by Missy Jane
Resignation
Missy Jane
Darina’s self-esteem took a hit when she caught her fiancé in the arms of her boss’s daughter. Although three months have passed, she’s still hurting. Having to work in the same building with the no-good loser doesn’t help matters. But things take an interesting turn one evening when the sexy security guard she couldn’t help but notice pays her a visit in her office…after hours.
Solon has wanted the enticing executive for months, and can’t believe his luck when an innocent attempt to check on her turns into something else entirely. The heat between them is undeniable, but Sol isn’t sure he has enough to offer. And when Darina seems uncertain, Sol knows the odds are stacked against their spontaneous tryst becoming more than just hot sex.
When Darina’s ex-fiancé comes sniffing around, Sol realizes he’ll fight anyone he must to keep her…even Darina herself.
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Resignation
ISBN 9781419936319
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Resignation Copyright © 2011 Missy Jane
Edited by Grace Bradley
Cover design by Syneca
Photography: OLJ Studios/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication September 2011
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Resignation
Missy Jane
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this book to all of my wonderful readers. The time you spend in my worlds is sincerely appreciated!
Chapter One
Darina closed her eyes and let out a deep breath as frustration filled her. She lowered the pen onto the clipboard before grasping the temporary employee badge the security guard had placed beside it. He’d been flirting again, but she suspected it was more pity than genuine interest. Those soul-deep brown eyes held a wealth of understanding as he watched her studiously ignoring the scene across the lobby.
No. Don’t think about that.
She opened her eyes slowly and looked up to see the scene hadn’t changed in the slightest. With a quick smile at the sexy security guard, she clipped the badge to her blazer and pulled her purse more firmly over her shoulder.
I can do this.
Lifting her chin, she tried to concentrate on each step as she walked across the foyer to the elevators ahead. Willing herself to be invisible had become more natural over the past few months.
So far, so good.
Luckily, Marc hadn’t spotted her yet. The last thing she needed was for him to try to speak to her again. He just didn’t get it. Bad enough the entire office knew he’d cheated on her and broken her heart, but now he wanted to be friends? She couldn’t decide if he was an idiot or a vindictive bastard. Most likely both. From the corner of her eye, she saw Heather look her way before wrapping an arm in Marc’s and tugging him in the opposite direction.
Good. Keep him busy, you whore.
The thought made her smirk, wishing she could say it out loud where everyone could hear. Unfortunately that would cost her this job. Heather’s daddy owned the firm, and if she ever decided Darina was too much of a distraction for Marc’s simple mind, Darina would find herself out of a job faster than she could blink. It would be completely unfair considering the years she’d given the firm, but such was the way of the world and fairness never came into play.
Darina picked up the pace and made it to the elevators without incident, not breathing easy until the doors slid shut and the happy couple was no longer in view. She watched the numbers change as she neared her floor and tried to focus on the day ahead. There was a ton of work to do, reports to type and numbers to balance. Hopefully all that would keep her mind on business and off the past few minutes.
The elevator doors opened and Darina walked briskly to her office, finger-waving to her coworkers along the way with a pasted-on smile she didn’t feel. Everyone smiled back, most even said good morning. Darina wondered what was going through their minds. Were they thinking of the Christmas party three months ago when her world came crashing down? Did any of them wonder how her holiday had been since she’d spent it alone, mired in betrayal? She took another deep breath and pushed away the self-pity that always made her feel dirty and stupid. She was tougher than this and life had to go on. With a sigh, she entered her office and got to work.
* * * * *
Sol Canova watched as Darina Tanner straightened her spine and walked to the elevators seemingly without a care in the world. He admired her resolve, knowing it must kill her to see her ex-fiancé in the arms of the spoiled bitch, Heather.
Marc is a complete idiot.
What Marc saw in Heather that could rip him away from Darina, Sol couldn’t even begin to guess. He had fantasies about Darina’s long brown hair lying in loose curls over his pillow as she smiled up at him, happiness gleaming from her cocoa-colored eyes. Her curves made his fingers itch to caress them. Her breasts would be a perfect handful and her legs…yummy. All of her, from head to toe in her fashionable navy business suit, looked like a walking fantasy.
Heather, a blonde waif who wouldn’t know a healthy meal if it was shoved down her throat, looked like a typical trophy wife. Her body was the best money could buy and suited her personality. With a smile to rival her politician granddaddy, she often acted as if there wasn’t a brain cell left in her pretty head. It was just an act, of course, and all the more disgusting because of it. She was conniving and stopped at nothing to get what she wanted. Even an engagement ring.
