by Ava Storm
I wanted to tell him that wasn’t likely, but Will was already saying cheerfully, “We will!” And beckoning me out the door.
I was surprised to find myself waiting for the elevator with him alone. “Shouldn’t we wait for Priya or Jerry?” I asked, craning to see if they were coming. If anyone was coming.
“Oh, they’re probably already down there,” Will said easily.
But when we got down there, he steered us away from the cluster of tables our floor had pulled together. Priya waved us over, but he waved her off. “It’s too crowded over there,” he explained. “And we’ll end up talking about the Cubs.”
“I like baseball,” I said, but it was too late. He’d spotted a couple just starting to gather their trash at a table for two beside the fountain. He made a beeline for them and nearly tipped the woman out of her chair. My stomach tightened as he held it out for me with a charmless smile. I looked longingly at the larger group. What the hell did he even think we had to talk about? This was going to be so awkward.
Luckily, Will didn’t seem to have the ability to feel awkward. He kept up a steady stream of small talk, occasionally leaning in and saying something conspiratorially and then grinning like we had an inside joke. I always smiled back, even as my mind rewound the conversation, looking for what it might have been.
“Ford and those guys got lucky,” he said, plowing through his second taco. I was suddenly grateful for the splashing water that covered our conversation.
“I’m sure they did,” I said diplomatically. “But they also had a genius idea and the brainpower to pull it off.”
“The money you mean,” Will snorted. “Jameson’s dad is a billionaire. They didn’t exactly have to worry about things like rent and groceries, you know? Makes it easier.”
I took a bite of my taco to avoid responding. I was going to have to find a way to get out of doing this ever again. Being around Will gave me a crawling sensation that wasn’t compatible with enjoying my lunch. Again, my eyes strayed to the group. Priya kept looking back, her mouth pursed like she was annoyed. You can have him, I wanted to tell her.
“Ford seems to work hard,” I offered, and then dove into another bite of taco.
Will gave me an oh come on look. “What else does he have to do? His only friends are his brother and business partners. His fiancé left him. He doesn’t even have a dog.”
I swallowed so quickly I nearly choked on my food. “Georgia left him?” Instantly, I regretted asking. I sounded too interested. And why had I said her name?
Will’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Yeah a long time ago. Why?”
“I just--didn’t know.” I tried to sound casual, like it didn’t matter one way or another. Which it didn’t, I reminded myself. Unless--had Georgia called it off when she found out that Ford had had a one night stand in the penthouse of the Cherington? Had I become Wendy the Waitress after all? No, I reassured myself. Of course not. Ford had probably cheated on Georgia a dozen times. It had nothing to do with me. I took a big sip of my water.
“I was almost engaged once,” Will said confidentially, returning to his favorite subject of himself. “College girlfriend. She was really putting the pressure on, but I just felt like she wasn’t the right one. You know?” He gave me a meaningful look.
Lucky girl, I thought, and finished my lunch as quickly as I could.
As miserable as I’d found lunch, Will seemed to have enjoyed it. He kept inviting me to things, never deterred by the seemingly endless list of things I had to do outside the office.
“Come out with us, Paige,” he said on Thursday evening with what I recognized as his idea of a winsome smile. “Drinks and karaoke.”
“Wish I could,” I said, trying to sound like that was true. “I’m meeting a friend though.”
“So popular,” Priya said with an eyeroll.
“Last chance,” Will said, pulling on his jacket and looking down at me. “You could bring your friend.”
“Next time,” I said. “Have fun.”
I held my breath until he and the others piled onto an elevator and the doors slid shut. Finally. I hadn’t realized how tense my shoulders had become until he was gone, and they relaxed. Now I looked around and realized that everyone else was, too. I looked at my watch. Five-forty-five. I still had a few minutes before I had to go get Madelyn.
I tipped my head back and closed my eyes, blowing out a long, aggravated breath. Will was helpful enough, but between his negativity about the company and the constant, subtle pressure of his attention, sharing a pod with him was exhausting.
