Who she would get to do that, she had no idea, but she’d figure that out in the morning. One problem at a time.
Getting into a car with him would be a bad decision. The more she was around him, the more he seemed to think he had some say in her life. But how else was she going to get home?
He reached through the car window and unlocked the door before opening it. “Out. Now.”
She glared up at him. “What? No please?”
“Stop playing around, Kinley. Either you accept a ride home from me or I’ll call you a taxi, ride home with you in the taxi then take the same taxi back here.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Exactly. So, get out of your car and get your butt into mine.”
She climbed out of the car with a huff. She would have kept arguing but she got the impression that would be pointless. He wasn’t the type of man to back down once he’d made up his mind about something, and she really just wanted to get home, dive under the covers, and not come back out for at least a year.
She sighed then shut the door, locking it. “Fine, you can give me a ride home.”
“Why, thank you. So gracious,” he replied sarcastically. “You do realize I’ve never had to work this hard to get someone to accept a kind gesture from me before. I should have known you’d be difficult.”
She decided to ignore that insult. He wasn’t exactly easy to deal with himself. “You offer strange women rides home in your car often?” she asked as she followed him back towards the building. He didn’t go towards the front entrance. Instead he headed towards a gray door at the side of the building. A keypad was mounted on the wall next to the door, and he quickly entered a number into it. When they walked in she was surprised to find an entranceway with slate floors and cream walls. There was an elevator, also with another keypad, next to it.
“Like Fort Knox around here,” she commented as he put another code in.
“I take safety seriously.”
They entered the elevator, and it descended swiftly.
“Is this your private elevator?” Seemed a bit extravagant, but, then, he was rich. She’d done a bit of googling on him, and the man was even more loaded that she’d first thought.
“This elevator is the only way to access the apartment above my office and the underground parking garage.”
“There’s an apartment above your office?” First, she’d heard of it. The elevator came to a soft stop, and she exited before halting as a thought occurred to her.
“An apartment? Is that where you live?”
Surely not. He had enough money to live wherever he liked, why would he live above where he worked? But then, he had to travel a lot, so maybe keeping a house was pointless.
“I stay here when I’m in town. It’s easier.”
Might explain how he was always around when she was cleaning his office.
He led her towards a door.
“I hope your girlfriend won’t mind that you’re giving me a ride home.”
He opened the door, after unlocking it with another code. Really, wasn’t this overkill by now? Mind you, she was nobody, and he was a billionaire. Who knew what sort of security measures he had to take. Shouldn’t someone as rich as he was have bodyguards? She didn’t know, but she did know he had to have better things to do than give her a ride home. Suddenly, she felt guilty at how rude she’d been to him. He was doing something nice and she’d treated him with suspicion.
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
He didn’t? Part of her was surprised. Then, again, he wouldn’t be the easiest man to be with. And if he did have a girlfriend he didn’t seem to spend much time with her.
He has plenty of time to spend harassing you, though.
She shook off that thought. He was probably just keeping an eye on her because she was a new employee.
Yeah, right. Because someone as important and busy as he was followed around each new employee.
Lord, she wished she knew what he was thinking sometimes.
“I’ve seen a lot of photos of you that say otherwise,” she commented, unwisely, as she walked into a well-lit garage beneath the building.
He stopped then turned to look at her. “You’ve been looking at photos of me.”
Crap. Busted. She attempted to appear uninterested but knew she hadn’t succeeded as satisfaction filled his face. “I figured it was a good idea to know who I was working for, that’s all.”
He turned away, but not before she saw the smile on his face. Damn it. Why had she said that? It wasn’t like she was interested in him. Although there was something about him that piqued her curiosity.
She forced herself to find something to distract herself with. There were only two cars in the garage. One was a black town car with tinted windows. She looked at it as they passed it. Yep, it was a Lincoln. Jesus. How much did one of those even cost?
The next car was more to her liking. Black, again, but smaller and less imposing. It was a sleek, two-door model. She didn’t know much about cars, but she thought this one was cute.
“Cute car. What is it?”
He paused and turned to look at her. “Cute?”
“Yeah, it looks like those toy cars kids play with, only blown up.” A car big boys played with. But she didn’t say that. See, she was trying to be politer.
“This is no toy car. It’s a Maserati.”
He opened the door for her, and she climbed in. The leather seats were buttery soft and moulded to her body. As the door closed she felt like she was in a race car. She wondered what he would think if she started to make race car noises like she did for her nephews. She bit back a smile at the thought.
He climbed into the driver’s seat. Then he reached over her. She shied back. Maybe this hadn’t been a good idea. But he simply grabbed her seatbelt. His arm brushed against her breasts, and a rush of pleasure flooded her body.
She stiffened, ashamed of herself. She was with Sloan. Maybe. Or maybe she’d managed to ruin what they’d had. She should have known nothing good in her life would last. It never did.
