“Nope,” he replied, with an easy smile. “I wouldn’t look nearly as amazing wearing them. And I’d probably have to crawl to my front door. It would un-man me, and you’d probably change your mind.” He paused and looked at her. “You can, you know. Change your mind.”
Seraphina admired the gold wall paper and intricate crown molding. Grant’s apartment was in one of the most expensive buildings in the city. Even the hallways were swank. “I wouldn’t have agreed to…” Come home with you was too on-the-nose for her to say out loud, even with a head full of hoppy beer. Besides, he’d invited her in for a nightcap. Things between them didn’t have to go any further than that, but she knew she wanted it to. And guessed Grant wanted the same. Once again, he was being the gentleman, giving her an out.
She watched him studying her. She already had ahold of his arm, so it was easy to grab ahold of the other and pull him toward her. She reached up to circle his neck and leaned into him. From dancing, she’d already learned a thing or two about the hard planes of his body. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt to reveal muscled forearms with a sprinkling of golden blond hairs. They came around her, his hands not quite daring to grab her ass, but close enough to make her smile at his reticence. All night, besides several stolen kisses, he’d skirted the edge of taking it to the next step. Apparently, he’d leave that to her.
Seraphina took the reins gladly. Tomorrow, he’d be her boss again, and the liberties would no longer be hers to take. Thinking about tomorrow morning—facing Grant after whatever happened between them tonight, and the hellacious hangover she’d likely suffer—put a black cloud over this otherwise pristine, carefree night. So, she brushed her concerns away from her mind like no more than a wispy tendril of smoke, and went up on her tip-toes to kiss Grant.
Not a sweet kiss or a fun kiss, or a playful one like those they’d shared on the dance floor, while laughing at their clumsiness and outdated moves. Not this time. She drank him in possessively, owning him like some craven cave woman staking her claim. For a wild moment, there was only the heat and desperation of the kiss, two bodies fighting to get closer, and go deeper.
Grant broke away first, pulling out of her embrace. He ran his thumb along her swollen bottom lip. “I’m officially indecent for public.” He kissed her again, roughly. His adroit hands finally found their courage and smoothed over the fabric that hugged the curve of her ass, until his fingers brushed the sensitive skin of the back of her thighs.
She made a small noise in her throat and felt herself melt. She was going to end up naked in the hallway if they didn’t move it along soon. This time, she pulled away. She gripped the front of his dress shirt. “I appreciate a gentleman as much as the next lady, but I’m not feeling very ladylike at the moment. So, whenever you’re ready to stop playing nice…”
A feral grin overcame his face, morphed it into something predatory that sent a shiver down Seraphina’s spine. One hand gripped her waist, while the fingers of the other trailed the hem of her dress. His light touch ran along her thigh until he reached the front of her dress. He kept his gaze locked on hers as his fingers continued their walk, pausing only briefly before disappearing beneath her skirt. His thumb brushed across the tiny bud at her center.
She moaned softly and leaned into him. She pressed her hips forward, silently begging for more than the light teasing taste he offered.
He said nothing as he rubbed her one last time, hard enough to make her gasp and feel the spread of warmth between her legs, and stepped away. He cupped her cheek and kissed her sweetly. Then he took her by the hand and led her down the hallway to his apartment. A true gentleman, he gave her exactly what she asked for.
* * * *
Seraphina squinted at her watch as she stumbled into her apartment. She was tipsy enough to make telling the time difficult, but not so drunk she had to search out the digital clock on her stove. With one eye squinted, she ignored the dread at realizing it was nearly four in the morning. She made a beeline for her bedroom, collapsed onto her bed, and stared blearily up at the ceiling. She was still buzzing from the most extraordinary couple of hours with Grant Gallagher.
She’d come so very close to staying the night. But they had work in the morning, and she’d be damned if, at her mature age, she’d take a cab in the morning wearing last night’s dress. No walk of shame for her.
She had an important task to handle before she could strip to nothing, take a searing hot shower, pop some Advil, and get some sleep. She stared at her phone, realized she could have simply turned on the screen to get the time, and chuckled at herself. Drunk people were stupid.
