by Madison, Mia
Red Hot Games
A Steamy Older Man Office Romance
Mia Madison
Copyright © 2019 by Mia Madison
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, events, locations, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
Contents
1. Prologue
2. Sierra
3. Ian
4. Sierra
5. Sierra
6. Sierra
7. Ian
8. Sierra
9. Ian
10. Sierra
11. Sierra
12. Ian
13. Sierra
14. Sierra
15. Ian
16. Sierra
17. Sierra
18. Sierra
19. Sierra
20. Ian
21. Epilogue One
22. Epilogue Two
About the Author
Also by Mia Madison
1
Prologue
July
“Red hot, baby!” Gabi cried, picking up the drink the waitress had just set down.
“Red hot!” Kait and Sierra chorused, clinking their glasses with Gabi’s.
The pink-haired waitress smiled at their enthusiasm. “What does that mean?”
“It means we’re going to kick ass this year,” Gabi said.
“We took this pledge last year on Valentine’s Day,” Sierra elaborated. “We said we’d take chances and take risks this year. You know, look for better jobs, find a decent man, that kind of thing.”
“And find a good man by next Valentine’s Day,” Gabi chimed in.
“I said that part,” Sierra protested.
“But finding Mr. Right is the most important part,” Gabi said, slurring her words a little.
“How’s that working out for you all?” The waitress asked as she gathered their empty glasses onto her tray.
“Well, I broke up with my boyfriend two weeks ago, so not so great,” Sierra said.
Gabi butted in. “But none of us liked him anyway. Plus, she’s starting a new job tomorrow!”
“That’s great,” the waitress said.
“The jury’s still out on whether it is or not,” Sierra said darkly. “But things have worked out for Kait here. She just got a promotion at work and she’s dating her boss, and he has a really nice ass.”
“Sierra!” Kait scolded though she secretly thought it was true. “TMI!”
“What?” Sierra asked, offended. “If you can’t tell your waitress these things, who can you tell?”
The waitress grinned. “I’ll be back later if you girls have any more confessions to make.” She took off, weaving her way toward the crowded bar.
“Tyler really does have a nice ass,” Gabi said pensively. “I never thought about it before.”
“Hey!” Kait objected. “No more ogling my man.”
“Where is he tonight?” Gabi asked.
“I told him we needed some girl time. But I’m going to go over there later,” Kait said.
“Probably wise since the A/C at our place is about as reliable as a ten-year-old condom,” Sierra said.
Kait laughed, but Gabi was busy staring at her. “What’s with the blush?”
“What blush?”
“You blushed when you said you were going over to Tyler’s tonight. What gives? We all know you’re not a virgin anymore.”
Kait’s cheeks reddened. “He said he was preparing something special for tonight.” Her smile was both bashful and pleased.
“I bet whatever it is, you’re going to like it,” Sierra said.
“Me, too.” Kait took a big gulp of wine and set her drink down. “But this is your night. Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
“Of course she’s not. She’s got this,” Gabi said loyally.
“Yeah, I mean, what’s there to be nervous about? I finally got a decent job in my field. It’s perfect unless you count the fact that I yelled and screamed at my boss and told him all sorts of details about my sex life.”
Kait and Gabi dissolved into wine-fueled giggles. “It wasn’t that bad,” Kait said.
“You weren’t even there,” Sierra said. She turned to Gabi, her eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, it was pretty bad,” Gabi said, still laughing. “But on the plus side, you really told him off. If it actually had been your asshole ex-boyfriend Joe instead of your new boss calling to offer you a job, it would’ve been the best breakup phone call ever.”
“We were already broken up. But yeah, I do wish I’d said those things to Joe… instead of, you know, the CEO.”
Kait laughed again. “Tell me again how you listed all of Joe’s failures in the sack.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Sierra said with a groan. “Shit… you don’t think Mr. Callahan told anyone about that phone call, do you?”
“Of course he didn’t. He’s the big boss, he must be very professional,” Gabi said.
“Plus, he’s a friend of Tyler’s, so he’s got to be a good guy,” Kait added. “I’m sure he won’t bring it up.”
Sierra wasn’t so sure, but it’s not like she could do anything about it now. “It was just soooo embarrassing. After I finally wound down with all that shit about Joe, there was silence, and then he cleared his throat and said in a very formal voice that he was Ian Callahan from Callahan Communications calling to offer me a job. In the dictionary under the phrase “oh, shit,” they probably have a recording of that phone call.”
“If so, I’d pay good money to hear it again.” Gabi said, while Sierra glared. “What? That was a compliment. I was proud of you. You kicked ass. It was the first time in a long time when you seemed like yourself.”
Sierra sighed. “You mean since before Joe.”
“Yes.”
