She bit her lip while considering. “I don’t remember. I’ll walk with you so I can open it if you need me to.”
I picked up the box and followed her. On the way she made small talk about the game, but she seemed nervous for some reason. With her heavy makeup and revealing outfit, she reminded me of a little girl playing dress up. Nicole was so different from Sid that I was surprised they meshed.
The door was locked, and as soon as Nicole opened it and we stepped inside, I had an urge to get the hell out of there. If I was reading her signals right, she wanted me to do more than just drop this box off in her office.
“Just right there is good,” she said, pointing at an open corner of the main office suite.
I set the box down and turned for the door.
“I like you, Killian,” Nicole said. Her effort at sultriness made me cringe inwardly. “I just wanted to say that if you’re ever looking for something casual . . . I’m open to it. I’m not looking for a relationship.”
I took in a deep breath and let it out, wanting to choose my words carefully.
“I’m flattered,” I said, putting a hand on the doorknob. “But Orion would beat my ass if I messed with anyone on the staff.”
“But you like Sidney.” The sultriness was gone. Now she sounded offended. Fuck.
“Of course I like her. I like everyone who’s part of the team.”
“I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
I turned to face Nicole, hoping to diffuse the situation. “I find Sidney attractive, yeah. But I know better than to think I can have a relationship with my team owner.”
It was technically true. I’d kissed her, pulled her hair and licked her gorgeous pink nipples, but never had we contemplated a relationship.
“She wouldn’t have to know.” Nicole unpinned her hair and it fell around her shoulders.
I cringed. “Shit, don’t do that. I’m not going out there with you looking like we just fucked. Fix your hair.”
“It’s because of her, isn’t it?” Nicole asked bitterly. “You’re afraid Sidney will find out.”
“There isn’t gonna be anything to find out.” I turned the doorknob and opened the door. “Let me repeat. This is a firm no.”
I walked away, almost breaking into a run. Fucking hell. The last thing I needed was Sidney’s assistant making a play for me. And, even worse, I now knew that Nicole didn’t respect Sidney. She had no problem breaking the rules behind her back, and Sid had been pretty good to her from what I’d seen.
I had to tell her. Sidney had Nicole in a position of trust, and she needed to know Nicole didn’t deserve it.
Now I just had to decide how to bring it up. I was weighing my options outside the door of the VIP suite when Sid walked out. Tonight she wore a Flyers blue sweater, black pants and Flyers blue heels. Her conservative style was becoming a huge turn-on for me. The world didn’t get to see her body. But I’d seen parts of it, and Christ, did I want to see more.
“Great job tonight,” she said, smiling. “This went better than I could have hoped for.”
“It was fun.” I took a deep breath and dove in. “Hey, can we talk in private for a second? Won’t take long.”
I could tell she was wondering if talk was code for fuck around. Even though it wasn’t, the thought of being alone with her was appealing. An image of her standing in her office, tits wet from my mouth, sprang into my mind.
How the hell had I managed to keep my hands in my pockets yesterday? I’d make no such promises if I got her alone tonight.Sidney
I paused for a second, wondering if I could trust myself to be alone with him. But the look on his face told me this was an actual thing, not just an attempt to continue what we’d started in my office.
“Sure.” I followed him down the hall and around a corner to a quiet, empty spot.
“Let’s step in here, actually,” he said, opening a door and reaching around for a light switch. “I don’t want anyone to overhear.”
It was a supply room. Boxes labeled Toilet Paper and Hand Soap were stacked neatly on shelves, and brooms, towels and other cleaning supplies were organized against the back wall.
“What’s up?” I asked, my curiosity bordering on concern.
Killian blew out a breath and I could tell that whatever it was, he didn’t like it.
“Nicole made a pass at me.”
A knot of tense anger balled in my stomach. It didn’t surprise me. Her outfit was probably part of the plan she’d formed to seduce him tonight. But the flare of jealousy it brought on didn’t feel like that of a disappointed boss. More like a scorned girlfriend, which I was not.