Hero Boss: An Alpha Male Office Romance

by Sullivan, Piper

  My words sank in and Stevie nodded. “Okay. Yeah. So…we’re doing this.”

  “We are.” I stood and pulled her flush against me, wrapping both arms around her waist so she couldn’t get anyway. “I mean I love you and if you’re sure you love me.”

  “I am,” she said quick enough that it made us both smile. “Last chance to back out, Scotty. After this, you’re mine.”

  “I think I’ve been yours since you barged in and took over my office.” On the surface it was a ridiculous statement to make given how angry I was that day, but since she arrived my reactions to her have been anything but ordinary. “But since you don’t seem sure, I guess I’ll just have to show you how I feel.” In fact nothing sound better than laying her out right here among all the other breakfast foods and feasting on her until she was sure.

  “I was promised breakfast,” she insisted with a phony pout and a lackluster shove at my chest. “It’ll be here. When we’re done. Sometime this afternoon.”

  He flared in her eyes at the promise and because I loved her, I pretended not to notice the way she shivered. Or the way her nipples hardened. “I’ll be cold by then.”

  “You’ll be hungry so it won’t matter. Besides if you’re really good, maybe I’ll make it all over for you. Naked.”

  With a roll of her eyes and an overdramatic sigh, Stevie leaned into me. “You better live up to the hype, Dr. Henderson.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and reached for the hem of her t-shirt, tugging it up over her head and dropping it on the chair behind me. “Oh I will. I promise.”

  She licked her lips, mesmerizing me while her hands made quick work of my boxer shorts. “I plan to make sure of it,” she told me and pushed me down on the chair and straddled my hips. “I love you, Scott.”

  Perfect. It was the only word to describe how I felt in that moment. Hearing Stevie say those words and she came home to me, felt right. It felt like everything I never knew I wanted had just slotted into place and we came together hard and fast, exploding together in just minutes. “Love you too, Stevie.”

  She let out a laugh and reached for a slice of bacon, breaking it in half to share. “Good, because I don’t think we should work together anymore.”

  I frowned, ready to argue but maybe she had a point. Maybe she didn’t. What mattered was that I wanted something else. “Fine, but you live here. With me.”

  “And Hershey?”

  “Of course. We are a package deal.”

  Her smile brightened and she nodded. “Then I guess I’m moving in.” Before I could let out a whoop of surprise, Stevie’s arms were wrapped around me and her mouth was on mine, tempting me beyond reason as I hardened inside of her. It felt like we kissed for hours and hours, the perfect start to the rest of our lives.

  The sound of the doorbell caused simultaneous growls to erupt out of us both. “If we’re quiet maybe they’ll go away,” I whispered.

  “Scotty! Are you in there? Is Stevie in there with you?”

  “Eddy,” I mouthed to Stevie and she started to shake with laughter.

  “Maybe we should be really loud and scare her off.”

  “No.”

  Stevie tightened and clenched around me and I couldn’t suppress the groan. “Or, yes.”

  “Janey do you see anything?”

  At those words I stood, our bodies still wrapped around each other, and turned to the back door just in case Janey made an appearance. “We’re being invaded.”

  She laughed. “Might as well answer the door. You do have your Hometown Heroes duties to tend to, and as the mayor’s future executive assistant, I have to encourage this behavior.”

  It was the first I heard about the job with the mayor but it meant she was sticking around. Growing her own roots. “I guess you have a point,” I told her with a kiss. “But things were just getting good again.”

  “No kidding,” she said on a throaty sigh and tightened around me again. “But the good news is we’ve got plenty of time to pick up where we left off. Later. Tomorrow. Next week. Next Month.”

  “Next year,” I growled and kissed her again, slow and hot until I wasn’t sure I’d be able to open the door at all in the next hour. “Forever.”

  “Only time will tell,” she said on a smile that told me she hoped as much as I did that time was kind to our love story.

  * * *

  The End

  Ready for more Small Town Romance stories?

  Check out the following excerpts featuring other couples from Tulip in Misters of Pleasure.

  Excerpt: Misters of Pleasure

  Wanting Ms Wrong

  "How did I end up like my own single Mom? Pregnant and alone, with a Baby Daddy?"

  Audrey

  I’ve known Walker almost my whole life, and I've loved him for just as long.

  One night of passion, that’s what we shared before he ghosted me.

  Like I was nothing.

  It took some time, but I got over it. Over him.

  Until it happened again.

  And again.

  Now our sizzling encounters has left me with more than a crush.

  I have something that’s a part of him…

  Walker

  Audrey was always my best friend’s kid sister, nothing more.

  Until our paths crossed far away from our small town.

  She was all grown up, and in way that made my heart race and parts of me throb.

  But Audrey was all wrong for me, she didn’t meet any of my criteria for a future wife.

  But still, I wanted her.

  She saw me as just her brother's best friend, and even that didn’t matter.

  I wanted her.

  She doesn’t believe me, and I don’t blame her.

  But I’m determined to make Audrey see that we could be more than a dirty little secret.

  We could be everything.

