Perfectly Inappropriate

“God, I hate him,” Paige muttered. “Can you talk?”

“Yup,” Olivia said. “What’s up?”

Paige’s voice lifted, all irritation gone. “Excited about going to Noah’s tonight?”

“Very.” The past seven days, while Olivia waited for her test results to come in and for Friday to finally get here, had been hell. Making the decision to join SiR had been easy in comparison. Because when the time seemed to drag, Olivia couldn’t help but question her sanity. “The waiting has been the hardest part.”

“I doubt that will be the hardest thing tonight.” Paige giggled. “But seriously, call me right away if you want out of there or if something feels wrong. Okay?”

Movement caught her eye. Isaac left his office and moved toward her cube. “Yikes. Gotta run. The General is approaching. I’ll call if I need you. Promise.” She hung up the phone right as Isaac settled in front of her desk, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

“I decided on another change.” He handed her the paper. “I think this will be a stronger direction.”

Olivia accepted the paper and glanced down at the logo with a sketch of the New York City skyline in behind it. Un-fucking-believable. She looked up at him again, waiting for him to acknowledge her idea.

It never came.

“All clear?” Isaac asked, hands shoved in his pockets.

You’re a total prick…“Yes, sir, we’re all clear.”

“Excellent.” And just to prove his authority once more, he added, “Don’t take long on that, Olivia. I want it on my desk ASAP.”

“Got it.” She nodded.

With his chin high and chest out, he spun on his heels and returned to his office.

Olivia inhaled and exhaled deeply so she wouldn’t lose her shit. Isaac was a stepping-stone. She needed experience as a graphic designer, and Isaac’s company was the best web design company in the city.

She simply needed to hold her tongue a little longer.

* * *

—

A good hour after returning home from a day filled with meetings both in the office and out, Noah strode through his penthouse. Not used to being home this early during the day since he tended to work long hours, he took the moment to stare out the large floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offered him a three-hundred-sixty-degree, bird’s-eye view of New York City. That view and the wraparound terrace, which gave him a stunning view of the Hudson River and Empire State Building, were sometimes his escape after a hard day.

>

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and stared out at the sun setting over the Freedom Tower. Over the years, he had tasted impatience many times but none quite like what he endured waiting for the days to pass by so that he could see Olivia again. Every day had gone by brutally slowly. Without any doubt in his mind, his reaction to her caused slight concern for more reasons than one. He’d become a little too interested in her for his liking. At the same time, he’d never stop this week from happening.

Which awakened Jared’s warning with vengeance. Olivia seemed handpicked for him; she sparked a connection that left him hopelessly captivated. Was this woman real or someone not to be trusted?

The question was valid, and in politics among the competition, one that Noah wouldn’t overlook.

And when the knock came at his door fifteen minutes later, he was more than determined to discover the answer to that lingering question. He took his time to answer, allowing Olivia’s anticipation to build. But when he opened the door, he noted her nervousness.

She looked gorgeous wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her body in all the right places, showing him exactly where her beautiful curves were. Her hair was down but pinned away from her face, revealing darker makeup than what she’d worn to the restaurant. “Olivia,” he said, leaning forward and placing a kiss on her cheek.

Her shiver was evidence that she was aroused but nervous. More good signs that this wasn’t a setup and that her being here was real and her decision. Anyone hired to frame a political scandal would stay focused and comfortable in the hoax. They wouldn’t falter in their seduction.

“Please come in,” he said, stepping out of the way for her to enter. “You look absolutely stunning tonight.” And she did. His hard cock was proof of that. “How did you know I have a special appreciation for black dresses?”

She gave a shy smile. “I didn’t, sir, but I’m glad you like it.”

Ah, she remembered the sir. He winked. “And I like a quick learner even more.”

She stepped by him, the light hints of her flowery perfume infused on the air. That’s when he got a good look at her ass, and not seeing any panty lines, he knew she wore a thong or nothing at all. His dick jerked in his pants. Damn. His fingers twitched to make that ass all nice and warm, imagining how perfect she would look with a bright red bottom.