Her dad threw up his hands. He stood and shook his head. “You kids are going to give me a heart attack. Every time I try and give you advice, all you do is argue.”
Janiyah jumped up from the chair and paced back and forth. “And every time we try and talk to you, all you do is brush aside whatever we say.”
“I don’t brush you aside,” he said as if she were being ridiculous.
“You’re doing it now. That’s the point of your family meetings, right? To tell us all the things we’re doing wrong?”
“The point of those meetings,” he said, straightening his shoulders, “is to find out what’s going on with my kids. You don’t tell me anything if I don’t ask.”
“Because if we tell you, you’ll just turn around and tell us the right way, also known as your way, to do things.
Before Roger could answer, her mom hurried into the kitchen. “What’s going on in here? I can hear you arguing down the hall.” She looked between the two.
Janiyah took a deep breath. “I came over to ask Daddy to reconsider selling the business; instead I get another round of why Janiyah is too dumb to run the company.”
“No one said you were dumb,” Roger said in an exasperated tone. “I just said you weren’t cut out for it.”
“It’s the same thing.”
Loretta came over and placed a hand on Janiyah’s arm. “Sweetheart, please. Can’t we just sit down and discuss this rationally?”
“Fine, okay, Daddy.” She crossed her arms. “Tell me rationally why I can’t run the business.”
Roger took a breath then met her eye. “Because I don’t want you to.”
If he would have taken her high heel and slammed it into her heart it wouldn’t have hurt worse. She’d hoped she had overreacted. That her dad didn’t really think she was too flighty to take over the business. But he’d just confirmed it. She wasn’t good enough.
Janiyah was beyond talking rationally. Her heart pumped adrenaline to every tight muscle in her body. She wanted to hit something, or scream out her frustration. Something snapped inside of her. Annoyance with them, but also with herself for not recognizing the way they’d seen her for so long. She wasn’t a kid that needed coddling. She could excel at any job she took. And dammit, she would. She’d give them hard proof that they’d seriously underestimated her.
A part of her wondered if it was worth all the trouble. She didn’t really want to run Henderson Automotive, so why fight so hard to show them that she could? It wasn’t as if getting the administrative assistant position at Freddy’s office would prove she could run a large organization.
But it would prove that she wasn’t as helpless and silly as they thought. No, it wasn’t the job of a lifetime, and it wouldn’t earn her acclaim, but it was a step in the right direction. It would get her started in the business world, maybe help her think of a way to expand her work as a virtual assistant—something she tossed around in the back of her mind but never really thought out.
She squared her shoulders and looked at her mom. “No, we can’t talk about this rationally, because I’m done talking.” She turned to her dad. “If you sell Henderson Automotive, it’ll break your heart, and hurt David far more than you realize.”
She turned to the door.
“Janiyah, wait,” her dad called.
She spun around, but not for whatever excuse he would try and give. “And starting immediately, you can cancel the deposits into my account.”
“There’s no need for that,” Roger said.
“Cancel them, or else I’ll change my bank account. I make enough money to support myself.”
CHAPTER 9
Janiyah looked through the peephole of her apartment, then turned away with a heavy sigh when she saw nothing, and paced the length of her living room. She checked the clock—it was nearly nine-thirty. Wringing her hands, she fell onto her couch. Where was Freddy?
She picked up one of the many magazines on the coffee table, flipped the pages, and then dropped it to jump up again. He had been working late the past few nights, and there was no reason he needed to hurry home today. Just because he said they were ending interviews the day before and would make a decision by the end of the week didn’t mean he would rush home to tell her. Though it made absolutely no sense for him to work so late on a Friday.
She froze in her pacing. Unless he was avoiding her. She chewed on her pinky fingernail. He wasn’t going to hire her. They’d gone for that starched, black suit wearing woman who’d interviewed before her. She knew that black and red dress was a bad idea. Cute, but a bad idea.
Her mom called this morning. At first, she’d barely paid attention to the conversation, she was so busy making dildo flyers for Mrs. Driggers. After her mom kept probing, she confessed that her job interview was with Freddy. Loretta seemed excited for her, which annoyed the crap out of Janiyah. She couldn’t remember anything close to that much excitement from her mom when she’d mentioned getting a huge bonus because a presentation she’d put together for one of her clients was such a success—because of her, he’d gotten a raise and a promotion. No, only praise on a damn performance evaluation would count with her parents. Even if Freddy didn’t give her the job, she’d just try again somewhere else.
The thought of competing with people far more used to the business world than she was, wasn’t her idea of fun. She wasn’t into the suit and tie life, but if it got her family off her back, she’d make herself fit.
What should have been a bright spot earlier in the day was her conversation with Gerald Westlock confirming their date the next day. Her enthusiasm about getting back out there and dating again had vanished. Getting her life in order, proving that she wasn’t the joke her ex-boyfriend accused her of being, seemed more important than finding a new guy to get involved with, her starving libido be damned.
She went back to the door to check the peephole. Just as she was about to pull away, Freddy came down the hall.
