Naughty or Nice

by Jennifer Hanks

  CHAPTER SIX

  Taylor

  He was going to take care of me. That sounded nice, nicer than it should have, and I knew even in my sick-induced fog that I needed to tell him to leave, but I didn’t. I let him lead me to my room, lay me down on my bed, and take off my shoes. I didn’t say anything when he peeled off my coat, pulled my heavy blankets back and tucked me in, wrapping the blankets tight around me. And when he laid a cold cloth against my forehead, all I could manage to do was sigh.

  I felt like crap.

  I’d gone to bed exhausted but blamed it on being overworked. I knew when I woke up in the middle of the night and felt like my head was about to explode that my exhaustion was caused by something else. I went to the drugstore to buy cold medicine because the ibuprofen wasn’t working and groaned internally when I heard Aaron’s voice. Of all the people to find me sick and vulnerable, I was both happy and sad that it was him. I hated that he saw me looking so awful, but for some reason, out of all the people I knew, I believed he would keep it to himself. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did, and I trusted my instincts to just let him help me. Not to mention, I didn’t really have the energy to argue with him, and I seriously doubted I could get myself home by myself.

  I didn’t know how long I slept, but I would wake up every so often when I felt a new cool cloth on my forehead and a few times when I heard my phone ring and the answering machine pick up. When I felt my blankets move, I moaned, feeling the chill from the air working its way over my hot skin.

  “Taylor, I need you to sit up and take more medicine.”

  “I’m okay,” I slurred.

  He exhaled loudly. “I can’t get your fever to break, honey. If you don’t take medicine here, we’re going to the hospital.”

  “No hospital,” I murmured.

  I heard the phone ring, and Aaron swore before moving away from the bed. I wanted to call him back so he could give me my blankets, but I didn’t have the energy. He came back a few minutes later, and I felt the covers fall over my body again. I groaned out loud when the small amount of warmth surrounded me.

  The bed depressed beside me, and I felt him lay his hand across my forehead. He pushed my hair back and leaned down. “I just talked to your sister, and she suggested a different medicine for you. I’m going to the store, but I’ll be right back.”

  I snuggled even deeper into my bed and sighed, but I didn’t answer. Apparently, I didn’t need to because he moved from the bed, and I heard the door close. It felt like only a few minutes until he was once again waking me to take medicine, this time not taking no for an answer.

  I sat up just enough to take the pills from him and swallow them down with the cold water he was holding out to me. I groaned when it felt like I was swallowing glass and laid back down, cuddling deep into my bed. My last memory before I fell back to sleep was him muttering something about my fever, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

  I woke up covered in sweat and threw the covers from my body. Reaching down, I grabbed the hem of my sweatshirt and yanked it up, doing the same with the sweater I had on beneath it until I felt the cool air kiss my skin. I was so hot, I felt like I was coming out of my skin.

  “You’re awake.”

  I heard Aaron’s voice, but I was too busy trying to get my clothes off to even look his way. “I need to get this off.”

  His hand landed on my forehead. “Finally, the damn fever broke. Hang on, baby, I’ll get it.”

  I dropped my arms and laid still while he tugged my sweatshirt gently over my head. I breathed a sigh of relief when he tugged my sweater off, leaving me in only sweatpants and a tank top.

  He threw the covers over me and laid his hands over mine when I tried to shove them off. “You have to have some covers on.”

  “Please. I’m still too hot,” I whispered, my heavy eyes closing again while I spoke.

  He ran his hand along my forehead when I settled back into my bed. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I drifted back to sleep, but I was sure I heard him mutter, “So sweet,” before I did.

  My eyes opened slowly, but this time to a completely dark room. That was the first thing I noticed; the second was that I really needed to pee. I sat up slowly and put my hand to my forehead, noticing it was cool, but I was covered in sweat. I stood and just as slowly made my way to the bathroom attached to my bedroom. After I flushed the toilet, I moved to the sink and leaned over, turning on the water and washing my face before standing slowly. I was dizzy, but I hadn’t had more than a few sips of water when Aaron would wake me.

  Aaron.

  Aaron was in my apartment and had taken care of me. I listened closely, and when I heard nothing, it was easy to assume he’d left. I refused to let that disappoint me and instead thought about the repercussions of him having spent the day taking care of me when I would undoubtedly have to face him at work tomorrow.

  I slowly made my way out of the bathroom and startled when I saw Aaron sitting on the side of my bed. Grabbing the doorframe, I held on and leaned my side against it, suddenly very aware that my employee was in my bedroom. My employee that I’d spent the past three years avoiding because I was so damn attracted to him.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked quietly, the light from the bathroom showing me the concern lingering in his green eyes.

  “Better,” I said quietly.

  “I made you soup.” He stood from the bed and moved closer to me. “Why don’t you come eat some?”

  I pushed off the doorframe and crossed my arms over my chest. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  He reached forward and laid his hand against my forehead. “Cool,” he whispered. “Finally.” He ran his finger along my check, smoothing a piece of hair that was lying there before he tucked it behind my ear. He dropped his hand and stepped back. “Come on. You need to eat.”

