You can look for a job while it’s happening.”

I set the bowl between my legs and bury my face in my hands. “Geez, when did you get old enough to talk to me this way? It does sound fun and exciting,” I say muffled.

My sister stands up on the couch, her feet sinking far into the cushions, and proceeds to shake her hips, doing her own victory dance.

“Oh, yeah. You know you want to, and I’m so bringing you lunch this week, so I can meet these sexy brothers.”

I throw my finger out at her. “No. No way, Becca.”

Everett

I’m a wreck, wondering if Reese showed up for work today. If not, I’m likely getting charged with sexual harassment, and my brothers will kick my ass.

Dad would do the same if he was her
e. Why did he have to die, too? I’m certain moving on after Krystal would’ve been easier with him by my side.

Travis motions for me
as soon as I step through the doors. It’s like he has damn eyes on the back of his head or a silent alarm, signaling him when I enter the building.

“What?” I ask with frustration.

“Geez, what the hell is going on around here? Sarge is a grump, and I wanted to tell you he’s already been looking for you.”

“Shit. OK, thanks fo
r the heads up.” Has she called and quit? I trudge to the hallway. Reese isn’t in her office, but the light is on.

“Everett,
I need a word with you,” Sarge says from behind me. I haven’t even made it to my desk.

“Good morning. What’s the problem?”

“I’ve been waiting for you to tell me. Word already spread through this place that Reese literally ran out of here last night. Did you have something to do with that? And answer me quietly please.”

“
Is she here?”

“Shit, I knew it.
Yes, she’s here.”

She hasn’t said anything. Interesting.

“Everett, I know Krystal is the only female you’ve ever worked this closely with, but you have to realize Reese could get you into a lot of trouble if you are rude to her.”

“I wasn’t rude. She’s going to help me with the taxes. It’s all good.”

“Oh, OK.” He raises his eyebrows and points at me. “Keep it that way. She’s smart and sweet, and we need her help.”

“You got it,
Sarge,” I say with a salute. All of us here enjoy calling him out on his bossiness. He says I’m in charge, but he’s the one giving orders every minute of the day.

He leaves, and I get to work. As eager as I am to know what Reese thinks, I can’t bring myself to go to her office. I still want her and won’t apologize for that, so I’m not sure what
I would say.

I’m on the pho
ne when I hear my door shut. Glancing up, I see her leaning back against it, palms flat on the surface. Damn, seeing her in that position makes me want to push my cock against her again.

“Mr.
Reiser, could I please give you a call back?” I hang up the phone and eat up the sight of her as she stands nervously in front of me.

“I saw Sarge go into the shop, so I thought I’d have a word with you.”

“I’m honestly surprised you’re here today.”

She tilts her head
and gives me a look, as if my statement baffles her. “Like most people in this world. I have to work if I want a roof over my head and food to eat.”

Damn, I love her tenacious personality.
I can’t help but get up to approach her. As I stalk across the room, her chest rises and falls faster, but she never takes her eyes off of mine.

“What did you
want to say, Reese?”