Sol spotted the rock sitting on Heather’s finger from across the foyer and wondered if Darina had seen it as well. If so, she gave no outward sign and he felt a surge of pride for her strength. He’d never been engaged, couldn’t even think of a single woman he would tie himself to, but knew Darina’s pain couldn’t have ended after only three months. He remembered catching her as she stumbled from the conference room that night, tears streaking down her face. He’d followed her upstairs, knowing what she might be interrupting. Heather had told him to keep everyone downstairs, but he couldn’t lie to Darina when she asked if he’d seen Marc head to his office. It shamed Sol to think he could’ve stopped her, but she’d deserved to know the truth about the two-timing bastard.
Sol’s musings were interrupted when his partner, Dan, stood from the chair beside him and slapped him on the ba
ck.
“Someone’s locked in the bathroom on four. You want to get it?” Dan asked.
Sol smiled as he considered the possible scene awaiting upstairs.
“Nah, you go ahead, old man. I’ll man the fort.”
Dan grinned and shook his head as he headed for the service elevator. Sol watched him go before turning back to the monitors in front of him. Eight little black-and-white screens showed the elevator foyer of each floor as well as the small parking lot outside. 9800 Travers Place wasn’t the largest building in the heart of downtown Houston, but it housed one of the most successful human resource consulting firms in the South. And Heather’s father owned every brick from the ground up.
Come on, beautiful. Where are you?
His gaze automatically shot to the monitor for the sixth floor just as Darina’s supple form appeared for a brief moment. His breath caught and his cock hardened in just that quick glimpse. She had no idea what she did to him every time he saw her, and as far as he was concerned she never would. She deserved a hell of a lot more than he could offer. Darina was a goddess in his eyes and she deserved a man who could keep her happy and bathed in jewels. Sol sighed and shook his head. He’d be doing good to afford dinner at a decent restaurant. No, Darina Tanner wasn’t for him, no matter how often he dreamt of her.
* * * * *
Darina finished typing up the last email on her list and hit “send” with a sigh of satisfaction. Finally, she was done for the day and could head home to her apartment…alone. She forced a smile on her face, determined not to let the thought depress her anymore.
I need to get a cat.
After turning off her computer and gathering her purse, she headed out the door and toward the elevators. She heard the murmur of voices, but rounded the corner before realizing they were familiar and froze at the sight. It was nearly six o’clock on a Friday and the building should’ve been empty by now, but Heather and Marc stood waiting for an elevator wrapped in each other’s arms, sharing a searing kiss.
Oh God.
Darina slapped a hand over her mouth to cover a gasp as she silently stepped back around the corner. They hadn’t seen her. She stood trembling, willing herself to go back to her office before they realized she was there.
I’ll just wait until they’ve had time to leave. No big deal.
Sol watched the drama unfold on the monitor and swore under his breath. He knew something like this was bound to happen. Marc and Darina worked on the same floor. It was inevitable they would eventually run into each other. He watched Darina creep back around the corner just before the elevator doors opened and the happy couple disappeared from view.
Bastards.
He wanted to punch Marc in the face when he arrived in the foyer with the bitch, but refrained from endangering his job and his freedom. They walked out into the night arm-in-arm just as Sol’s replacement walked in the door. He looked back down at the monitor but Darina didn’t reappear.
Damn. I hate leaving without knowing she’s okay.
He stood slowly and stretched, then took his sweet time handing the reins over to Andy, the night guard. After twenty minutes had passed and Darina’s image still didn’t reappear, Sol gave up the idea of simply walking out the door. He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed, knowing she was hiding in her office all alone and hurting.
“Andy, I need to check something up on six before I head out. I’m sure it’s nothing. I’ll be heading out the back to the parking lot when I’m done.”
Andy grunted and went back to reading a magazine as Sol headed for the service elevator. He jammed his key into the slot to call the elevator, feeling like a fool.
She’ll probably be gone by the time I get up there. And if not I’ll…what? What in the hell can I possibly do?
Sol just shook his head and stepped into the metal box, stabbing the number six roughly in agitation. The ride up seemed to take three times as long as normal as he shifted from one foot to the other. Sweat beaded on his brow and he wiped it off roughly, irritated at his nervousness.
She’s just a woman like any other and I’m just going to see if she’s okay. Yeah right.
Darina wasn’t a just anything, she was absolute perfection. He tried to regulate his breathing as he stepped out of the elevator and headed for her office. He prayed she was through crying, because if he saw her in tears he wouldn’t be held responsible for his actions. As a security guard he had access to the employee database and knew exactly where that bastard Marc lived. If he found Darina crying, he just might have to pay Marc a visit later and put him in tears too.