  Wanting Ms Wrong

  Walker

  Damn, but Audrey was walking fast as hell. I should probably take the hint. Should, but I wouldn’t.

  “Audrey!”

  That time, I caught it—the little pause at the sound of her name. Until she recognized my voice, anyway. It gave me enough time to catch up with her on the next block.

  “Is this how it’ll be between us from now on?” It couldn’t be this awkward forever—not when I practically grew up in her house. Not when her brother was my best friend. Her mother had been my surrogate mother while my own parents had traveled the globe, healing the sick and saving the world.

  She turned as I walked up beside her, blank violet eyes staring through me and lush lips pulled into a tight line. “It isn’t any way between us, Walker. You’re my brother’s friend, and that’s all.” Then, she moved away, putting more distance between us. Luckily, my legs were a lot longer than hers and I caught up to her easily, keeping stride right alongside her.

  “So, we’re not even friends?”

  “No, we’re not.” The answer came so fast it was hard to imagine she didn’t mean it. Audrey wasn’t a hard-to-get kind of girl; she didn’t play the game, which explained why I felt so anxious.

  “That was fast.”

  She shrugged, still almost running to get away from me. “Truth is easy to remember.”

  “Slow down, dammit.”

  “Go back to your dinner, Walker.” She shook her head, like I was some kind of pest she needed to get rid of.

  “You’ve been drinking.” It wasn’t what I’d intended to say, but it got her to stop. And glare at me. “It’s dark out.”

  “I can take care of myself, Walker. Thanks for your concern.” She spat out the last word like I couldn’t possibly have any concern for her. With me distracted, Audrey took off, giving me a good long look at the curve of her ass. She was so petite and soft, with feminine curves in all the right places. But I knew from experience she was no shrinking violet. No, Audrey was strong and capable of a good, hard fuck.

  “Dammit,” I growled and caught up with he
r once again. “I’ll walk you home.”

  “Not necessary.”

  Stubborn ass woman. “I wish you would just call me an asshole so we could fight about this and get over it.” I knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment the words were out of my mouth, and I braced myself for the fallout.

  “I’m sure you would. That way you could feel better about your behavior. No, thanks. Not interested. Good night, Walker.”

  She wasn’t getting rid of me that fast. I walked beside her for two and a half more blocks, until we arrived at the little farm-style house she bought or rented—not even Will knew which.

  “I’m not a bad guy.”

  “Never said you were,” she replied and climbed the stairs quickly, turning back to me with her arms crossed. “You can go now.”

  “When you’re inside, I will.”

  She let out a growl and the sound shot straight to my dick, like she’d struck a match on my zipper. It was sexy and adorable—it was a good thing I wasn’t looking for adorable.

  “Goodbye, Walker.” Her words were final as she pushed in the key and turned the knob, but I couldn’t let her say goodbye. Could I?

  Hell no. I took the short stairs two at a time until I was on her doorstep, staring down into almond-shaped eyes the color of amethyst. “Not goodbye,” I murmured and grabbed her face, lowering my mouth to hers and watching the play of emotion in her eyes. Wariness and confusion swam together, but underneath was lust—and that was what gave me the confidence to act.

  Just like last time, Audrey was incredibly responsive, melting into me as her hands clung to my shoulders—the same way she had when I’d thrust into her and made her come twenty floors above Manhattan. I swallowed her moan and when her hands slid down my abs slowly, my muscles jumped in response. Her knuckles brushed over my cock and I jumped back. She gasped, looking up at me with wide, shocked eyes. Then, she slammed the door in my face.

  I smiled. Audrey might not want to deal with me, but she clearly wanted me, and I could work with that. As soon as I found a way to get back to my car without being arrested for the concealed weapon in my pants.

  Still, as I retraced my path, the smile never left my face.

  * * *

  Read the rest of Wanting Ms Wrong HERE

  Undesired

  I should have known better. The quiet girl doesn’t get the hot, popular guy.

  Because my life isn’t a high school rom com.

  But I’ve had a crush on my best friend’s brother Will since we were teenagers.

  Will hadn’t noticed me then.

  Now, when I finally caught his eye, all hell broke loose.

  He rocked my world.

  He stole my heart.

  And tossed it away, unwanted.

  Undesired.

  Until I ended it.

  I should’ve stayed away from my sister’s best friend.

  What kind of man screwed around with the girl next door?

  The kind who found her innocence sexy, her sassy mouth alluring.

  What kind of man kept coming back when she told him not to?

  The kind who couldn’t get enough of her throaty laugh and sensual cries.

  What kind of man didn’t walk away when he wasn’t what she needed?

  The worst kind.

  I’m that man.

  Too selfish to let her go.

  And just desperate enough to do anything to get her to stay.

  Undesired

  Hope

  “What do you mean, you sprained your wrist dancing?” Suddenly, I had a hint of what Big Mama must have felt like all those years, raising me and my three brothers and sisters—in that moment, I very much felt like the adult. “Were you breakdancing?” That thought alone was enough to cause a heart attack, but the other alternative was unthinkable. As in, I absolutely refused to think about it.

