Henry

HENRY

We have roughly a half hour before Eli shows up, and I'm going to make Paige sit with me, openly, and play nice. I don't remember her having so much fire before she went off to college.

A flash of her straddling my lap has my cock reminding me that I did remember, but she didn't have this much attitude. Not like this. Does she truly have this much animosity built up from the last four years? How many times did she shit-talk me to her friends in college for how I'd taken what she offered and bailed?

It can't linger between us if we want to create an effective team.

Her cheeks are rosy as she stares at the chrome elevator doors, arms crossed and stance defiant. Fuck, everything inside of me wants to pull the emergency stop and take her right here. I'm so screwed.

When we reach the ground floor, Paige doesn't dawdle as I steer her toward the cafe and lounge at the back of the building. At least, she's not avoiding me.

The cafe takes up a good chunk of the bottom floor, catering to the entire high-rise and a few locals who have wandered in and become regulars. And it's full but not packed when we slide to the end of the line. Soft Christmas music lilts in the background as people chat quietly.

The windows are decorated with hand-painted holiday scenes: kids sledding, building a snowman, light-strewn trees, white houses in the backdrop, and a big North Star. Nothing overly Christmassy, but the vibe's there.

As we step closer, the aroma enhances the ambiance: clove and nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, apple and cranberry with the sweet sugary frosting. The treats are the best part of the holidays.

Paige closes her eyes beside me, like she's breathing it in. I hope it puts her in a good place because I need her calm to have this talk. At least now, the silence between us isn't frosty.

At the counter, I order a hot cider and a gingerbread cookie. Paige gets a peppermint hot cocoa and a pecan cranberry shortbread. We take a small two-seater in the back where the dull roar of conversation is more muted.

I wait for her first bite of the shortbread before I say anything. And man, her face when she bites into it, how she closes her eyes as she chews, the low moan I shouldn't have been so attuned to…she's driving me crazy.

Not even two days of having her back, and I can hardly think of her without daydreaming.

I clear my throat, and her eyes shoot open, pinning me in my seat. That's a look of hers I'm not so familiar with. How many boys has she put in their place to be so good at it?

"Good, huh?"

Paige snorts and straightens in her chair, taking a sip of her cocoa. "Yeah. I didn't know this place was here."

Nodding, I watch her slink back in her seat, putting a few more inches between us.

"Let's get this out of the way. Alright?" I fold my hands on the small table. "Why are you really upset about my asking to see your work?"

"You didn't ask to see it. You wanted to check it over before anyone else could see it."

I take a deep breath. "Even if that was true?—"

"It is."

"Why does it matter, the reason I asked for it?"

Paige leans in, hands braced on the table. "Because, Mr. Walker, if you have to double- and triple-check everything I do before another soul sees it, we won't make any progress on this project. I am capable. I am competent. I don't need you to hold my hand like I'm a little girl."

Smoke is practically billowing from her nostrils with the way she looks at me. "Are you sure it's not about what happened?—"

"No." The word is strong. Low. I can see the flash of hurt in her eyes. But she's leaning back, sipping her cocoa again before I can press.

"And is this how you would have reacted to any other boss if they asked to check your work?" Because it doesn't seem likely.

"Would you have checked another employee's work a mere hour before you'd be going over it with them anyway?" Paige locks on me, and I can see the real issue here. Not only had she not known I would be her boss, which is problem enough I suppose, but she doesn't feel like she's earned her job because I'm her father's friend.

"No. Not likely."

She spreads her hands as if to say, Well, there you go .

"Okay. Point taken." I lean forward a little more. "Can we clear the air then? I hired you not only because your dad asked me for a favor, but because you were a good fit for the position. If you weren't, don't you think I could have given you a different job?"

Thawing a little, she pinches a crumb from her cookie and nibbles on it. "I suppose."

"My goal this morning was to be sure you felt prepared before you had three executives pick apart every line of your prospectives. Not to make you feel like I didn't think you could do a good job on your own."

All of her upset seems to morph into a little pout—not bratty or petulant, but thoughtful. I rather enjoy the look on her actually.