* * * * *
Darina sat behind her desk, rubbing her hands up and down her cold arms. All she wanted was to feel warm again. She frowned when her eyes stayed completely dry.
I can’t even cry over him anymore.
A raw emptiness filled her until getting out of her chair seemed like too much effort. She sighed and leaned her head against the back, staring blankly at the dark ceiling.
Now what?
The pale ceiling tiles held no answer. She took slow, even breaths until her pulse calmed to normal and contemplated leaving her office. A noise sounded in the hallway but she couldn’t even muster the strength to care who it might be. It was most likely the cleaning crew anyway. It wouldn’t be Marc, of that she was certain. No way would Heather allow him out of her sight. A small relief in itself.
The door opened and she sat up just as the lights came on. The sudden illumination made her squint and all she could make out was a large shape in her doorway.
What the hell?
“Ms. Tanner, are you all right?”
The deep voice sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place it. It also sounded sexy as hell and she rubbed her eyes in the hopes of getting a better look. She blinked and had to look up a ways before reaching the concerned gaze of the security guard from downstairs. He stood well over six feet, with broad shoulders and well-defined muscles in his dark uniform. His thick, black hair looked just long enough to run her fingers through, though it didn’t touch his collar. She frowned as her addled thoughts returned to his question.
“Uh, yes…”
“Solon,” he replied at her slightly embarrassed pause. “My name is Solon, Ms. Tanner, but everyone calls me Sol.”
“Oh. Um, yes, Sol. I’m fine.”
His dark gaze met hers for a moment before slowly sliding down her body. It lingered at her breasts, where the tops were slightly bared from one too many buttons coming loose when she’d massaged her neck. She followed his gaze and her cheeks burned when she realized what a view he was getting from his impressive height, but she resisted the urge to cover herself.
At least he seems to like what he sees.
Marc had stopped looking at her with lust in his eyes months ago, the first sign of trouble. A shiver raced up her spine from Sol’s obvious interest. She tried to relax against the chair more, thrusting her breasts out a bit as her nipples hardened under his attention. Sol’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and stepped farther into the small office.
“I know you usually leave by six, Ms. Tanner. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay up here,” he said, his voice huskier than before.
She smiled and he appeared to clench his teeth. It gave her a perverse thrill to know she affected him this way, to know she could affect him at all. After Marc threw her away she’d had her doubts, but Sol’s hot look blew them away and made her blood boil with sudden recklessness.
I must be losing my mind.
She turned her chair slightly, pulling her legs from beneath her desk and into Sol’s line of vision. Then she slowly raised one to cross it over the other, causing her skirt to inch up and expose a bit of thigh. His breath stuttered loudly in the quiet room before he cleared his throat and shut the office door behind him.
Oh my.
Sol’s breath left him in a rush and his heart damn near stopped completely. Not only was Darina not crying but she was flirtin
g…with him. Suddenly he was the luckiest man on earth and wondered what he’d done to deserve such a treat. He stepped toward her desk warily, expecting at any moment for her to come to her senses and order him back downstairs.
Baby, please don’t ask me to leave.
She sat up a little straighter as he approached and he stopped beside her desk, a mere two feet of space separating them. He stood looking down at her, admiring the sight of her beautiful cleavage, golden skin appearing soft as silk, begging for his touch.
“I’m fine, Sol. I was going to leave but…”
She stopped and a flash of doubt crossed her face. He quickly went to one knee before her, snagging her gaze before she could shut him out completely.
“I know, Darina. I saw them,” he said quietly.
He was taking a big risk both in using her first name and in admitting watching her heartbreak unfold. She could easily react in anger and possibly cost him his job after all. If so, he vowed to find Marc and beat the hell out of him to gain some kind of satisfaction.
Darina gasped slightly and lowered her head, her lower lip quivering for a moment. When she looked back up at him, there was moisture in her eyes, but she smiled.
“I guess hiding in here must seem foolish,” she said quietly.
Sol shook his head and placed his hand over hers.
“Not at all. I know the bastard hurt you. I wish I could hurt him for you in return.”
She looked startled by his admission and he cursed himself silently for saying too much.
“You do?”
He nodded and caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.
“He was an idiot to think he could find anyone to take your place, Darina. You’re so beautiful.”
She blushed and let out a slight laugh, lowering her head again. Sol reached up with his other hand and raised her chin. He met her gaze and ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
