Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel Read online

  ***

  The rest of my meal is eaten in complete distraction. I’m conversing with Courtney, of course, even though she’s laughing at everything I say as if I’m a fucking comedian, but my eyes won’t stop moving across the restaurant.

  Who is this Ryan asshole; who somehow thought he was good enough to be in her presence? And picking a place like NoMad means he was trying really hard to impress her. I don’t think this is something that would impress her. She’s simple, easy, in the best way.

  “Have you been up to your house in the Hamptons yet this year? You’ve told me how beautiful it is, but you have yet to take me,” she pouts, trying to be whiny, but it’s mostly annoying.

  “Uh huh. Yes,” I answer, without even hearing the question in its entirety, I’m too distracted by the fact that Piper is standing now, and I’m finally able to get a full look at her.

  She’s fucking incredible.

  She passes by my table, keeping her eyes trained on the ground as she walks back toward the bathrooms.

  “I need a moment. Restroom. I’ll meet you back here then we can get going.”

  I place my napkin on the table, buttoning my suit coat when I stand, and I follow in her footsteps.

  My pace is much slower than it normally would be. I don’t want to seem as if I’m chasing after her, even though I suppose I am.

  When I turn the corner into the corridor that houses the restrooms, she is nowhere in sight. I have to assume she has already slipped into the ladies’ room.

  The hallway is long and sparsely lit. The walls are a blood red with black crown molding stretching from one end of the hall to the other, directly in the middle of walls. Perfectly placed so I’m able to run my hand down the smooth wood as I step closer and closer to doors at the end.

  I’m not even sure why I am compelled to follow her back here. My body is working of its own volition, and I am completely at its mercy.

  I pause about twenty feet away from the door. I don’t want to startle her. I just want to see her, and I want to know more about this man she’s with.

  I lean my right shoulder against the wall, crossing one foot over the other and shove my hands into my pockets.

  I don’t have to wait long. Light slices through the darkness when she opens the door and pauses, staring directly at me.

  “Why are you following me?” she asks, but there isn’t fear in her voice. It’s mostly curiosity.

  “Did you enjoy your drink? Macallan 18 is a nice bottle. I thought you would enjoy it instead. Kudos on not making a face when you were drinking that wine.”

  “I like red wine, thank you very much.”

  “Liar.”

  She takes a step toward me, and the door I didn’t realize she was still holding open swings closed, shadowing us in near darkness once again.

  “Shouldn’t you get back to your… friend? She seemed to be very interested in what you had to say out there.”

  “Paying that much attention to my date, are you?” I tilt my head and grin.

  “She seems very… equipped.”

  “She is… very much so… but she lacks, what’s the word? Substance.”

  “You don’t strike me as the type who looks for substance in his companions for Friday evenings.”

  “I’m full of surprises, as I’m sure you’ve gathered over our time together.”

  “You’re full of something, that’s for sure.” She clears her throat. “Well, I should get back to my date. We are planning on grabbing a nightcap somewhere, and I shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

  I don’t have time to fully process, nor come to terms with the caveman-like jealousy that instantly bubbles in my veins because the moment she moves to step around me, she wobbles on her heels and falls chest first into my body.

  I cradle her back in my hands. “Whoa, whoa. Careful.”

  “I’m sorry… These shoes… the wine and whiskey…” she says breathily, not making any move to push away from me, in fact, I can feel her fingers wrapping in the lapels of my coat, holding herself to me.

  “So you did drink it.” I smirk.

  Her eyes bolt back and forth between mine. I would give anything to be able to read her mind right now. I want to know what is happening behind those beautiful eyes of hers.

  The rest of her body, however, I can read perfectly right now. I can feel the pounding of her heart. The trembling of her hands. The heat of her breath. The slender, dainty feel of her body in my hands, and the delicious scent of rose and vanilla that must belong to her lotion or perfume.

  Fuck, if this were anyone else… Anyone else in the world… This would be signed, sealed, and delivered.

  But she’s my employee.

  I’m her boss.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  “Piper? You okay down there?” a voice calls from behind me and she pushes away immediately.

  “Yeah, yes. I was just talking to Mr. Lennox about something for work. I’ll be right there, Ryan.”

  “Ryan, eh? Seems like a pussy.”

  She rolls her eyes. “God, you’re an asshole.”

  “That is my M.O. after all, at least according to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it seems we both have pressing matter to… attend to.” I give my jacket a tug, trying with all my might to calm the erection that is pressing into my slacks. “And for the record, Piper… you look beautiful tonight.”

  With that, I give her a nod farewell and make my way back to the dining area to finish my dinner with Courtney.

  Later, while I’m alone at home after denying Courtney when she asks to come upstairs, and I’m jerking my cock in the shower, there is only one face in my mind.

  Piper

  By the time I get back to my apartment, nearly an hour later, I’ve felt my phone vibrate in my pocket a dozen times.

  Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but it was at least six times, and without even looking at it, I know who it is.

  There’s only one person on the planet who thinks it’s appropriate to bark orders via text when I’m off the clock, like I’m some kind of personal assistant.

