Unsurprisingly, he sent a message immediately asking where I was having a drink, who I was having a drink with, and informing me that we didn’t need to talk about Kathy or Hanna. I didn’t bother disagreeing with him, since I want him to see my face when I reinforce my point.
When someone laughs loudly, I come out of my head and look around the table, finding everyone cracking up; about what, I’m not sure. I’ve always been a little awkward when getting to know new people. I have a tendency to watch and listen before I let people in—a trait that makes people think I’m a bitch when I’m not.
Tonight, hasn’t been any different. I don’t know where I fit in. They’ve all been working together for a while. They have built friendships, have inside jokes, and are all alike in a way that makes me feel like an outsider.
“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I say, and all eyes come to me.
“It’s still early,” my coworker Samantha replies, glancing at her watch. “Don’t you want to at least finish your drink?”
I look at my second beer, which I only took a couple sips of, and shake my head. “I really should get home, I need to eat dinner and I want to get some sleep so that I’m ready for my show tomorrow.”
“Don’t overthink the shit Kathy says,” Mat tells me with a shake of his head. “I’ve been working here for three years, and she’s never liked any of my ideas, which sucks. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. She doesn’t have the final say, what matters are ratings and sales.”
“Really?” That surprises me.
“Yeah, and the bigwigs know she’s stuck in the past, but since her niece is sleeping with the CEO, it doesn’t matter.”
My stomach turns. Still, I manage to ask, “What do you mean?”
I know Braxton said that he and Hanna are not together and haven’t been intimate, but could they be sleeping together? I didn’t think Troy was cheating on me. I didn’t have a clue until I saw photos.
“Mr. Adams and his assistant Hanna have been together forever. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are wedding bells at some point soon.”
“I would be,” a deep voice says from behind me, making me jump while Mat’s face pales.
Knowing who just arrived, I turn on my stool and glare up at the handsome guy who looks ready to pick me up and drag me out of here.
“Dakota.”
“Braxton,” I say, and his eyes narrow. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been calling you,” he replies, and I hear a gasp come from behind me. “You’re not picking up your phone.”
“I’m with friends.”
“I see that.” He looks around the table, and I have no doubt everyone is wondering what the hell is going on, how I know the CEO of IMG, and why he would be calling me. No doubt, they are coming up with a million different scenarios, and I’m sure that most of them would be correct. “Dinner is ready at my place.”
So much for keeping things between us on the low. “You are unbelievable.”
“So you’ve said.” His eyes lock with mine. “Are you ready to go or would you like to have a conversation here?”
“I hate you,” I hiss just loud enough for him to hear as I stand, and then I turn to face the table, grabbing my bag. “I’m sorry, guys. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Yeah… sure,” Chris and Mat say in unison while the rest of the table of women stare at me in disbelief, their eyes ping-ponging back and forth between Braxton to me.
“Night.” I turn and stomp past Braxton, wondering exactly what I would have to do to hurt him without hurting myself, because I swear to God the minute I get outside, I’m going to kick his ass for what he just did. Once again, he ignored me and what I wanted so he could get his way.
“Dakota.” He tries to take my hand when I push out of the bar, but I jerk away, not wanting everyone I can feel watching from the windows of the bar to see me lose my mind.
I march swiftly down the block then hurry across the street, glancing at Braxton out the corner of my eye. He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world; then again, I guess he doesn’t. His coworkers are not going to think he got his job by sleeping with the boss and that he’s possibly a home-wrecker. “Might I ask where we’re going?” he prompts when we reach the elevator in our building and step inside.
“To your place, so I can kill you without anyone watching,” I bite out, getting even more pissed when his lips twitch. “This isn’t funny, Braxton. I’m so mad at you right now.”
“I know.” He turns to face me after waving his watch across the front screen of the elevator, causing the doors to close.
“Why would you do that? Why would you show up when I told you just last night that I want to keep whatever this is quiet?”
“Dakota, I own this building, and this morning you made a show of leaving the gym with me. You don’t think some of my employees witnessed that?”
Shit, I didn’t even think about that. Why didn’t I think about that? Oh right, because normal people don’t own buildings. Normal people own houses or condos. I cross my arms over my chest and continue to glare at him.
“I’m sure the people who saw us leave the gym together have already started to spread rumors about you and me and what our relationship might be. You’re not my dirty little secret, and I refuse to have anyone believe you are.”
“It should have been my choice, Braxton.” I shove a hand against his chest, and he captures it, holding it over his heart. “I really don’t like you.”
“That’s okay. I like you enough for the two of us.” He captures my other wrist when I try to push him away then begin to pant when he maneuvers my hands behind my back, bringing us chest-to-chest and face-to-face. “You make me crazy.”
“Then we’re even,” I hiss, pushing up on my tiptoes—something I realize was the wrong move as his breath brushes my lips. “Let me go.”
“Never.”
“Braxton.” I start to panic as desire begins to swirl in my stomach.
“Dakota.” I swallow and drop my eyes to his mouth.
“Tell me you want it, tell me to kiss you.”
I lick my lips then whisper, “Kiss me, Braxton.”
His mouth crashes down on mine and he kisses me, forcing his tongue between my lips as he drags me out of the elevator, my bag slipping off my shoulder. He catches it, and I get one of my hands free, using it to pull his shirt out of his slacks so I can run my hand up over his abs. He uses his free hand to toss my bag away before he tangles his fingers in my hair at the back of my head, keeping me right where he wants me.
“Braxton,” I breathe when he lets my mouth go to kiss down my neck.
“Don’t deny me, Dakota.” He sounds desperate as he lets go of my other wrist so he can slide his hand under my shirt to the waistband of my pants. “I need you.” He moves around my waist and he flicks open the button of my grey slacks before sliding his hand into my panties, his fingers finding my clit, making my knees weak as he rolls over it.
I latch onto his shoulder, digging my nails in as he turns us and walks me backward, his mouth coming back to mine while I work at getting his shirt unbuttoned.