by Pamela Yaye
Dismissing his words, she took out a twenty-dollar bill out of her wallet and slid it across the table. “Thanks again for grabbing this stuff. Everything looks delicious.”
“Are you always this difficult?”
Jariah didn’t know what to say, so she smiled.
“Keep your cash. Or better yet, give it to Ava so she can buy more tokens.” Nicco picked up the money, tucked it back inside Jariah’s purse and gestured to the manila envelope. “You brought work with you to Chuck E. Cheese’s? Why? You’re supposed to be having fun with your daughter, not memorizing the employee handbook.”
“I know, but next week is going to be extremely busy, and I want to be prepared. I have a lot to learn, and I don’t want to embarrass myself during the Monday morning staff meeting.”
He plucked a piece of cheesy bread out of the wicker basket and took a healthy bite. “I don’t expect you to know everything about Morretti Incorporated overnight. It’s going to take time for you to learn the ins and outs of the company. As long as you’re driven and hardworking, we’ll get along fine.”
“Thank God.” Releasing a sigh of relief, Jariah wiped imaginary sweat from her brow. “I was worried I’d get canned if I couldn’t recite the company mission statement by Monday!”
The lively atmosphere inside Chuck E. Cheese’s helped Jariah relax, and soon she was laughing at Nicco’s jokes and cracking some of her own. As they ate, they chatted about their families, the upcoming Kings of R & B concert, and their mutual love of romantic comedies.
“What’s your all-time favorite movie?”
“That’s an easy one,” Jariah said without missing a beat. “Poetic Justice.”
“Back in the day you had a thing for Tupac Shakur, didn’t you?”
“Everyone did!” she quipped, laughing. “I’ve seen it a million times, and I still love Tupac!”
A dimple appeared in his cheek when he chuckled. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows casually on the table. “Do you and your ex have a good relationship?”
“Yeah, for the most part.” Jariah searched the arcade for Ava, and when she found her precocious daughter at the “Pac Man” machine she thought her heart would burst with love. “Ava means the world to us and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”
“Are you guys done for good or trying to work things out for your daughter’s sake?”
“That ship sailed and sank a long time ago. We’re definitely over.”
“And you’re not dating anyone right now? I find that hard to believe.”
He had a hungry, predatory look in his eyes, one that caused her body to tingle and vibrate in a hundred different places. It was times like this, when Nicco was flirting with her, that she forgot he was one of the most successful restaurateurs in the country—and her boss. “You ask a lot of personal questions.”
“I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to get to know you better. I figure learning more about you and your beautiful daughter is a great place to start.
“It’s your turn,” Nicco said, draping his hands casually along the back of their booth. “Go ahead. Ask me anything.”
Reaching for her glass of lemonade, Jariah tried to recall everything she’d read online about Nicco. “Is it true you dated three Sports Illustrated models at the same time?”
Jariah expected him to laugh or flash a bad-boy grin, but he didn’t. He looked embarrassed, not proud, and his eyes darkened with regret. “That was a long time ago, back when I had more money than sense. I was twenty-five, new to Miami and thought I was ‘the man.’”
“And now?”
“And now I’m older, wiser and smarter about relationships,” he replied quietly. “I recently met a woman I’m completely smitten with and I’m not afraid to pursue her.”
Jariah sat perfectly still. She didn’t want Nicco to know his words had excited her, or that she craved his touch. Just the thought of his strong, masculine hands caressing her flesh shot a fiery rush of desire down her spine.
“Cheese pizza! Yay, my favorite!”
Jariah blinked and gave her head a hard shake. It didn’t help, but she turned away from Nicco and focused on her daughter. Patting the seat beside her, she smiled and kissed Ava on the forehead. “Hey, sweetie. Did you have fun playing in the arcade with Richie?”
“I beat him twice, Mom!”
