Page 10 of Boss with Benefits (Boss of Seduction #6)

Working late with Brady had its advantages.

Jessica knew she didn’t have to watch every word that came out of her mouth because a coworker might accidentally overhear.

They didn’t have to worry what would happen if they touched or kissed.

Days had passed since his drunken visit to her home, and neither of them had brought the subject up, so maybe now would be a good time.

She wasn’t sure he remembered dropping by unannounced.

If he did, he hadn’t said anything. Should she remind him?

Bridget was at the house with Axl, so they had plenty of time for grownup talk. After two hours of paperwork, phone calls, and picking new models for an upcoming underwear ad, they took a break. The problem was, Jessica didn’t want to talk about anything. More than tired, she was totally exhausted.

A violent chocolate craving hit her hard.

They had vending machines two floors below them.

She thought about making a snack run. Thought about it in earnest, but she was too tired to move.

Instead of racing for the elevator, she reclined on the couch, while Brady paced the floor.

The visual they created made her laugh out loud.

If someone saw them, they might think he was her psychiatrist.

Brady would hate that. He didn’t talk about his feelings, and he sure didn’t want to hear someone else ‘bitching’ about their problems. Hadn’t he said so a hundred times?

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

Her laughter died abruptly. “Nothing. Just feeling punchy from the lack of sleep.”

“Want to go home? We can save the rest for tomorrow.”

“Too sleepy to get up right now.”

She heard him walk away. Glasses clinked. Liquid flowed. He returned with refreshments. The man had to be a mind reader. She sat up quickly and accepted a glass of root beer from him. It was too bad he didn’t have an ice machine in his office.

Or a vending machine. Maybe she should talk to him about bringing a couple into their offices. If he didn’t want it in his, she wouldn’t mind having one in hers.

She rebuked the idea after it occurred to her she would be able to satisfy her cravings too easily. The pounds would pack on then. She had enough trouble keeping in shape without adding afternoon binges.

Brady tossed a bag of chips onto the sofa next to her. “Sorry I can’t offer you champagne and strawberries. We’ll have to make due with root beer and potato chips.”

It wasn’t chocolate, but it would do. She ripped the bag open, grabbed a handful, and stuffed two potato chips into her mouth. Hmm . Her eyes closed, and she enjoyed the salty goodness.

Brady sat down with the chips between them, giving them both equal access. They talked about work for a while, but her mind kept returning to something she’d heard an employee telling another employee earlier in the day.

“People think I’m naive when it comes to men,” she said.

Brady shrugged. “Well, you are a farmer’s daughter from Kansas.”

She laughed into her empty hand. “Oh, sweetie, that’s just a story I tell people. I let them think I’m a boring girl from a small town in the Midwest with perfect parents, and the nosy questions stop.”

“Seriously?” He blinked at her. “That was a story you made up?”

“Do you think the honest, hardworking Christian parents I describe to people would have a daughter like me?” She rolled her eyes and laughed again. “I had a child out of wedlock, stud.”

“What do you think is so wrong with you that you couldn’t have decent parents? I think you’re pretty cool.” He shrugged and grabbed a handful of chips. “Tell me your real story then. Who are you, Jessica Bishop?”

“You met my mother. Once.” He frowned, and she said, “Don’t you remember?

It was way back when I was sixteen and you were working for that one fashion house.

My mother was told to leave, because she kept making demands and was so plastered she could barely walk across the floor without face-planting. ”

His jaw dropped. “That was your mother? I thought she was your agent.”

“She was both, actually.” Jessica smiled as memories of those days returned with crystal clarity. Brady had been the highlight of her youth. “You were my favorite photographer. Did you know?”

A faint flush stained his cheeks.

Or maybe it was her imagination.

“Why is that?” he asked.

“You didn’t make me feel exploited or like you would try to get in my pants if we were left alone for five minutes.

Some of the others were like that.” She cringed.

“Most of the ones I worked with were like that. They tried to get me to take off clothes even if the pictures weren’t supposed to be racy, and one guy kept touching me with the excuse of posing me, just enough so I knew what he wanted.

