Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

M ay 22 nd

The idea of actually losing my virginity to someone like Jack Griffin makes me laugh. I’m just me. Paige Turner. Not Paige Turner, countess, socialite, or supermodel. Just me. And where I didn’t always like myself before, I’m growing on myself. Every heroine has doubts and insecurities, but they learn to accept them, grow from them, and ultimately love them. That’s what I need to do. And that starts tonight. It’s time to dig deep and really think about what I value and want. Then, it’ll be time to go after it.

Kendrick carried her things for her as she hobbled on crutches to the elevator. Kendrick chatted about his night, his plans, and he mentioned Amanda more than once. It made Paige smile as the elevator doors opened and a car idled nearby. It wasn’t a town car. There wasn’t a man in a black suit waiting to open the door. Instead, Jack stood waiting for her.

“Hmm. Someone else has a thing for a co-worker,” Kendrick whispered.

“It’s not like that,” Paige told him. Or maybe it was. Right now, she was too confused to know what was real and what was for show. “He offered me a ride and we knew people would talk if he walked me down.”

“True,” Kendrick answered. “I owe you my job. I won’t say a word. And for as scary and stuffy as Mr. Griffin is, he gave me a signing bonus and sent a graduation gift. The bonus was enough to pay off several months of student loan payments. I think he’s secretly a good guy.” Kendrick stopped talking as they got close to Jack. Instead, he handed her things over to Jack and bid them a goodnight.

Jack opened the door to his sports car, and with a little help, he got her into the front seat with her crutches going from the front to the back of the car. Paige certainly didn’t have to worry about Jack hitting on her. He couldn’t even reach her over the crutches that acted like a fence through the console of the car.

Jack got in and looked with amusement at her blocked in by crutches. “Where to?”

Paige gave him the directions and Jack revved the engine. “This car is a lot like you.”

“Powerful?”

“No. Well, yes, but not how you think.” Paige felt the power of the engine as Jack accelerated out of the garage and right into traffic. “At first glance all you see is the sleek design, evoking a sense of power. But once you get inside you see it’s very comfortable.”

Jack stopped at a light and looked at her with amusement. “You think I’m comfortable? I’ve never been described like that before. ”

“I do. You’re a surprisingly nice guy when you want to be.”

“I guarantee you won’t think I’m a nice guy when I have you bent over my desk.” Jack paused. “Or maybe you will.” Jack glanced at her and laughed. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?”

“I sure did. I’m beginning to think your whole dom act is just an act. You can’t fool me, Jack Griffin. You’re a nice guy.”

Jack shuddered, but his lips twitched in amusement. “Tell me about your book club.”

Ah, a safe topic. One Paige happily talked about the entire ride to the café. It was only then that she realized she didn’t know what to do with Jack. Invite him to book club or just get out and say thanks?

Jack found a parking space in the alleyway that wasn’t really a parking space, but someone like Jack didn’t care about that pesky detail. He opened the door for her, and together, they struggled to get the crutches out. “I’ll send an SUV for you in the morning.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Paige told him as he picked up her bag and carried it for her as they made their way back out to the sidewalk. Jack didn’t reply and Paige knew it was pointless to argue. Jack was going to get his way like he always did. Although, she wasn’t too upset about it. It would be a luxury to have a driver take her to and from work. “So, do you want to come in and meet my friends? You already know Leah.”

Jack looked momentarily surprised, but instead of answering, he just opened the door to Felix’s and followed her inside.

Leah was arguing with Noah, but then Leah saw them first and stopped talking mid-sentence. Interesting that Noah was here. He’d been pursuing Leah since she got her promotion and it appeared he was upping the game by trying to become a regular in their book club.

Amelia squeaked in surprise and tried to hide behind her book. Eli dropped his book and his jaw as he stared at Jack standing before them.

“Hi everyone. This is my boss, Jack Griffin. He was nice enough to drive me to book club because of my ankle. Jack, you already know Leah and Noah. Then, this is Amelia Brown. She’s a manager at a bank downtown. Then this is Eli Trumpano. He’s on Broadway,” she said proudly of her friends.