“No, only once,” Richie argued. “The second time I let you win.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
“Are you my mom’s new boyfriend?” Ava asked, facing Nicco. “My mom dumped my dad because he wouldn’t marry her. Are you going to marry her and become my stepdad?”
Jariah was mortified, but waved a hand in the air, as if her daughter’s question was no big deal. But it was. She didn’t want Nicco to think—not even for a second—that she was interested in him. According to Mrs. Reddick, he liked to screw the help, and Jariah had no intention of becoming his office plaything.
“I’m your mom’s new boss, Ava, and she’s doing a fantastic job,” Nicco said in a sincere tone. “You should be very proud of her.”
“Way to go, Mom!” Ava cheered. “Can you give my mom a raise so she can take me to Disneyland for Christmas?”
Jariah cupped a hand over her daughter’s mouth, and gestured to her half-eaten plate of food. “Ava, leave Mr. Morretti alone and finish eating your pizza.”
“I love Disneyland.” Richie licked barbecue sauce off his fingers. “Uncle Nicco takes me and my mom to California every year. Maybe you guys can come, too.”
“I like the way you think. The more the merrier, right?”
“Right, Uncle Nicco, and we can take your RV!”
Jariah raised her eyebrows. “You have an RV?”
“I sure do.” He wore a proud smile, as if he’d built the recreational vehicle with his bare hands. “I’ve racked up thousands of miles since buying my Platinum Plus RV last year, and I have plans to drive to Disneyland for Thanksgiving. Are you and Ava free?”
“We’re free!” Ava chirped, eagerly clapping her hands. “Wait until I tell the kids at day camp I’m going to Disneyland. They’re going to be so jealous!”
“Nicco, you can’t be serious. We can’t go with you to Anaheim.”
“Why not? There’s plenty of room, and I’m absorbing the costs.”
“I started at Morretti Incorporated this morning,” she pointed out, blown away by his outrageous offer. “I don’t even know how you take your coffee.”
He winked. “I don’t. I prefer to start my day off with a banana and a glass of O.J.”
“Uncle Nicco, can we play another round of hoops before we go?” Richie guzzled down his apple juice and jumped to his feet. “I’m feeling lucky, and I know I can win this time.”
“Sure. What about you, Ava? Are you up for a game of one-on-one?”
Jariah spoke up. “Not tonight. We have to get going. It’s almost nine o’clock.”
“But I don’t want to go,” Ava whined, folding her arms. “I want to play basketball.”
An awkward silence fell across the table.
“Ava, be a good girl for your mom, and next week you can come with us to Boomers.”
Ava’s frown disappeared. “All right. I’ll behave.” She stood and put on her raincoat. “I love Boomers. I’m great at miniature golf, but I’ll let you guys win when we play, okay?”
“You’re going down,” Nicco vowed. “I’m the king of miniature golf. Tell her, Richie...”
A moment passed before Jariah realized Nicco had not only diffused the situation, but he’d also brightened her daughter’s mood. She was chatting excitedly and laughing at Richie’s jokes. He definitely had a way with kids, and although Jariah would never bribe Ava, she appreciated him making the effort to connect with her daughter.
“Thanks for everything, Nicco. I’ll see you on Monday morning.”
“You can bet on it,” he said, standing. “Good night, ladies.”
Quickly, Jariah collected her things, waved goodbye and hustled Ava back through the play center. Ten minutes later, they were on the I-95, listening to the radio. Her conversation with Nicco filled her mind. It turned out she’d pegged him all wrong. He loved the ladies—no doubt about it—but he was laugh-out-loud funny, had a weak spot for kids and was incredibly generous. Shoot, if I can survive living with my ex, I can definitely handle a pretty-boy CEO who loves kids, junk food and arcade games!
Chapter 10
August was a whirlwind of business meetings, visits to Dolce Vita and laughs shared between Nicco and Jariah during coffee breaks, long, relaxing lunches and after-work drinks. Although she’d been working at Morretti Incorporated for weeks, Jariah still couldn’t believe she was being paid to attend industry events, to socialize with foreign clients and to schmooze with celebrities. As she unlocked Nicco’s office door on Friday morning, she decided taking the executive assistant position had been one of the smartest decisions she’d ever made.
