Bedding the Boss

Text Copyright © 2013 Girl’s Night In Books, LLC

All Rights Reserved

www.melodybanks.com

www.girlsnightinbooks.com

I was proofreading the press release for the last time before emailing it
to my boss, Sebastian, when Gina burst into my office.

“You’re never going to believe this, Gabby!” she exclaimed, shutting the
door behind her.

I smiled. I had been hard at work and could use a little gossip, and Gina
was just the person who would have all of the office dirt.

“What’s up?” I asked. I leaned back in my chair and propped my feet up on
my desk. Knowing Gina, this could take awhile.

“Sebastian just finalized his divorce!” she hissed in a loud whisper.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Really?” This actually
was
a
shocking piece of news. As vice president of marketing, I worked closely with
our boss, the president of the department. We travelled together frequently,
and he hadn’t told me he was getting a divorce. I thought Sebastian and his
wife were solid.

“Yes,” Gina continued excitedly. “He went out with some of the guys last
night and apparently got pretty toasty. He confided that Lindsay cheated on
him,
with their housekeeper.”

“Wait.” I was confused. “They have a male housekeeper?”

“Nope.” Gina wriggled her eyebrows.

“Wow, I can’t believe he told them that!” I exclaimed.
Sebastian’s
wife was a lesbian? How is that even possible?
Sebastian is, well,
basically a
Greek God.
All of the girls in the office had a crush on
him. But he was off limits, a married man, and he wasn’t unavailable just
because he had a wife.

Sebastian kept to himself, another reason this news was surprising. As
much as we had travelled together to meet prospective clients over the last
year that I had been vice president, he had never talked much about, well,
anything
personal.

Of course I thought Sebastian was hot, just like every other woman who
worked at Wells & Sons, but it didn’t matter. Business was business. I had
pushed any thoughts of his chiseled face and, more importantly, what was
underneath the business suits he wore daily, out of my head.

“I know,” Gina was saying. “Isn’t that wild?” She had sat down in the
chair across from my desk, a sure sign she had more to say and wasn’t leaving
anytime soon.

“Hmm.” I tried to sound at least a little uninterested. After all,
Sebastian
was
my boss, and even though I enjoyed gossiping with Gina, I
had a certain level of professionalism to maintain.

“I haven’t even gotten to the best part, Gabs.” Gina leaned in
conspiratorially.

“The collapse of Sebastian’s marriage isn’t juicy enough?” I asked.

“Well, he also talked about
you.”

 
I took my feet off my desk
and leaned forward. “Really?” I asked in surprise.

“Yeah,” Gina said. “I told you he was kinda tipsy. According to Dave,
they started ranking all the women in the office, and you were top on his
list.”

My heart was racing and I willed my face not to turn red. I didn’t want
Gina to know how this news had affected me. I was going to Boston tomorrow with
Sebastian, for Christ’s sake! Although I was flattered that he had mentioned me
when discussing the girls of the office, I didn’t need any rumors flying
around.

Even though I shouldn’t have egged her on, I couldn’t help myself. “So
what exactly did he say?” I pressed.

Gina grinned. “He said that you had a nice rack.”

I laughed, in spite of myself.

“And he rated you most fuckable.”

This time I was sure my face had turned red. “Don’t be silly,” I
chastised Gina.

“I dunno. Dave’s got a big mouth but I don’t think he’s a liar.”

That was true. I was intrigued by this info but I couldn’t let it go to
my head. My job was the most important thing in my life. Even Sebastian St.
Charles wasn’t going to ruin that.

“Well,” I said lightly, “I’m sure Dave isn’t
lying
but I wouldn’t
be surprised if he was exaggerating just a bit. He’s kind of a pig.”

Gina snorted. “Yep. Can’t argue with that. I just thought you’d want to
know.” She stood up. “I’ve got to get back to work. See ya later, Gabs.”

After Gina had left, I couldn’t help but think about what she had said.
Is
Sebastian really attracted to me?
I knew I shouldn’t dwell on it, but I
couldn’t help it. And I had to admit I was more than a little bit flattered.

###

“How are you today, Gabriella?” Sebastian sat down beside me in the
airport terminal, placing his carry-on bag at his feet.

“Very well, thanks. How about you?” I asked cordially. I was determined
not to let what Gina had told me affect the trip to Boston. It would be
business as usual.

“Also very well, thank you,” Sebastian replied. “Want to run through the
sales pitch one last time?”

“Definitely,” I said. We were only going to be in Boston for one night;
we would meet with the prospective client that afternoon and fly back to
Chicago in the morning.

We planned our pitch and before I knew it the plane was boarding. I had
managed to put Gina’s words out of my head – for the most part.
“He
rated you most fuckable.”

I was intrigued; Sebastian had always been off limits – there was
no way I was getting involved with a married man under any circumstances
– but his divorce changed things. I was extremely attracted to Sebastian;
I just had to make sure I kept my distance in Boston, because I wasn’t sure
what would happen if I let my guard down.

###

I had just taken a shower in my hotel room and slipped into one of the
soft robes that was hanging in the closet. The sales pitch had gone well, and I
was pretty sure we’d be bringing on even more business for Wells & Sons.

I was planning to order room service – a steak and a glass of wine
– but my hotel phone rang before I could put the order through.

“Hello?”

“Hey Gabriella, this is Sebastian.”

“Hi.” I tried to keep my voice cool.

“I’ve made a reservation in the hotel restaurant. Thought we could
celebrate the success today with a glass of wine and some dinner. Meet me in 15
minutes?”

