Page 9

NINE

Kinsley

I cannot believe I passed out in front of my new bosses. It hasn’t happened in years, but of course, it would happen on my first day up here.

This is so freaking embarrassing. I don’t know what came over me. The guys came out of their offices, and it’s like the weight of this week crashed down right on top of me, and the next thing I knew, I was leaning against someone's chest.

So, not only did I pass out in front of my new bosses, but on one of them. And now he’s pissed.

It was completely unprofessional, I get it, but it’s not like I planned it. I didn’t get up and think, you know, this would be a good day to pass out in front of three of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen. Bonus if they own the firm I work for. They probably think I’m a complete flake. Totally inept at my job. I bet Maverick has already told HR they’ll need to find a replacement.

It’s only Tuesday, and this week has already been the worst.

But I don’t have time to lament on the shit show that is my life, not when this particular Ellis is stomping off toward the other side of the building and leaving me in the dust. I snatch my laptop, legal pad, and a pen from my desk and take off after him, only slightly disappointed I’m not going to meet an Olympic athlete. I’m not sure I know who Mrs. Wright is, but if she’s being personally represented by one of the owners, she’s a VIP client.

I manage to catch up with Ellis number two around the reception desk, earning me another glare from their receptionist. I doubt he’ll be sharing any of the office gossip with me or helping me with, well, anything.

Just as well; he’s probably a jerk too.

Ellis glances down at me, his green eyes cold—a green that’s a shade lighter than his brother’s. I really shouldn’t be surprised at his prickly behavior since the gals downstairs directly compared him to a soul-sucking Dementor. I’m lucky he didn’t step aside and let me fall to the floor when I passed out earlier.

“You sure you’re okay? You don’t need to see a doctor?” His words are ground out, no doubt painful to act like he cares about another human being.

I give him a wide smile and lie through my teeth. “Yep. Good as new.” And when his eyes narrow on me, I quickly add, “I skipped breakfast this morning, something I won’t be repeating, but I appreciate your concern.”

His answering scoff has the smile falling right off my face, and I replace it with a scowl that rivals his. What I’d love to do is point out that his clear lack of compassion is likely one of the main reasons everyone is afraid of him, but I bite my tongue. He’s probably one of those guys who gets a hard-on when people are afraid of him, and I have no desire to fuel that fire.

Not that I’m thinking about his dick, hard or not. Nope, not going to do it. Even if, judging by his stature and hands, it’s impressive in both length and girth.

Dammit.

“What is Mrs. Wright here for today? Mediation? Division of assets? Or is this an initial consultation?” There. I’ve shifted the focus back to work. I’d promise myself a cookie, but I think we all know what happened last time I raided the cookie bin at lunch.

He stops just outside the conference room, his hand poised on the door handle, and gives me a pointed look. “We will be working on asset division, and while I suspect Mrs. Wright will want everything regardless of what she’s entitled to, you never know. She tends to draw out these meetings, no doubt trying to entice me to be her next husband. Which is where you come in. You’re here as a buffer. Her behavior tends to improve when there’s someone else in attendance, and I have way too much to do today. I can’t get stuck in there for hours.”

My brows draw together, and I shift my stuff from one arm to the other. “So you don’t need me to actually do anything?”

“No.”

“Wouldn’t my time be better spent helping one of the others or learning what my job actually entails?”

“No.”

Well, isn’t he a little ray of sunshine? If he wants to pay me to sit next to him and pretend to work on my computer, I guess that’s what I’ll do. I have Solitaire. There could be worse ways to spend my day, so I gesture to the door and nod. “After you.”

His lip twitches, and I’m not sure if he wants to smile or deepen his frown. Probably the latter. Especially when he gives me a look that clearly says he’s not amused right before he opens the door and his entire body stiffens.

“Wyatt Ellis. I almost thought you were going to stand me up this morning. If you weren’t so damn delicious, I’d be offended.”

Wyatt. Thank you, Mrs. Wright, for that confirmation. And for the damn delicious comment. I’ll be laughing about that later, when I’m completely out of earshot from Wyatt . I can’t believe none of these assholes bothered to introduce themselves. Between their general jerkiness and pompous attitudes, it’s no wonder no one wants to work with them.

“Sorry, Mrs. Wright, we had a new employee start with us this morning, and I had to get her up to speed.” Wyatt sounds so sincere I have to physically restrain my eyes to keep them from rolling out of my head.

