A Co-Worker's Crush

by Piper Rayne

  I slip off my boots outside the door and tiptoe into their apartment. Glenda and Earl are still lit up while sunrise is filtering in through the windows. Presents fill the area under the trees already—probably most of them for Rian from Dylan. The guy goes overboard. Then again, here I am delivering a puppy.

  I place the box under the tree, thankful Winston must be in the bedroom with Dylan and Rian. Dylan might kick my ass if my puppy hurts their precious little dog.

  I’m tiptoeing out when the bathroom door opens. I freeze as if whoever it is can’t see an over-six-foot man standing in the room.

  Rian yelps. Her flannel red, white, and green plaid pajama pants and shirt that says “Let’s get Merry and Jolly” shows how much she loves this holiday. Who has specific pajamas for a holiday?

  “What are you doing?” she whispers, walking across the room.

  “Just delivering my present.”

  The pup whines in the box.

  Her eyes widen and shift to the box and back to me. “You didn’t.”

  “You told me to fix it. This is fixing it,” I whisper and point at the box.

  The puppy whines again, so Rian walks over, opens the box, and peeks in. She falls to her knees and picks up the small brown dog. “Oh, he’s a cutie.” She lets the dog lick her face and I wince thinking about Dylan kissing her after. “But Frankie is going to kick your ass.”

  “She’s not going to know I did it.” I give Rian a meaningful look and backtrack toward the door.

  She puts the puppy back in and closes the box. “She’s going to know. I’m not taking responsibility for this.”

  I raise my hands. “I couldn’t let Jolie wake up and realize what a hoax Santa is.”

  “And when she asks why you’re not her daddy?” Rian asks.

  “Santa attached a note.”

  She peers down at the box where I secured the note I wrote while pretending to be Santa.

  “Jax,” she sighs.

  “This is me handling it.”

  What does she want from me? Should I apologize nonstop because Jolie is attached to me? Never did I think she could see me as her dad. I’m not meant to be a dad. Growing up, I had no example of what a dad even is.

  “Just don’t let it suffocate.” I walk out the door, grab my boots, and disappear into my own apartment.

  I wish I could be there when Jolie wakes and discovers her present. I can only imagine how excited she’ll be when she pops off the lid.

  I slide back into bed, wishing sleep would come, but it doesn’t. I hear Knox and Kamea having morning sex in his room next to mine, so I throw off the covers and decide to take a shower. Letting the water warm up, I close the bathroom door—since I’m showering—and take a piss before stepping into the water. I’m mid-shampoo when a loud banging sounds on the apartment door. Since Knox and Kamea are probably mid-orgasm, I rinse, shut off the water, and step out, wrapping a towel around my waist.

  I open the door and find Frankie’s fist in the air. She stops and her gaze falls down my body.

  “Are you here for your Christmas present?” I grin. I can’t help but want to rile her up.

  Her eyes narrow and she places her hand on my chest, pushing me into the apartment.

  I hold up my hands. “Oh, I like this take-charge side of yours.”

  “How could you? I can’t have a dog in my apartment!” Then she pulls the letter out of her back pocket. “And this?” She plasters it to my wet chest.

  I debate denying it but figure what the hell. “I handled it. We couldn’t just ignore it.”

  Hell, I put a lot of thought into that letter and I think it was a damn good way to make Jolie understand she can’t ask Santa for a daddy.

  “I was handling it,” she says. “I’m her mother.”

  “Either it was me or a puppy under that tree. She had to get one.”

  She throws her arms in the air. Hell, she really is damn attractive when she’s angry. Turns me on. If she were mine, I’d probably try to piss her off on purpose.

  “Why? Why do you care about her so much?” Her angry tone dissipates, and she sounds more like she’s exhausted from fighting me. Knox’s door opens, and Frankie raises her hand. “Merry Christmas, guys.”

  “Merry Christmas. What happened?” Knox asks, walking out in his pajama pants and no shirt.

  Frankie motions to me. “He got her a puppy.”

  Knox laughs but bites his lip. See? He doesn’t see a problem.