“Long day?” A voice asked.
I shrieked and straightened up so quickly I nearly capsized my chair. Black dots swam in my vision. I blinked them away and saw that Ford was standing behind me, his jacket over his arm.
“No, of course not,” I said instantly switching modes. “Is there anything else I can do for you before you go, Mr. Cavanaugh?”
He looked amused. “No, Miss Stafford. I’m leaving.” He looked at my blank computer screen. “Like you, it seems.”
“Yes, I—I have plans with a friend.” The lie I’d repeated more than once that day rolled easily off my tongue.
“Anyone I know?”
It was the first time he’d referenced that night in the bar even obliquely since that first day in the kitchenette. “No,” I said after a moment. “Someone from back home.”
That was true enough. Madelyn was from home. He didn’t need to know that our plans involved microwaved ravioli and Paw Patrol. I smiled a little, and then realized he was watching my face closely. Instantly, I wiped away all thoughts of my daughter, as though he could see right into my head if I wasn’t careful.
One corner of his mouth tugged down, his amusement sour now. “Someone you have a history with?”
My eyes widened. Was he asking me what I thought he was asking me? If so, that definitely breached the professional distance he’d insisted on. Mr. Nelson had never once asked if I was sleeping with someone else.
He seemed to realize it himself because he cleared his throat. “I withdraw the question,” he said. “Good night, Miss Stafford.”
I blew out my breath. We had to learn how to be alone together without it devolving into this. And we had to learn soon. “I’ll ride down with you,” I said, getting to my feet and grabbing my purse. “It’ll give me a chance to ask you some questions about Nashville.”
“You’re off the clock,” he said as we walked to the elevators.
“Melanie was off the clock,” I corrected. “That means I’m on the clock around the clock until Nashville is done, or this conference is going to be a disaster.”
Ford had a frown on his face, like I was giving him a headache, but I was determined not to let a moment of silence fall between us. If it did, I might start thinking about the last time we were on an elevator alone together. The way he’d rounded on me, pulled me up to him, and crushed his mouth down on mine.
Stop thinking about it, Paige, I ordered myself. Though my thoughts had taken a deviant turn, my mouth had continued prattling on about the company policy on airfare and car rentals. Ford looked more and more sour, but it worked. We got off on the first floor without another moment of inappropriate heat between us.
“So,” I wound up, not entirely sure what I’d even said. “What do you think?”
“I think I spent that entire elevator ride thinking about the last time I was in an elevator with you,” he said bluntly. “So basically, I didn’t hear a fucking word. Talk to me about it tomorrow.”
My lips parted in shock. So much for avoiding the inappropriate heat.
“Sorry,” he said, not sounding apologetic at all. “I thought I was better at keeping professional distance, but you’re messing with my head, Paige.”
“I’m not doing anything,” I protested. “I’m being the consummate professional.”
“I know, and it’s irritating the shit out of me.” He half smiled. “Sorry again. Listen, it’s been a lon
g day. I need to go have a drink and stop thinking about work. And you.”
I was silent, trying to stop my heart from leaping even as my brain tried to smack it down. This is a huge mistake, Paige. You’re going to ruin everything.
“Unless you want me to keep thinking about you,” he said quietly, watching me. “I’m on my way to the Cherington, so it might be inevitable.”
There was a note of invitation in his voice, and I wanted so badly to accept it. To delay the inevitable moment when I’d have to tell him I couldn’t, I said, “Are you meeting Griffin and Jameson?”
He nodded. “And my brother, Kai. The four of us came up with Blip in a bar, so once a week we meet at one to kick around new ideas.”
“I knew you weren’t a friendless, dogless workaholic,” I joked lightly. As soon as I heard the words come out of my mouth, I slapped a hand over my lips as though I could push them back in. So much for being the perfect executive assistant.
But strangely, an amused light came into his eyes. “That sounds like a direct quote.”
