Page 24

Leonard

R oxanne and I are in my office, seated on my couch, tracking down every bit of code to understand what they installed into the software we use.

After a couple of weeks, we are practically sure that they used the payroll software to breach our systems and gain access to my other companies.

Now, we just have to figure out how they did it and what information they are stealing.

Roxanne bends over her computer to grab a piece of sushi and pops it into her mouth, bringing her focus back to her monitor.

She is wearing a pair of shorts and a loose tank top; her glittery pink pair of Converse are tossed on the carpet, and her feet are tucked underneath her on the couch.

I get a peek of her lacey black bra from the wide sleeve hole and my dick, which has been at half-mast since she walked into this office this morning, is hurting.

I make a massive effort to bring my gaze back to my computer and focus on my task instead of her long, smooth, tanned legs. I’ve dreamed way too many times of those limbs wrapped around my waist while I fuck her against the wall.

A knock on the door distracts me from my inappropriate thoughts. I look up and see Jack’s smiling face.

“Mr. Leonard. Still working?” he asks and I motion for him to come inside and sit in the armchair in front of the low coffee table.

He sits down, bending his knees with some difficulty, and I make a mental note to ask him about his health. When we are alone, we can talk freely without him feeling embarrassed about sharing his personal life with a stranger.

“Should I drive the Miss home? You keep her here so late, working on that infernal machine.” He waves at the computers.

It’s always funny how he scolds me. He acts more like a father than my night security guy.

But it’s somehow comforting, his concern about my life.

I’m used to having people bowing down before me, agreeing to everything I say.

It’s refreshing when someone calls me on my bullshit.

“I am feeding her…if that helps my cause.” I chuckle, and Roxanne does too.

“I promise he is treating me well,” she interjects.

Jack doesn’t seem convinced and studies her intently, his dark eyes like laser beams taking in her every expression as he scrutinizes her for long moment.

“But you’re still here this late,” he points out.

“I’m used to working this late. Even if I’m not doing it for him,” she says, and the frown on Jack’s face deepens.

He turns his scowling gaze on me, and I suddenly feel like a kid being scolded. Very few people can make me shrink in my chair like this.

“When I suggested you find a woman, I meant someone who drags you out of the office, not someone who keeps you in it,” he points out, and I bark out a laugh.

I think Roxanne wants to point out that she is not my woman, but when she opens her mouth, she closes it without a word. She is intimidated by Jack. This is the first time I’ve seen her show respect for someone. It’s amusing.

I don’t correct him either, and I don’t know why. Maybe because, during this time, I’ve come to know Roxanne enough not to consider her a kid anymore. She’s smart, challenges me, and is sexy as hell. Everything I want in a woman.

“How is your family?” I ask, changing the subject.

Jack has been with me long enough to know not to press a subject if I don’t respond. But the question is so close to his heart that he completely forgets what we were discussing.

“I completely forgot to tell you. My youngest was awarded a last-minute scholarship. She is going to college for free like my other kiddos. She is thrilled about it, and I am too. Now she can focus on studying and not worrying about paying off her debts,” he says proudly and I’m happy for him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Roxanne studying me with a curious look.

“I’m happy for her. She’s a good kid; I’m sure she’ll take advantage of the scholarship and make you proud. Has she already decided what to study?” I’m genuinely pleased for them. They are a great family, and they deserve a chance to do great things.

“She wants to become a lawyer.” He beams, and I can see his eyes watering. He’s a good father.

“I’m sure she’ll be a great one.”

“Considering how much she argues her case to avoid being grounded, she’s had a lot of practice,” he chuckles, and we laugh with him.

“Well, I’d better be going. You don’t pay me to stay here and chat.” He stands up slowly. I’m a bit worried about his health, considering how slowly he moves.

“Good night, Jack.”

“Good night, Mr. Leonard. Goodnight, Miss.”

“Goodnight,” Roxanne replies.

He walks out the door, closing it behind himself. Roxanne turns toward me with a smile.

“What?”

“There isn’t a ‘last-minute scholarship’, is there?” she asks.

A small smile crosses my face as I shake my head. I should have known she’d be smart enough to see through this.

“You paid for her scholarship.” She says out loud what she clearly already figured out.

“It’s difficult to get a scholarship, especially to Ivy League colleges, so I just made it happen,” I confess.

She shakes her head and looks at me like I’m some sort of hero. And I don’t deserve it. I did nothing special.

“Why don’t you tell everyone what you do? Why hide it?”

I shrug. “Jack wouldn’t have accepted the money.”

She shakes her head. “Not just this, everything you do. The debt you paid for the bakery, the homeless meals. Nobody knows about it.”

“So what? It’s nothing special. I have loads of money; it’s the bare minimum I can do to give back.”

“Because people think you are a heartless asshole, but you’re not,” she says softly, and my heart clenches in my chest. She makes me feel seen and vulnerable, and it’s scary as hell.