Kait slid off her stool and moved next to Sierra, putting her arm around her. “You’re still the smart, sarcastic, strong woman you always were… it’s just that when you were around Joe, those parts of you got a little buried. But now you’re single, you’re starting a new job—it’s Sierra 2.0. You can be yourself again.”
“Only better,” Gabi added.
“So my old self before Joe wasn’t good enough?” Sierra demanded.
“I meant better taste in men,” Gabi said.
“Oh. Well, that won’t be an issue because I’ve sworn off dating until I’m at least ninety.”
“Even better,” Kait said. “You can focus on your career.”
“And get a vibrator,” Gabi added.
After a second of shock, Sierra laughed long and hard, her roommates joining in. Then she winced and put a hand on her stomach. “Ooo, probably better quit with the wine. I’m so full.”
“We should head home soon,” Gabi agreed. “You wouldn’t want to show up for your first day tomorrow with bloodshot eyes.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t want to do anything embarrassing before the job even started.” Sierra’s voice was laced with irony. “I’m gonna hit the ladies’ room before we leave. Can you guys settle the bill?” She pulled some cash out of her wallet, but Gabi and Kate waved her money away.
“It’s on us,” Kait said.
“In honor of your new job,” Gabi agreed.
Kait counted the bills as Sierra left. “I hope it
goes well.”
“The bathroom here’s not so bad,” Gabi said.
“I meant the job tomorrow. I’m not sure Sierra’s truly realized how much she changed when she was with Joe.”
“Her confidence definitely took a big hit, that’s true. She used to be all fierce and fabulous.”
“She still is,” Kait said. “It’s just kind of… muted now. We’ve got to keep an eye on her. Check in with her. Breaking up sucks. Starting a new job can be stressful. Doing both at once is going to take a lot out of her.”
“We’ll be here for her,” Gabi said.
“And Tyler will be, too.”
“We’re like the four musketeers,” Gabi observed. “All for one and one for all.”
Sierra returned in time to hear that last part. “Does that mean that Gabi and I can tag along for whatever sexy time Tyler has cooked up?”
“You wish your sex life was as exciting as mine,” Kait said smugly.
“Yep,” Gabi sighed, and Sierra nodded her head. “We do.”
2
Sierra
“And this is another conference room,” Brett said, opening a door and poking his head into the dark room. “A lot of employees bring their laptops in here when they need to focus. Of course, I have my own office, but the newer staff like you won’t.”
I arranged my features into a pleasant smile. So far, this tour had largely consisted of Brett talking about himself, not Callahan Communications. Already I’d learned the non-essential facts that he’d been promoted twice in his three years here, that he was frequently chosen as employee of the month in his department, and that the place would fall apart without him—if he did say so himself.
After making a perfunctory effort to peer into the rather ordinary room, I turned to catch Brett looking at my legs for at least the second time. I’d worn what I thought was a fairly professional outfit—a straight navy skirt that ended a little above my knees, a white blouse, and a black jacket. It wasn’t exactly a suit, but in my opinion—and Kait and Gabi’s as well—it looked nice enough. I hadn’t wanted to look like I was trying too hard, but I didn’t want to go to the opposite extreme, either. After over a year at a really crappy job, I wasn’t about to take this opportunity for granted. The pay was decent, it actually provided benefits, and I was fairly certain no one—bosses or clients alike—was going to spend the day yelling at me.
Hopefully.
Brett showed me his office—again—and then walked me to my new desk. After pointing out obvious things like the computer, phone, and headset, he asked me if there was anything else I needed.
“Actually, I was wondering if I could make a copy of these benefit forms before I turn them into HR,” I said.
“Of course.”
He placed a totally unnecessary hand on the small of my back to guide me in the right direction, which was irritating. No man had touched me since my ex-boyfriend Joe, and if I had my way, no man was going to touch me in the foreseeable future.
The copy room was not quite as airy and spacious as the rest of the open office. A woman about my age sat working at a small table, a pile of files next to her.
“Liz,” Brett said, somehow managing to make even a single syllable sound pompous. “This is Sierra, our newest employee. Sierra, this is Liz. She’s on the team you’ll be working with the most. I’m sure you two gals will become good friends.”
Neither of us gals looked all that pleased about being called that, but Liz greeted me politely and I said hello back.
Then Brett lifted the lid of the copy machine as if I couldn’t do it myself. I placed the first page on the glass, pressed copy, and received a nearly blank white page in return.
Brett frowned. “That’s odd. Let me try.” He proceeded to press the copy button as if I somehow hadn’t done it correctly the first time. Needless to say, he got the same results.
“Maybe it’s out of toner?” I suggested.
“I’ll call one of the secretaries.” Judging by Brett’s tone, you’d think he’d just announced he was putting in a call to the pentagon. “Those gals love me. They’ll be up here right away to get you all straightened out.”
