My friends nod before Spade comments, “Well, at least you don’t want to fuck our receptionist again, right?”
I try to keep my expression neutral, but there’s no way to deny my feelings, even if I try my best to lie. “Sure, I don’t. That shouldn’t be an issue this time around. Working with her will be like a walk in Central Park.”
The last thing I hear before walking away is the laughter of my friends.Assholes. I guess my attraction toward the woman that pushes all my buttons is evident even to them. I can’t do anything about it as long as we’re working together.
Okay, I take it back; working with herisn’tthat easy.
I’m walking my client to the front, when Soph is reaching for a pen she has dropped. One moment, I think,damn, she looks great in those pants hugging her curves when she bends over,and the next,I remember why she’s here. She isn’t here to keep me company or stroke my ego…or my dick. She’s here to pay for her actions.
And let’s not forget that I’m supposed to hate or at least strongly dislike her. But how can I do that when all I can think about is how amazing my hands would feel all over that sexy-as-sin body. Or how her voice would sound like moaning my name. I feel myself hardening even thinking that.
Shit, I can’t let my dick do all the thinking. I’m her boss, not some random guy she can hook up with. Mixing business and pleasure shouldn’t be on my agenda after what happened with my ex. So why can’t I stop ogling Soph’s body? Her skin-tight leather-like pants will be the death of me for sure.
Those happen to be the same ones she wore the night we met. I remember thinking that someone that perfect and too good to be true has to have some flaws. I spent the entire night waiting for the shoe to drop, but it never did. Everything we discussed that day drew me closer to her.
Yet, how things turned out, I never saw Soph again until Rose’s graduation party this summer. And I was in a committed relationship with Tiff by then. I don’t know if that’s how it was all supposed to go, but I can’t change the past.
Once Dom finishes with his client and the girls return from their lunch, I make the official introductions between Soph and the rest of my crew. As expected, Spade flirts and tests the waters.
“Lovely to meet you, Soph.” He shakes and then kisses her hand. “I’ve heard so many fine things about you and can’t wait to work with you.”
Based on her reaction, Soph isn’t taking the bait, even if sheenjoys the little gesture. “Oh, have you now? I bet nothing Jax said about me is true.”
“Well, he has talked about you more than any other new starter during my many years knowing him.”
“I doubt it, but thanks for lying for him, Spade. Where did you work before moving to Brooklyn?”
Spade shrugs with a smile, dismissing her comment about him lying. “I started in Chicago and moved here with Jax when he and King decided on the extension and needed talent.”
“Cool. And is that a local accent I hear?” Soph wonders. Her accent matches the locals, as expected.
“Yeah, my parents still live in Staten Island. You can take the guy out of New York, but you can’t take New York out of the guy,” he replies with a wink.
She giggles, and it ticks me off, making my next words blunt. “Okay, that’s enough for today.”
“But you were the one who wanted us to meet,” Rogue comments, glancing at me speculatively.
Soph catches the exchange between him and me. “Yeah, you can’t just have me to yourself.”
The guys laugh, and Nelly hides her giggles behind her hair. I thought we were all adults here, but apparently, my team is like a bunch of middle schoolers during the first school dance—socially awkward and laughing at everything, even if it isn’t even remotely funny.
Dom’s laugh turns into a chortle. “Oh, I like her. She’s a little firecracker.”Firecracker. How fitting. I have to remember that one.
“Just wait and see until you’ve tested my patience.” She winks, glancing my way when saying that. “It was lovely to meet the rest of you, but it’s time to get back to work. Nelly, your next appointment should be here in 10, and Jax, your two-thirty was moved to three. You didn’t have other appointments after, so I thought it was okay.”
I nod. “Sure. It shouldn’t take long anyway.”
“That’s what he says to all the ladies, and then leaves after five minutes,” Rogue jokes, and Soph’s eyes widen for a second before she laughs. She doesn’t realize I noticed all that, and her body’s reactions fascinate me. I wonder how she would react if I touched her the way I wanted.
“As Sophia said, time to get back to work,” I tell my team and walk back to my office.
Trying to think of anything other than my new employee, I get back to designing a tattoo for tomorrow’s client. They want something special to remember their mother. As I’m someone with apparent mommy issues, I didn’t think I was the right person for the job. But after talking with my client more, I got a clear idea of what they were after. The tattoo design will be a tree showing the deep connection between the family members. It’ll have a detailed design and small additions you can’t see immediately. I’m sure my client will love it.
While adding a lily flower to the design, as my client mentioned it as their mother’s favorite flower, I wonder what it must feel like to have a close bond with your parents. Something so substantial that it makes you want to tattoo your skin to honor the feeling—I can’t even imagine that. My father is dead, and my mother is something else. Now that I’m already on edge with Soph, thinking about TrishaI-have-no-idea-about-her-current-last-name-ismakes me even angrier.
“What are you doing,boss?” I hear someone sing-song behind me.Nelly.
I spin around on my chair to face her. “Curling my hair and getting my nails done…what does it look like I am doing?”