Kay answered on Seraphina’s second try. “Sera?” she asked, her voice fuzzy with sleep. “Everything okay?”
Seraphina heard husky murmurs in the background and guessed she’d managed to wake Oliver, as well. Couldn’t be helped. This was important. In fact, she guessed Oliver would be wide-awake soon. “Brendan Berkley,” Seraphina said, careful to enunciate around her thick tongue. Her mouth was uncomfortably dry.
“Um. Sera, it’s very late. No, actually. It’s very early. Very, very early.”
“Brendan Berkley,” she repeated, then sighed and made herself sit up. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, blinked away the sleepiness, and forced herself to wake up some. “Listen, it’s important. I know it’s late, and if it weren’t for the drinks I had tonight, this could totally wait. I was out with Grant tonight—”
“Whoa. Stop there.” Kay paused a beat. “You went out with your boss? Specifically, you went out and had drinks with Grant Gallagher? The Mr. Gallagher? Scary dude who’s designed half the buildings in this city constructed in the last decade? Drinks? Really?”
She’d shared a little more than that with Grant, but that was a conversation she’d happily postpone indefinitely. “Kay.” Seraphina tried to muster some of her usual control. It was a tone thing, though, and her buzz was really killing her ability to ring the necessary chords. “Just listen, then we can gossip all you want. We ran into Brendan Berkley. Apparently, he’s coming to work for Grant, to replace his secretary who’s retiring soon. It can’t be coincidence, can it? First, Brendan is at Free Leaf Concepts, where you guys have greenhouses that can produce the modified magic mushrooms, and now, he’s going to work for one of the most influential people on the city council.”
More murmurs in the background as Kay filled Oliver in. His voice was stronger now, even though Seraphina still couldn’t quite make out what he said. “Hm. Oliver thinks not. But, Sera, his hands are tied, you know that. One more misstep with Brendan Berkley, and Oliver’s going to be looking at stalking charges.”
Oliver made a rude snort and mumbled some more.
Kay giggled. “He says I’m exaggerating, but I’m totally not. Seriously, we can’t go anywhere near this. But Oliver can do the next best thing.” A pause while Oliver murmured some more. “He says he’ll call Cappy Don in the morning.”
Cappy Don was Captain Donald Cappricci, Oliver’s boss. He led the investigation that busted up the arm of the drug ring running out of Free Leaf Concepts. A hard ass with out-of-control eyebrows, but as thorough as they came. Seraphina relaxed. Then she stiffened again, considering Grant’s role in all this. “You guys looked into Grant already, right? Nothing sketchy going on?”
“He was cleared. While he does have political dealings, his business practices are all on the up and up. Cappy Don’s team didn’t uncover a single bribe, or otherwise shady deal. The city contracts he always seems to win are legitimate. Simply, Gallagher Interiors has a reputation for competence and quality,” Kay assured her. “But you know, with Brendan popping up out of nowhere, couldn’t hurt to keep your eyes open, Sera. Did you say anything to Grant?”
“Of course. I can’t believe he’d hire someone questioned in a drug sting, but Grant said Brendan is the best applicant for the job, and it’s unethical to hold that against
him since he was never arrested or accused of anything, let alone convicted. It’s a noble, if somewhat naïve, approach. Surprising, really, for a guy so business-minded.” The last of Seraphina’s energy was seeping from her pores. She rubbed her hand over her face and frowned at the black smears of mascara. She groaned. “Ugh. I need to go. Tomorrow is going to be pure hell. Kay, why don’t you come over tomorrow for a dinner, and we’ll talk some more.”
Kay chuckled, her voice turning sleepy. “You bet your ass we’re going to talk some more. You went on a freaking date with Grant freaking Gallagher.”
And then some. Seraphina smiled to herself, tossed her phone onto the bed, and dropped like a sack of potatoes onto her pillow. She’d shower in the morning.
