“Do you think we should stop and grab maybe ten, twenty pizzas on the way?” Eric asks. “Teenagers do not turn down pizza and maybe it will give the chef guy a night off.”
His suggestion is decidedlyunasshole. I couldn’t even stop the loud tut that escapes my mouth if I tried. Why does he have to be so fucking great? Maybe I need to be the asshole first. Like, get a momentum going.
“I’m not paying for them,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, looking and sounding like a petulant child. Wasn’t really what I was going for, but it works.
“Nobody asked you to pay, brat. So you better suck that lip back in before I lean over and bite it.”
He gives his warning in that gruff tone I love. He sounds like he's been chewing gravel, and it'shot. I have to quickly adjust my dick in my jeans before he sees what he’s done to me. What the fuck even was that? Sure, we flirt in the office, but it's never as blatant as this. I really need to work on being more… unattractive? Impossible. I’ll have to think of something else to put him off.
“You can’t call me brat outside the bedroom, Dimples.” My caution is stern, and I point one of my painted talons at him, but the fucker just laughs and gives me that big wide smile—dimples and all.
“Pretty sure I just did. Now, hush up and find me the best pizza joint around here.”
I scoff at his reply, but still pull out my phone and fire up Google. I’m looking for the place with the best reviews, but it’s gotta be close enough to the shelter so the damn pizzas aren’t cold as a witch's tit by the time we get them to the kids. I shoot a quick text to let Derek know the plan.
“Maybe we should talk to Blake about buying him a new phone, or organizing a new number at least? I doubt his brother has the smarts to trace him or anything, but Blake shouldn't have to read any vile messages he might send him, you know?” I’m babbling absentmindedly, too busy connecting my phone to Eric's bluetooth so Google Maps can give him directions and I don't have to.
Eric nods and taps the steering wheel, much like he taps his pen on the desk when he's thinking. Fuck me, when did I start cataloging all of his idiosyncrasies? I had no idea I knew this much about him. It’s because we work so closely together. That's all it is. Although, if I think about it, between all the hours at the office and our very frequent play dates, I've probably spent more time with Eric than I have with any other man in my entire life. Yeah, I really don't want to think about that.
“That’s a good idea. Maybe he already has his brother blocked, but it won’t stop him trying to contact him from another number—one of his bozo friends, maybe. Blake doesn’t need that bullshit, but at the same time we can’t force him to do anything or we’ll become just another couple of adults bossing him around. I don’t want to be that for him.”
Eric is right. I certainly do not want to come across as some pushy, judgmental parent figure, and the fastest way to do that would be to second guess his choices.
“You know, I admire the fuck out of this kid. What happened to him would put grown ass men into a tailspin, but I guess when they say kids are resilient, they mean it. He bounced back so fast. Maybetoofast.”
I ponder for a second if Roman has managed to get a resident counselor in for the kids while he's finishing his own studies. Hopefully Blake is open to talking to somebody. I have a feeling that kid is carrying so much more than any of us even realize. The abuse we saw the other night was probably just the tip of the iceberg. We still don’t even know where his parents are, if he even has any, or if they give a fuck about him.
All of this makes me equally mad and sad. I bet if I told my folks about him, they would snatch him up and roll him in so much love he would suffocate. They have always wanted to be grandparents, so maybe this is a good compromise. Wait. Is that weird? Is Blake likely to think I'm some weirdo if I ask him if he wants to be adopted by my parents? I would make a much better big brother than a father figure.
“Who says he even wants to be adopted at all?” Eric asks, not taking his eyes off the road.
“Shit, did I say that out loud?” I wince immediately, but it’s just a reflex. In all truth, I’m really not bothered. It’s better to discuss these things out loud, anyway.
Eric laughs. “I’m used to you muttering to yourself. I figure it keeps you focused, so I’ve never brought it up.”