I made sure I was never alone with him.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes; then he said something that blew her mind.

“Your mother made a pass at me.”

Her eyes grew wide in shock.

Then she groaned. “I am so sorry you had to deal with her. She believed in free love, and she slept with anyone who took her fancy. A lot of men came and went. I mean, a lot of men. I learned at a very young age to always knock before entering a room. She slept with some for financial gain and others because we needed somewhere to crash. Until I started getting regular paychecks for modeling, we were pretty much homeless.”

Brady’s hand froze with a chip halfway to his mouth. “I had no idea. Were you homeless when we met?”

“Kind of. I was starting to make a bit of money, so we’d moved into a motel. At least we weren’t living in the car anymore.”

“If I had known...”

She glared at him. “And there it is. The reason I don’t tell people the truth about my past. That look on your face. I don’t want pity or—”

“I don’t remember much about your mother. She was loud and dressed too retro for my taste. I just remember her making a pass at me and getting mad when I turned her down.”

Jessica wanted to get him off that particular track.

The last thing she wanted to hear was her mother had put the moves on the man she’d been crushing on half her life.

She most definitely didn’t want details.

“My mother hated it she wasn’t born in the 60s.

She was a self-proclaimed flower child and believed in free love and only eating things she could grow herself. ”

“Makes sense.”

Jessica made a rude noise, and some chip pieces sprayed out of her mouth. Embarrassed, she quickly covered her lips with one hand while laughing. “Sorry.”

He ignored the unladylike mishap.

“What happened to you mom?” he asked. “I haven’t seen her visit or heard you talk to her on the phone. I don’t think you’ve mentioned her since we became partners.”

“Difference of opinion.” Jessica shrugged. “Modeling was her idea. She pushed me into it when I was thirteen, and it took me years to figure out she didn’t care if I was happy as long as I was raking in the money.”

He nodded in understanding. “She was your agent, so she got a cut.”

“When I turned eighteen, I told her I wanted to go to college and have a career outside of modeling.”

“Let me guess. She didn’t want to give up her ten percent as your agent.”

“Fifty.”

He choked on a chip. “Fifty? Highway robbery. You could sue her for that money now if you wanted. I’ll let you use my law team for that, too.”

She shook her head with a fierce expression. “I have more than enough money for me and Axl both to live on for a long time. Plus, I have a steady paycheck from this place.”

“Why would you let her take half?”

Jessica made a face. “My mother pointed out she had to take care of me financially from the day I was born and said I owed her my life. It was easier to let her have the money than fight about it. But you’re right about her not wanting to give up her meal ticket.

She got so mad she kicked me out of the house and told me not to return if I was giving up modeling. ”

“Wow,” he said. “I’m sorry. Guess I’m not the only one who had crappy parents.”

“My mother hasn’t spoken to me in years.

I tried to reach out a few times, but she made it clear she’s done with me.

After Axl was born, I sent her a note, thinking she might be happy to hear she has a grandson.

She sent me a brief note back. It was your basic kiss-off.

She didn’t care about Axl and doesn’t want to hear from me again. End of story.”

Brady placed a hand on her knee. “I’m sorry your mom hurt you.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Jessica said. “She wasn’t the worst mother in the world.

When she was struggling with drugs, it put a terrible strain on our relationship, but there were some good times.

Things would get really bad for a while.

Then she would sober up and apologize and swear she’d never touch the stuff again.

Those were good days. She would be attentive, listening to my problems and offering help if I needed it.

I even called her by her first name, because she wanted to be my friend.

Not my parent. We’d treat ourselves to manicures and go shopping when our budget allowed.

Life was good… until it wasn’t. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stay sober for more than a few months. ”

His eyes narrowed. “She didn’t try to get you to take drugs, did she?”

“No. Hell no. My mother didn’t believe in pushing anything on anyone.

She always told me if I wanted to try cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, whatever, it was my choice.

I just needed to do it with her permission.

Same thing with sex. She told me when I found the man I wanted to give my virginity to, she’d make it happen. ”

Brady sprang off the couch as if he’d touched a live wire. “Are you serious? Your mom told you she would make it happen? How did that work?”