* * * *
Grant paced, convinced he was wearing a groove into his carpet. He checked the wall clock again, exhaling loudly in an attempt to keep his impatience in check. He’d had a late night, too. It was no excuse to waltz into the office well after nine in the morning. He’d left her a text, a voicemail, and a terse memo on her desk. If she didn’t show soon, he’d go looking for her, and neither one of them would enjoy the encounter.
Finally, Annie announced Seraphina’s arrival. Grant leaned against the desk, with his arms crossed, and waited.
Seraphina walked into the room and sat down. She didn’t wear any evidence of their night together, and he’d never have guessed she was hungover if it weren’t for the fact that she was an hour late. She wore trim, sharply creased gray slacks and a bright red silk top, with generous sleeves, and a fitted bodice. The color had visions of last night flashing through his head—that damned red dress. On her body, half off her body, pushed up over her hips, and finally, in a heap on his bedroom floor. He coughed, suddenly uncomfortable. He fumbled with his greeting, starting and stopping.
Seraphina simply waited, poised and so together it was annoying. He had a raging headache, while she looked completely untouched. “You’re late,” he finally managed.
They stared at each other. Seraphina cocked a brow. “I thought maybe that might annoy you. But one of us didn’t have the luxury of merely passing out. One of us had to track down a cab, make small talk with a guy from Zimbabwe on the way home, and worry about things like hair and makeup. Trust me, you didn’t want me walking around this place an hour ago. My hair was a rat’s nest and my face looked like someone had taken a crayon to it. Smeared red lipstick, brown eyeshadow, and black eyeliner. Also…” She paused and glanced up at him from beneath her lashes before quickly looking away. A subtle flush of pink crept over the apples of her cheeks. “One of us was a little…tender this morning. I needed a long hot shower, and not just to wash off the sour smell of beer.”
He hadn’t expected her to discuss last night so brazenly. He’d actually been looking forward to teasing a few blushes out of her. He almost smiled but held fast. He met her challenging glare with one of his own. “Hey, I showered. And who says I passed out after you left? Who says I didn’t call a twenty-four-hour flower service and order a dozen pink roses for a certain woman? And who says I didn’t toss and turn long after that, because a certain red dress wouldn’t stay out of my head?”
She sat back in the chair and looked at him uncertainly. She narrowed her gaze and nibbled her lip. “Trying to convince me you were good for a second round?”
This time, Grant couldn’t stop his smile. “You mean third? You could’ve stayed to find out.”
“Would I have been excused for being late, then?”
“No. I would’ve made sure you were awake in time. Offered you coffee and a hot shower. Maybe a hot shower with benefits. I’m a gentleman, after all.”
Her grin slowly grew into a full smile that dimpled her cheeks and made her blue eyes dance. “Except for when you’re not.”
“Except for when I’m not,” he agreed quietly.
This time there was something else in the air as they stared at each other. Seraphina watched him like a wary rabbit eyeballing a fox. “You really got me roses?”
He nodded. Suddenly, he had all the patience in the world. “They’ll be delivered at ten. Is that weird? I just wanted to acknowledge last night, somehow. I laid awake thinking about you, guessing things would be different today, but not knowing how. I’ve never had the pleasure of seducing someone who works for me before.”
Seraphina stood up and approached him, her arms crossed. “You seduced me, is that what I heard?”
He leaned back, already fantasies of christening his desk playing out in his head. If only she’d worn another dress. “It’s possible I’m wrong. But then, that means you must have seduced me.” He gave her his brightest smile. “I’m flattered.”
Her mouth opened, then closed. She gave a little snort of laughter and shook her head as if she couldn’t believe him. “It’s a boon to mankind you’re not a lawyer. And maybe no one was seduced. Maybe things just…happened.” She bit her lip and gazed at him, considering.
Grant would have given anything in his possession to know what was behind her thoughtful expression. More importantly, he would’ve liked to know if she were having the same reaction he was to their sudden closeness. She was near enough to wrap his hands around her hips and tug her close. Near enough to notice her breathing grow shallower. Near enough to smell her. Lilacs and mint. He had a momentary flashback to last night, when those scents, mingled with her body’s own alluring essence, had intoxicated him.
