It was like resisting a huge brick of chocolate in front of you. Diet be damned, if it’s sitting in front of you, you’re gonna sneak a piece. If he wasn’t in front of my face every day, I could let myself indulge in the fantasy of him, bask in it, really. However, with him beinghere, I had to stop that.
Sulking a little, I pulled my cell phone from my purse, bringing up my messages and clicking my sister’s name. My fingers flew across my iPhone screen as I threatened to skin her alive if she repeated a word of what I was about to tell her to anyone, especially Dad or Mom.
Kelsey:OMG. You’re dramatic. Just tell me what’s going on.
Me:Dad hired Thor.
Kelsey:WHAT!
Me:Yup. Thor’s a welder at the shop now.
Kelsey:…I can’t tell if this is good or bad?
Me:It’s TERRIBLE Kelsey. He said he wasn’t in a place for a relationship, and neither am I, but I want him again, and he’s now an employee, and it’s all awkward and terrible.
Kelsey:Hmm. Still not seeing a problem. Wanting someone doesn’t need to mean a relationship. Ever heard of fuck buddies? ;)
I stared at my phone, my nose wrinkling slightly as I considered it. Casual sex friends could be fun—it was something I’d never experienced before, and the idea intrigued me. But the problem was, I didn’t know how I could be around him every day, sleep with him, andnotdevelop feelings—or at least an acute addiction to him. I was already jonesing pretty bad.
Plus, that would probably be way outside his comfort level. The way he’d pointed out I was the boss’s daughter suggested he had a problem with that, and maybe therewasa problem with that. I had no idea what the policy was on employee relationships.
I reallywasbad at my job.
Exhaling, I dropped my phone back into my purse, my eyes darting to the meeting room door. I wondered how Alaric was making out or if I should go in and ask him if he needed any help. He was one welder I wouldn’t mind helping line by line.
Thinking the better of it, I shook my head and grabbed my computer mouse, moving it to wake up the monitor.
Alaric
I stared at the endless stack of papers in front of me unable to concentrate on the black and white words on the pages.
This was the last place I’d expected to ever run into Gwen again. It was a small town—I realized that—but I figured we’d cross paths at the grocery store or the gas station, not at my new job.
And she was the boss’ daughter, too.
She was responsible for filing employee paperwork, and it was only a matter of time before she learned more about me than I’d ever intended her to know.
But I needed this job. Full-time hours, benefits—both drug and dental, and life insurance. The pay was thirty-two dollars an hour, too.
I’d be one of the head welders, as I knew how to do both TIG and MIG welding, and I had more experience than any of the other applicants. It was still a step back from owning my own shop, but it stung less than the other job offers, and travel wouldn’t cut into my time with Sawyer.
This job was perfect, but if I took it, it meant I’d be putting myself in Gwen’s proximity every day. It was hard to look at her and not picture the expression on her face as she came on my cock.
But it was only supposed to be one night, and now, I’d have to face her every day and not remember how she tasted.
It made me want her again. Especially when she’d been in this tiny little room with me. Four walls, her pencil skirt and white blouse, her dark hair twisted in a bun. Those glasses, her painted lips, her rapid breaths and wide gray eyes.
It was a dangerous fantasy I hadn’t known I even wanted until the moment her perfume coiled around my senses. The scent of her alone made keeping my distance a challenge, but I was used to fighting my basic instincts, and I’d managed to resist. Barely.
I exhaled, running my hand over my beard. Picking up the pen, I started filling out the forms, my need to secure employment greater than my need to avoid complication. There were child support payments and bills to consider. And maybe down the line, a lawyer to try and get more time with my daughter if Cheryl didn’t come around on her own.
Besides, Gwen worked in the office. The chances of running into her were slim.
Within half an hour, I had the paperwork completed. I stood, collecting the pile and leaving the meeting room.
Gwen sat at her desk, typing on the keyboard. She glanced up when the door opened and drew in her bottom lip, dropping her gaze as I approached like she was ashamed to look me in the eyes.
“All finished?” she asked, her voice an octave higher than its usual lilt.