That's… kind of sweet, actually. Dammit, he really needs to stop with this bullshit. I do not want to wife this man up, but right now it feels like he isn't giving me a choice. He's wicked smart, funny as hell, sexy as sin and accepts my fiendish quirks as the norm. Not to mention he is an absolute demon in bed. I smirk at myself as I realize what I did there. Clearly, the devil on my shoulder is steering this ship.
“Well, I can ask him, can’t I? Or would that be weird? My parents would give him so much love he’d be drowning in it. I hate the thought that his poor kid has never had that in his life. Although we don’t actually know that much about him. Maybe his parents loved him dearly and they died in a horrible accident and he was left with his homophobic asshole brother.” I have to suck in a huge gulp of air after spewing that out. I’m spiraling. I need to do a few breathing exercises or something.
Eric's hand lands heavy on my thigh and I suddenly feel silence descend on me. All my worries and concerns still for a moment as I stare at the fingers sprawled over my leg. That damn paw of his ismassive.With a light dusting of hair on skin that has spent many days in the sun. I can’t see his tattoos right now, but I know they are there. I practically have them memorized at this point.
My gaze flicks up to his exceptionally handsome face. His designer stubble is just a little longer than usual. I remember how that feels against my skin, and for some crazy reason I want to kiss him. I want to feel that scratch on my face as we devour each other. Wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake? I’m shaken out of my thoughts when he smiles and chuckles to himself, still keeping his eyes on the road.
“Take a breath, Jordan. Nobody, especially Blake, is expecting you to fix all of his issues overnight, and he certainly doesn’t expect you to try and rewrite history. All he needs you to do is be there for him if and when he needs you. So settle that busy brain down while I go grab the pizzas, okay?”
His tone is warm and feels like a big hug. He's not judging me, he isn't calling me crazy. He’s… calming me, and fuck if I’m not too stunned to even speak. I just nod at his instructions and watch as he climbs out of the car and jogs into the pizza place.
I take a deep breath, then another. My eyes track Eric's movement inside the shop. He's chatting with the guy that works there. He has this ability to feel relaxed in any room. Like he knows that no matter who he is talking to, he can relate to them in some way or another. Makes him a fantastic attorney and an amazing guy. I know I’m lucky to have him in my life. The arrangement we have works for both of us. So why does my fucking heart keep trying to tell me that I want more all of a sudden? This is not cool. Even if I did want that, Eric doesn’t, and there is no fucking way I am going down the path of unrequited love…
Ewwwww, who the fuck said love? I’m losing my mind; there is no other explanation for such demented notions. I donot do love. I think I’m going to have to add that to my daily affirmations, because I'm pretty sure I’m watching my boss with cartoon heart eyes andthatis a one-way trip to unemployment.
CHAPTER 14
Eric
Jordan is acting strange. I mean, he’s always had his quirks, which I kinda like about him, but his behavior over the last week is just…strange. After delivering the pizzas to the center, along with the supplies we got for Blake and the other teens there, we hung out for a bit. But instead of the usual flirty banter we have going, he suddenly seemed buttoned up. I assumed it was to keep our situationship from getting out, given that Derek had already been asking questions. So, as weird as I found it, I played along. What really threw me for a loop was how quickly he jumped from my car when I pulled up at his apartment. No invitation to come and grab my things, just a quick wave over his shoulder before he practically bolted inside the building.
Now, it’s Monday morning and I am having my usual meeting with the team. Jordan is barely making eye contact with me, and if I’m gonna be honest, I’m starting to get offended. The only thing I can think of is that he really doesn’t want his friends to find out about us. Which is definitely a kick in the balls, especially now I’m starting to have some type of feelings toward him. Maybe that's what it is. Maybe he senses my feelings and is putting distance between us. He has always made it clear that he doesn't want any kind of serious relationship, and heisa lot younger than me. Not to mention the fact I'm his boss. Fucking the boss is fine, but actuallydatinghim? That’s gotta be a step too far in his book.