  I step into my apartment, shutting and locking the door behind me. I don’t even walk all the way inside before I pull my cell out to open the messages.

  Sure enough. Three of them are from Asshole himself, as he is so affectionately labeled in my phone.

  The others are from Kate and my mother.

  Asshole: Check your email. This memo needs revisions before Monday morning.

  Kate: Let me know when you’re home safe.

  Asshole: You’ll need to stay late that night as well. The meeting I want you to sit in on was delayed until later in the day.

  Mom: Dinner at my house this weekend? I want all of us together for it. Please? I forgot to ask before you left.

  Asshole: Dress appropriately. It’s an important client.

  What the fuck? Fuck him. Fuck him for that. I always dress appropriately.

  I send a text off to my mom, letting her know I’d love to have dinner; then I promptly ignore the texts from Nathanial and reply to Kate.

  Me: I’m home safe. Oh! And in case you didn’t know, Nathanial is lucky I want to sit on his face until I can’t remember my own name. That at least makes up for the fact he’s a complete… fucking… asshole.

  I toss my phone into my bag then disappear into my apartment for a much-needed shower.

  Chapter 5

  Piper

  Piper,

  How did your date go? Well, I hope! It seems like some downtime could be quite good for you.

  As far as the mysterious “him” who shall not be named, I say, if you aren’t willing to tell him how you feel, just let it go. Go have fun. Last night was a good step!

  Ida

  I read over the email reply then tuck my cell into the garter strap over my thigh-highs. It’s tight enough that it should stay there securely until I’m back at my desk. This penpal-esque relationship I’ve developed with Ida has been odd, but very needed to say
the least. It began as answers in her advice column, but then switched to direct email replies shortly after that. I’m not sure if everyone receives this treatment from her, but the ability to be honest with an unbiased third party is pretty helpful. Is my life really that sad I’m forming a friendship with a faceless self-help columnist?

  I can’t even begin to process that realization right now. I have a boss to make sweat.

  “How’s this for professional, you arrogant, beautiful asshole?” I mumble to myself, as I stare in the bathroom mirror in the office, twisting my hair into a simple updo, then smooth my hands down my black pencil skirt.

  I went for classy on the outside today, with the pencil skirt and a blue silk blouse tucked into it, but underneath, that’s my secret weapon. Lingerie makes me feel confident, so I have a lacy black number and thigh-high stockings hidden beneath.

  And the cherry on top, well… Bottom… is a pair of sky-high, royal blue suede pumps.

  I feel like a thousand bucks in this and it gives me every ounce of confidence I need to strut my shit into the conference room ahead of schedule and lay all of the materials out for the meeting. I will make sure he has nothing to say about anything.

  Water pitchers filled? Check.

  Agendas placed at each and every chair? Check.

  Snacks placed in the center of the table? Check.

  Pens at the ready for anyone who should need one? Check.

  Projector and laptop hooked appropriately and ready to roll? Check and check.

  In fact, I’m so ahead of the game I have time to take my seat in the corner, cross my legs just so, and have my iPad out and at the ready when guests begin rolling in.

  I’d be remiss if I didn’t make at least some kind of snide, internal comment about the fact that it’s all men filing in, but Old Man Lennox was old-school. He was kind, but he was a textbook old, rich white man who liked to surround himself with other old, rich white men. He was kind, but a few months before he suddenly retired, I began to notice he was less and less like the man who hired me. That man was sharp as a tack and sweet. How he produced the beautiful, asshole walking in the door right now, I’ll never know.

  Nathanial looks like sex on a stick today, and it’s impossible not to notice. He’s dressed in a dark, charcoal black suit with a crisp white shirt and a blue tie that pops against his eyes.

  I purse my matte, dark brown painted lips together and shift in my seat as I watch him survey all of the things I did. He’s checking my work behind me, just as he always does. I watch him run his hand over his smooth jawline then he swings his eyes over to me and holds my gaze.

  My heart rate accelerates and a smile spreads on my lips because I didn’t leave him a single thing to complain about.

  Perhaps I’m making it up, but I can feel his eyes move down my body, taking in my attire. I blossom in appreciation, my skin blushing a soft pink under his gaze. I don’t know what it is about this man, but he affects me in a way no man ever has before.

  In a moment of boldness, I uncross my legs so I can cross them the other way and I, maybe, perhaps, flash just the tiniest bit of my stocking to him.

  Maybe he sees it, maybe he doesn’t, but knowing the chance is there makes my girl boss insides very excited.

  ***

  As soon as the final guest exits the meeting, I watch Nathanial stand from his seat at the head of the table and straighten his tie.

  We are alone now. Normally, I would have stood and left with everyone else, but something has me frozen in my seat as if I cannot leave until he dismisses me.

  He places his hands on the tabletop and levels a stare at me.

  I swallow the knot in my throat then sit up straight.

  “If that will be all, I should get back to work,” I tell him.

  “No.” That’s all he says. One simple word.

  “No?” I question.

  “You’re going to stand and meet me in my office. Now.”

  He doesn’t say anything else to me; he just buttons his suit coat and breezes out the door.

