“You’re not helping,” I growl and storm out of my office.
I have fifteen minutes until a conference call, enough time to stretch my legs, make myself a coffee, and start acting like the managing partner, not a lovesick fool who can’t think past his dick.
Paige’s laughter curls through my ears, sinks into my bloodstream, and lulls my heart into a new rhythm I want to memorize. This is not good.
I consider turning and walking in the opposite direction, but then I notice James, one of the third-year associates, standing close to Paige.
Too fucking close.
I stride toward them, trying not to let the seething jealousy show.
“Do I need to remind you that socializing on company time is not permitted?”
James pales, nods, and scampers away.
Satisfaction makes my chest inflate.
Paige tilts her head and raises one brow as if she can read every depraved thought I’ve had about her. “Back to being Mr. Grumpy again?”
The slight upturn of her top lip is distracting, to the point that it takes me a second to realize she spoke. “I’m always Mr. Grumpy.”
My sassy assistant begins walking down the hallway, her hips swaying with just the right amount of swing to make my balls ache. “You’ve been Mr. Recluse all morning.”
My mouth twitches, threatening a smile. “Have you missed me, Miss Grier?”
She looks over her shoulder at me, her lips curling up at the corners. “You’ve been sitting in your office opposite my desk; it’s impossible to miss you,Mr. Carlson.”
It’s the first time she’s said my name since my cock was inside her.
I want to be inside her when she says it again.
“Why were you laughing with James?”
Why the fuck do I sound like an insecure schoolboy? She’s going to be in Europe for a year with countless horny men making her laugh.
And moan.
Fuck.
She stops and turns on the ball of one foot, an amused glint brightening her blue eyes. “Are you jealous?”
Knots tighten my chest and stomach, and my fist is hot with the lingering desire to shove it in James’s face and the faces of every future asshole who will touch her.“Are you fucking him?”
Her cheeks turn red, and even though I can see the anger simmering behind her eyes, my cock twitches.
I’ve turned into an unhinged, possessive asshole, and she isn’t even mine.
“Parker,” Taylor calls out, trying to get my attention as she walks toward us.
Paige storms past me and Taylor, moving toward her desk.
Taylor’s attention quickly darts to Paige, then back to me. “There’s a meeting?—”
“Add it to my calendar.” I march down the hall, following Paige and glancing into my office.
Alex is gone. Good.
“Miss Grier,” I snap. “My office.”