He and his brother are so magnanimous. They certainly caught me up to speed, demanding client research without so much as asking my name. Real good training program they have up here. Maybe in a few weeks I’ll actually know what I’m supposed to be doing every day.

“That’s okay; I don’t mind waiting for you.” She is over-the-top flirtatious, and while I can’t see her yet, I have no doubt she’s making sexy eyes at my new boss.

How much trouble do you think I’ll get in if I turn around and high tail it back to my office? If this entire meeting is going to be this nauseating, I might pass out on purpose. Maybe they'll take pity on me and send me home.

Likely, with a newly printed pink slip.

But no such luck.

Wyatt holds the door for me, watching every little move I make as I hold my head up, waltz into the conference room like I’ve been here a thousand times before, and take my seat across the table from Mrs. Wright. And judging by her pursed lips and the disdain written across her face, she’s not happy to see me.

She straightens, her narrowed gaze leaving me moments after I open my laptop. “Wyatt, who is your new friend ?”

With a quick glance at Wyatt, I roll my lips inward, suppressing the grin threatening to spread across my face. I could be nice, I could introduce myself so he learns my name, but I won’t. He wanted to keep me guessing, and karma can be a real bitch.

“This is my new legal secretary. I thought sitting in on a meeting with our most important client would be a great experience for her.” Wyatt answers smoothly, putting a banana and a bottle of water in front of me.

It throws me off my game, and I’m not sure why. It shouldn’t. It’s a dang piece of fruit and a water he snagged from the counter behind us. It’s not like he cured cancer or figured out the secret to world peace…but I’ve never had anyone take care of me before. Even a small gesture like this. Not my parents and certainly not Brian.

Maybe it’s a peace offering. Or maybe this is all an act for little Mrs. Hot Pants sitting across from us.

That’s probably it.

So instead of eating, I slide the offending items on the other side of me when his hand grabs mine. An electric shock jolts through me, and my breath catches in my throat. He’s touching me . My hot as hell, grumpy boss is holding my hand. Sorta.

His grip is firm, his eyes unyielding and as he stares me down, my heart races and my mouth goes dry.

“Eat.”

The feminist in me is reeling, but my inner book girlie is squealing with delight. She loves his undivided focus, his demanding tone, and more than anything— she’s desperate for more of his touch. Her. Me. It’s all the same.

He had his hands all over me earlier, yet this seems more intimate, and I can’t help but want more despite the fact that he’s my boss, that he’s likely a decade older than me, that he’s way too experienced and refined for a girl like me. With this simple touch, it’s easy to forget that I was dumped yesterday, humiliated in front of the entire coffee shop, that we’re not currently alone.

I blame all those romance novels I’ve been reading. They have all my wires crossed, and I want nothing more than to hear my boss murmur good girl after I take a bite.

Which is why I should absolutely toss this banana in the trash, but I don’t. Against all my better judgment, I slide my hand from under his and peel it, taking a small bite.

His hum of approval zings all the way through me, covering my entire body in goosebumps. It’s not exactly a praise, but it’s close, and I have this horrible urge to be on my best behavior; anything to hear that sound again. Heat crawls up my neck, and my nipples take this very inopportune moment to harden into little points. His lips twitch, those green eyes of his darting down quickly, and there’s no way he didn’t notice through this blouse.

Wyatt finally turns away from me, and I can breathe again. He opens the laptop his receptionist must have left for him and punches in the password. “Alright, Mrs. Wright, are you ready to go through your assets?”

Mrs. Wright does not look ready to go through her assets, nor am I sure she’s capable of simple communication. Her mouth hangs open as she stares across the table, her gaze flitting between us. It’s clear she has no idea what’s happening. Hell, that makes two of us.

It’s a damn good thing I don’t have to actually take notes or pay attention, especially when Wyatt leans back, his thigh settling against mine.

I’m pretty sure my entire body short circuits that exact second.

My hand still tingles, and I swear I can still feel the ghost of his skin touching mine.

I take a sip of water and really try to focus on my screen, but the words may as well be hieroglyphics. The only thing I’m aware of is his thigh, his huge, muscular thigh pressing against mine. And even though I know I should move for so many reasons, I don’t dare. I can’t.

This man is my boss, the owner of the law firm, and right now I want to climb him like a tree.