  “What’s going on?” Kamea asks, stepping out of the bedroom.

  Knox turns Kamea back toward the room and they shut the door.

  I stand there in silence.

  Frankie throws up her arms again. I love her “Bah Humbug” tank top with a pair of boxer shorts. Fits her perfectly and my mind wanders to wondering whether she’s wearing any panties.

  “Fine. Just stand there and not say anything. I’ll deal with the aftermath. I’m used to it anyway.” She charges toward the door.

  I should let her go. Let her be angry at me. At least I made Jolie happy.

  But for some reason, words fall out of my mouth. “Because I know what it’s like to wake up and not get what you want. Because I once wished for a family. Because I was disappointed when I was her age, and I can’t sit back and watch it happen to her. Because she’s five and she should be happy and innocent and go on believing in Santa.”

  Frankie slowly turns around. She’s lost all fight, which means I might as well have put on a pussy hat for the day. “Jax—”

  I raise my hand. “Maybe I overstepped. This was just my way of fixing it.”

  She releases a deep breath and doesn’t say anything until the silence is nice and thick in the room. “Congratulations, Daddy.”

  “What?” I croak. We used protection, there’s no way…

  “You’re half owner of a new puppy named Gumdrop.”

  Relief washes through me, but then the panic returns. “You’re kidding, right?”

  She smirks and shakes her head. “Nope.” Her hand lands on the doorknob, but she turns around. “Oh, and Gumdrop is using Dylan’s boot as a chew toy. So fatherly duty calls.” She shrugs and walks out the door.

  Knox opens his door, laughing. “Who told you to get a puppy?”

  “Seth thought it was a good idea,” I say.

  Knox laughs even harder. “Don’t ever ask Seth’s opinion on what to do.”

  My head rolls back. Fuck. What the hell did I get myself into?

  Chapter Ten

  Frankie

  * * *

  Three days after Christmas, Jolie and I are back in our apartment—Sandy assured us that Michael has left for the west coast. Mr. Holder told me that with Michael not here to fight my motion, the path to getting full custody might be smoother, but I’m not naïve—Michael will be back.

  “Come on, Gumdrop.” Jolie yanks at the leash. Poor dog.

  “Remember we have to teach him to walk on a leash.”

  Trying to keep a dog hidden in my apartment hasn’t been as hard as one would think. Luckily, Gumdrop is pretty quiet, and we’re using puppy pads as a potty training technique.

  “He really wants to see Earl.”

  “Well, Earl is with Glenda at Rian and Dylan’s, remember?”

  Jolie sits down and pouts. “Why didn’t we stay there?”

  She would love nothing more than to live in the Rooftop Apartments with everyone, but it’s not possible. She’s not old enough to realize that.

  I ruffle her hair as I walk by, packing my bag. “Because that’s not our place.”

  “What happened to my letter from Santa?”

  “Hmm?” I play dumb because last I saw it, the letter was suctioned to Jax’s naked chest dripping with water. He might as well have been naked because it was all I could do not to tackle him and give myself a Christmas gift that morning. He played my body perfectly the first time we were together, and I can’t imagine once he’s attuned to all my likes and dislikes how much more mind-blow
ing it would be.

  “The letter that said he can’t give me a daddy.”

  First, I sleep with Jax and find out what a fantastic lover he is, then he goes and writes the sweetest letter to my daughter, pretending to be Santa. I’m pretty sure Jax doesn’t even understand the catch he’s coming off to be. At least in my eyes.

  The letter said that she’s a girl anyone would want to be a daddy to, but he can’t make that wish come true. But he hopes that she enjoys the puppy.

  “I don’t know, but we gotta get going. I have an appointment in a half-hour.”

  Unfortunately, school is out, which means Jolie spends her time with me at the shop until Sandy gets off work. Even then, I can’t expect Sandy to be at my beck and call all the time.

  “Can I at least go over and see Earl during lunch?” She slides off the couch and I help her with her boots.