“What’s the matter?” James asked in a quiet voice. She startled, looking up at him in surprise. She hadn’t even noticed they’d driven out of the garage. The car moved smoothly, especially considering how low to the ground it was. He took the speedbumps in the parking lot slowly, going over them at an angle.
“Nothing.”
He came to a stop and she glanced over at him, startled. “What is it?”
He looked at her, but she couldn’t make out his expression in the dark. “You don’t have to tell me what is wrong, I don’t know you well enough to demand that. But I don’t like being lied to.”
He sounded so much like Sloan longing filled her. “I just have some stuff going on that I don’t want to talk about.”
“Fair enough. We all have shit in our lives we’d rather not talk about.” There was a dark note to his voice, and she wondered what problems someone like him had going on. She didn’t say anything, but he must have sensed the question because he let out a soft huff of laughter as he started driving once more. “You don’t think I can have bad stuff in my life?”
He was right, she shouldn’t just assume his life was great because he had money and power and was incredibly good-looking. “I guess you just seem like the type who wouldn’t let bad stuff happen.”
He was quiet for a moment. “If only it were that easy.”
If only.
She let her head fall back against the headrest. Then she realized he was heading towards her place without her having given him her address. “You know my address?”
He tensed beside her, the streetlights letting her see him more clearly. “I guess you weren’t the only one who was curious.”
“Why?” She was nobody. A cleaner who worked in his building. Nothing special about her, but he’d been interested enough to look her up.
Maybe he was just worried you were going to rob him.
Well, he would be if he ev
“If I knew that I’d sleep easier at night,” he said under his breath.
She didn’t think he’d meant for her to hear, so she didn’t reply. She wasn’t certain it was a good thing for him to be curious. Being in this man’s radar didn’t seem like a great idea—for her job or her sanity.
They rode in silence to her place. He pulled up in front of the dilapidated apartment building, but kept his car running with the lights on. He peered out the window at her building.
“That’s where you live?” It was the same sort of voice he’d used when he was talking about her car.
“Yes,” she said shortly, feeling annoyed. What a snob. There was nothing wrong with her car, well other than the fact that it had broken down. But mostly it was reliable. And, yeah, her apartment was crap, but it was all she could afford.
She reached for her bag and grabbed the door handle.
“Wait there, I’ll come around.”
She was used to Sloan doing things like that. But coming from James the gesture took on a new meaning. She was his employee, not his date.
But she didn’t have time to protest before he was out of the car. While he didn’t run, he seemed to get her side of the car quickly. He opened the door then held out his hand.
To refuse it seemed childish. Gathering up her courage, she slipped her hand into his. The startling warmth caught her by surprise. She immediately noticed the difference from Sloan’s hands. His were large and a bit rough. They were hands that worked hard for a living.
James’s hands were different. Not soft, but the skin wasn’t rough. They weren’t large, not much bigger than hers, but there was a strength to them. As soon as she was steady, she pulled her hand back, putting it behind her back for good measure.
Do you really think he’s going to chase after your hand? Get a grip, Kinley.
“Thanks for the ride home.”
“I’m walking you to your door.”
“You don’t have to. Besides, it’s probably not a good idea to leave your car.”
He made a growling noise. She frowned. “I know this neighborhood isn’t the best—”
“It’s run-down, crime-ridden, and was rated one of the worst areas of the city to live.”
Yes, well, she wouldn’t live here if she didn’t have to. She placed her hands on her hips, her temper stirring. “Just because you’re my boss and you gave me a ride home doesn’t give you the right to be rude about where I live!”
“And there she is,” he said.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you were being so polite, I was getting worried.”
“Are you saying I’m normally rude?”
“Oh, no, you’re normally very polite. Until I annoy you enough. Then the real Kinley comes out.”
Her jaw dropped open. “You mean you’ve been needling me on purpose?”
“Of course.”
“Wow. And here I thought that was just your amazing personality.”
He leaned against his car, his arms folded over his chest. “The politeness annoys me.”
“Me being polite annoys you? How does that work?” She shivered slightly, her coat not quite up to the chill that had filled the air. It didn’t help that she was tired and hungry, either.
Without a word, he pulled his rather expensive looking coat off and wrapped it around her. She took a step back, reaching for the lapels to pull it off and hand it back, but he reached out and put his hands over hers. “Don’t take that off.”
She froze, his touch shocking her, the command in his voice one she couldn’t ignore, much as she wished she could.
“You’re shivering with cold. I don’t need it.”
“I’m going inside. You have to drive back, you’ll need your coat.”
“Believe it or not, the Maserati has a pretty good heater,” he said dryly. “Keep the coat, you can bring it back later.”
“How is being polite annoying?”
“I just prefer it when people are honest.”
“I’m not dishonest just because I use my manners.”
“No, but I prefer when you lose the façade and say how you really feel. It’s refreshing, something I don’t get often.”