Opening the blinds, Jariah stood in front of the window, soaking in the early-morning sunshine. She stared at the sky and admired the peaceful, tranquil view of downtown Miami. The streets were surprisingly quiet; traffic flowed smoothly in and out of the core, and casually dressed people wearing shades and clutching coffee cups strolled through the business district.
Remembering she had a full day ahead of her, Jariah hung her jacket on the coat rack and got down to business. At her desk, she flipped through the mail she’d collected from the administration office, anxious to find her first paycheck. It was on the bottom of the pile, and when Jariah ripped open the envelope her eyes froze on the check. Several seconds passed, but her mouth remained wide-open. Someone in accounting had made a mistake, and although Jariah could use the extra nine hundred dollars she knew keeping the money would be wrong.
Jariah dialed the extension for the financial administrator, and when prompted left a detailed message. The moment she put down the receiver her cell phone buzzed. It was Nicco texting her to find out what she wanted to eat for breakfast. Every day, he arrived at the office with the most delicious foods, and although Jariah would never admit it, their morning talks were the highlight of her day. Jariah read the text, and her heart swooned.
Beautiful, I have a surprise for you. See you in a few minutes.
Excitement radiated throughout Jariah’s body, but she warned herself to relax. Just because Nicco showered her with compliments and did sweet, thoughtful things for her every day didn’t mean they were soul mates. They weren’t. She had Ava, and he had a harem of lovers, and no matter how much she desired him, they could never be more than colleagues.
Mrs. Reddick’s words came back in a rush, flooding her mind.
Mr. Morretti is a smooth talker who flirts with everyone, so don’t think you’re special. Furthermore, he’s dead-set against ever getting married...
Jariah shook off her thoughts, but the HR director’s voice echoed in her head like a bullhorn. You’re simply one of many... A scowl curled her lips. Funny, but in the past few weeks, she hadn’t seen Nicco put the moves on anyone. Not a hostess, not a waitress, not even the attractive soap star who’d pounced on him yesterday at Dolce Vita.
Hearing her desk phone buzz, she picked it up and hit line one. “Good morning. This is Ms. Brooks, executive assistant to Nicco Morretti. How many I help you?”
“I’m sorry,” a woman with a low, throaty voice said. “But I didn’t catch your name.”
“It’s Jariah. Who may I ask is calling?”
“It’s Vivica Morretti, Nicco’s mother. Is my son around?”
“No, not yet, but I’m expecting him any minute now.”
Mrs. Morretti released a long, deep sigh. “That boy is never going to change. He arrived two weeks after my due date, and has been late ever since!”
Jariah swallowed a laugh.
“You sound awfully young, Ms. Brooks. Just how old are you?”
“I’m twenty-seven.”
“Of course you are.” Mrs. Morretti sounded exasperated, like a customer waiting in a slow-moving line at the bank. “Are you sleeping with my son? Is that why he hired you?”
A cold shiver tore through her. Why do people keep interrogating me about Nicco? Why is our relationship suddenly on everyone’s mind? Last night at dinner, Sadie and Felicia had questioned her relentlessly, and now Mrs. Morretti—a woman she’d never met—was in her business. Jariah actually considered disconnecting the phone, but instead spoke in a firm, strong voice. “No, Mrs. Morretti, I’m not. I don’t believe in mixing business with pleasure, and furthermore I’m here to serve the needs of the Morretti Incorporated, not your son.”
“And that’s the truth?”
“Absolutely. I want to advance my career, not ruin my reputation.”
“Good answer,” she said, her tone warmer, brighter. “I look forward to meeting you, Ms. Brooks. Will you be at my anniversary bash?”
