by Vi Keeland
“I sort of…had an office relationship…Well…it wasn’t really a relationship. It was more like a momentary lapse in judgment caused by excessive imbibing in holiday cheer. Anyway, you get the picture.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, I do. You slept with someone from work. Hang on. I should get another beer. I’m taking it this story isn’t going to bode well for me.”
Chase got up and grabbed two more beers. This time, he opened both and handed me one.
“I get my own?”
“Story sounds like you might need it.”
I smiled gratefully. “Thank you. You’re right. I do.” Taking a deep breath, I continued. “Anyway, I loved my old job. It was pretty much my life for the last seven years. I worked my way up from intern to director. I dated, but hadn’t had a serious relationship for the last five years. Make a long story short, I accidentally slept with a co-worker.”
“Accidentally?”
“Peppermint Schnapps martinis at the office Christmas party. Don’t judge.”
Chase looked entertained, his eyes sparkling. He held up his hands. “No judgment here. Tough night and you let loose. Been there.”
“The guy turned out to be a total dirtbag. Two days later he announced he’d gotten engaged over Christmas to his long-time girlfriend. He’d told me he was single.”
“Sounds like an asshole.”
“He was. And that’s not the worst part. I told him what I thought of him and went out of my way to be an asshole to the jerk. A few months later, he was promoted to being my boss.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. And to make it even worse, he knows nothing about marketing.”
“How did he get the job?”
“He’s the owner’s son.”
Chase’s face was glum, but he nodded. “I get it. I’m not gonna lie and say I’m not disappointed, but I get it.”
“You do?”
“Of course. You don’t want to screw up your career for a night of physical gratification.”
“Exactly.”
“Even though that physical gratification would begin with me starting at your toes and working my way up. Slowly. Over hours.”
“Hours?” My low voice came out with a high pitch.
Chase nodded with a sexy grin. “I’m up for the challenge.”
“What challenge?”
“Waiting it out. Or breaking you down. One or the other.”
“You’re going to wait until I don’t work here any more? What if I stay for years?”
“It won’t be years.”
I furrowed my brow.
“You’ll break before then.”
***
Bryant: How was work today?
I’d just gotten off the train at my stop when the text came in. I took a deep breath, dreading what I was about to do, but knowing in my heart it was right.
Reese: It was good. Very productive, actually. I’m almost home, but could go for a drink. You up to join me for one? Maybe at The Pony Pub?
The small bar was quiet and halfway between our apartments. We’d met there for our first date.
Bryant: Absolutely. Meet you there in a half hour?
Reese: Perfect. See you soon.
Chapter 14
Chase – Seven years ago
“Another Jack and Coke.” I held my hand up to the bartender. I was usually halfway through my first drink by the time Peyton showed up, but starting on my second one was late even for her. Picking up my phone, I thumbed off a text.
Chase: You’re later than your usual late.
Peyton: I’ll be there in ten minutes. If I’m not, read this text again.
I chuckled.
She showed halfway through my second. Her arms wrapped around me from behind. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“Sure. My girlfriend is on her way, but she’s late, so I could use some company.”
She smacked my abs. “Some company, huh?”
I reached around, hooked my hand on her waist and pulled her from behind me to my lap in one fell swoop. She giggled, and any annoyance about her being forty-five minutes late was instantly gone. Again.
“What’s your excuse this time?”
“I had some stuff I needed to take care of.” She looked away when she said it, which told me I needed to pry more.
“What stuff?”
She shrugged. “Just some stuff. For the shelter.”
I squinted. “Like…unpacking boxes of donated food? Or cleaning up the dishes after dinner service?”
“Yep. Just some errands. Stuff like that.” She quickly tried to change the subject. “What are you drinking? Is that a Jack and Coke?”
Now I knew she was up to something. And I was pretty sure I knew what it was. “Yep. Jack and Coke. You want your usual?”
She hopped down off my lap and pulled up the stool next to me. “Yes, please. How was your day?”
After I called the bartender over and ordered her Merlot, I swiveled her chair in my direction. “You followed him again tonight, didn’t you?”
Her shoulders deflated, but she didn’t even try to lie. “He had a black eye today. And the gash on his head was re-opened. He probably should’ve had stitches the first time. Now it’s worse, and it looks infected.”
“I love how much you care. I really do. But you need to let the police do their job.”
Wrong thing to say. “Do their job? That’s the problem. They don’t think keeping homeless people safe is part of their job at all. The only time they pay attention to them is if they sit down in a neighborhood that’s too nice. Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Upper West Side installed metal spikes up against buildings, like they do on train trestles to keep pigeons from making nests.”
“I don’t want you following homeless people to parks where it’s dangerous at night.”
She huffed. “I only wanted to find out where he was going so I can go back down to the police station tomorrow and ask them to patrol the area better.”
“What park did you follow him to?”
“You know that old bridge they restored uptown? The one people walk across up near 155th Street?”
“You went all the way up to Washington Heights?”