  The fresh snow isn’t Gumdrop’s friend, so I scoop him up and put him in my oversized purse with his leash and collar. “As long as Dylan says it’s okay.”

  “He will.”

  What must it be like to have all these adults wrapped around your little finger? Stopping at the mailbox, I remember I forgot to get my mail last night, so I use my key to open the compartment, then shove it all in my purse to look through during my break today.

  Jolie and I walk out of the apartment and the snow flurries whirl around us. I put a few coins in the meters as we pass by. Just a small good deed I can do for others this time of year.

  “Can I do it, Mommy?”

  I hand her two quarters. “Sure.”

  She puts them in, and I tell her great job. We walk the seven blocks until we reach Ink Envy, but I can’t go in right away because we have to walk Gumdrop around until he goes to the bathroom. I shiver while Jolie walks back and forth, tugging on his leash because the dog doesn’t yet grasp the concept.

  “Come on, Gumdrop,” I say in a nice tone to spur him to go to the bathroom. I bend down and nudge his butt to get him moving, but you’d think he’s got brakes on those four legs. “You gotta walk.”

  Jolie huffs, and my head falls back in frustration. I need to get in the shop and get started. Then I look inside Ink Envy and there’s Jax, sipping his coffee while coming back from the breakroom. I swoop up Gumdrop and grab Jolie’s hand, tugging her along.

  I swing the shop doors open and shove Gumdrop in Jax’s arms. “You’re on duty.”

  He fumbles to catch the dog and keep a hold of his drink, losing the battle. His coffee falls to the floor. “What?”

  “Jolie, take off your coat and stomp your boots on the mat.”

  She sheds her coat, hangs it on the coat hook, and jumps up and down on the rug. Then she sets her eyes on Jax and Gumdrop.

  “He won’t walk on his leash,” she whispers. “Mommy’s getting mad.”

  Jax hands Gumdrop to her. “Watch him until I get this cleaned up?” He sends a glare my way.

  She sits in the waiting room with Gumdrop on her lap while Jax grabs paper towels from the back room to clean up.

  “You could be nicer about it,” he says to me softly so Jolie can’t hear.

  Lyle walking in keeps Jolie busy as he asks questions about Gumdrop.

  “My mornings are busy enough without having to sneak a dog in and out of my apartment, teach it to walk on a leash, and oh yeah, clean up after it. Plus the thing is chewing the legs of my kitchen table. As though it wasn’t already a piece of crap.” My frustration gets the better of me and my voice raises a bit.

  “Okay, I said I would help.”

  “That’s kind of hard to do since you don’t live with us.”

  “And what do you want me to do? Split custody? He’s Jolie’s and Jolie is yours.”

  I clench my fists and growl. “Jax, I swear.”

  I stomp away to Dylan’s office for some much needed space. There’s so much going on right now: Michael and trying to get sole custody, the constant worry about whether I’m doing the best thing for my daughter, the fact that I slept with Jax and he’s able to act as though it never happened, and I have a puppy to care for. Since two of the biggest stressors in my life have Jax’s name attached to them, I’m blaming him.

  The office door opens and Jax walks in, holding up his hands. “I come in peace.”

  I roll my eyes. “This isn’t funny. I had enough on my plate before you bought her that puppy. It put me in a shitty position.”

  He nods and rests his ass on Dylan’s desk, his hands on either side of his hips. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize because you think it’s what I want to hear.”

  “I mean it. I do. I overstepped.”

  “Yes, you did. But I understand why you did.” I blow out a long breath. After his declaration on Christmas morning about his childhood, I understood why he got Jolie the puppy, but I’m drowning right now. “It’s fine. I just have to get through the puppy phase and find another place to live. Easy-peasy.” I stand, unable to handle feeling sorry for myself anymore. “It’s fine, I’ll manage.”

  He grabs my wrist, pulling me back toward him, then rests his hands on my hips. “I truly am sorry.”

  We’re millimeters apart and he’s looking at me like he wants to kiss me. I hold my breath. I want him to, which I shouldn’t.