“I don’t give a crap about what people think, and you’re the one that says I’m an asshole.” I raise an eyebrow in challenge.

She scoffs. “Yes, because you made me feel like an idiot.”

“When? I came to you begging for your help!”

The outraged look on her face tells me that’s the wrong thing to say. She is almost scary. Almost.

“At my sister’s wedding. I kissed you, and you rejected me. It was humiliating!” she burst out.

Oh, that . “You were a kid! What should I have done? Let you go even further?”

She rolls her eyes. “I was twenty-one, far from being a kid, and you had a hard-on in your pants. I could feel it!”

Yes, I clearly remember how I was feeling that day. I completely lost my mind as soon as I saw her in that dress that left her back naked. I would have licked every single inch of that glorious skin.

“Because you were sexy as hell, and you talked to me about all your projects. I get hard when you talk nerdy to me,” I confess.

Her expression is priceless. She’s so surprised her mouth is hanging open. I could almost laugh if I didn’t realize what I just admitted out loud to her.

“Really?”

It’s useless to backtrack now. “Really. I’m a sucker for smart women. And that dress was killer.”

She smirks. “It was fabulous, wasn’t it?”

I would have ripped it off with my teeth, but I can’t say that to her. I’ve already babbled enough for tonight. I just nod.

“Then why did you reject me? I’m right, you’re an asshole!” she remarks.

“You were young, and you are Raphael’s sister-in-law,” I explain, almost exasperated.

“So what? I was more than legal, consenting, and Raphael has no right to say anything about how I live my life!” she fights back.

She’s right. Everything about what she just laid out is the truth, and I can’t find a single reason to counter her reasoning. Damn, I was the asshole.

“Fuck it,” I whisper right before grabbing a fistful of hair at the base of her neck and crashing my lips on hers. The couch creaks under my sudden move.

I catch her by surprise. She goes still in my arms for a long moment, almost making me wonder if she’s changed her mind since that day. Fuck, what if she doesn’t want it anymore? But then her hands shoot behind my neck, and she presses her body against mine.

A small whimper leaves her lips and when she parts them to take a breath, I take the chance to deepen the kiss. It’s like a fire ignites in my veins. She is so perfectly soft between my arms that I can’t resist running my hand down her spine as she climbs on my lap.

She straddles me, and I growl in response. I’m not usually one to give in to primitive instincts, but she draws the caveman out of me and I want to brand her as mine. She is so sexy, and sweet, and clever. I can’t resist.

I drag my hand lower down her back to reach the soft curves of her ass. I squeeze and press her against my erection. She moans.

I end the kiss to look her in the eyes. Lust and desire are swimming in that bright gaze, signaling that she is into me—even if the eager kiss didn’t give her away—a lot. I’m surprised about how much I like this realization.

She lowers herself against my chest and drags her lips against the skin of my neck. She slowly moves from the collar of my shirt to my ear and slightly bites my lobe. I let out a slow breath and tighten my grip on her hair as her breath catches in her throat.

“Was it so bad kissing me?” she whispers softly, tickling my skin with her breath.

I almost scoff. “This wasn’t something we could do at the wedding reception. Not if we didn’t want to be shot by Raphael’s bodyguards.” I let out a low chuckle.

“There were plenty of rooms to hide in,” she points out, but I can’t answer because her mouth is peppering my neck with soft, languid kisses. Her tongue darts out from time to time and tastes me. I shoot back my head and enjoy every single second of this moment.

She is so perfect. I have no idea how I found the strength to push her away all those years ago. Because right now, I want to sink deep into her and make her mine.

I crush my lips on her again, lashing my tongue against her in a battle neither of us wants to lose. She challenges me in more ways than I expected, and I’m here for this. I love the way she matches the fierce woman she is in everyday life.

She moves her hands on my loosened tie, unfastens it, and snaps open the shirt button.

“I can’t,” I murmur against her lips.

She stops abruptly and detaches from my chest just enough to look at me with a frown. “What?” She is as puzzled as I am.

What did I think would happen after I kissed her like this? That we would stop and go back to work? I didn’t take a moment to think; that’s the problem. I just gave in to my desire and fucked up big time.

“I can’t have sex with you,” I blurt out.

“Why?” She is baffled.

Good question. I can’t find a good enough reason, just excuses that don’t add up. She is way younger than me, Silver’s little sister. I know there is a good reason somewhere I should give her, but my brain is frozen between lust and the urge to stop this.

She takes my silence as an answer. She stands up, grabbing her things. “Unbelievable,” she scoffs.

“Roxanne,” I try to stop her, but she slaps my hand.

“I don’t know what is wrong with you, but I won’t stay and be rejected again.” She storms out of my office barefoot.

I stand up and watch her disappear around the corner, but I don’t follow her. I know I just fucked up, and this time, there is not enough groveling I can do to make it better.