I winced. “God, I’m sorry. I’m sure that’s not happening—”
“Don’t sweat it. Like I said, I think it’s part of the job—some people aren’t ever going to like you.”
“And you’re okay with that?” I asked, genuinely interested.
“I’m not sure I’ve thought about it. Whether or not I’m okay with it, it’s still going to happen, right? Not everyone likes you, do they?”
I laughed. “Hey, you’ve only known me a few minutes and already you think people must hate me?”
“It’s not personal. And when you’re signing someone’s paycheck, things just get magnified. Normally, if you don’t get along with people, you don’t have chemistry with someone, you can just avoid them. But at work, you’re forced to spend time with them, so you’re just more aware that you don’t like the person.”
Generally, he made sense, but he hadn’t met the specific asshat that was Max King. “I guess.”
“How about I distract you from work one night this week, take you to dinner and prove not all bosses are evil?”
I bit the edge of my plastic cup. “This week?” I asked.
“Yeah, unless you’re booked up already.”
“No. Not booked up.” Did I want to go to dinner with George? The memory of Max’s hips pinning me to the wall of his apartment flashed through my head. I touched my neck, as if I could still feel his breath whispering against my skin. “Dinner sounds good.”
I needed new memories to replace the ones of Max King.
Monday at King & Associates was busier than I’d expected. I’d gotten pulled in on a new, high profile research project on luxury goods in China. I’d been so excited I’d almost forgotten Max King was my boss. For the first time in forever, I left work with a smile on my face, despite it being past eight.
“Hi, Barry.” I waved at the doorman as I passed his desk and pressed the elevator button. I wanted a warm bath, my bed, and maybe a smidgen of Game of Thrones.
As the doors slid open, Max stood in front of me in his workout clothes, tall, handsome, and staring at his phone.
God-damn you, Lycra.
I froze, unsure what to do. Was he coming out or going down to the basement? At that moment he glanced up and for the first time since he’d made me come a bazillion times, he looked me in the eye.
“Harper,” he said, a note of surprise in his voice.
Had he thought he’d never see me again? I worked for him, lived in his building, for Christ’s sake. Maybe he wasn’t as smart as people said he was.
“Going up?” I asked.
“No, yes.” He sounded confused. “Get in. I’ve been wanting to speak to you.”
“Well you know where I live, and you know where I work, so I’m not sure you gave yourself the most impossible task there.” I tapped my forehead. “You just had to set your mind to it.”
He grabbed my elbow with his large hand and immediately warmth flooded my body. He pulled me into the elevator just as he had when I’d turned up at his apartment door to complain about the noise, and just like that I was surrounded by him, his smell, the nearness of his breath, his tongue, and his cock.
Chapter 6
Max
“Get your hands off me,” she spat, twisting her arm and forcing me to release her.
“I thought we’d have a chance to speak at work—”
“Funny thing is, when you cancel meetings with people, it means that you don’t see them.”
Had I canceled meetings? “Last week was difficult. And Donna controls my schedule. I didn’t deliberately—”
“Save your breath.”
The elevator stopped at the basement and its doors opened. I’d been heading to the gym.
“We live in the same building. You could have knocked on my door.” She folded her arms.
I had to try very hard not to smile. She was so pretty, despite her mood. Maybe even because of her mood.
“Are you getting out?” she asked.
I shook my head and she started jabbing at the seventh-floor button. “I couldn’t knock on your door. I know you live on the seventh floor because you complained about the stomping on your ceiling, but there are five apartments down there. Trust me.” I pulled her chin up with my index finger. “I counted them on Thursday evening.”
Her stare was blank. “It’s Monday, Max.”
It was strange, hearing my name on her lips again. Last time I heard it she’d been about to climax.
I reached out and smoothed her hair over her shoulders. “I’m sorry.” It was true; I was. Since the day Amanda was born, I’d sworn I wouldn’t be the guy who messed around with women. If I didn’t want anyone to do it to my daughter, I couldn’t very well do it to someone else’s. I might only have casual relationships, but I didn’t ever pretend it was anything more. “I wasn’t ignoring you. Frankly, I hadn’t expected you to have gone when I woke up. I thought we’d talk before work.”
“Yeah, well I wanted to be at work on time.” She shrugged and I’d taken a half step toward her when the doors opened. I liked her sass. The employees at King & Associates came packaged earnest and compliant. Other than Donna, everyone just nodded their heads and said yes to me. At home, the world tipped on its head, and it was a miracle if I ever got anyone to say yes to anything. Harper continued to blur the boundaries between my work and personal life.
“You made me late,” I said, not ready for our conversation to be over.
“What are you doing?” Harper asked as I followed her out of the elevator. “This isn’t your floor.”
“I want to talk to you.” I wasn’t sure what I was doing. What could I say to her? “I want to apologize,” I said decisively. “For the other night. I shouldn’t have taken advantage in the way I did.” It was just that all the fantasies that had been filling my brain since she started at King & Associates had come rushing back when she’d stood semi-naked in front of me.
She opened her front door, stepped into her apartment, and spun to face me. “Take advantage? Jesus, you’re such a fucking asshole.” She tried to slam the door shut but I stuck my foot in the way.
“Get the fuck out,” she yelled.
“I think you’re beautiful,” I said and pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Beautiful, but supremely fucking irritating.”
She stared at me, her mouth open as if I’d just stolen all her words. Then she turned, threw her purse down, and stomped over to her bed. I glanced around. Her apartment was tiny and full of things everywhere including piles of books stacked on the floor and shoes wherever I looked. The bed was over to one side, where the floor was slightly raised. She kicked off her shoes and started to undo her blouse. I hardened immediately. She was undressing?
“Harper,” I said as I followed her.
“I’m irritating?” she asked.
I didn’t know how to react. I wanted to pin her down and make her listen to me. Kiss her. Fuck her.
“I’m irritating?” She shook her head in disbelief and turned to face me. “I’m fucking irritating?”