My heart was racing. I knew I should say no; drinking with the boss was
on my list of things
not
to
ever
do, but instead I heard myself
telling him I’d be down shortly.

Frantically, I tried to decide what to wear. I hadn’t brought much. There
was the business suit I had worn for our meeting but other than that I only had
my pajamas.
Shit.

I rifled through my bag.
Think, Gabriella.

Okay, this could work. I slipped on the skirt from the suit and pulled my
Hello Kitty
pajama top over my head. It looked a bit silly, but I
dismissed the thought.
You’re not trying to impress him, anyway,
I
reminded myself.

After a quick mirror check, I slid into my comfortable flats and headed
downstairs to meet Sebastian.

###

I was halfway through my second glass of wine when Sebastian arrived at
the bar downstairs.

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Our table is ready,” he said. “Are
you?” Something in his tone suggested he wasn’t just referring to dinner.

“Sure.” I tried to ignore his hand. Nothing was going to happen. I
wouldn’t let it.

Sebastian pulled the chair back for me and we sat down. He looked amazing
in faded jeans and a fitted black t-shirt. I willed myself not to stare too
long at his bulging chest. His dark hair was messy, not like how I usually saw
him at work. It was still damp, as though he’d just gotten out of the shower.

“So what’s new?” I asked lamely.

Sebastian grinned, revealing the dimple in his left cheek. “You did a
good job today,” he complimented me.

“Thanks.”
Why am I at such a loss for words?
 
I wanted to punch myself. I’d been on
plenty of trips with Sebastian St. Charles! Why was I getting nervous over some
silly gossip?

“
Hello Kitty
? I didn’t peg you as a fan.” Sebastian pointed at my
top.

I could feel myself blushing. “I didn’t bring much,” I admitted. “We
don’t usually go out to dinner when we travel. I’m used to getting room
service. What’s the occasion tonight?”

“Oh, nothing special,” Sebastian said. “I just wanted to spend some more
time with you. Everything’s always so stuffy at work. I thought a relaxing
dinner might give us a chance to get to know each other better.”

I gulped and nodded. Suddenly, I found myself wishing I’d tried a little
harder to get dressed up for dinner. I was seeing a side of Sebastian I wasn’t
used to. But I liked it.

“Let’s order,” he suggested. “I feel like a bottle of wine. Is red okay
with you?”

“It’s my favorite,” I told him, motioning to the half-full glass I’d
brought from the bar.

We placed our order and the food arrived quickly. I felt self-conscious
eating in front of Sebastian, which was ridiculous considering all of the times
I had been around him.

“So, are you dating anyone?” The question caught me off-guard.

“No one worth mentioning,” I muttered, thinking of my on-again-off-again
boyfriend, Mitchell.

“My divorce with Lindsay was just finalized,” Sebastian offered, as
though it was public knowledge that he was getting a divorce from Lindsay.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, in what I hoped was a sympathetic
voice. Then, before I could think better of it, I threw his question back at
him. “Are
you
dating anyone?”

Sebastian stared at me, not answering at first. I forced myself to keep
his gaze, even though I was completely uncomfortable looking into those
piercing eyes.

“I don’t have a shortage of women, but I can’t say that I’ve found any of
them particularly intriguing.”

“Maybe you haven’t met the right woman,” I shot back. I took another swig
of wine. I shouldn’t be doing this, flirting shamelessly with my boss, but yet
I couldn’t stop, either.

“Oh, I’ve met her.” Sebastian was smiling again. I’d never seen him look at
me like this before.

“Not hungry?” Sebastian motioned to my half eaten fish.

More like I’m too damn nervous to eat with you looking at me like
that.

I shrugged.

“Not good?” He tried again. “Here, have a bite of mine.”

Before I could protest, Sebastian got a forkful of pasta and leaned
forward. Obligingly, I opened my mouth to let him feed me. We were only a few
inches apart.

This is wrong. I can’t do this.
I jumped back abruptly. “I –
I need to get back to my room soon,” I stuttered.

“At least finish your wine.” Sebastian didn’t look put-off at all by my
rebuff. In fact, if anything, he was smirking even more than before.

I drained my glass in one gulp. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I told him,
standing up to leave.

“Gabriella, wait,” Sebastian was saying. But it was too late. I was
already back in the hotel lobby.

Nothing can happen with Sebastian,
I chastised myself. It didn’t
matter how attracted I was to him, how I could barely listen to him talk
without thinking about his soft lips on mine, kissing down my neck, kissing
down my chest…

Besides, he’s your boss. It doesn’t matter if he’s divorced. That
changes nothing.
I had to keep reminding myself of that fact, no matter
what it took. I absolutely couldn’t get romantically involved with Sebastian.

###

I was just dozing off when I heard a knock at the door. At first I
thought it was my imagination, so I ignored it.
Knock, knock,

There it was again, louder, persistent. I rolled out of bed and sleepily
grabbed my robe. I still felt tipsy from dinner – I wasn’t used to having
more than a glass of wine – I tried to shake my head to clear it. Didn’t
work.

The person at the door was knocking again. I looked through the peephole.
It was Sebastian!

I pulled open the door. “Hey,” I said, in what I hoped was a nonchalant
voice.

“Hey,” he replied.

I stood there awkwardly. “Can’t sleep?” I finally asked.
It must be 2
am!

He held up a bottle of chardonnay. “Can I come in? For a nightcap?”

“Um, yeah, of course.” My brain was saying
no
but every other
faculty was saying
yes.

Sebastian walked into the room and sat down on the bed. He grabbed the
glasses from the nightstand and poured us each a drink. Sebastian patted the
bed for me to sit down next to him. “I won’t bite,” he flirted.