After putting a lid on the cup, Marvin handed it to her.“He seemed like a nice young man, if you ask me.”
“Don’t you have other people you need to help?”
His grin got bigger.“Have a good day, Kelsey.”
Nice?
She wasn’t sure she’d ever use that word to describe Nathan Donovan.Focused.Intent.Relentless.Those were more accurate.And after last night, a few more could probably be thrown in.Nice?
She paid Marvin, dropped the change in the tip jar, picked up the scone and Nathan’s coffee then walked to an empty table.Since the barista had a couple of drinks in front of her mocha, she put the pastry in her tote and pulled out her phone to check messages.There was a frantic-sounding text from Andi.She’d had a mimosa for breakfast since Lorean had called in saying he’d be late because he had cramps.
Kelsey laughed so hard that a man near her turned to stare.Sometimes she wondered how she’d survive life without Andi.
She sent back a tiara emoticon.Then she sent a message of her own.
Lots to tell you.
About your hunky-dunky-hottie boss?C’mon.Tell me more.
Unable to resist the opportunity to create some drama, she responded.
We hung out last night.Oh.Mer.Gawd.
Girlfriend, you wrecked my day worse than it was.Dish.
I will.Over martinis.
Bitch.
Love you, too.
God knew Kelsey needed someone to talk to.
When her mocha was called, she grabbed it then carried it to the table.In one of her favorite indulgences, she pried off the lid then grabbed a stir stick to scoop out some of the whipped cream.She savored it while she stirred in the rest.
She took a sip to make sure it wasn’t overly hot and that it tasted good before taking a couple of much longer drinks.
The cup was half empty before she gathered everything and headed toward work.
In the building, the elevator doors closed behind her, and her heart rate increased as she was carried up each floor.Mentally, she began preparing a strategy for dealing with Nathan.
By the time she arrived at their suite, her brain was in overdrive.
Since the door was unlocked and the lights were on, he’d obviously arrived before her.But thankfully he wasn’t waiting for her.
Kelsey exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
His office door was closed, and she heard the cultured tones of his voice as he spoke.She wondered whether he had a visitor or if he was on the phone.Or maybe a video call.
Until Nathan, she’d never really appreciated the sound of a man’s voice.He controlled his so well, from commanding to reassuring, corporate inflexibility to encouraging.It wasn’t just with her.It had been the same with Martha Leone as he’d charmed her.Then with the senior management team.The man intuitively knew how to get what he wanted.
She placed the cups on the desktop then glanced at her wire inbox.A wink of metal caught her eye.With a frown, she reached for it.
Cold lanced through her as she picked up a set of nipple clamps.
He’d remembered.
Suddenly she was careening back to the previous night.Her nipples ached anew and she was breathless, needy.
