Tempt The Boss (Tempt 1)

He grabs me around the waist, my body molding to his like it was made for him. We walk upstairs, where we make good use of our hands and mouths—and that third condom.

When nighttime comes, he gets dressed to go home. I’m a little down. We haven’t talked about where this is going, but I’m not stupid enough to think that it’s going anywhere. So, I tuck it down, bury it, and try to just live in the moment.

Later that night, he texts me.

Missing you.

I’m not sure what to say to him, so I send a casual reply.

Me, too ?

I don’t hear from him the rest of the evening, and then the next day, I make my way to work. I messaged Barbara last night, telling her I would give it another chance. She was very excited. I dressed in a tight black pencil skirt that I paired with a white fitted, button-down shirt with three-quarter length sleeves that has a faux rolled cuff, making it appear as if the sleeves are rolled up to my elbows. I finished the outfit off with a smoking hot pair of Ferragamo patent-leather, pointy-toe stiletto pumps.

I walk in and see Carmen at the reception desk. Her reaction to seeing me is less than friendly. I don’t bother questioning her on it, I just walk back to my desk.

I put my purse on the desk as I look into Austin’s office and notice he isn’t in yet. I walk to Barbara’s office to tell her I’m here, but she isn’t in yet, either. Looking at my watch, I see it’s almost eight, so they both should be in soon.

Walking back to my desk, I come face-to-face with a furious Austin, who is just walking out of his office.

“What are you doing here?” he asks with his hands on his hips, and my heart sinks a bit at his reaction.

“I work here. Barbara asked me to come back, and I agreed.” I put my hands on my hips now, too.

He grabs my arm, bringing me into his office and slamming the door.

“You can’t work here. I don’t sleep with women I work with.” I look at him in confusion.

“What?” I ask, not sure I understand.

“I don’t sleep with women I work with. I think it’s pretty straight-forward,” he barks.

“So, you’re saying that you won’t be with me if I work for you?” I ask him, now folding my arms over my chest.

“I’m telling you that you aren’t working here, so we can continue sleeping with each other.”

“Well, then that settles it. We won’t sleep with each other,” I bait him. He drove me out once, he won’t do it again. “When we slept together, I hadn’t agreed to start working for you again, so that doesn’t count,” I tell him right before there is a knock at the door.

“Go away!” Austin yells, but the door opens anyway with Barbara peeking in.

“Oh, good, you’re here. I see you’ve found out that Lauren decided to come back. You’re welcome.” She takes in the tension in the room and looks at her watch. “It’s been two minutes. How can you guys be fighting already?”

“It’s nothing,” Austin says as I stare him down.

“He’s trying to fire me, because, apparently, he doesn’t work with women he has slept with.” I look over at Barbara, who closes the door behind her.

Then I look at Austin, who throws his hands in the air. “Why did you tell her?” he asks.

“Oh, please, she changed your diapers.” I look at Barbara and then back to him. “Besides, if she hasn’t already, Kaleigh would have told her.”

He looks at the ceiling in his office, pinching his nose. “How did this happen?”

“Well, you had sex with Lauren, that’s how,” Barbara cuts in. “Which isn’t that bad, Austin. I might have to change the employee handbook back now that it appears that fraternizing with a co-worker is okay,” she teases.

“No, it’s not okay,” Austin snaps. “I don’t shit where I eat.” He looks at me. “Not now, not ever.”

“Fine, no big deal. We forget it happened and move forward since it won’t be happening again.” I shrug my shoulders in an attempt to make light of it, while, in truth, my heart is breaking. “It wasn’t that great anyway.”

“Liar,” he snaps as I turn to walk out.

“Now, if you guys will excuse me, I have work to catch up on.” I turn and walk out before I break down.

I close the door behind me as Austin calls my name. I ignore the desire to go to him, ignore my aching heart and hurt feelings, and ignore the thoughts that we could have been starting something amazing.

Chapter Twenty-Two

AUSTIN

I had the best sex of my life. I was walking on cloud nine. I was smiling at nothing. Then I walked in, saw her in the office, and I snapped.