Page 24 of Boss with Benefits (Boss of Seduction #6)

Didn’t matter. As long as they were in the same state, he wouldn’t be able to stay away. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. My work isn’t as fulfilling as it once was, and I feel like I need a challenge. Maybe taking photographs around the world will do it for me.”

Deacon sat in silence for a moment with pursed lips.

To Brady, it looked like his best friend was pouting.

It wouldn’t do him any good if he was, because Brady would go if he decided to go.

Jessica was only a small factor. She needed him now, but once she didn’t need him any longer, he could leave town.

“Does Jessica know?” Deacon asked.

“I think she has enough to worry about.” Brady shrugged. “If I decide to hit the road, I’ll give her plenty of notice. I’ll either sell her my part of the agency or we’ll sell the whole thing to someone else.”

Deacon whistled between his teeth. “This is huge, man. Maybe you don’t realize it yet, but women don’t like it when you make decisions for them.”

Brady fumbled with his words. “I’m not... I didn’t... you’re right. She is going to be pissed at me.” He raked a hand through his hair and started pacing. “But I can’t let that matter. I can’t build my world around her.”

“Why not?” Deacon rolled his eyes. “You are obviously crazy about this woman. Maybe you haven’t realized it yet, but you love her.”

“Do not.”

“Yes, you do.”

Brady sighed. “Doesn’t matter. She’ll be better off without me in her life.”

“Don’t you think she should be the one to make that decision?”

The question stayed with Brady. It replayed itself on a loop for the rest of the day. His inner voice screamed Yes!, but he knew deep down he needed to make the decision for her. She didn’t understand how damaged he was below the surface where no one could see.

∞∞∞

Brady was avoiding her.

Or maybe she thought he was avoiding her, because she was avoiding him.

All day long she wished for a time machine so she could go back to yesterday evening and start over.

She wouldn’t guzzle the champagne if she could do it again.

Maybe she would take a few sips and stop there.

Then everything would have been okay. She wouldn’t have caused a scene, and she most certainly wouldn’t have blurted out those three little words Brady didn’t want to hear.

I love you.

Sitting at her desk, she groaned and buried her face in her hands. Coupling those words with the fact she had attacked Greta for touching her man, and she was surprised Brady hadn’t filed for a divorce first thing that morning. How could she possibly convince him she didn’t mean it?

That was a lie, of course. She decided to admit it to herself even if she couldn’t be honest with him.

When had it happened? When had she fallen in love with Brady?

Hard to say. It wasn’t a sudden feeling that hit her like a brick wall.

No. Her love for Brady had grown like a beautiful flower in the sunshine after being watered and cared for over a length of time.

The impulse to run hit her hard. She needed time away from the office and some fresh air. Grabbing her purse, she headed for the elevator. Katherine asked where she was going and what she should tell Brady. Jessica walked faster. She pretended she didn’t hear their secretary.

Unfortunately, the little lights above the elevator told her it was currently in the lobby. That meant a long wait. She pressed the button repeatedly, knowing it wouldn’t make the elevator move faster, and a frustrated groan slid past her lips.

“Are you okay?” Mona asked from her place behind the reception counter.

Jessica turned with a fake smile pasted on her face. “Fine. Everything is fine.”

Mona swallowed hard, and she dropped her gaze to her manicured hands. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I just…”

“What?” Jessica took a step toward the counter. “You just what?”

“After what Brady did for me, I’m always looking for a way to repay him. For a moment, I thought maybe I could help you, his wife, and that would be a good way to help him.”

“What did Brady do for you?”

Mona shook her head. “If he didn’t tell you, I probably shouldn’t say—”

“You should. You really should tell me.” Jessica widened her smile. “I am his wife, after all, and anything that affects him is my business.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jessica bristled at the last word and wanting to remind Mona she wasn’t that much older than her. But that was a conversation for another time. She couldn’t risk distracting the receptionist when she was about to give her important information. “What did Brady do for you?” Jessica asked again.

“He saved my life.”

“How?”

Mona twisted her long, delicate fingers.

“Years ago, I was in a bad relationship. My live-in boyfriend called me while I was modeling for Brady. I knew it was unprofessional to answer the call, but Archie would have been so angry if I’d ignored him.

So I took it. When I was done with the call, I was shaking and trying hard not to cry. ”

“And Brady asked you why?”

