Georgia’s heart kicked up double time as she imagined a formal warning coming. Maybe he would even can her on the spot. Was what she did a violation of her contract? She couldn’t remember.
Biting back her pride, she said, ‘I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.’
Both brows shot up this time, and his arms unfolded. Messing up that wavy hair of his with a drag of his hand, he blew out a breath. ‘That’s not why I’m pissed, actually. I’m pissed because a selfish jerk made you feel like there was something wrong with you.’
His eyes softened and she felt the pull of their connection right down to her toes. This was not what she was expecting. Her heart sped again but it had nothing to do with fear of losing her job.
‘This is going to sound crazy.’ Max’s gaze dropped to the floor for a second, and the frown was back. When he looked at her again, determination etched across his handsome face, making her stomach swarm. ‘I think we could help each other out.’
‘I don’t understand.’ But she was starting to, though maybe that was wishful thinking. No, she shook the unruly thoughts away. She had to work with him, for cripes sakes.
His jaw tightened. ‘I’m sure you heard the rumors after the Halloween party.’
Georgia nodded, remembering walking past the gossip circle down the hall where they had all whispered that Max’s ex, Clarissa, was all over some guy dressed as Dracula, though she hadn’t bothered listening to the specifics.
‘She’s with him now. He’s one of our designers.’
His voice was void of emotion and his expression a mask. To hide his pain at losing his love, or maybe his anger at being betrayed, Georgia didn’t know.
Max took a deep breath. ‘My father still controls what designers we sign. As you know he likes to treat them to nights out to keep them from giving up their work to the competition. Since his health’s deteriorating, I’m expected to play host at the parties.’
Georgia felt some of her own shame drain out of her, to be filled with a sad understanding. If the guy brought his date, Max’s ex, he’d be forced into their company again. ‘I’m—’
He held a hand out. ‘I don’t want your pity, I’m telling you because you could help me out on that score.’
Her brows furrowed. ‘How?’
‘Come with me to all the social events. As my girlfriend.’
Georgia’s lips parted on a gasp. ‘You can’t be serious.’
It was clear from his tone he was dead serious. ‘In return I’ll show you that you are normal, that you can—’
‘Stop.’
The shame burned back, along with something else that made her lower belly warm and tingly. She covered it with her hands, hoping to quell the sensations. No such luck. Especially when she’d just been imagining herself with him, doing all those things and more. That was fantasy, though; this was reality and it could never happen.
‘You’re my boss. That would be…’
Insane, delicious, even more embarrassing when he had solid proof she was a freak, and yet seriously tempting.
‘Inappropriate, I know.’ He stepped closer again and she backed up, knocking over the night-of-the-living-dead plant in the process. ‘But it would benefit us both.’
His gaze got hot, then dipped to her mouth. On reflex she licked her lips, but cursed the second she did. She wasn’t encouraging him. No way. Even if her panties were soaking at the thought of him dropping to his knees and hitching her skirt around her waist.
She couldn’t let herself think about being with him. Couldn’t allow the fantasy to form – well, this new one anyway. Shit, shit, shit.
Grasping for anger, she said, ‘Let me get this straight. You want to save face in front of your ex and pay me in sexual favors when really, the only one getting anything from that would be you. I’m nobody’s free hooker. Go find yourself another woman who’ll pant all over you.’
Screw the fact he was supposed to be her boss. He’d crossed the line first.
Max took a step back, surprise widening his eyes. ‘Georgia, I don’t see you like that. I never have.’
‘You’ve never seen me. Not as more than an employee.’ She slammed her mouth shut before she gave away anything else to this man.
Frowning at her, he picked up the file. ‘That’s bullshit Georgia, and you know it.’
She pressed her lips together and glared at him, fighting the urge to open her mouth and let far more than she should roll off her tongue.
He let himself out, but before he closed the door behind him, he threw over his shoulder, ‘This isn’t the end of the conversation.’
‘You’ll get the same answer every time,’ she let slip.
His slow grin made her heart stutter. ‘We’ll see.’
* * * *
Georgia was the third wheel. Again.
Shey was laughing at something Calvin had said, but Georgia wasn’t focused much on their conversation. She was too busy pushing the pasta around her plate. Max’s proposal earlier was playing on her mind; building up a storm of burning emotions she could only assume was anger.
‘Georgia, you okay?’ Shey asked.
She wanted to snip back with, what do you think? but bit her tongue. Everything grated at her since she got home to find Calvin teaching Shey how to cook. They looked disgustingly happy, with huge grins and puppy-dog eyes, as they moved around the kitchen.
Which was her first cue that she was not feeling like herself. Shey’s happiness made her happy, or it usually did.
Damn Max for offering his stud services. Damn her for wanting them.
She could only imagine what he was like in bed. His body was built, could probably give her the best work-out of her life. All power, ego and sex on legs. It wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference, though. He couldn’t make her come, no man had and she’d lost hope a long time ago any of them could.
‘This pasta’s really good. He’ll make a decent cook out of you yet,’ Georgia said, hoping Shey would drop it.
Calvin glanced at Shey, then turned to her. ‘Do you want me to leave so you two can talk?’
Georgia’s throat got thick, and she tried to swallow against it. Calvin understood how close they all were and she knew he would go home if that was what she needed. Which, regardless of how much Shey loved Georgia, would make her friend unhappy. With Shey’s new job, the couple hardly had much time together as it was.
She tried to dial her pissy mood down a notch. ‘No, stay. I’m sorry.’
The lovebirds shared a look that said they didn’t buy it. Georgia’s skin prickled with irritation, but she ignored them and skewered a hunk of pasta. Forcing it into her mouth, she made herself chew, barely registering the oregano or tomato flavors.
What the hell was she going to do? Work was going to be more than awkward, especially if Max insisted on having that conversation again. Though the thing that played on her the most was the way he told her she’d been wrong that he’d never looked at her.
And she had to admit she’d noticed, but it had been so much safer thinking she was imagining it. Better for them both if she was the only one having hot and heavy dreams about Max swiping all the crap off her desk and taking her there, or against the filing cabinets, or even in the changing rooms of the store.
‘Georgia, spill it. You look like you want to pounce on something.’
If only Shey knew.