"And you realize that I'm a recent college graduate who is very used to going in blind to a workshop to have my work ripped apart. I have thick skin, . I had to grow it early and I don't want any pity for it."

We stare at each other for another few heartbeats before I nod. "Okay."

"Okay."

"Now finish up your breakfast. Eli will be in his office in roughly ten minutes."

Finally, I get a small smile out of her as she munches on her shortbread. Every bite brings my attention back to her mouth and how pretty it is. I enjoy watching her eat far too much.

Paige stands before I'm ready, but I follow her lead this time. Sabrina texts me when we're loading into the elevator, and we're right on time to meet him and Jake in his office. He asks Paige to wait as we read through it, and she seems so cool as she sits there. She barely moves a muscle, and I can see where her confidence comes from.

Her write-up is good. Fantastic really. She has covered much more than I anticipated she would, and I only have a few notes. Eli seems equally as impressed, although Jake is as stoic as ever. Yet, when I catch an almost smile on his mouth, I have to wonder if it's due to her realistic budget or her overall brilliance.

Once we're ready for her, she's poised with her own copy and a pen in hand, and I resolve not to ask her for her work in advance ever again.

After our meeting, I escort her back to her office and close myself in my own. Focusing on my other work doesn't come easy. My thoughts are too wrapped up in Paige, in this morning, and in the past. I can't stop the memory of her sweet mouth on mine, hand wrapped in my hair, hips grinding over my cock.

And that fucking thing has been cycling through being half-mast and full hard-on for the entire day.

I blame that appendage for my need to check to see if Paige is still here before I leave. Her door is cracked, and her steps echo as she paces. I tap lightly on her door, swinging it open wider.

She turns sharply, her arms crossed and small worries creasing around her eyes. "Hey."

The soft greeting makes me smile. I like when she's not upset with me, although I'm sure it'll resurface the more we avoid talking about what happened.

"What are you still doing here?" Stepping in, I leave the door open. It might be the end of the day, but the possibility of being seen might be the only thing keeping me from sweeping in and gathering her against me, kissing her.

We really need to talk about that night, or this will just keep getting worse.

Paige looks out the window. The sky is dark and sleet pelts the glass with a soft patter. "I was hoping the weather would let up long enough for me to get home without turning into a popsicle."

I hadn't paid much attention to the weather. Then again, I don't drive myself to work. "How'd you get here?"

"The train."

My gaze trails her form-fitting suit. Her heels. She wasn't dressed for this kind of weather. "Let me give you a ride home."

Straightening, her reflection frowns before she shows it to me. "No. I'll be okay. I'll just wait?—"

" Paige ." I step closer and catch the fine tremor in her limbs. Her pupils slightly blown. "It's just a ride."

She's wavering, and another step has her pulling her lip between her teeth.

"I won't make a habit of offering if you'll just let me make sure you get home safe." My hands lift in a peace offering.

Closing her beautiful blue eyes, she shakes her head and laughs a little. "God, you sound like Patrick. Fine. Give me a ride home."

I smirk at her. Don't think I didn't notice how she used her father's name instead of calling him Dad. She'd done that to me before. Created the separation between what happened between us and my friendship with her father. Why is it giving me hope instead of cutting me open?

Paige grabs her winter coat off the rack, and I help her into it. She shoots me a coy look over her shoulder, but I gesture her out of the office. Grabbing her briefcase and keys, she locks up, and I escort her down to the basement where my car is waiting.

The private ride in the elevator is tense, even though she stands at the opposite end as me. I can feel her there, attuned to every small movement she makes. Every glance she sends my way.

Fuck, my blood is boiling with need by the time the elevator chimes and the doors swing open.

"Oh my God," she laughs, shaking her head. "Of course, you have a driver."

One that I wave off when he comes to open the door for us. Instead, I do it, caging Paige in from behind as she pauses. Facing me, her chin lifts. Mouth pouty and soft, she taunts me with it. With the kiss I so desperately want.

I swear those vibrant eyes are daring me to take what I want. To do something .