I glanced down at my phone and saw it was eighty thirty, meaning the others would be arriving soon, when Aaron’s words floated through my mind, “You can run a successful company without being a bitch or anyone’s best friend.” I’d been thinking about those words since he said them almost two weeks ago, but I had no idea where to begin. I did think that Kate might be the most accepting of my efforts, though.
Standing from my desk, I made my way out of my office and toward the kitchen, ignoring the little voice in my mind telling me this was the fastest way to lose control in my own company. I walked into the kitchen just as Kate poured the coffee from the pot into her own cup and added some creamer. I cleared my throat and made my way into the small room.
Kate glanced at me when I set my mug down and reached for the coffeepot. “Good morning, Kate.”
Her eyes widened briefly, but she hid her surprise well and smiled. “Good morning, Ms. Hawkins.”
I cleared my throat again and added creamer to my coffee. “How are you this morning?”
Her eyes flicked around the small kitchen before landing on mine again. “I’m fine.” She hesitated again before speaking. “Um…and you?”
“I’m doing well. Thank you for asking.” I smiled warmly, barely containing my laughter when her expression was once again complete shock.
I hadn’t realized just how cold I had been to everyone.
She gestured toward the open doorway. “Well, I better get to my desk.” She chuckled nervously. “Those phones aren’t going to answer themselves.”
I nodded but called out to her just as she reached the door. She turned to face me, and I said what I should’ve said many times before. “I just want you to know you’re doing a great job.”
Her jaw dropped for a moment before she caught herself and once again schooled her expression. “Thank you.”
I watched her turn and walk out of the kitchen before I sighed and grabbed the creamer, putting it back into the refrigerator. I tried. I just wasn’t good at making friends, especially when I was having a hard time with the whole “be their boss” idea in my head.
“Excuse me, Ms. Hawkins.” I turned and faced the doorway again only to see Kate standing there. “This may be out of line, but I have to ask, are you okay?”
Her expression of concern over my odd behavior only made me more aware of how cold and distant I really was. She thought something was wrong with me because I chose to initiate conversation with her.
I lowered my head and ran my hand over my forehead, chuckling at the sheer craziness of the situation I’d created. “I’m fine, Kate.” I took a deep breath, exhaled, and met her eyes. “Someone pointed out to me recently that I’ve been alienating my staff. I’m trying to rectify that.”
“Oh.” Kate still looked confused.
I took a step forward. “Between you and me, I have a hard time finding the balance in a professional relationship.”
She nodded, and I thought she would walk away, but once again, she surprised me. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I had a really hard time letting people get to know me when I first moved here.”
I smiled genuinely. “What changed?”
“I met someone who taught me that leaning on someone else didn’t make me weak.”
I nodded and smiled. “Luke.”
Her face lit with her smile. “Yeah. And his family. They were wonderful to me and still are.”
I picked up my coffee mug and took another step toward her. “I’m happy you had that when you moved to town. It’s hard being the new person in an unfamiliar place.”
“Were you new to town too at one time?” she asked sincerely.
I shook my head. “No. I was born and raised here, but my sister is in Texas and has told me how trying it can be to find your place somewhere new.”
“Texas?” Kate arched her eyebrow. “What made her decide to move to Texas?”
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Baylor.” She looked confused, so I continued. “She’s completing the doctoral program at Baylor to be a pediatric surgeon.”
Kate’s eyes widened almost comically. “Wow. That’s incredible.”
I smiled. “Yes, it is. She got the brains in the family.”
Kate frowned and tilted her head to the side. “I wouldn’t say that. I think it must take a whole lot to start your own business and run it successfully.”
I studied her for a long moment, probably too long, wondering how this woman could be so nice when I’d been pretty awful to her. She was being sincere, though—that was easy to see—and part of me felt guilty that I’d pushed her away for the past year. “Thank you, Kate.”
She smiled and nodded before gesturing behind her toward the door. “Now, I really should get back to my desk. The agents will be here soon.”
I glanced at the clock hanging over the open doorway and cringed. She was right. They would be here soon, and I would have to face my moment of weakness. “Okay.” I glanced down at my mug before pushing away from the counter where I’d been leaning. “It was nice talking with you.”
“You too, Ms. Hawkins.”
I wanted to tell her to call me Taylor, but I wasn’t there yet, so instead, I only offered a head nod. She moved quickly to her desk when the phone began ringing, and I moved just as quickly to my office, closing the door with a click behind me. I walked to my desk and sat down, placing my coffee mug on the dark wood and opened my computer. I heard noise and soft voices outside my door, but with it closed, I couldn’t see who was out there. I only had one window in my office, and it faced the alley. I had blinds on that window so I could still get the light but wouldn’t have people outside my office able to see in.
I worked the entire morning, happy to be distracted by having end-of-year paperwork to do. It wasn’t until close to lunch that there was a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
I glanced up and saw Kate stick her head through the small opening and smile. “If it’s okay, I was going to go to lunch.”
“Sure, Kate. Just forward the phones please.”
“Thank you, Ms. Hawkins.”