“It might look nice from the bridge, but underneath hasn’t been cleaned up. I guess the politicians just shook hands and took pictures on the top while underneath it was filled like a junkyard. Did you know there’s a whole little city of people under that viaduct?”
“Peyton, you gotta cut this shit out. I know you want to help, but it’s dangerous in those places.”
“It was still light out, and I didn’t actually go into the camp.”
“Peyton…”
“Seriously. Everything is going to be fine. I’m going to stop in at the precinct closest to the park tomorrow. Hopefully the cops up there remember their job is to serve and protect all the citizens of this city.”
“Promise me you won’t pull shit like this again.”
She smiled and leaned over to wrap her hand around the back of my neck. Gently grazing her fingers on my skin, she said, “I promise.”
Chapter 15
Reese
The office wasn’t the same when Chase wasn’t there. Sure, I was busy and had enough work to do for a month—work that I loved doing—but the anticipation of seeing him throughout the day was missing. He’d only been gone two days on his business trip, but I’d missed him since day one.
I was up to my eyeballs in drafting presentations for an eventual focus group—a cross-section of women who we would try out some branding slogans and product-packaging mockups on—when my phone buzzed late on Thursday. Seeing Chase’s name made me smile.
Chase: Miss me?
I did, but he certainly didn’t need any encouragement.
Reese: Did you go somewhere?
Chase: Cute.
Reese: I thought so.
Chase: I’ve been thinking about our little deal.
Reese: What deal? I don’t recall agreeing to anyt
hing.
Chase: Exactly. Which is why we need a sit-down. To negotiate our terms.
The man made caterpillars turn into butterflies that fluttered around in my stomach. I leaned back in my seat and rotated so the back of my chair was facing my open office door. It was late, and there were only a few people still milling around the floor, but I sought privacy as I typed with a smile.
Reese: Terms? Are we discussing a business deal?
I slipped my right shoe off and dangled it from my toe as I watched the three little dots jump around. It was pitiful that I was growing antsy waiting.
Chase: Is spending time in my bed still off limits because I’m your boss?
Reese: It is.
Chase: Then I want time outside of the bedroom.
Reese: I see you at the office all the time.
Chase: I want more.
My heart did a pathetic pitter-patter. I want more, too.
Reese: More how?
Chase: I think this requires a face-to-face, sit-down conversation.
Reese: Like a date?
Chase: Don’t think of it as a date. Think of it as a business meeting where we negotiate terms that lead to full performance of the contract in the future.
Reese: And that full performance would be…
I nearly fell over in my seat, hearing Chase’s voice behind me. “You in my bed, of course.”
I whipped my chair around. “I thought you were away until tomorrow.”
“Came back early. Had some pressing business.”
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Not long.” He pointed to the window. “But I could see your reflection in the glass, and I liked watching your face as you texted.”
“Voyeur.”
“If I can’t have, I’m not above watching. Is that an offer?”
Chase looked like he hadn’t shaved in a day or two. I wondered what that stubble would feel like rubbing against my cheek…and against the inside of my thighs. His tie was loose, his suit jacket draped over one arm, and his shirtsleeves were rolled up, revealing muscular forearms. I definitely had a thing for forearms. When I finally pulled my gaze back up to his eyes, he looked pleased at my being flustered.
“What did you ask?” I managed.
With a knowing grin, he said, “How about dinner? Did you eat yet?”
I picked up the protein bar on my desk that I hadn’t gotten around to. “Not yet.”
He tilted his head toward the hallway. “Come on, let me buy you some dinner. I can’t have my employees working twelve hours a day and starving.”
When I didn’t immediately agree, he sighed. “It’s not a date. We’re sharing a meal. Business associates do it all the time.”
I pulled my purse out of the drawer and pressed the button to put my laptop to sleep. “Okay. But this isn’t a date.”
“Of course not.”
“All right then.”
He winked. “It’s a negotiation.”
***
Apparently, I’d decided to take this negotiation thing very seriously, because I didn’t even wait until we got to the elevator before I started being difficult.
“Have you ever been to Gotham in Union Square?” Chase asked.
“That’s a date place. Too romantic. How about Legends in Midtown?”
“Do we have to eat at a dive bar for it to not qualify as a date? We’ll go to Elm Café, down the block.”
“Bossy,” I said under my breath.
Because it was after regular building hours, we rode the service elevator down to the back entrance and exited the building on 73rd Street. Elm Café was only two blocks away.
Of course, when we passed by Iron Horse Gym, Bryant happened to be walking toward the door at that very moment. Because that was just my luck.
He looked at me, then at the man standing next to me, and stopped.
“Reese. Hey. Are you coming to Iron Horse?”
I wasn’t sure if it was just me, or if everyone felt awkward. Perhaps it was guilt over running into my recent ex while standing next to my current…something. “Umm…no. We were just heading down the street to grab a bite to eat. You remember Chase?”
Bryant extended his hand. “Cousin, right?”
