And Then There Was Us (And The There Was 2)

“Oh wow, did I embarrass you?” she teased.

I grinned, but my face still felt hot as fuck. “People don’t really throw compliments at me,” I said truthfully. “Thank you though.” I’m on fucking cloud nine, knowing you like anything about me.

I felt like a jackass because I was so unfamiliar with compliments that I couldn’t even take one like a normal human being. Or maybe this had nothing to do with the compliment and everything to do with the person delivering it.

Yeah, I knew for a fact that it was the latter, because knowing Korrie liked the way I looked turned my world upside down. And that sure as hell wasn’t an overstatement.

“Thanks again for everything,” she said and stood, pushing in the bar stool and gathering up the papers she’d been looking over. “I’ll just put these on your desk in your office and then head out.”

My body was strung tight as she walked by, and I told myself not to lean in—like I was currently doing—and inhale the sweet, citrusy scent that clung to her. I also told myself not to check her out, which I was failing at. Of course my damn eyes dropped right to her luscious, round ass. I groaned, but thank God it was low enough that she didn’t hear as she kept walking back to my office. She was only in there for a moment before she headed out and to the back room.

Sweet Jesus. I’ve never seen an ass like that. She can bring a man to his knees with that ripe, peach-shaped perfection. No, not any man. Me. Only me.

I watched her the entire way as she headed back to the staff room. I swore I was frozen in place, standing there with my jaw slack, because she fucked me up in the best ways on the inside.

When she emerged from the back room, I was still standing there, staring at where she’d gone. Thankfully she was focused on her phone and didn’t notice me looking dumbstruck. She tucked her cell into the purse, buttoned up her coat, slipped on some gloves, and lifted her head to glance at me. Her smile was instant when our eyes locked.

“Bye, Bishop. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said as she went to move past me.

“Did you call a car pickup?” I asked, remembering her on her phone as she’d come out of the staff room.

“Huh?”

I gestured to her purse, where she’d put her cell phone in just moments before. “Saw you texting. Thought maybe you got a car.”

“Oh.” She shook her head. “No, I was letting my dad know I was heading home, although I’m sure he’s been out cold since nine.” She laughed softly. “I’m only a few blocks down. I was just going to walk to my building.”

My entire body went rock-solid, my muscles tightening, everything in me roaring out that, no, I wouldn’t have that.

I shook my head before I could stop myself. I didn’t want to come off as an overbearing asshole, but no fucking way would I allow her to be at risk like that. “I can’t have you walking home at this time of night, Korrie.” I was still shaking my head, felt a scowl no doubt darkening my face. “It sure as hell isn’t safe out there, especially at this hour.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, Bishop.”

I could tell she was used to taking care of herself. She had an independent streak in her, one that really called to me, turned me on, but that didn’t mean I liked this particular aspect of her wanting to handle things on her own.

“You don’t have to worry. I can handle myself.” She didn’t say it snarky, more matter-of-fact.

“I have no doubt you can handle herself, but what type of employer would I be if I didn’t make sure my employees got home safely, especially on the first night of work?” The hard truth was this had nothing to do with me being her boss or about her first night at work. Although I wouldn’t let any of my staff walk home in the city in the middle of the night, I especially wouldn’t let Korrie.

She already meant a hell of a lot to me, and that should have made me feel some unease, but all I felt was this pull toward her, an addiction, intoxicating where I never wanted to be sober.

I could tell she was gearing up to argue her point, but I just shook my head again and grabbed my keys, my jacket, and gestured toward the back door. The bar was closed already, so the only thing holding us up was her wanting to be stubborn. Which still turned me on.

Her brows pulled down. “Bishop, it’s really not a problem. I’ve walked home plenty of times, and I have a nice full can of pepper spray in my purse.” She lifted her purse and gave it a little shake to emphasize her point.