“It was,” I admit. “But please don’t ask for my source.”
“I’m sure it was your pal, Will Davis,” Ford said. He didn’t sound like he cared one way or another, but he watched me with an inscrutable expression when he said Will’s name.
I made my face perfectly blank. Will’s attitude might get him fired one day, but I wasn’t going to have a hand in it. “No,” I said. “It wasn’t Will.”
Ford studied my face so intently I felt a blush start to burn in my cheeks. “You’re not a very good liar, Miss Stafford. Why don’t you let me buy you a drink while you tell me the truth?”
If you only knew what a good liar I am. The thought sobered me and reminded me that I had—I checked my watch—three minutes to pick up Madelyn before I got charged the afterhours fee. “I can’t,” I said reluctantly. “But if things were different--”
He nodded. “If I weren’t your boss. I know. You’re right.”
I had been thinking of Madelyn, but that was a very good reason too.
“Good night, Mr. Cavanaugh,” I said, taking a step back from him. Professional distance, he’d said. But somehow when he murmured, “Good night, Miss Stafford,” it turned my knees to water.
It was going to be very hard to stay away from him.
16
Ford
I’d lied when I told Paige I was only meeting my business partners. Just yesterday, to Griffin’s delight, I’d asked him to bring someone for me.
“Define someone,” he’d said, rubbing his palms together in fiendish delight. “Like a sure thing, or do you want to have to earn it?”
“I don’t want a fucking prostitute, Griff. Bring me someone who can carry on a conversation.”
If Paige had agreed to come though, I’d have called Griffin and told him to get rid of her. I’d have paid her to leave. Now I could only hope that by some miracle this mystery girl was able to get my mind off of my executive assistant until I decided what I was going to do about her.
When I walked into the Cherington and saw her, I thought, okay, maybe. She was the opposite of Paige in almost every way. Flashily pretty, expensive gold watch on her slim wrist, dressed like she’d just come off a runway. She also had an easy, charming way of carrying on a conversation without really saying anything. I tried to work up more than a passing interest, but even though she made it very clear she was up for anything that evening, I couldn’t do it.
“This wasn’t the deal,” Griffin said flatly when the women had gone to the bathroom. “You asked me to bring you a girl. I brought you a girl. Now you’re trying to bail? What am I supposed to do with both of them?”
“The same thing, only twice,” I said, signaling for the check.
“More like nothing, because they’re going to go home together.”
I didn’t even feel remotely guilty. If Griffin couldn’t turn lemons into a threesome, that was his problem. I had enough of my own to deal with. Like the fact that I couldn’t deny it any longer. Paige was stuck in my head. The mere thought of her was cock blocking me. I didn’t know what I’d have to do--fire her, promote her, or find her another position--but I’d do whatever it took to get her back in my bed.
Except…
Something had happened back in the lobby tonight, and I had to know what the hell it was before anything happened with Paige. I’d mentioned Will Davis, and her face had changed. I had the strange feeling she was hiding something from me—protecting something. Or someone. Could she really be interested in that asshole?
Hot and unfamiliar jealousy burned through me as I headed home. Had they been eating lunch together all week? Was she with him right now? I’m meeting someone, she’d said. It had bothered me, even pissed me off, but I hadn’t even thought about Will. Why wouldn’t she have left with him if they were planning to meet up?
My brain tugged at the problem the whole ride home in the backseat of the black town car, but I couldn’t resolve anything. Not until I had more information. When I got home, I tried to distract myself with work. It had never failed before. Blip was more than my company; it was my baby. When it was just starting out, we worked around the clock in various stages of exhaustion. If we fell asleep at three am, we might miss a crisis at three-ten. It was so stressful that Kai went gray, but every new milestone was exhilarating. Then the company became a little more independent. The world started noticing. Suddenly it didn’t need us quite as much. Then we went public, took on shareholders. Now there was nothing for me to do at two am.