For the second time in minutes, Jariah’s eyes widened. “You know about the surprise party? How? Nicco has gone to great lengths to ensure you don’t find out.”
“I know, isn’t that cute? My sons and my husband think I’m completely in the dark about the surprise party, but I knew about the anniversary bash before they did!” Mrs. Morretti’s loud, feverish laughter floated over the line. “I raised three troublesome boys and helped my husband get his business off the ground. Nothing ever gets past me.”
“Nicco’s going to be crushed when he finds out you know about the surprise party.”
“That’s why we’re not going to tell him, right, Ms. Brooks?”
“Right,” she said with a nod of her head. “I won’t say a word.”
“I have to run. I have a ten o’clock appointment at Le Chic. I haven’t found a gown yet, and the anniversary bash is just weeks away.”
“Good luck finding the perfect dress.”
“I don’t need luck,” Mrs. Morretti quipped. “I have my husband’s platinum card and Oprah’s stylist along for the ride!”
Laughing, Jariah hung up the phone and turned on her computer.
She was hard at work, answering emails and proof-reading documents, but the moment she heard Nicco out in reception, she grabbed the mirror from inside her bottom drawer and assessed her look. This morning she’d made the time to do her makeup, and loved how her scarlet-red lipstick made her eyes pop and brightened her entire face.
“Sorry I’m late.” Nicco stalked over to the sitting area, put the brown paper bag on the glass table and took off his sunglasses. “I stopped to grab us breakfast from Javalicious and the line was ridiculously slow. Ready to eat?”
Jariah sucked in a deep breath at the sight of Nicco dressed in a white, short-sleeve shirt, khaki slacks and leather sandals. Desire rushed through her veins. He was standing on the opposite side of the office, a good ten feet away, but shivers of electricity crackled between them. He looked like an all-American boy but his dark locks and scrumptious grin made him irresistible. That’s why, despite the warning from Mrs. Reddick weeks earlier, her gaze crawled all over his toned physique. She wanted to touch him, could almost feel her hands playing in his hair as she stroked his body with her own.
“Nicco, you didn’t have to bring me breakfast,” she said, wiping her damp palms alo
ng the side of her chair. Goose bumps broke out across her skin. Her attraction to Nicco was spiraling out of control, literally turning her into a sex fiend, and Jariah feared what would happen if she acted on her feelings. There was nothing cute about getting axed, and she had no intention of being unemployed again. “I’m not hungry. I had a protein bar on the way here.”
“Then consider this a mid-morning snack.”
Nicco pulled out one of the padded leather chairs. “Come eat. The food is getting cold.”
The air was filled with a yummy, lip-smacking aroma, but Jariah didn’t move. Her body was a raging inferno, and she couldn’t stop staring at Nicco’s mouth. All hell would break loose if he touched her, and Jariah didn’t want to put herself in harm’s way.
“You go ahead. I’ll join you once I finish my to-do list.” To prove how busy she was, Jariah swept her hands over the paperwork cluttering her desk. “I have to finish the PowerPoint presentation for your Tuesday-morning meeting, and I have to process your monthly travel and expense reports before I leave at noon.”
“Work can wait.” He spoke in a stern, authoritative tone. “Now, get over here and sit down before I take you over my knee for insubordination.”
His words and his sinfully sexy grin made Jariah weak. The shaking in her body was uncontrollable, fast and overwhelming, and Nicco hadn’t even touched her.
“I’m not going to ask you again.”
“Okay, okay, I’m coming.” She stood, scooped up her iPad and marched her quivering, horny body over to the sitting area. “While we eat, we can discuss your September schedule.”
He released a deep sigh, one that spoke of his frustration. “I hate discussing business when we’re eating. You know that.”
“But you have a meeting with representatives from the Miami Convention Center next week, and I’m dying to know what it’s all about.”
His smile was back, shining in full force. “I want Dolce Vita to be the official sponsor of the 2016 Miami Auto Show, so I’m meeting with representatives to get the ball rolling.”
