***
Until now, I haven’t understood the appeal of man in a three-piece suit. Specifically, a man in a gray three-piece suit with a black dress shirt and a gray patterned tie.
I’ve never been attracted to corporate types. All of the men I’ve been involved with have had a passion for creativity. I always believed that the pull toward them stemmed from our mutual interest in the arts or their laid-back style.
Griffin Kent has neither of those, but I can’t take my eyes off of him.
He’s standing near an open office door talking to a woman with long black hair. Her back is to me and his eyes are pinned to her face. A twinge of envy rolls through me. I wish to hell he was looking at me with the same intensity in his gaze.
My sole purpose when I came to the offices of Kent & Colt today was to return the forty dollars that Griffin’s assistant, Joyce, loaned me.
Since no one is at the reception desk, I’ve been standing next to it, eyeing up Griffin since he stepped out of one of the offices with the dark-haired woman. He has yet to notice me staring at him. I’m grateful for that.
I thought I’d hand Joyce the cash and be out of here in thirty seconds flat. That’s why I’m wearing ripped jeans, a gray University of Denver T-shirt and a wrinkled black blazer I found at the bottom of my suitcase as I was unpacking more of my stuff this morning.
At least I straightened my hair and brushed my teeth.
My plan today was to stay home so I could work on the lesson plan for my class. When my dad called me an hour ago to ask if I was still alive and if I needed any cash to make ends meet, it dawned on me that I hadn’t paid Joyce back.
I was dressed and on the subway within fifteen minutes headed here.
I now wish I had used the number she gave me and called her before I left my place. If I had done that, I wouldn’t be standing here looking like a lost puppy.
My gaze scans the reception desk for an envelope. If I can find one, I’ll shove the two twenty dollar bills inside and address it to Joyce from me. She’ll know exactly what it is.
“If you tell me what you’re looking for, I’ll point you in the right direction.”
There’s no mistaking that deep, raspy voice. I know exactly who it belongs to. I look up to see Griffin approaching as the woman he was talking to turns to look right at me, disappointment washing over her expression.
“Joyce,” I answer quickly. “I need to talk to Joyce.”
“About?” he questions with a raise of his eyebrow.
I deflect. “Is she here? Can you find her for me?”
The phone on the desk starts ringing but his gaze never leaves mine. “Why do need to talk to Joyce?”
“Aren’t you going to answer that?” I point at the phone.
“No.” His eyes drop to the front of my T-shirt. “My partner’s assistant will pick it up.”
As if on cue the phone stops mid-ring. I turn my attention back to him. “I came here to see Joyce.”
“She has the day off.” He shoves both of his hands into the front pockets of his pants. “It looks like you’ll need to settle for me.”
Chapter 8
Piper
I open my black leather wallet and slide out forty dollars. I look down at it. “Joyce loaned me this the day I was robbed. I’ve been meaning to stop by to repay her, but it kept slipping my mind.”
Griffin leans closer, his voice lowering, his breath skirting over my cheek. “I’ve already reimbursed Joyce. Keep it.”
I won’t knowingly be indebted to anyone. I hold out the bills in front of me. “Take it.”
His hands stay hidden within the pockets of his perfectly tailored pants. “No, Piper. I insist on you keeping it. You’re already out the money that bastard took from you. Consider this an offering to make up for that.”
I clutch the two twenty dollar bills in my fist. “I don’t expect you to replace what he took from me. You had nothing to do with what