She hopped up and down then ran her fingers through her hair. She probably looked a mess in the same Hello Kitty pajamas he’d teased her about a week ago. She’d gone for curls again and they were falling flat. Maybe she should wait until he was in and settled. That way she wouldn’t look as if she’d desperately stalked her peephole all day. She stopped bouncing and drummed her fingers on the door. She’d give him five, maybe ten minutes to get in and get comfortable before she confronted him.
She looked out the peephole again. Freddy turned to her door.
“I know you’re watching,” he said. “I can see the shadow of your feet beneath the door.”
With a relieved sigh she snatched open her door. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“That’s a first.” He unlocked his door and walked in.
She hurried over and closed his door behind her.
“Already in pajamas? No plans for tonight?”
She glanced down. Remembering her promise to David, she had put on a bra.
“I felt like staying in.” She’d turned down several party invitations in order to wait on Freddy.
He dropped his laptop bag on one of the barstools and walked into the kitchen. She trailed behind him, wondering how long to wait before asking about the position.
“Want any ice cream?” He opened the freezer and took out a small carton of vanilla.
“No, you go ahead.”
He raised an eyebrow. “No lecture on not eating ice cream this late?”
“It’s Friday. And … you know … you can’t argue with the boss.”
“I’m not your boss.”
She sagged against the counter and watched him dig out a spoon. So that was it. He wasn’t hiring her.
“No, I guess not.”
He turned to face her, and leaned a hip against the counter. He ate a couple spoonfuls of ice cream before meeting her gaze.
“At least not until Monday. Congratulations, both Phyllis and Larry thought you were the best person for the job.”
Elation burst wi
thin her. She jumped up and clapped. Then his words settled in. “But you didn’t think I was the best one.”
“I thought you were one of the best.”
That didn’t do a lot to soothe her.
He finally smiled, full on dimple. “But I couldn’t give you my highest vote since I’d already done you a favor with the interview.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Freddy, you’re wonderful!” She buried her nose in his neck, letting that old admiration swell inside as she breathed in his cologne. It didn’t take long for her body to heat up from another sensation. Even with her bra on, the feel of his muscled chest hardened her nipples.
As usual when she hugged him, he automatically slipped an arm around her waist. They fit together, chest, stomach, hips, legs, him solid and strong where she was soft. He felt good against her. So good that she snuggled closer, rubbing her body against his.
He tensed, but didn’t jerk away. That was a first. She lifted her head. His eyes burned bright with something she’d seen numerous times from other men. Desire.
The box in her heart with her warm and fuzzy feelings for Freddy rattled. Those feelings strained to be let out, sending vibrations through her chest with their escape attempt.
She had two choices. One, do the smart thing—pull away, and pretend she didn’t see it. Or, two, go with the electricity simmering between them and see what happened. The second thought pushed her forward. Her dad was right about one thing—she was impulsive.
She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. Heat sparked across her nerve endings. He didn’t lean in, but he didn’t let her go either. His lackluster response challenged her. She could do better than that. She pushed her hips forward to brush against him.
Holy crap, that was an erection! Heady excitement coursed through her as the lock on her emotions released. He wanted her. Freddy actually desired her. He might not want to, and he might deny it forever, but the proof was right there.
She leaned in to kiss him again. Freddy jerked away. His nostrils flared with his rough breaths. Her disappointment couldn’t put her feelings back inside. She ran her hands through her hair, then tugged and pulled at her clothes. She didn’t know what to do with them. They wanted to grab him and pull him back against her. She didn’t bother to look away. She wanted him to see her desire. He blinked and lowered his eyes. When he glanced back at her, his emotions were hidden.
“Um … you’re welcome. But it wasn’t me. You did well during the interview.” His eyebrows met over his glasses. “You were very meticulous about your answers, and gave good examples of how you’ve assisted others. I even called your references and got nothing but glowing reviews. Apparently, virtual assistants can save many people in tight situations.”
“I told you it was a real job.” Her breathless voice wouldn’t cooperate with his attempt to ignore what just happened.
“That you did.” His eyes dropped to her chest, then jerked away. He turned and took a bite of his ice cream.
“So, what’s my first assignment?” That came out a little more normal.
“Can’t that wait until Monday?”
“Just trying to be proactive.”
The smile he gave her brought out his dimple, and kicked up her internal body temperature several notches. “I’m working on a proposal for Satterfield’s. The restaurant chain is considering outsourcing their books and I want to be the one they choose. So be prepared to work hard on that.”
She raised an eyebrow and gave him a once-over. “Oh, I’m ready to work hard for you.” Crap, she didn’t mean to make the double meaning so obvious.
Freddy cleared his throat. “That’s good to know.” He ate a heaping spoonful of ice cream.
He didn’t sound very excited, and he didn’t take the bait. As if he’d ever take the bait. “You know what, I think I’ll go home and celebrate.”
He swung around. “You’re not hanging out here tonight?”
He wanted her to stay. That at least made her feel a little better about him ignoring what just happened.