  What the fuck?

  I stand slowly, smooth out my skirt, and take each step down the hall toward him with purpose.

  I pause outside the door and prepare myself for whatever awaits me on the other side.

  Is he going to fire me because I spoke out during the meeting? Well, if he tries, I’ll say everything I’ve ever wanted to say to him. Mark my words.

  I don’t knock before I enter; I just push open the heavy door and step over the threshold.

  I close the door behind me when I step into his office, and his scent instantly overtakes me. No matter what I’m doing, no matter how angry or annoyed I am at him, that smell makes me weak in the knees.

  He’s standing behind his desk, removing his jacket; not saying a word.

  “How can I help you? Is something wrong?” I ask.

  “Oh, Piper. There is so much wrong.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “But first, I’d like you to explain this.”

  He takes his phone out and places it on the desk, facing me.

  My eyebrows scrunch in confusion before I step closer to look at the screen.

  It’s a text conversation, obviously, so I lean down to get a better view so I can read it more clearly.

  With each word heat rises across my chest, and I know I am turning beet red.

  “Nathanial is lucky I want to sit on his face until I can’t remember my own name. That at least makes up for the fact that he’s a complete… fucking… asshole.”

  He says each word slowly, and hearing my own words from his lips, words that weren’t meant for him to see, both terrifies me and makes moisture pool between my thighs.

  “That… that wasn’t… you weren’t supposed to see that.” It’s all I can say. I have no explanation or excuse. “It wasn’t meant for you to see.”

  “Clearly.” He reaches up and loosens his tie. “But is it true?”

  My breath hitches in my throat. “Wh-what?”

  “Is it true? Do you want to sit on my face?” He doesn’t move from his spot behind the desk. He just leans over, placing both palms on the smooth, dark wood, waiting for me to respond.

  I am not sure what comes over me, but seeing that he hasn’t shouted at me, thrown me out, or fired me, the desire to play along roars in my veins.

  “Do you want it to be?” I ask, leaning against his office door. He doesn’t respond, not with words, but I can see his muscles tighten and his fingertips twitch against the wood of his desk. “But that would be highly unethical and against the rules, wouldn’t it?”

  “Don’t fool yourself, Piper. You’ve never played by the rules.”

  “I’m too much of a rebel for that.”

  “Who were you sending this message to?” He rights his position and takes one step around the desk.

  I don’t want to sell Kate out. The last thing I want to do to is put her in the crosshairs for any reason at all.

  “My… mom,” I lie, and I have to admit, it’s not very convincing.

  He tilts his head to the side. “You were going to tell your mother how you want me to bury my face between your thighs until you came so hard you didn’t remember your name?”

  Holy. Fucking. Shit.

  “I um… I don’t think that’s exactly what I said.”

  I’m plastered to the heavy, wooden door. My skin is prickling with awareness, and the space between my thighs clenches when he takes another step toward me, closing the gap between us even more.

  “I read between the lines enough to infer that’s exactly what you want, Ms. Kingston.”

  His hands are in the pockets of his slacks, and his sleeves are rolled up, showcasing the glorious expanse of his forearms that are corded with muscle.

  He’s so fucking beautiful.

  “Am I in trouble because of it?” I ask. “Because if you’re going to fire me, just get it over with.” I swallow the knot in my throat.

  “I should fire you.” He steps closer.
“I should because it’s incredibly inappropriate and offensive that you called me a fucking asshole… even though I am.”

  He removes his hands from his pockets so slowly I think I’m hallucinating in slow motion. The light peeking through the window shines off the Rolex adorning his wrist and he places his palms on the wooden door on either side of my head, effectively trapping me in.

  His scent overwhelms me and swirls around my body as he leans in closer, so close that if I really wanted to, I could barely move and slide my tongue along the stubble on his jaw.

  “I should fire you…” he continues. “But goddamn if I don’t want to.”

  I think I’m hallucinating his words, because surely I’m making it up.

  “Say it again,” I whisper, because I need to know if he really just said he wanted me.

  He leans in closer. His entire body is covering me, and his nose is ghosting over mine.

  “You strut your shit around this office, pushing back when I pull, being an insubordinate little brat, and you can possibly question the fact I want you? Look at you in your tight-ass skirt and sky-high, fuck-me heels. You know what you’re doing to me, don’t you? How couldn’t you?” He slides his hand around to the back of my neck and grips me there. Not to the point of pain but enough to show me he is controlling this situation. “I am driven crazy with wanting you, Piper.”

  “I don’t do anything on purpose, Nathanial. Contrary to what you think, the entire world doesn’t revolve around you, in fact, when I pick my clothes every morning, you’re the last person on my mind.” I lick my lips and stifle a moan when he leans in closer.

  My chest is heaving as pure, hormonal, animalistic instincts take over. My brain, the logical side that should be telling me to run far, far away because this is my boss; my asshole of a boss, who I’ve seen bring interns to tears without a hint of remorse. I should slap him across the face for touching me and for hitting on me, but for some reason, all I can focus on is my nipples hardening under my bra. The warmth between my thighs spreading outward and growing to encase my entire body.