When I stand to leave, I glance around the quiet shop. A few of my coworkers are trying to hide their question-filled stares. On my way out, I give them a small, embarrassed smile. At least, I’ll be gone for a few days. Hopefully, everyone will forget about this incident by the time I get back from Chicago.
Yeah, right.
11
Ian
Stalking across the parking lot of the office building that houses Nash Security, I take the final swig of my coffee and, with more force than necessary, chuck it into the garbage can right outside the office building. The dream I had last night replays in my mind. Maggie and I were together at a cabin in the mountains. There was snow on the ground and a fire crackling in the fireplace as I buried my head between her legs. I woke up with her taste in my mouth and the sounds she made as she came in my ears, and my dick hard as hell.
When I stepped into that coffee shop, another thing I can’t do without thinking of Maggie, my heart nearly stopped. It was like the universe gave me that dream so that when I saw her today, I would be desperate. The need to make that dream a reality was so strong that I could think of little else.
Then she lied to me.
Well, I’m pretty sure she lied to me. Though if I’m being completely honest, it could be the anger or the jealousy making me think irrationally.
Of course, I couldn’t tell her why I thought she was lying.
I just happened to be driving through her apartment parking lot when I saw a man enter her apartment yesterday. I hadn’t been planning on staying, but the second the door shut behind him, I whipped into a parking spot that allowed me to see when he left. I was shocked when he didn’t stay long because if that were me, it would’ve had to be a major natural disaster occurring right outside to pull me away so quickly.
It crossed my mind to follow him to find out more about this douche who was withmywoman, but I figured I should limit my stalking to just one person at a time.
I stayed for another ten minutes, then drove home. Angry. Frustrated. Horny for one woman, and one woman only. And while I’ll never admit it to anyone, I was sad at the thought of her going out of town with that dickhead who’d never be good enough for her.
Not that I’m good enough for her, either.
Clearing that from my mind, I step out of the elevator into the open office space of Nash Security. Our office takes up the entirety of the sixth floor of an older office building on the west side of Nashville. Numerous desks are set up to the right of the floor, and on the left, a small waiting area and our breakroom. There’s a conference room and four offices against the back wall. One is empty, and Jack, Nate, and I use the other three.
The sun shines through the large windows. I glare at the brightness as I cross the space to my office. It should becloudy and gloomy to match my mood. The sun is making me grumpier.
“Hey, Ian!” Ella’s voice calls out from across the office.
She’s stepping out of Jack’s office with a smile as bright as the offending sunlight. For a few months now, she’s been our office manager after our last one retired.
“Hi, Ella. How are you doing?” I attempt to sound at least a little happier than I feel, but I know I fail when she frowns at me.
“You okay?”
I give a curt nod, and she eyes me skeptically.
“Okay, well, there are muffins and cookies in the breakroom if you want any.”
Ella’s an amazing baker and supplies us with treats regularly. But I’m not in the mood for them right now, the onslaught of emotions making my stomach revolt.
“Thanks for letting me know. I’m going to pass.”
She frowns again and opens her mouth to most likely question me further, but she’s interrupted by Tyler calling my name from the door of the conference room. “Ian. Where’s my coffee?”
“Shit.” Seeing Maggie made me forget that I told Tyler I would pick him up a coffee on my way to the office. “I’m sorry, man. I forgot.”
Tyler gives me an annoyed glare, then sighs and tilts his head back toward the conference room behind him. “Come on. Jack wants to meet with us to discuss a few upcoming jobs.”
I follow him into the office, patting his shoulder in apology as he takes a seat. Dropping into the chair next to him, I cross my hands on my stomach and lean back, waiting for the meeting to start. There are a few of the other guys already seated around the table.
Jack’s typing something on his phone as Nate enters the room and shuts the door behind him. “I think everyone’s here, so we can get started.”
Jack finally looks up and sets his phone down on the table next to the folder in front of him.
Nate takes the chair next to him and glances around at the group. “The last year has brought in a lot of new business. It isn’t giving any indication of slowing down.” He smiles at the newest guys. “We’ve brought on some great new employees, and we’ll be looking to hire more in the coming months. Jack will go over the jobs that are on the books for the next two weeks and who will be assigned to each.”