“He guessed. Somehow, he knew my boyfriend was controlling and mean, and he offered to help me get away from him.” Mona’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I gave him a long list of reasons why I couldn’t leave Archie.

Mainly, I was afraid to try, but Brady wouldn’t let up.

He told me about his mother and that he didn’t want me to end up like her. ”

Jessica’s heart dropped to her stomach. “Brady helped you get away from Archie? How did that work?”

Mona’s demeanor brightened at the memory. “First, he took an ex-marine to my house and packed my belongings. They warned Archie to forget about me or else. Then Brady arranged a new identity for me in another state. All I had to do was show up. I had a new home, a new job, and a new car.”

“If Brady sent you to another state to start over, why are you here?”

“Archie is in prison.” Mona’s lower lip quivered. “He moved down to California after I left and met a girl. She wasn’t as lucky as me and didn’t have someone like Brady looking out for her.”

Jessica’s heart lodged in her throat. “Did he… kill the girl?”

Mona nodded. “Brady called to tell me when he found out Archie was headed for prison. We talked for a while, and I mentioned how much I missed Seattle, so he offered me a job.”

Jessica marveled at her husband. “I had no idea. Wow. I’m so glad Brady was there for you and able to save you from a bad relationship.”

“I wasn’t the only one,” Mona said. “When I was still trying to make up my mind if I should trust him, he put him on the phone with another woman he saved.”

“He saved someone else from an abuser?”

“He’s like Batman. You are so lucky to have him love you.”

Jessica forced another smile. Yeah, lucky her. If Mona knew the truth that he didn’t actually love her, the receptionist would be feeling sorry for her instead of being envious of her. Behind her, the elevator dinged, signaling its arrival, but she didn’t need it any longer.

“Thank you for telling me,” Jessica said. “We’ll just keep this between us. I won’t tell Brady you told me and embarrass him. He likes to do his good deeds in secret.”

Mona agreed with a nod of her head and a relieved smile. “I owe him my life. Hopefully, someday I can repay him.”

The problem was, Brady didn’t like people to feel they owed him anything. She knew from first-hand experience. “The best thing you can do for Brady is have a good life. That’s the only repayment he wants.”

She was about to leave when something caught her eye: a framed picture of Mona with a familiar man.

Jessica gasped, recognizing the man at once.

No wonder she had thought she’d seen Judge Wilson before.

He was staring at her every day as she crossed to the frosted glass doors leading to their offices. “He’s your father,” she said.

“Excuse me?” Mona’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t catch that.”

“Judge Wilson is your father.”

Mona turned to glance at the photo before nodding at Jessica. Her shoulders raised in a slight shrug. “Yeah. Do you know him?”

“We’ve met.” Now she knew why the judge was willing to risk his career for Brady. It was because Brady had saved the judge’s daughter from an abusive boyfriend. She smiled. “Have a good day, Mona.”

The receptionist returned the smile. “You too.”

She returned to her office and worked quietly on her own for the rest of the day. Mona’s words replayed in her mind several times. What had happened to Brady’s mother? She considered asking him, but she didn’t want to pry.

She was sure she was the last person he wanted to see after her I-love-you admission last night, so it was a total surprise when he stuck his head in at the end of the day. He peeked around her door and said, “I want to photograph you. Meet me in the studio in ten minutes.”

Her jaw dropped. “Huh? What? You want to take my picture?”

“I told you at the zoo. Remember? I’ll see you in ten.”

Then he was gone, giving her time to gather her thoughts. Was it a good sign he wanted to take her picture?

She stepped out of her office, walking on rubbery legs, and found the place empty. Everyone had gone home. Was there a reason he had waited for their employees to leave before making the offer?

Reluctantly, she went to Brady’s studio located in a separate area behind the offices. He was already set up. Bouncing with energy, she could tell he was in the zone. He tossed an outfit at her and told her to put it on.

Without protest, she went behind the provided screen and changed. The chosen dress was gossamer silk, see-through, and hung loose as if she were wrapped in a bed sheet. Barely. The material covered one arm and shoulder while leaving the other naked. It felt incredible against her skin.

When she walked across the room, both of her legs were revealed through long slits. She felt suddenly shy in his presence. Although he had seen her nude on several occasions, she felt extra vulnerable.