  “I was just shakin’ my groove thang.” And she continued to shake said groove thang from her hospital bed in the ER. “The floor began to tilt and I stuck my hands out to break my fall and, wouldn’t ya know, that was the exact wrong thing to do?” Big Mama shook her head like she’d just taken a tumble and ruined her favorite pair of jeans.

  “I swear, you’re gonna give me premature gray hairs.” I was happy as hell to see that it wasn’t anything more serious than her wrist. “That phone call from Derek shaved at least ten years off my life.”

  She snorted. “Like you need it. Your skin is like milk—pale and creamy. I’d do terrible things to good people for skin like that.”

  “No, you wouldn’t, and we both know it. At least you weren’t twerking; I don’t think I could handle that.”

  “That’s it! That’s what it’s called. None of us could remember.”

  Kill me now. Why did I even open my mouth? “I’m going to pretend you’re kidding. How’s the pain?”

  “Just fine. That handsome Dr. Cahill gave me some of the good stuff. And he gave me hot pink!” She held up her cast, face suddenly lit up like an over-eager ten-year-old. “Wanna sign it?”

  “You bet.” Inside the room, I took my time getting over to the bed, noticing every detail while my heart rate slowed to normal. The entire drive to the hospital, I’d gone over every worst-case scenario imaginable and it hadn’t been pretty. After a side of the road freak out, I saw for myself she was fine. I was just waiting for the rest of me to realize that. “There you are,” I said, handing the pen back to her.

  She read my words on her cast and grinned up at me. “Grounded for six whole weeks?”

  “Yep. After the cast is removed though.”

  Big Mama snorted. “I was never that tough on you.”

  “The student has become the teacher,” I told her with a smile, relieved she really was all right. A sprained wrist, I could deal with. It wasn’t ideal because it meant I’d have to put the lingerie on the backburner for a while, but it was manageable. “I’m sure Derek told you to take it easy?”

  She looked everywhere but at me until I bore a hole into the side of her face. “Yes, okay, Nosy Nancy? He said a few weeks.”

  The door opened and Derek Cahill, ER doctor, Hometown Hero, and total hottie walked into the room. “I said six weeks. At least.” He leveled Big Mama with a look that actually made her blush, and I made a note to learn that look right away. “Hope, how are you?”

  “Better, now that I can see for myself she’s all right. Is it really just a sprain?”

  He nodded and told me all about her injury and her restrictions.

  “It’s nothing serious but there are other health concerns, given her age, so let’s be extra careful.”

  “I won’t argue with you on that.”

  “Music to my ears.” His beautiful smile was truly spectacular. Heck, he was a spectacular-looking man, with big blue eyes and thick, wavy black hair—plus, those dimples. Good Lord, the man was a snack, but I had to admit there were zero sparks between us. “And that’s about it. Prescription and after-care instructions.”

  I hadn’t heard a thing he’d said, but I’d read everything later. “Thanks, Derek.” He flashed another kind smile and went on to the next room to make someone else’s day better. “Ready to go, Big Mama?”

  “Not yet. Come have a seat.”

  “We don’t have time for this. Let’s talk about it on the drive home, I still need to get back to the diner.”

  “Child, sit your butt down!” When she used that tone, my body reverted back to childhood and immediately planted itself in the first chair it found. “That’s better. Now.” She patted the blankets around her legs with her good arm, flashing her best Sunday smile. “I can supervise the diner with one arm tied behind my back, so in a cast it should be a cinch. Don’t you go thinking about ignoring this new lingerie business of yours. I won’t hear of it.”

  “But—”

  She shook her head and slashed a hand through the air. “I mean it, Hope. You’ve put it off too long already and shame on me for lettin’ you, but not this time.”


  “You heard the doctor—you need to take it easy for the next six weeks. Standing up all day in the diner isn’t taking it easy.”

  “So I’ll sit. I’ll be one of those owners who spends most of the day just chatting with the customers. And I’ll ask for help when I need it.”

  That was fair, and it was more than I was expecting. “Deal. But if you even look like you’re tired, you go home. No arguments.”

  “You’ll make a good wife, bossy as you are.” She laughed and patted my cheek. “It took your grandfather at least five years to get used to me bossin’ him around but I swear to you, after that, he learned to love it.”

  He had. It was obvious in his eyes, the way they sparkled at her words and, at in way she looked at him like he was the only man on earth. “Not sure if that’s a compliment or not, Big Mama.”

  “Who’s your secret boyfriend?”

  I froze for just a moment, but it was still too long and I knew Big Mama hadn’t missed it. “Not a secret. Not a boyfriend. I’m thinking of signing up for a dating website.” The key to avoiding these kinds of conversations was to throw a grenade like that in and watch the chaos.

  “A dating website? What’s wrong with dating the old-fashioned way? I swear, you young people keep trying to take the people out of living.” She shook her head and continued her mini rant while I helped her into her hot pink sneakers and matching windbreaker.

  “Just because something is new doesn’t make it bad. Think of how useful that new POS is in the diner, and how much of a big baby you were when I first suggested the upgrade.”