  I nodded and grabbed my sweater off the chair in the corner of the room, refusing to look at the pile of clothes lying on the bottom of the bed that he’d taken off me. I put my sweater on while I walked to the kitchen and smiled softly when I saw the bowl of steaming soup sitting on the counter and a bottle of Gatorade beside it.

  I couldn’t remember the last time someone took care of me, and I certainly didn’t remember it feeling this good.

  Walking around him, I sat down and picked up the Gatorade first. I took a long drink before putting it down and looking across the small island toward Aaron who stood on the other side watching me. “I didn’t have Gatorade.”

  He shook his head. “I got it for you when I went out for the medicine your sister recommended.”

  I nodded. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.” When he didn’t say anything, I grabbed my spoon and dipped in the soup, sighing when the warm broth hit my throat. “How did you talk to my sister?”

  I raised my eyes back to him but continued to eat while he spoke. “She called a few times, and I finally picked up the phone to tell her you were sick. I didn’t know it was your sister at the time, but she introduced herself, and I told her you were sick. She told me what to try, and I’m glad she did because it obviously worked.”

  Nodding, I continued to eat. “Thank you for doing all of this.”

  “You can stop thanking me,” he said, causing me to look up at him again. “I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”

  I smiled softly. “I don’t believe that. You’re nice. Probably too nice to turn your back on a sick person.”

  “You’re right. I wouldn’t have turned my back, but I wouldn’t have stayed with you all day and half the night if I didn’t want to.” He leaned his elbows on the counter, putting himself eye level with me. “Plus, I had a really interesting conversation with your sister.”

  My eyes widened. “What did she tell you?”

  He smirked. “Nothing.”

  I put my spoon down. “Did she say something about me?”

  He shrugged. “Not really.”

  “Not really,” I repeated. “What
does that mean?”

  He looked down at the counter before lifting his eyes to meet mine again, and it was then that I saw the teasing glint in them. I reached out and slapped his arm. “You shouldn’t tease a sick person, Aaron.”

  His grin grew into a full smile, and I realized what I’d done. I’d said his name. Not Mr. Barlett, nope, this time I’d actually said his name, and I hadn’t even recognized I’d done it. I sat up straight and tried to regain some control, but he wasn’t having it.

  He grabbed my hand and held it in his own. “Don’t pull back now.”

  “This is inappropriate. I’m your boss,” I reminded him.

  “We can be friends too,” he said.

  I pulled my hand from his. “I don’t know how to do that.”

  “I do,” he said as I stood from my stool and made my way around the counter.

  “I appreciate you being here with me today, but I’m feeling a little better, so I think you can go now. I’m going to shower, take more medicine, and go to bed anyway.”

  He nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving my face while I spoke. I felt a small shiver work its way up my spine at the intensity in his stare. I moved past him but came to a stop when he wrapped his arm around my bicep and leaned in close, his lips against my ear. “I’ll leave, but it won’t change the fact that I spent the day with you. The real you. The you I’ve been waiting to meet.” He laid his lips against my temple. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow, baby.”

  I stood in shock when he moved around me, straight toward my door, and paused only to call out, “Don’t forget to take your medicine,” before he left.

  Baby. He called me baby. Did he call me that earlier today too? Because I feel like he did, but everything is so foggy from the day that I can’t remember. Taking a deep breath, I went back to the counter, grabbed the Gatorade, and drank a long swallow. I hit the button on my machine, deciding to play my messages while I took my medicine and before I went back to bed.

  “Tay, it’s me. Where are you? Call me.”

  I listened while the message clicked to the next one. “Taylor Ann you better not be working today. It’s Sunday for god’s sake.” She huffed out a breath, and I smiled. “Call me.”

  The machine beeped for the next message. “Come on Tay, I’m not working, and I’m bored.” She lowered her voice like she was whispering, which I thought was odd, considering she lived alone. “I need to tell you something important about what we talked about last night.”

  I swallowed the pills I was holding while it clicked over to the next message. “Talking to your machine is getting on my nerves, Tay. And come on, who actually still has an answering machine? I’ve left messages all over your cell too, by the way, and I’ve heard nothing. Are you okay?”

  I walked over and grabbed the cordless phone, smiling when I looked at it. She teased me all the time, but I still liked having a home phone and an answering machine. When I heard the machine switch to the last message, I held the phone to call her back but waited while it played.

  “If you don’t pick up one of your phones, I’m sending Mom and Dad to check on you, and I don’t think you want that. All that crazy in your apartment. Think about it, Tay. Okay, now that you didn’t pick up after that threat, I’m really worried. I need you to pick up…”

  I stood up straight when I heard Aaron’s voice. “Hello?”

  I could hear the surprise in Renee’s voice when she answered him. “Hi, who are you, and why are you answering my sister’s phone?”

  The machine cut them off right at that moment, but I wished I’d heard his answer. I had a feeling the conversation I was about to have with my sister would be interesting. I only hesitated a moment before I put the phone down, deciding I’d text her that I was feeling better but going back to bed. That way, I could postpone the conversation until tomorrow.

