Operation Foreplay (17 page)

“For?”

“There’s an opportunity to start working with my own clients and I requested to be interviewed. I was hoping with your recommendation and possibly your willingness to mentor me, I’d have a better chance.”

I considered her for a moment. I knew she had the stuff necessary to move up. I worried about her lack of experience, though. She and I hadn’t had the opportunity to get her groomed for such a position. On the other hand, I had been green when I was given the opportunity to start with the company and the need to pay it forward ranked high on my list of priorities. “When’s the interview?”

“Noon.”

“I’ll make the call.”

“Thank you so much!” Jenny jumped from her chair and ran around the desk to give me a hug. “You are so amazing! I know with you helping me out, I can do this job.”

“You’ll do fine. Now, hop out of here so I can call Mr. Waterman.”

Jenny closed the office door behind her and I dropped my head to my desk and pounded it a few times on the hard oak. Calling Zac was not what I wanted to do first thing in the morning. I hadn’t had enough cups of coffee to prepare me for such an early-morning intrusion. But a promise was a promise and I didn’t make those often.

“Jenny?” I buzzed her.

“Yes?”

“Can you get me a large chai latte and some aspirin? And clear my schedule from Wednesday on. I’m going to be out of the office from then until next Tuesday. And then again next Friday.” The headache was already making its way to the back of my head and I rolled my shoulders with hopes to derail it.

“Absolutely. Be back in twenty.”

I took a deep breath, counted backward from twenty, and reminded myself that regardless of the relationship Zac and I had, he was still my boss and I still worked for him. It wouldn’t do to allow what transpired to turn into awkward daily confrontations.

Just as I was about to pick up the phone, it buzzed.

“Ms. Ashford? Mr. Waterman would like to see you in his office.”

“Now?”

“Now. He has a busy schedule today.”

“Be right there.”

I guess Jenny’s recommendation would occur face-to-face.

Standing, I smoothed out my skirt and buttoned my blazer. I was dressed more conservatively than usual and I hoped he’d get the message.

His secretary waved me into the office and I stopped short when she closed the door behind me. Zac barely looked up from his paperwork and waved me to the seat across from him.

His navy blazer was hung in the corner of his office like usual. The pale blue dress shirt that was tailored to fit him was rolled to his elbows. His hair was mussed just enough to pass for acceptable in the work place. Sitting across from him, I could see his brow was furrowed, like he was trying to work something out. I couldn’t tell if he was truly focused on whatever he was doing or if it was some sort of power play game. It was minutes before he turned his attention to me.

“Melody. Thanks for coming in on such short notice.” The lack of familiarity in his tone was disconcerting and the hard edge to his stare gave me goose bumps.

“Well, when the boss calls…” I tried to keep my tone light but I knew it wasn’t.

“I’m booked solid all week but I made time to interview your assistant later on today. What’s your recommendation?”

“I was actually going to call you about that. I’d stand behind the decision to move her forward for sure. She’s competent, eager, and smart. She’d make a good addition to the group.” Without thinking, I fidgeted with my ears, playing with the diamond earrings Zac had given me. I needed to remember to take them off.

“Good to know. Well, thanks.” Without another word, he resumed whatever it was he was doing when I came in and I was effectively, and coldly, dismissed. I know I shouldn’t have let it bother me but tears stung the backs of my eyes. I stood, staring at him. Willing the past to erase itself, wanting him to look at me, to show me that I mattered.

“Yes?” He dropped his pen and clasped his arms behind his head. A small smirk played at the corners of his mouth. I knew what he was doing. He was waiting for me to cave. He was fucking playing games.

“One more thing.” I forced my voice to remain even. “Something has come up and I am going to need to take Wednesday through Friday off. I’ll be visiting my parents.”

It was clear he wasn’t expecting that. I knew he was expecting me to change my mind, beg for him to stay.

“Your parents?” He kept his eyes on me as he stood and walked around to the front of the desk. He leaned back, arms crossed over his chest as he studied me, like he was daring me to look away first.

“Yes. I had Jenny clear my schedule. I will, of course, bring anything with me that needs to be addressed. I’ll be on e-mail if you need to get in touch with me.”

“E-mail? So this is how it’s going to go?” He stepped toward me, reaching out before thinking better of it and dropping his arm to his side.

I breathed out, thankful he was the one who had addressed the elephant in the room.

“Zac, listen. You need to be with your wife and I need to not be sleeping with a married man.”

“Mel—”

“No, Zac. Please don’t make this weirder than it has to be. I’ll be back next Tuesday. We’ll figure out how to be in a room with each other without the need to strip naked.”

His laugh was soft. “I just wanted to apologize for showing up at your apartment like that. To apologize for, honestly, not treating you the way you deserve. You’re one of the brightest, most beautiful women I’ve ever met, and it hurts me to know I might have been holding you back from being happy.” He leaned against his desk. “I fell in love with you so fast and so hard that I didn’t stop to see that I might be hurting you.”

“Zac—”

“You crave reciprocation, Mel. You want something you can shout from the rooftops and let everyone know about. You deserve that. I want that for you.”

“I don’t know what to say.” I was honestly shocked to hear those words come from him. To know he saw things I hadn’t noticed about myself.

“Let yourself be free, Mel. Let yourself be happy.”

I squared my shoulders and lifted my head. “I will.”

He waved me off. “Go. Be with your parents. Take the week. It’s okay. And don’t bring work with you. I’m sure there is nothing that can’t wait.”

