Not Safe for Work(26)

“Good.”

The silence lingered. Rick and Mitchell joined her, and they watched me. No, no, they were just looking at the model, Marie and Mitchell inspecting it for any flaw that needed to be remedied before Rick noticed it. And Rick was most definitely not looking at me. I chewed the inside of my cheek and focused as hard as I could on the f*cking window that wouldn’t slide into place. Not an easy task when their eyes were, I was sure of it, locked on me.

“It’s excellent so far,” Rick said. “I’m looking forward to the finished project.”

“Only the best for Horizon Developing.” Mitchell smiled like a used-car salesman, and I managed to lower my head before I rolled my eyes.

Ass-kissing doesn’t work, boss man. You want to know the way to Rick Pierce’s heart? I could probably give you a few pointers…

“Well.” Rick cleared his throat. “We should get out of their way so they can get back to work. You said the contract for the new art museum is ready, correct?”

“Yes, yes. Let me take you upstairs.”

Mitchell started to herd Rick out of the room, and I lifted my head.

We met eyes again. Rick grinned. I returned it.

And then he followed Mitchell and Marie out.

The door closed behind them. Scott switched the music back to whatever shitty rap album they’d had on earlier, and we all went back to business as usual. I tried to, anyway.

It shouldn’t have been this difficult to focus on the finishing touches for the Rainier house. Just simple details now. Minor tweaks. My mind, however, knew nothing but that look Rick had shot me on his way out. Sweaty palms made X-ACTO knives a bitch to manipulate, and shaky fingers fumbled with foam-core. I hadn’t been this distracted since the day I’d gone into my old boss’s office a few years ago, certain I was about to be given my walking papers after I’d f*cked up a model.

Ever since my epiphany during the meeting, I’d accepted that things might get weird around the office if word got out, but sleeping with Rick wasn’t going to get me fired. Botching a model because I was thinking about sleeping with Rick? That was a distinct possibility.

Despite my preoccupation, the afternoon rolled by. The sounds of honest productivity were peppered by insults, projectiles and the prevailing lack of maturity that made this such a great place to work. For the most part, I kept myself focused on work and banter, completely forgetting about anything I was hiding from all of them.

At one point, though, Rick strode down the hall, past our windows, and my heart almost stopped.

He was deep in conversation with Dion and Mitchell, but he’d glanced in, glanced right at me as if he’d known exactly where I’d be and that I’d be looking right at him. He’d stumbled a little, but recovered quickly. Another glance. A little smile.

And then he was gone. A few seconds after that, I remembered what the hell I did for a living and got back to work, pretending not to notice the tingle working its way up my spine. After a while, even that faded into the back of my mind, and I went back to my world of models and mayhem.

Just a few hours to go, and he was once again all mine…

Five o’clock couldn’t get there fast enough. More than once, I considered ducking out to the men’s room to relieve some of my anticipation. I wondered if he felt the same, which did not help my ability to concentrate at all.

I gave the clock one last look. Promised myself tonight would be worth the wait.

And got back to work.





Chapter Nine Drawn by the smell of coffee, I shuffled downstairs and into the kitchen.


At the table, Karen watched me over her mug. “Long night?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Just a bit.”

I poured myself some coffee. “I didn’t wake you up when I came in, did I?”

“No, no.” She smiled. “I didn’t even get home myself until almost two.”

“Yeah?” I chuckled. “Have a good time?”

She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “Eh, it was all right. Nice guy, fun for an evening, but I don’t see a repeat performance in our future.”

“Sorry to hear it.”

“Eh, such is life.” She sipped her coffee. “So tell me about this…woman? Guy?”

“Guy.” I stirred some sugar into my cup, my mind wandering back to last night and a stupid smile forming on my lips as if they had a mind of their own. “You remember that client I told you about?”

“Which one? The guy who doesn’t know a brick from a roofing nail, or the one who’s richer than God?”

“The second one.”

Karen’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. “You’re sleeping with him?”

I nodded. “A little more than sleeping with him, but yes.”

“Well done, Jon.” She giggled.

“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes as heat rushed into my cheeks. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yep. If I’d known you were cooking, I’d have skipped the cereal, but—”

“Cooking?” I snorted and pulled a box of cereal off the top of the fridge. “Not today.” While I made myself a half-assed breakfast, she took her dishes to the sink.

“So how in the world did you get him?” She paused, cringing. “I mean, that didn’t come out right. How did—”