“Second cousin,” Chase shook. “By marriage. We’re not blood related.”
Of course Bryant didn’t understand the insinuation. But I did.
“Yes,” I gave Chase the evil eye. “Second cousin Chase.”
Bryant looked like he was going to say something, but changed his mind. “Well…I’m going to hit the gym. Guess I’ll see you around?”
“Sure. Take care, Bryant.”
Surprising me, Chase didn’t question the odd exchange or my status with Bryant as we continued on to the restaurant. In fact, he was relatively quiet while we walked the block and a half.
Once we arrived at Elm Café, he asked for a table for two, then added, “Something quiet and romantic, if you have it.”
The host sat us at a table off in the corner, and Chase pulled out my chair.
“Is this table romantic enough for you?” I asked sarcastically.
He sat. “I’ll just have to tell you all the things I’d like to do to you to make up for the lack of romance in the setting.”
I swallowed my sarcastic comeback, knowing better than to challenge him. If I was truly going to keep this a platonic relationship, it was best to limit the visuals. I was pretty good at imagining what I’d like him to do to me on my own. If I heard it from him—well, a girl has only so much willpower.
Luckily the waitress came over to take our drink order.
“I’ll have a Jack and Coke, and she’ll have a Peppermint Schnapps martini.”
I glared at him and spoke to the waitress. “She’ll just take a water. Thank you.”
When the waitress walked away, Chase was grinning. “What? It worked at the office Christmas party. Can’t blame me for trying.”
“I think rule number one is I’ll be staying sober if we’re alone.”
“Can’t trust yourself, huh?”
Totally. “You’re so full of yourself.”
After the waitress brought our drinks, Chase wasted no time telling me what had been on his mind the last few days.
“So sleeping with me is off the table, but what about sharing a meal occasionally?”
“You mean like dating?”
“No. You said dating was off the table, too.”
“So what would be the difference between sharing a meal and dating, then?”
“You wouldn’t come home with me after the meal.”
I laughed. “You say that as if all of your dates end up going home with you.”
He gave me a look that didn’t need to be accompanied by words.
Of course they all do. What am I thinking?
“God, you’re an ass.” I rolled my eyes.
“Is that a yes to twice-weekly meals together?”
“Do you have meals with all of your employees?”
“Does that matter?”
“It does, yes.”
“Well, I have dinner with Sam occasionally.”
I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms over my chest. “But not twice weekly.”
“No. Not that often.”
“Well, then I’m not sure it would be appropriate. We should probably stick to no more than what you do with other employees.”
Chase squinted, then gave me a sly grin and held up one finger. He proceeded to whip out his phone and make a call. I listened to half the conversation.
“Sam, can you have dinner with me twice a week?...Does it matter what it’s for?...Okay, then. I want to run things by you for the new rebranding campaign. I like your perspective….” He sighed. “Yes, fine. But we’ll order in on the night we eat at your place. I almost choked on that dry-as-shit chicken you forced me to eat last time.”
I couldn’t make out everything, but I heard Sam’s voice rise and a string of words yell
ed through the phone. When she took a breath, Chase forced the end of the conversation.
“Whatever you want. ’Night, Sam.” He looked delighted with himself when he hung up. “Yes, I do have twice-weekly dinners with other employees.”
I was in the mood to screw with him some more. “That’s different. Sam is your friend outside of the office. You two have been friends longer than she’s worked for you.”
“And we’ve known each other since you bled all over me in middle school.”
“I think you’re a little insane.”
“I’m starting to agree with you.” He sipped his Jack and Coke.
Chase’s cell phone buzzed, and a photo of a woman flashed on the screen. I saw it, and Chase knew I did.
“You can take it,” I told him. “I don’t mind.”
He hit reject, and then locked eyes with me. “That brings me to my next negotiation point.”
“There’s more? Maybe I should be having something stronger than water after all.”
Chase extended his Jack and Coke to me. I took it and sipped.
“I take it from the exchange you just had with Becker that you’re no longer a couple.”
“We weren’t really ever a couple. But yes, you’re correct. Bryant and I aren’t dating anymore.”
“He looked wounded. Did you tell him you were hot for your cousin/boss when you broke his heart?”
“Is there a point you’re trying to make buried under all the self-adulation?”
“There is. One of the things I had planned to negotiate in our deal was that you would break it off with Bryant.”
He’d taken the Jack and Coke back from me, and I swiped it from his hands again.
Bringing it to my lips, I said, “And he finally gets the name correct.”
Chase, of course, ignored me. “So we have an understanding, then? Until you quit or get fired—or sooner if you break—you won’t be dating other men.”
“And I won’t be dating you, so basically I’ll be dateless and abstinent?”
“I’m sure you have a vibrator. If not, I’ll pick one up for you.”
“You’ll go to the store and buy me a vibrator?” I asked incredulously.
Chase abruptly grabbed our shared Jack and Coke from my hand and gulped down the remainder.