I nodded, and she closed the door but not before I noticed how quiet it was. I assumed the agents were out, either at lunch themselves or at appointments. My stomach growled, and I remembered I’d skipped breakfast. Maybe I’d go get something when Kate got back.
Looking back at my computer, I sighed. I’d hoped to get out of here early tonight, but so far, it wasn’t looking good. I was deep in thought when the door to my office opened.
Assuming it was Kate, I didn’t look up when I spoke. “Thanks for letting me know you’re back, Kate.”
The door clicked shut, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when the lock was set. My eyes shifted from my computer screen to the door, and I swallowed hard.
“You left.”
I stood and exhaled loudly. “Mr. Barlett.”
His eyes widened. “Mr. Barlett?”
I moved around my desk and stood beside it. “Listen…”
He moved so fast across the room I didn’t have time to prepare before he stood right in front of me. He leaned down and put his face right in front of mine. “Say my name, Taylor.”
My breath caught when his low voice rumbled my name. “I…”
He wrapped his hand around my hip and yanked my body right up against his. “Say it.”
My eyes met his, and my pulse quickened. What was wrong with me? The only thing I could think about was how it felt to have him moving over me, his hard body pressed tight to mine, and our hot skin scorching with each thrust. “Aaron.”
He grinned and put his lips against my ear. “Why did you leave?”
“I had to.”
He ran his tongue along my jawline until his lips hovered above mine. “Then you’ll forgive me for what I have to do.”
I barely had time to acknowledge his words, let alone brace myself for what was coming next, before his lips crashed against mine. Reaching down to
the hem of my dress, he yanked it up, shoved my panties to the side, and pushed his finger deep into me before I even caught my breath.
My body bucked at the invasion, and I pulled my lips from his. “Aaron.”
“Yeah, baby?” He pumped his finger in and out, causing me to throw my head back, unable to control the feelings rolling through me.
“Aaron,” I whispered.
He pulled his finger out, and I whimpered but squealed in surprise when he spun me around and pulled my dress up and over my hips. “Put your hands on the desk.”
“We’re at work.”
“Do it, Taylor.”
I shouldn’t. He would respect my decision if I stayed firm, but I didn’t want to. I wanted him to take control, but more than that, I wanted to feel what I’d felt last night, so I leaned forward and placed my hands flat on the desk.
He pressed up against my back, but I felt his hands between us and knew when I heard his zipper just what he’d been doing. He ran his hands over my hips, then put his foot between mine, kicking my legs farther apart. His hand ran over my ass until it lay over my lower back, and he pushed me further into the desk.
He grabbed my hips once again, and I felt pressure against my entrance right before he slammed into me. I wrapped my hands around the sides of the desk and held on while he thrust slowly, and I felt my orgasm building, but it was too slow. I wanted it fast and hard, like the second time he’d taken me through the night.
“Faster,” I muttered.
He stopped and leaned his body over my back. “Tell me exactly what you want.”
“I want you to go faster,” I said, urgency in my voice.
“Tell me what you want me to do, baby.”
My head rolled forward, and I knew what he wanted, what he knew I wanted to say. “Fuck me, please, Aaron.”
He thrust in hard, so hard my desk moved, and I held on tight. The phone on my desk started to ring, but I couldn’t think about that, couldn’t think beyond the feeling of him thrusting hard and fast inside me, his heavy body against mine.
His lips skimmed along my shoulder when his thrusts became even more forceful, and I moaned at the feelings overwhelming my senses. He yanked me up so my back was pressed against his chest and his lips touched my ear. “Be quiet, baby. They’re back from lunch.”
I nodded but couldn’t answer, especially when his finger dropped to my clit and rubbed in slow circles.
A knock on the door broke through the fog of arousal, and he stopped thrusting long enough to whisper in my ear. “Ask what they need, baby.”
I hesitated for a minute, but I knew he was right. I had to at least call out to whoever was on the other side of that door.
I took a deep breath and exhaled heavily before I called, “Yes.”
“I just wanted to let you know I’m back, Ms. Hawkins, and have transferred the phones back.”
Aaron thrust in slowly, and I rolled my head, dropping my chin to my chest. “Okay, thank you Kate.”
“Sure,” she said hesitantly.
She knew. Christ, how could she not know when my voice sounded deeper and breathy all at the same time.
“Hold on.”
I shook my head in confusion, only realizing what he meant when he pushed me down and started thrusting again but even harder. I lifted a hand and covered my mouth when the orgasm that had been right at the surface pushed forward and shuddered through me. My knees buckled, but Aaron held me up, my toes the only thing on the floor when his thrusts became erratic. I felt his body stiffen on the last thrust before he threw his chest onto my back and wrapped his mouth around my shoulder, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin there.
I let my forehead drop to the desk and wondered when I decided it was okay to cross this line.
And if I even cared anymore.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Aaron
Still buzzing from one of the hardest orgasms of my life, I made my way back to my desk and sat down. It hadn’t been my intention to go after her like that when I’d first entered her office. My only intention had been to talk about this morning and why the hell I woke up alone. I thought after last night, after she actually came to me and admitted without words that she wanted exactly what I wanted, that we would be on a different playing field today, but then I woke up alone, I knew I’d been kidding myself.