“Thanks, Zac.” Warmth replaced the cold stare I’d received when I first arrived and I thought maybe working with him wouldn’t be so bad after all. “I also had Jenny clear my schedule for next Friday.”

Zac looked at me a moment. “Your birthday.”

“Yes,” I replied and smiled before leaving him behind.

Jenny arrived at my office, latte in hand, just as I did.

“Thank you. Mr. Waterman gave me the week off. I’m starting my vacation today.” I took the drink. “E-mail me if you need anything while I’m gone.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yep. Just a much-deserved getaway. You’re all set with Mr. Waterman. Text me if you find out before I get back.”

“Deal. And thanks.”

I smiled and headed into my office. Checking the time, I packed my bag, set up my voice mail and e-mail auto-reply to let people know the dates I’d be out of the office, shut down my computer, and headed out. If I hurried, I’d be able to make it.

I was sitting in the lobby of Blackwell and Dardston when I saw Jared step off the elevator. A short crop replaced his usual floppy hair. Instead of shorts, jeans, or those teasingly low sweatpants he liked to lounge in, he was wearing a perfectly tailored blue suit. He walked in my direction with his head down, looking at his phone as he loosened his tie. I thought the receptionist was going to lose her shit as she stared at him walking past.

Hell, I was about to lose
my
shit. He was so fucking delicious.

“Hey you.”

He looked up and smiled broadly when he saw me. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

I tilted my head toward the exit and he nodded as we walked. “I took off a little early after I took care of some things. Figured I’d meet up with you here. That okay?”

“I guess. I mean, I don’t know how I feel about you coming to my work and stalking me—”

“Stalking you?”

“What would you call it?”

“I would call it a friend coming to congratulate you on getting a new job.”

“How’d you know I got the job?”

“I know things.”

“You know things, huh?”

“Yes. And I think this calls for a celebration.”

He stepped toward me and draped his arm around my shoulder. Though he was wearing cologne, I could still smell subtle hints of lavender. Jared became that smell. I couldn’t get enough. “Celebration? Like that dinner you promised me?”

“I never promised.” I smiled. “I said maybe.”

Jared stepped in front of me and ran his hand along my cheek. He leaned close and said, “Maybe if I ask you again you’ll say yes.”

“Maybe,” I breathed and closed my eyes.

“Will you go out to dinner with me?” His mouth was so close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my lips and I ached with want.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He tugged my bottom lip between his fingers. “Let’s go home. And let’s grab a sandwich on the way. I’m hungry.”

He walked away and I was left adjusting my lady boner.

Chapter Thirteen

S
o where do you want to go for dinner?” Jared asked me after I emerged from the shower.

“I don’t know. What are you in the mood for?” I took the towel off my head and let my curls fall free around my shoulders.

“Did you cut your hair?” he asked.

“No, why?”

“It looks shorter.”

“Just because the curls make it shorter. When I blow it out and straighten it, it looks longer.”

He reached out and softly tugged a strand and watched it bounce back. “I like it.”

“Thanks.” I adjusted my towel as I realized I was pretty close to naked. “So.” I blew out a breath. “Dinner?”

“Up to you. I’m easy.”

“Nice to know.”

“Not that easy.”

“Too bad.” I stuck out my bottom lip. “Cheeseburgers?”

“You want cheeseburgers? I figured our first date—”

“Our first what?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Who said anything about a date?”

“No, no.” He backpedaled. “I meant for the first time you and I”—he cleared his throat—“when I ate you out—”

I drummed my fingers on the counter. “When you what now?” I enjoyed watching him get flustered.

“When I took you out—”

“That’s not what you said.”

“You know what I meant!”

“I must say, Jared, I don’t know the kind of kinky things that go through your mind but I’m pretty sure I would have remembered being eaten out, as you say.”

Exasperated, he dropped his head and pointed toward my room. “Go get ready so we can get you some cheeseburgers.”

Laughing, I padded off to my room. After I blow-dried my hair and added a few touches of makeup, I stared at my closet as I tried to figure out what to wear.

“Hey, Jared!” I yelled.

“Yeah?”

“What should I wear?”

“Whatever you want to wear.”

“Well, I can’t figure out if this is a date or if I’m getting eaten out. They require totally different outfits.”

“Shut up and get dressed.”

Laughing, I grabbed a kelly green strapless sundress. Not too dressy but dressy enough to pass as date attire. Plus, it was a dress, just in case, well, just in case.

Chapter Fourteen

T
wo days later, we were driving down the Garden State Parkway.

“Why are we listening to this?” I groaned. Jared had a habit of finding the twangiest sad sap of a country song and singing it at the top of his lungs. Every time I attempted to change the station, he slapped my hand away.

“Country music is real music. It has meaning. Listen to the words.” He proceeded to sing his way through a very whiny chorus.

“Other music is real music. I mean, the song doesn’t have to be about your favorite girl leaving you alone with your dilapidated pickup after she stole your hound dog and ran off with the tax man.”

“What are you talking about? I have never heard a country song about a girl running off with the tax man.” He downed the last of his energy drink.

“Well, I am sure there is one. You just haven’t heard it yet.” I huffed, crossed my arms over my chest, and looked out the window.

Sand in the front lawns. We were getting close.

“Are you pouting?”

“No.”

“You are totally pouting! How old are you going to be? Five?”

“Oh, shut up! You move to Georgia for like six years—”

“Eight years.”

“Eight years and suddenly you turn into a cowboy.”