“Thank you,” I said because I knew I couldn’t say what I really wanted to.
“I’m late for a meeting with upper management. If you need help finding your way back, I’m sure Liz could show you.”
My desk was literally twenty feet from here. But all I said was thank you again. At least until after he left. Then I said, “What an asshole.”
Liz gasped and made some kind of strangled sound that ended in a cough. Her pretty face turned temporarily red as she coughed again. When her throat cleared, she said, “He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
Shit. I hadn’t meant to offend her. I really needed to learn to watch my tongue. I blamed it on Joe. Before meeting him, I’d been a functioning member of society. Now, I clearly shouldn’t be allowed to open my mouth in public. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“No,” Liz interrupted, rising to her feet. She was several inches shorter than my five foot ten inch height. Her red wavy hair bounced around her shoulders as she walked toward me. “Don’t apologize. He is an asshole. I was just so shocked because everyone around here loves him.”
“Him?”
“Yeah. He’s like the prodigal son for some reason. Even my parents and friends are always asking about him. And about why we broke up. I think half of them would’ve preferred to keep him after the breakup instead of me.”
“Him?” I repeated with growing disbelief, looking at the door where Brett had departed.
Liz laughed. “I think you and I are going to get along just fine.” Her words made me smile even though all she had to base our budding friendship on were a few sarcastic comments on my part. But it was good to know that not everyone around here was as much of a suck-up as Brett. For a moment, I wondered about the CEO, Ian Callahan. What was he like? He’d listened in on part of my interview, but my disastrous phone call with him had wiped out any neutral memories I had of him. Now every time I thought of him, I wanted to curl up a ball and spontaneously combust.
“I think you’re right, it’s just the toner.” Liv moved next to me at the machine. “Brett’s such a baby. No need to bother an administrative assistant, it’s an easy fix. He probably doesn’t want it to appear like he’s doing what he considers to be women’s work.”
I nodded. “I knew a guy like that, too. My ex.” I thought about it for a moment. “Actually, he didn’t want to do much of any work, women’s or otherwise.”
Liz lifted a large plastic cover off one end of the copy machine and set it on the floor. She flipped plastic levers and switches until she was able to ease out the toner cartridge. “Sounds like we both know what it’s like to have problematic exes.”
“Yeah, but at least I don’t have to work with mine. That sounds like a special level of hell.”
Liz blinked a few times and then went to a cabinet for a new toner cartridge. “It is.”
Her situation was making mine look better. I hadn’t seen Joe since I’d broken up with him. After that, the few times he’d stopped by the house, Gabi had run interference for me. He’d called and texted, but it had been weeks since I’d actually seen him—thank god.
I studied Liz as she efficiently switched out the toner cartridges. She was pretty, and she seemed smart and competent. Why had she allowed herself to date a jerk like Brett? But the better question was why had I spent so long with Joe? On paper, Brett was way higher on the evolutionary scale than pond scum like Joe. Yet I’d stayed with him for over a year. I still didn’t quite understand why, but at some point, he’d made me feel like I didn’t deserve better.
But I did. I knew that now. I deserved this new job, and as for men—I didn’t need one. I didn’t need anyone but me. At least that’s what I kept telling myself. Hmm… I wondered if all women who’d endured bad breakups felt the same way? I decided to poll Liz. “Are you seeing anyone now?”
“That’s exactly how I feel.” Brett had been right about one thing. It did feel like Liz and I were becoming friends. The bond of having asshole ex boyfriends was a strong one. “I mean… there are some decent guys out there.” Kait’s boyfriend Tyler was living proof of that. The man had been there for Kait every step of the way and even for me and Gabi when needed.
“What do you think the ratio is of jerks to good guys?” Liz asked as she tried to get the new cartridge locked in.
“Honestly, I don’t know. A lot less favorable than I thought when I originally started dating. There are good men out there, but finding them is pretty impossible. It’s like—”
“It’s like what?”
My back was to the door and the deep voice had come from behind me. Dimly, I saw Liz’s eyes widen, but I already knew who had spoken. I’d last heard that voice on the phone, right after I’d screamed at the person I thought was Joe and told him that he had a needle dick and that he couldn’t find a woman’s clitoris without a map and a flashlight.
I turned quickly, fighting to keep calm. Ian Callahan was the boss. The CEO. He’d be professional, Kait had assured me. He wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t bring it up.
His hazel eyes gleamed as I finally met his gaze. “Oh, Mr. Callahan—”
“Finding a good man is like what?” he repeated, the corner of his lips curving into a grin. “Perhaps like finding a needle in a haystack?”
My face turned beet red as my jaw dropped in shock. Then I took an involuntary step backwards—right onto the plastic cover Liz has set down while fixing the copy machine. My foot slipped down the slope of the hard plastic, and a second later, I was sprawled at the feet of the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.
