Page 31 of My Sexy Boss
Sexual tension crackled between us once more as we looked deeply into each other’s eyes. Tingles skated all over my body, and I was ready to leap over the desk and throw myself at him when there was a knock on the door. He didn’t say anything or move a muscle. His penetrating look held me, grounded me, made me crazy with desire.
Another knock.
I broke away and pointed at the door. “Don’t you think you should get that?”
“Come in,” he said, his gaze still on me.
Chandra Pierce’s eyes widened when she saw me. “I’m sorry, Mr. Prescott, I didn’t know you had a meeting.”
“What do you want?” He finally tore his eyes from me to glare at her.
“I finished typing up the contracts for Ace Sports.” Chandra strutted across the room, and I couldn’t help but notice how tight her skirt was and that the neckline of her blouse was definitely lower than it had ever been when Mr. Linder was running the show. She bent down more than she had to and handed Trace the documents.
He seemed oblivious to her blatant actions and glanced at the contracts. “I’ll look them over. Thank you.”
“Did you need coffee or anything?” She threw her shoulders back and her already ample bust stuck out more.
“No, thank you. I’m good.”
Her shoulders dropped and she pressed her lips tightly. As she walked past, she threw me a dirty look. Chandra was one of the biggest gossips at Velocity, and I didn’t want her spreading any lies about Trace and me. I knew if they were taken seriously, I’d be the one out of a job, not him. I pushed up from the chair. “I better get back to work. The launch is next week, and there’re a lot of last minute details I have to go over. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if anything seems suspicious.”
“I’d appreciate it.” He jumped up and walked me to the door.
As I started out, he came in close behind me and whispered in my ear, “And for the record, I was pissed as hell that you had a date. Have a good day, Cierra.” Then he stepped away and I heard his footsteps retreating to his desk.
Taking a second to compose myself, I glanced backward and saw his head bent down over the contracts. I paused for a moment, then headed toward the elevators.
It was Saturdaymorning and I was in my apartment trying to keep busy so I wouldn’t think about Trace, Kelsey, work, and why I rejected Cory for that night. I hadn’t felt like going out with him. I wasn’t sure why, but there was something I didn’t like about him.
“It’s because you watch way too many true crime shows on TV,” Sofie had said when she’d heard me turn him down. She’d been in my office the day before when he called.
Maybe she was right. I mean, she and Colin were doing great. The chicken soup won him over, and they’d been inseparable ever since. Sofie had invited me to hang out with them that night, but I really didn’t want to be a third wheel. I didn’t feel like going out at all.
The night before, I’d picked up a bottle of chardonnay and went over to Kelsey’s place. We hadn’t spoken since dinner at Emerald’s. I’d called her a couple of times but she’d never called me back. She was being weirdly reticent, and it was as though she were trying to avoid me. So when she’d agreed to me coming by, I’d been a little surprised.
As usual, the conversation centered on her and how she just couldn’t get into Chandler. Then she told me she thought the reason was because she was still in love with Trace. I’d almost choked on my wine.
“I thought you were over him,” I’d said. “I mean, you’ve been hanging out with Chandler a lot.”
“That’s just for some fun.” She’d waved her hand, dismissing me as though it should’ve been obvious. “Trace is still… I’m stillhurtingover it, you know.”
“Sure.” I’d eyed her slightly suspiciously. I’d seen her go through plenty of breakups over the years, and none of them seemed to have stuck the way this one with Trace had. And she had never seemed that into him in the first place. I just couldn’t make sense of it.
“It reallywasthat bad.” She’d seemed to read my mind and glared, unblinking. “He’s an asshole, Cierra. A total dick. Don’t let him charm you, because I know he’ll try.”
I’d shaken my head and drained the last of my glass. “I’m not going to fall for him that easily. Give me a little credit, seriously.”
After a long pause, she’d replied, “Make sure you don’t.” And then the conversation had turned to what she was going to take on her weekend getaway with Chandler.
I couldn’t help but feel as though there was something she wasn’t telling me. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I had some doubts about the story she’d told me about Trace, especially considering what I now knew about him. And what he’d told me about only knowing one side of the story began to ring louder in my brain. I knew Kelsey was flaky, but why would she lie to me about their breakup? Something wasn’t gelling.
I have to get out of here.I pushed aside the magazines I was going through and sprang up from the couch. I was restless and a little anxious, and sitting around all day wasn’t going to make that go away. There was a coffee shop down the street I used to go to all the time before I started working on Vibra. As I remembered, they made the best zucchini chocolate chip bread. With the memory of the gooey, melted chips, I slipped a light hoodie on over my T-shirt and yoga pants, then headed out.
The Roasted Bean was over a couple blocks at the top of the hill. When I ducked inside, the rich scent of dark roast, vanilla, and cloves curled around me, the place already brimming with activity and people. Idle Saturday-morning chatter seeped into me as I went to the counter and placed my order, then secured a seat at a small table. Hooking my ankles together, I pulled out my phone to catch up on the news that I all too often found myself cut off from when I was working as hard as I had been. My café latte and slice of zucchini bread arrived, and I took a sip before popping a piece of bread in my mouth, relishing the taste. That was exactly what I needed: something strong and sweet to get my mind off everything.
I was on my second coffee when the scraping of a chair on the wood floor caught my attention. I looked up and saw Trace sitting down, laptop case slung over his shoulder, steaming cup in his hand, and a leather boot hooked under the chair he was dragging. Once again I’d bumped into him. What was up with that?
I slunk down in the chair like that would hide me from his view. I thought that if I could quietly get up, I could be out of the shop before he could say—
