Page 119 of One Bad Idea

Tonight, I vowed, I'd change that for good. I'd simply give in to the temptation so I could get over it already.

Oh, I wasn't planning to sleep with him, not in real life or anything. But a nice little quickie on my own might be just the ticket to a saner future. I'd simplyimaginebeing with him, have an orgasm or two, and then move on.

It would be like rebooting the computer or flicking the power strip off and on.

A reset.

It was the perfect solution.

I went to bed smug with my decision and woke hours later feeling embarrassed at what I'd done in the privacy of my own bed. I wasn't against pleasuring myself or anything, but doing it while imagining my boss – a guy who I didn't even like half the time – made me feel just a little bit awkward in the light of day.

Unfortunately, that didn't stop me from repeating the process the very next night, which happened to be a Sunday, just hours before I'd be seeing him again.

I spent most of those hours – including the one just before sunrise – pleasuring myself to the thought of doing himinhis office, specifically on his desk.

So much for getting him out of my system.

When it came time for me to get ready for work, I crawled out of bed with a silent vow to end this once and for all.

Today would be a fresh start.No more thoughts. No more temptation. Just pure professionalism.

All of that changed when I walked into my office and saw what he'd left me sometime over the weekend. It was a pair of novelty socks designed to look like fancy cowboy boots. They were silly and adorable all at the same time. And I knew exactly why he'd picked them.

It was because of the country music thing.

Still, it was a bit strange. It wasn't his turn to leave something. Rather, it was mine, which is why I'd left that stupid broccoli. The change in schedule was a little unsettling, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why.

Was it because I still didn't know how I felt?

Or because I knew how I felt, and just didn't want to admit it?

In search of clues, I glanced toward his office. The door was open, but the area beyond was dark and silent. Of course, from previous experience, I realized this was no guarantee that he wasn't in.

Unable to stop myself, I pushed away from my desk and crossed the spacious hall that separated our offices. I stopped at his doorway and poked my head inside.

He wasn't there.

And neither was the broccoli.

A voice behind me made me jump. It was Jax, saying, "He's out of town."

I whirled to face him. "Oh?" I frowned in confusion. I hadn't seen anything on his calendar. "Is he away on business?"

Jax nodded. "Something came up in New York."

My stomach lurched.New York?

Where Victoria lived?

For some stupid reason, thatwasn'twhat I wanted to hear. Trying to be nonchalant, I said, "So...Is it something with the ad agency?"

I wasn't being nosy. I was his assistant.

I should know these things, right?

After a long moment, Jax replied, "No. It's something else."

He didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask. Instead, I listened as he told me that Jaden would be out all week and that I should reschedule any appointments.