  As we lean in, I pull back. “You can’t kiss it and make it all better.” I wiggle out of his hold and bolt from the room.

  Get a grip, Frankie. You’ve dealt with worse than this.

  I’m guessing Jax has no more appointments today, but then I don’t know why he’s here either, because he spends majority of his day trying to train Gumdrop to walk on the leash. He and Jolie walk back and forth in front of the window.

  “I’ve never seen Jax so determined,” Dylan says from his chair. “Winston took to the leash right away, but in obedience school, another guy said his dog still runs away every time he shows his dog the collar.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “That might be a piece of information you share after Gumdrop walks on his leash.”

  Dylan laughs. “He will. The instructor said that the dog must have had a bad experience with his leash before he got him from the shelter.”

  “Well, the way Jolie tugs on it, so will Gumdrop.”

  I swivel around in my chair. In between clients, I gave Jax hell, but truth is, I’m not sure what I would do without him or Dylan or all the rest of their friends. They help me with Jolie, and they help me sort my shit out with Michael.

  “I was getting my mail last night and guess what I noticed?” Dylan says, putting on his gloves to put the stencil on his client.

  “What?”

  “The apartment downstairs opened up.” He raises his eyebrows as though that’s an option for me.

  “I have an apartment.”

  “An apartment your ex knows the location of, one you can’t have a puppy in, and if you want Jax to pay for getting you that puppy, maybe you two need to be closer so he can take care of it half the time.”

  I lean back in my chair. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea that we live that close to each other.”

  “I know, he’s so hot. I’d be prancing around in my bra and panties, hoping he popped in,” Dylan’s client says out of nowhere. She’s one of his regulars and very open with her sexuality. Take right now, for example. Her ass is practically out for everyone to see as she gets her hip done. Dylan could’ve taken her to a private room, but she didn’t want to.

  “I mean more because the police might be called when I strangle him.”

  “Good thing a cop lives in the building,” Dylan says with a chuckle.

  “I’m just not sure it’s the best place for us. But the puppy is driving me crazy, and I’d like nothing more than to make Jax pay.”

  “Jolie loves him though, and just so you know, Winston thinks Earl is his own pee tree, so I apologize in advance.”

  “Who is Earl?” Dylan’s client asks.

  While he tells her the story of our names for Ch
ristmas trees, I look out the window and see Jolie jumping and clapping. A minute later, Jax jogs by the window with Gumdrop prancing behind him before the dog stops dead in his tracks. But Jax takes it as a win as he swoops Jolie in his arms, swings her around, and they both bend down and pet Gumdrop, praising him for doing such a good job.

  Seriously, how are my ovaries supposed to survive this? Jax with Jolie was enough to break the hatred I feel for the man, but add on a puppy and I’m supposed to pretend not to notice all his good qualities?

  I want Dylan to think I don’t want to move into their apartment building because I’m afraid I might kill Jax, but the opposite of that is what scares me so much. I could fall hard for him—only to find myself heartbroken and unable to care for my daughter. I could bring a father figure into her life who would be ripped away from her—again. Jolie has to come first, and if I’m ever going to choose a man to love, he can’t be one with a reputation of running away from his problems.

  But damn, Jolie hugs Jax, her arms tight around his neck, and the fact that it can’t be him makes me a little sad. I hope he knows he’ll make a great dad one day—whenever he grows up.

  I grab my purse to distract myself from the view and decide to go through my mail before my next client arrives. I pick up what I think is the invitation to Blanca and Ethan’s winter wonderland wedding, but it’s dripping onto the floor. I pick up the rest, and sure enough, they’re all soaked.

  “Ugh!” I empty everything in my purse out on my bench and it’s all soaked with pee. “I honestly cannot handle this.”

  The door opens and a rush of cold air comes in.

  “Gumdrop walked, Mommy!”

  “Yay, and no worries about his bladder, because he emptied it in my purse.”

  Jax laughs, which makes Jolie laugh. But all I can do is stare at the invitation to the wedding. All this and I have to find a date to a wedding. Lately my life has more problems than solutions.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jax

  * * *