When he finally dared himself to reach out and touch her, it was like someone else guided his hand. His conscious mind hovered nearby, appreciating his bravery and daring, because at any minute, Annie or Ophelia might walk in. Those small potential problems couldn’t seem to reach him, though. His fingers smoothed over Seraphina’s hips. The fabric of her slacks was thin and soft. He inhaled sharply as she stepped closer, her body moving beneath his hands in a swift, sure motion.
She blinked up at him, seemed to weigh something in her mind. Then her mouth was on his, open and pliant and demanding. Her hands traveled up his chest and back down.
They stayed that way, locked together, exploring with desperate mouths and curious hands until they were forced to break apart at the sound of footsteps approaching the door.
Grant smoothed his shirt and tie and gave Seraphina his most genuine smile, then quickly kissed the tip of her nose. “I can relax about one thing. We’re definitely compatible.”
She stared at him haughtily. “Don’t jinx our juju.”
She left a minute later, after Ophelia entered and made small talk. Ophelia was so smooth, Grant wouldn’t have guessed at her impatience if it weren’t for the text messages they’d exchanged earlier that morning. She had a masterful grip on her self-control. He was quite in awe every time he watched her balance her character with her personal interests.
Once they were alone, she dropped into a chair, in a most undignified position, and groaned. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Being Ophelia Quenby is no one’s idea of a good time. And you.” She narrowed her eyes at him over her fingers. “You’re really complicating things here, Grant.”
“What’s going on with me doesn’t have anything to do with what’s going on with you.”
“The hell,” she shot back, sitting up. “I report to Seraphina starting today. Her relationship with you changes everything. You know, you didn’t have to offer to give her an audition to be a partner in your firm to get in bed with her. You could have gone about it like a normal person. Asked her out for dinner and a movie. That sort of thing.”
Grant’s good humor faded. He moved around to sit at his desk properly. He had business with Ophelia, but she’d do well to remember their alliance could end as swiftly as he’d agreed to form it. “You misunderstand.” He let his tone convey his displeasure. “Seraphina is convenient for you. But I didn’t hire her for your convenience. Nor does how I operate within my business concern you. I will facilit
ate your needs when and where possible, but do not mistake me as working for you. In the end, I’ll serve my own prerogative, Ophelia.”
She sighed, accepting his point with a small nod of apology. Her hair was not unlike Seraphina’s, a sleek curtain that fell straight to her shoulders. They had very little in common besides that, physical or otherwise. Ophelia’s hair was so dark it was almost black, her eyes were a deep brown, and her personality didn’t have the polished finish of Seraphina’s. She was crude, sometimes humorously so. Grant had to admit she put on a hell of a show for his employees. To everyone else, she was soft-spoken and exceptionally helpful.
“Very well,” she relented. “I’m rude sometimes, aren’t I? I assumed. You’re a powerful man, she’s a lonely woman—”
“She’s not lonely.” Grant had no idea how he could know such a thing. It just didn’t fit. Seraphina was self-possessed and contained, but she didn’t strike him as lonely. “She keeps to herself. We can’t all be babbling social butterflies.”
“You think I babble?” She seemed genuinely curious. Not offended in the least.
“Certainly in my company.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I’d hate to think I was breaking cover without realizing it. Now, listen, I think you’re underestimating how this might blow up in our faces. You’re right, Seraphina is convenient. She’s a blind conduit, and I couldn’t have arranged it better if I’d had to. If things go sour between you two, and she quits, we wouldn’t be entirely screwed, but it would certainly put a kink in the program.” She was silent as she chewed the inside of her lip thoughtfully. Then her dark eyes zeroed in on Grant with a calculating gleam. “But then, we must use what tools we have. You can at least report what she says, so we know for sure the system is working as we hoped it would.”
He stared dubiously. “You want me to spy on Seraphina?”
“No. More like confirm our hopes. Mention what she mentions. Being her assistant gets me close, but you’ve swooped in, and there you are, already closer to Seraphina than I can probably get in my limited capacity. Between the two of us, we can put together whether or not the information is moving in the direction we’d like it to.”
From the Top Page 6