It shouldn’t have meant as much as it did. I’d spent two years of my life attracted to Taylor physically but put off by her personality, and now, in less than a month, I’d found myself almost addicted to her. It felt like I’d slowly peeled the layers away, and I knew I had a hell of a lot more to go.
We still hadn’t talked about the Martin house. I almost brought it up through the night while we were still awake, but I didn’t want to ruin what was turning out to be the best night I could honestly say I’d ever had. I hadn’t been asleep for more than a couple of hours when I heard my front door close. I’d contemplated going after her because I could’ve caught her before she pulled out, but something told me it would be wiser to give her the space she was so obviously seeking.
“Hey, Aaron.”
I had to physically stop myself from sighing out loud when I heard Tricia’s voice, and instead, I glanced up wearing a neutral expression. “Hi, Tricia.”
She positioned herself on the corner of my desk and crossed her legs slowly while she watched me with a smirk on her lips. “It’s slow in here today.”
“It’s that time of year,” I said matter-of-factly.
She leaned forward and gave me a clear view of her cleavage courtesy of a low-cut blouse. “Since it’s slow, why don’t we cut out early and have dinner?”
I settled back in my seat, attempting to put some distance between us when out of the corner of my eye, I saw Taylor’s door open. I watched as she walked out and headed toward Kate’s desk.
Tricia glanced over her shoulder when she saw she’d lost my attention and snorted. “Ugh, the dragon actually came out of her cave.”
I slowly peeled my attention off Taylor and looked at Tricia. “Do dragons live in caves?”
She shrugged, completely missing my sarcasm. “This one does.”
My eyes flicked over her face, and I barely hid my distaste. She was pretty, but so immature and nasty, it tainted her appearance. She didn’t seem to notice or care that I wasn’t interested and just continued talking. “Anyway, I can go to dinner whenever you’re ready, so just give me a holler.”
“Mr. Barlett.”
My attention snapped from Tricia to Taylor who was standing in front of my desk. Tricia slid from the corner of my desk and stood, turning her body slightly so she could see both me and Taylor. “Yes?”
Her eyes flicked back and forth between me and Tricia. “I need to meet with you to discuss the Martin house.”
I sat up. “When?”
She glanced behind her at the clock on the wall near Kate’s desk before once again focusing on me. “I have some calls to make, but I can meet with you in about half an hour.”
I barely held my grin when her eyes flicked toward Tricia, stayed there briefly, and then came back to mine. I nodded. “Sure, I can do that.”
She nodded once. “Great. Just come to my office when you’re ready.”
She glanced one last time in Tricia’s direction before she turned and started back toward her office. Fuck, she looked good. Those damn tight skirts were a contradiction to her icy façade, and I wondered why I never realized before that there was more to her than I originally believed. Under all that ice was a sensual woman who showed it in subtle ways, like her skirts. My eyes traveled down her shapely legs and landed on her shoes, grinning when the sexy spiked heels caught my eye.
Yeah, there was definitely more to her. I just hadn’t looked hard enough before.
“Why does she need to talk to you about the Martin house?”
I took a deep breath and turned my attention back to Tricia. “We’re working on it together.”
She scoffed
. “Why? You can’t possibly want to spend that much time with her.”
If she only knew how much time I wanted to spend with Taylor, she’d be shocked. Hell, the whole office would be shocked. “Business is business.”
She nodded. “I guess.” She leaned her hip against my desk. “I’m glad I’m not you.”
I gestured toward my desk. “I need to get to work.”
“Oh.” She looked surprised. “Okay. I guess I’ll just talk to you later.”
I nodded but didn’t answer because I didn’t want to encourage her in the least. She turned and added a little sway to her hips when she started walking, but I quickly turned my attention back to my desk. I had no interest in watching her walk away, but Taylor, I could watch her walk away all day.
Shaking my head, I decided to think more about that later and instead pull up the Martin house. I felt someone watching me and glanced up to see Kate with eyes wide, gesturing toward the kitchen with her head. Nodding, I stood and started toward the small kitchen area, wondering what the hell was going on.
I’d only just walked through the open doorway when she grabbed my forearm and yanked me to the corner of the room where she could see the door to Taylor’s office.
“What’s going on?”
She glanced over my shoulder before her eyes landed on mine again. “Don’t move, I need to watch her door and make sure she doesn’t come out.”
My eyebrows pulled together. “Why?”
“Because I need to tell you something, but I don’t want her to know I told you.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “What the hell is going on?”
“When I came in this morning, I came in here like I always do to start the coffee and Ms. Hawkins came in.”
I frowned. “Is that different than most mornings?”
Kate’s eyes widened. “She has never come in. She usually gets up and shuts her door when I get here.”
I shrugged. “She wanted coffee this morning, I guess.”
Kate shook her head quickly. “No, that’s not all.” She glanced over my shoulder again before her eyes met mine. “She talked to me. And she was nice. She even complimented me.”
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