“You don’t have many people who are straight up with you, do you?”
“Most people try to kiss my ass on a daily basis.”
Now it made sense. He didn’t hang around because he was interested in her, but because she was honest with him—once he’d annoyed her enough to rile her temper.
And she wondered what that was like? To live with everyone always telling you what they thought they wanted you to hear.
“I’ll make a deal with you,” she said boldly.
“A deal with the devil, sweetheart? That’s brave of you.”
It was.
“I promise not to tell you what I think you want to hear if you’ll stop annoying me.”
“But it’s such fun. See? I’m a jerk.”
Yeah, sometimes he could be. But he wasn’t an entirely lost cause. “I think you’re redeemable.”
He laughed. “Really?”
“Yes. With a bit of work, of course. Not many bosses would drive their employees home when their car breaks down.” Or give them their coat because they were cold. The scent of him surrounded her. She liked it. He always smelled so delicious.
“That wasn’t entirely a selfless act. I’m no boy scout, sweetheart.”
“Really? And here I would’ve thought you would always be prepared.”
Dear Lord, was she flirting with him? As soon as it came out of her mouth, she wished it back. Flirting with him was a terrible idea.
What was she doing? Feeling ill, she took a step away. “I have to go inside. I’m tired.”
“Wait.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Don’t pull away. Not when we were coming to a truce.”
A truce? Was that what they were doing? She supposed it was as good a description as any. She’d been about to tell him they could be friends, but that was stupid. People like her weren’t friends with someone like him. Sure, he might act like he was lonely, but he’d soon tire of playing with her, and the only person who would get hurt was her.
Silly, Kinley. Maybe James isn’t the lonely one.
“Take this please. I don’t know when I’ll next see you to return it. It would probably be best if you got Elsa to clean your office again.”
She took off before he could say anything, hating that she took the cowards way out. But she couldn’t be around him for much longer. Not without saying something stupid, like what a lonely mess she was, and she was scared because she’d just lost the best thing in her life. Yeah, like that wouldn’t be disastrous.
James stared after her, dumbfounded. He stood there, holding his jacket against his chest, where she’d shoved it, until it finally registered that she’d left. Just ran off without his permission to leave.
He had enough self-awareness to realize he was arrogant. He was selfish and used to getting his own way. He was not used to people defying him. People jumped when he said jump.
A soft bark of laughter caught him by surprise. He didn’t laugh much, not anymore. But he was so surprised by his reaction to Kinley it shocked him.
Well, he did tell her she interested him because she didn’t tell him what she thought he wanted to hear. She was genuine and honest. And hot. God, she was gorgeous. He imagined having her in his bed. He could tie her up, make her pay in the most delicious ways possible for going against his orders. He specifically ordered her to leave his coat on. And she certainly hadn’t been given permission to leave.
He could teach her his desires, teach her what he wanted, what he liked, how to act. But then, wouldn’t she be like all the people in his life? Giving him exactly what they thought he wanted. Wasn’t that why she intrigued him? Because she was different? It was the only explanation he could think of for why she’d gotten into his head. There was only one other person who’d truly challenged him that way. Sloan.
Not that he and Sloan had a sexual relationship. Neither of them was interested in men. But they’d lived together, they’d shared a sub together, and they’d been a family in every way. James had always led, and Sloan had been happy to follow. Until the day James fucked everything up.
He climbed into his car then turned it on and sped off. He headed back to his apartment, to ponder what the hell he was going to do about the redhead who took up far too much of his thoughts and time.
9
“So, you’re still alive? I’m relieved.”
Sloan didn’t bother looking over as Alex sat next to him at the bar in Club Decadence. He knew coming here tonight was a bad idea. But he just couldn’t face another night of drinking at home.
He lifted his beer to his mouth and took a sip.
“I’ll have an orange juice, thanks,” Alex said to the bartender. Then he turned to look at Sloan. “Where have you been?”
“Around.”
“Around. Right.” Alex sighed. “You missed my party.”
“Sorry.”
“You going to use one-word sentences all night?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, then I guess I’ll leave you to wallow in whatever sort of pity party you have going on here. Just tell me, is Kinley all right?”
The million-dollar question. And he didn’t have a clue what the answer was. Because you haven’t called her, asshole. Over two weeks had passed. In the beginning, he’d been mad. Told himself he was better off without someone who could so easily lie. But as time went on, he realized part of that anger was at himself. Was he so touchy about money she’d been afraid to tell him? It wasn’t like he’d been completely forthcoming with her.
He missed her desperately. He hadn’t realized exactly how ingrained in his life she was. Wherever he looked in his house, he could see her, almost smell her. Hear her laughter. He wanted that back.
“I don’t know,” he said to Alex. “I haven’t spoken to her since the night of your party.”
Alex sat again, but he didn’t look at Sloan, which he was grateful for. Instead, he faced away from the bar, staring out at the scenes being played out.
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