Nothing except think about Paige and Will Davis.
I got up to pace. My apartment wasn’t as long as my office building, but it was the entire top floor of a circular building. I could do laps around the terrace all night if I needed to. It was bitterly cold when I stepped outside, and I welcomed it. It slowed the furious pace of my thoughts.
But even slowed down, they turned to her. I wondered where she lived. Whether Will fucking Davis knew. I could find out if I wanted. My home computer was connected to the company network. I could look up the HR records right now and be at her door within the hour. And if he was in there, I would—
A short, bitter laugh became a puff of white condensation in front of my face. I didn’t have a right to do a fucking thing. I’d told her myself that nothing could happen between us if she worked for me. It made sense in theory. For one thing, I didn’t have time to find another executive assistant before Nashville. For another, she wasn’t just a girl in a bar anymore. If I got her in bed again, it might feel good.
It would feel good, I corrected myself.
But then shit would get messy. I’d already been in one mess with Georgia, and it had nearly killed me. It had started with not being able to get her out of my head and ended with not being able to get her out of my apartment when I finally saw through her. It had taken too damn long. I met her at just the right time for both of us. For my part, Blip had just gone public the year before and the workload was finally starting to ease. For her part, Blip had just gone public the year before and I was a certified billionaire.
Looking back, I don’t know why I didn’t see it. Kai had, though I’d shut him down so hard when he mentioned it that he didn’t bring it up again until the writing was on the wall in ten-story-high letters. I’d gotten in a hundred fights with my brother. The one over Georgia was the only one that ever turned physical. I never said a word about it to her, but she had a sixth sense for anyone who was onto her and hated Kai after that.
Will Davis was right, I didn’t have friends or a dog. I’d chosen her over all of them. Thank God for Blip—it kept me tight with Griffin and Jameson even as she did her best to push them away. It unnerved me how blind I’d been. I who spent so much time observing and analyzing people, figuring out what they wanted, what I could make them need. I hadn’t seen anything but her golden hair, her secretive smile. Every time I started to sense that something was off, she told me one of those secrets. She made me think
I was getting closer. Then she would freeze me out. People thought Kai was cold. They had no idea what cold was.
I’d hated her by the end of it and that had hurt like hell.
It took a long time to unwind her from my system. It was like pulling an invasive vine out of my chest. It hurt, ripping her out. It hurt so bad I swore I’d never let anyone that close again.
But Paige was different.
I’d known it from the first time she pointed to that bar stool and said exactly what was on her mind. No filter. No secretive pause. When I looked into her eyes that night at the bar, I felt like I could see everything she was thinking. I felt like I could always see what she was thinking. And I knew that she had felt the same pain that I had. She played the cheerful robot executive assistant to keep professional distance between us, but that was easy to shred. The way she’d reacted when I said Will’s name though--that I didn’t understand. That pissed me off. It felt disingenuous. It felt like Georgia. A different act, but the same goal—to keep me out.
I wasn’t going to let her.
And I was going to stop trying to keep her out. If she had some sort of thing going with Will Davis, I would put a stop to it.
I made the decision in an instant, and I didn’t bother to weigh the pros and cons. If Kai had been here to do it for me, I knew the reasons to leave Paige Stafford the hell alone would have sunk the scales, but I didn’t care.
The next evening, I scheduled a meeting with her for five-thirty. It was late for a Friday meeting, but it was when Will usually left, and I wanted to make sure he didn’t get any ideas about inviting her out. Right on time, she appeared at my door with her notepad in hand.
“Come in. Shut the door behind you.”
I watched her covertly as she turned to do so. She was wearing a slim black pencil skirt and a silky red shirt. I tried not to think about what it must feel like against her skin. How it would feel in my hands as I pulled it over her head.
She turned, wearing that bright, professional smile she only seemed to direct at me. Though I understood it, it still annoyed me. I’d seen her laughing with Mrs. Winthrop and Will Davis, but I got this perky facade.