I tilt my head in feigned pondering, if only to reassure Gina that the body snatchers haven’t completely robbed me. But the truth is, she’s bang on the money. “Don’t get carried away.” I force the words on a frown, when what I actually want to do is tap-dance on my desk. “But she’s a great girl.”
“What have you done with my boss?” Gina asks seriously. “My boss doesn’t see women for what they are, great or not. He sees a hole to fill.”
I wince, however right she is. I’ve lost count of how many calls she’s shielded me from over the years of ex-fucks. But Lainey . . . she’s different. I’m still trying to figure out what it is about her that intrigues me so much. It’s not about wanting what’s forbidden, either. I’ve been attracted to many women who work for my firm, Gina included, but the thought of bedding any one of them has never crossed my mind. Lainey, however, is crisscrossing, zigzagging, tugging, and shoving at my mind by the minute. I was sure I could fuck her and scratch the itch. I was wrong. I really do like her, and that’s a problem, because I still shouldn’t be going there.
“Ty?”
I look up at Gina. “What?”
Her head lowers suspiciously. “Where were you just then?”
I grab my mouse and scroll it aimlessly around my screen. “Wondering if you’re going to tell me about my day.”
She huffs, annoyed, looking down at the iPad in her lap. She runs her finger down the length of the screen. “You have a meeting at eleven with the design department.”
“Yep.”
“I had all your drawings and slides arranged in a portfolio ready for your next meeting with Pyra.”
“Great. Have they come back with a time?”
“Monday at eight, though they’ve suggested meeting at their studio so you can familiarize yourself with it.”
“Familiarize myself with sexy lingerie?” I cock a cheeky eyebrow.
Gina rolls her eyes. “I know. Ironic, isn’t it? What is it about this stuff, anyway?”
“Stuff? You mean the lace and all things sexy?”
“You’re right. Stupid question.”
I return to my screen. “Why don’t you come along with me?”
“To the meeting?”
“Sure.”
“A day out of my cage?”
“Don’t be sarcastic. You want to come or not?”
“Sure. It’s a few stops on the Tube. I’ll meet you there at eight.”
“Great. Is that it?”
“I don’t know. I’m all askew because you’re late.”
“I’ll be sure not to knock your day off balance again.” Talking of off balance, Mother hasn’t called me this morning. I grab my phone and dial her. “I have a few calls to make,” I say, prompting Gina to stand.
“Okay.” She frowns. “Let me know if you need me to recheck Pyra’s portfolio once you’ve gone over it.”
“Got it.”
My mum answers, so I kick up my feet up on my desk. “You okay, Mum?”
“Yes, darling, I’m wonderful.”
“You didn’t call this morning.”
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” she says, and I roll my eyes as Gina shuts the door. “How was the rest of your evening?”
“Lovely,” I answer honestly. I can hear her trying to keep her excitement at bay.
“That’s nice, darling.”
I hum, thinking about how well it went. There wasn’t much talking per se, but plenty of communication. I actually like spending time with Lainey. A lot.
“Oh, Tyler, I love her.” Mum loses her restraint and blurts her confession. “So pretty and smart.”
I smile. “How would you know if she’s smart? You met her for five minutes.”
“She must be. You wouldn’t cook for just any woman, would you?”
“I didn’t cook.”
“Trivial issue. The intension and effort was still there. Tell me you’re seeing her again.”
I look at my office door. Oh yes, I’m seeing her again. “Mum, it’s a little complicated,” I start to explain, thinking the last thing I need is her talking to Gina or Sal and dropping me in it. “With Lainey, I mean.”
“How so?” she asks, sounding disappointed. “You like her, she likes you. Things are only complicated if you make them complicated.”
“She’s Sal’s new PA.”
“Oohhh,” Mum breathes, and I laugh to myself, because now she gets it. “Oh dear, Tyler. She’s your employee?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, darling. That’s dangerous ground. You hear it all the time, claims of sexual harassment.”
I frown. I’m lacking so much knowledge on the woman who has bewitched me, but I do know for certain that handing me my balls on a platter is definitely not on her agenda. She was the one who said we should forget about that first encounter. “I know what I’m doing, Mum. But it’s a cardinal rule. Sal will go mad. So, you see, it’s really important that you don’t mention this to a soul. Just until I can figure out exactly what’s happening here.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“How tight?” I ask, fully aware of my mum’s loose lips, especially when she’s had a glass or two or when she’s excited.
“Sorry, what are we talking about?”
I smile. “Thanks, Mum.”
“For what?”
“Okay, I get it.”
“Get what?”
I sigh and rest my forehead in my hands. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“You will, darling. Bye.” She hangs up, and I crack on with my day. Or I try to. My mind is never far from Lainey, but instead of giving too much thought to the circumstances of our affair and how fucking complicated it is, I daydream about our night together.
As I enter the conference room with Gina in tow, I note the team has arrived already and we’re the last. Everyone, including Lainey, who’s sitting next to Sal nibbling thoughtfully on the end of her pen. Her eyes dart to the door, catching mine, before she quickly looks away, going to her iPad and tapping at the screen. As I take my seat, I wonder whether she was daydreaming just now about last night too, struggling to focus like I have all morning.
“Right,” Sal says as he stands, indicating across the table to me. “First things first, Tyler and I just wanted to clear the air with you all about our little disagreement yesterday.” He reaches up to his swollen nose and frowns lightly. “A minor misunderstanding that got slightly out of hand.” I look at Lainey discreetly, finding her stare rooted on her iPad still. “But,” Sal goes on, “we’ve kissed and made up and there’s nothing for you guys to be concerned about.” He walks around the table, eyes on me, and approaches behind my chair, resting his hands on my shoulders, rubbing. Lainey looks up through her lashes, meeting my eyes again. This time, she studies me for a moment, her face impassive as my partner massages me. “So, back to business. Lainey, first on the agenda?”
I vaguely hear Sal speak to Lainey, but too caught up in her stare, I fail to give her the prompt she needs. I feel like she’s slowly mentally undressing me across the table, and my body stiffens as a result, my mind wishing all these people away so I can let her at me.