“No, I think I’ll let you chill. You’ve had a long week.” She reached out and wiped a smear of ice cream off the corner of his lip, hoping he would grab her, toss her on the counter, and give her libido some much needed attention.
He stepped back. “I think that’s a good idea. I may turn in early.”
She hid her disappointment behind a smile. “Yeah, I should rest too. You know, I’m having coffee with the professor tomorrow.”
“You don’t like coffee.”
“Yeah, well, he asked me out. I’d break it if something better came along.”
Her voice held all of the invitation he should need. She waited for something in his expression. Jealousy, anger, some clue that the desire wasn’t just a fleeting moment. She got nothing. If anything, his face became more impassive.
“Well, have a good time. Let me know how it goes.”
“I’ll do that.”
With a frown, she turned and walked to the door. She glanced at him over her shoulder. He raised an eyebrow and gave her a wave goodbye. Still frowning, and feeling slightly foolish, she left.
CHAPTER 10
“Hey, Freddy, I have a question.”
Freddy didn’t turn away from his computer. Janiyah had had tons of questions since she started. “Okay, shoot.”
“Congress is out of session, right? So what tax issues will they have to pick up when they return?”
Freddy looked away from the audit report to stare, most likely dumbly, at Janiyah.
“Come again?”
She sashayed into his office and plopped into the chair across from his desk. If her question threw him off, then her outfit struck him speechless. It wasn’t a bad outfit, just so … Janiyah. White camisole, pink blazer and powder blue skirt. She reminded him of a cupcake: his favorite dessert. The mental image, her vanilla perfume, and the way it clung to her curves gave him a bad case of desire. More like worsened it. He’d been plagued with wanting her ever since that kiss in his kitchen.
He thought about it constantly: the invitation in her pretty eyes, the soft touch that wasn’t enough when her lips brushed his, and how perfectly her warm body molded to his. He’d considered calling Liz to ask about her boss just to get his mind off Janiyah. He needed to do something, because having her in his office every day wasn’t going to make it go away.
She’d been busy her first two weeks while she learned their office procedures from Phyllis. This week Phyllis released Janiyah from her assertive grip and let her take over handling the admin assistant duties on her own. She’d spent the week bouncing around the office chatting to everyone. He didn’t know what was more distracting—her surprisingly insightful observations to make their office more efficient, or the sexy way she sashayed through the hall.
Regardless, she had too much free time. Which would be annoying if it weren’t because she’d quickly completed the items he needed for the Satterfield proposal in an afternoon. The woman finished work almost as soon as he gave it to her and better than he’d expected.
She crossed one leg over the other, giving him a generous view of the soft skin of her thighs.
“You heard me. What tax items will Congress take up when they’re back in session?”
Thanks to that glorious glimpse of thigh, he’d almost forgotten what they were talking about. “Several on the individual and business tax side. Not to mention the tax extenders they should have voted on last session.”
“Such as?”
He leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk. “Why do you want to know?”
“For the blog.”
“You’re not supposed to blog at work.”
She laughed and sat back in her chair, and her ponytail swung from side to side. She looked so carefree, and sexy, it made his body tighten.
“As if I’d blog about that. No, this is for your website. It’s boring and dated. I know that you can’t do much to make accounting fun … but you can
at least provide useful information.”
He rubbed his nose beneath his glasses. “My website has useful information.”
“No, your website says who you are, what services you provide, and who works here. You need to provide some type of insight on what your company is about. You said yourself you started it to help out small businesses. Well, your site doesn’t say that. You need a page for small business, a page for individuals, and maybe one for non-profits since you do work with them. And a blog and newsletter—”
“Newsletter?”
“Yes, sending a newsletter with updates on tax law shows that you’re savvy.”
“I’m not trying to be savvy.”
She shook her head. “I really don’t understand how you landed Nebulas with that attitude.”
“I did it without a blog and a newsletter.”
“Just email me the stuff, and I’ll update the website. Once that’s going, I’ll work on the social media links.” She stood.
“We don’t need social media.”
“Yes we do. Even Phyllis agrees.” She turned away and sashayed back to the door.
Damn his eyes for following the sway of her hips.
“Oh, and another thing.”
He jerked his attention to her face when she swung around. “What other thing?”
“I brought in some of my receipts, invoices, and stuff from that other little side job I had before. Do you mind staying late and helping me work on my budget? Pretty please? You promised weeks ago.”
She batted her lashes and gave him that playful pout that got her whatever she wanted. He should be angry at her for coming in here and telling him his website was crap. For pushing him into the realm of social media when he vowed to avoid it like a sugar free diet. But her argument was sound. Once again, she surprised him. He’d half expected her to sit at her desk, on the phone, filing her nails, and sighing about how boring it was to work here. Instead, she’d had Phyllis gabbing like a high school girl in the break room, brought his staff doughnuts on Friday, and searched for ways to make his office better without being off-putting about the way things used to run. Not an easy task when Phyllis was the previous administrative assistant.
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