  When I could actually process what the hell happened to me today.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Aaron

  Pushing through the doors to the office, I glanced at Kate’s desk but frowned when I noticed she was missing. That was odd. Kate rarely missed work. I pulled my phone from my dress pants while I walked the rest of the way to my desk. Throwing down my computer bag, I typed out a quick text to Kate and asked her if everything was okay.

  I tossed my phone on my desk and looked around the partition separating my desk from the others in the office and noticed Taylor’s door was closed. I wondered if she came in today. I’d been tempted to text her this morning, considering I had her number. We all did, actually, in case we needed something work-related, but I’d never used it. No other agents had either as far as I knew.

  My phone beeped, and I snagged it from the desk. I frowned when I read Kate’s text.

  Kate: Not feeling great today. I think I’m coming down with something.

  I almost typed that I knew what she had because it was probably the same thing that Taylor had, but then I stopped myself. Taylor would not like that, and any progress in our relationship from yesterday, no matter what it was, would be lost. I decided to play it vague and typed out a different text.

  Me: I heard something’s going around. Take care of yourself.

  I smiled when she texted thanks, but that was all. She must feel pretty bad. Considering what I watched Taylor go through yesterday, I completely understood.

  I tapped the corner of my phone against the palm of my opposite hand and considered going to her office. I doubted she took off, especially if Kate called off, so it only took a few seconds to make my decision. Curiosity won out, and I shoved my phone back into my pocket before I headed toward her closed door.

  If I was honest with myself, I was still shocked she let her guard down yesterday and allowed me to stay, although she was probably too sick to argue. But when she called me by my actual name, I knew I was getting in there with her. What I still didn’t know was why I cared as much as I did. Sure, I was attracted to her—I’d have to be blind and numb not to feel the effects of our chemistry—but I liked a great personality too. Even though I’d seen glimpses of the real Taylor recently, I was still relatively in the dark about hers, but she intrigued me enough to dig a little deeper.

  I stood in front of her door and hesitated only a second before I lifted my hand and knocked. I heard a weak, “Come in,” which caused a rush of sympathy to course through me. Glancing behind me, I saw no one else had come in yet, so I turned the knob and pushed through her door.

  She lifted her head from looking down at something on her desk, and I frowned when I saw how pale she was. I closed the door with a soft click and made my way to stand beside her desk. “You should be at home and in bed.”

  Her eyes flicked back and forth between mine, but she didn’t answer immediately. I could tell she was choosing her words wisely. “Mr. Barlett, thank you for helping me yesterday. I really appreciate it, but today everything has returned to the way it was.”

  I smirked when she called me Mr. Barlett. “You’re still sick.”

  She ran her hand over her forehead and sighed. “Yes, I am, which means I don’t have the energy to argue with you. Could you just show yourself out, please, and forget about yesterday?”

  I rounded her desk and sat on the corner, watching with amusement when she rolled her eyes and pushed her chair back to look up at me. “I can’t do that, Taylor.”

  She took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “It’s Ms. Hawkins.”

  I leaned down, putting my face closer to hers. “Not when we’re alone, Taylor.”

  She sighed but didn’t answer. I lifted my hand and laid my palm across her forehead. She jerked back, but I let my hand follow and frowned. “You have a fever.”

  “I’m aware of that, Mr. Barlett,” she said snottily. “I’ve taken medicine, and it’s controlled.”

  I dropped my hand. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “Probably not, but I own the company, so I have to be.”

  “This is the slowest time of the year. You can ta
ke a day off and rest, Taylor.” I motioned toward the open office behind her closed door. “Hell, no one even bothered to come in yet because they have nothing lined up.”

  “Kate’s off.” She defended her decision. “Someone needs to be here for the phones.”

  I shrugged. “I’ll answer the phones.”

  Her eyes widened slightly. “What?”

  I tilted my head to the side. “I’ll answer the phones. You go home, take some meds, eat some soup, and crawl back into bed.”

  She closed her eyes but opened them almost immediately. “That’s a nice offer, but…”

  “No buts.” I stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her from her seat. “You’re putting everyone at risk by being here and spreading germs.” I thought about what I was going to say next, knowing it was a dick move, but seeing the stubborn tilt of her chin, I knew it needed to be done. “You already got Kate sick, Taylor.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

  “Neither do you.” I reached over and shut her laptop with one hand, still holding hers in my other one. “Go home, Taylor. Get some rest and come back when you feel better.” I squeezed her hand. “I’ll hold down the fort here.”

  I couldn’t believe it, but I saw when she started to cave right in front of me, so I continued. “Trust me. I can handle things today.”

  She glanced to the side, her eyes everywhere but on mine, and I knew she was thinking. I stayed quiet, giving her time to do what I thought she needed to do, which was weigh out the situation and decide if she trusted me enough to leave the office for an entire day. I doubt she’d ever done that before.

  She lifted her free hand and covered her mouth when she coughed. I smiled down at our hands still connected, realizing she hadn’t pulled hers free yet and neither had I.

  I liked her hand just where it was.

  “Do you know how to transfer calls?”

  My attention moved slowly back to her face when she spoke, and I grinned. “I can handle it.”