Felix joined them right then with a tray of drinks. He flashed Jack a smile and then looked at Noah. “So, are boyfriends joining book club now?”

“Noah is not my boyfriend,” Leah practically yelled as she jumped up from her seat. “And he wasn’t invited.” Leah snagged the firefighter romance from the table and stormed from the café.

All eyes turned to Noah, who frowned but didn’t look deterred. “Sorry you had to see that, Mr. Griffin.” Jack just raised an eyebrow, and apparently Noah understood and continued to explain. “We have a rule at work that you can’t date subordinates. But when Leah was promoted to mid-management, we were close enough to equals that we are allowed to date. I really like her, and I think she likes me too. But when I push to make something real, and not just a make-out on the dance floor at WET, she runs.”

“Sounds familiar,” Jack rumbled.

Amelia practically hid behind Felix, who was grinning.

“You don’t want a relationship. And I’m your subordinate, both at work and in sex,” Paige said as if it were no big deal to discuss his dom status and their relationship in front of friends .

Apparently, Jack didn’t mind either because he just grinned cockily.

“I’ll be your subordinate anytime,” Eli said into the shocked silence. His comment made Jack chuckle.

Interestingly, Jack seemed to relax around her friends. “Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. And sometimes you have to play the long game. Show them what they’re missing and let them know you’ll be waiting. I hope it works out for you, Noah.”

“Thanks, Mr. Griffin.”

“At book club, call me Jack. Now, do you all actually discuss the book, or do you just talk about sex?” Jack asked as he picked up the book and read the back cover. Paige saw it happen. She saw the moment Jack put two and two together because he looked from the cover to her. “This is how you hurt your ankle, isn’t it? You tried to follow this book.”

“Wait,” Eli said, leaning forward and dropping his voice so that only half the patrons in the café could hear him. “Does Jack know about your V issue?”

The café door opened before Jack could answer, and Felix smiled at the newcomer. “Hey, Max!”

Jack looked over his shoulder and frowned. “What is Max doing here?”

“You know Max?” Paige asked and then rolled her eyes at herself. “That’s right. The charity gala.” She’d introduced them.

Paige watched as Max came to join them. His hand was on the shoulder of an adorable little girl with big brown eyes and her long, wavy brown hair in pigtails. She was wearing a pink and purple tutu with confidence only a young child could pull off. “Hi guys,” Max said with a smile for them until his eyes met Jack’s.

Jack’s eyes met Max’s and they stared at each other. “Max,” Jack said curtly .

“Jack,” Max replied just as brusquely. The little girl shifted in front of him and Max put a smile back on his face before dropping down to squat next to the girl. “Lexi, these are my friends.”

“Hi, Lexi,” Paige said with a smile as she leaned forward in her chair to wave at the little girl. “I’m Paige. I love your hair.”

“Uncle Max did it,” she said shyly.

“Hi, I’m Eli. Do you dance?” Lexi nodded. “So do I. I dance on Broadway. Maybe when you’re older, you will, too. How old are you?”

“I just turned four and I want to be a dancer. See me spin?” Lexi did a spin and everyone clapped.

Paige was talking to Lexi about her favorite books when she saw how easily the men in their lives were fitting into their group. Well, except for the tension between Leah and Noah. However, Noah was sitting comfortably next to Eli, talking to Jack as Felix and Max chatted with Amelia, even without Leah there.

It should be a no brainer. Just sleep with Jack. However, as important as it was to Paige to lose her virginity, she was learning something about herself. Her career was more important and she was okay with that. Now, did that mean they wouldn’t flirt? No. It seemed to be part of their banter. Did it mean they might get carried away once and she’d quit? No. It just meant she wasn’t going to push it with Jack. If something deeper was going to happen, she’d let it. But a quick one-night stand wasn’t it. Her career and her friendships—those were more important than her virginity.

“Griz!” Max called out, drawing Paige’s attention from the story Lexi was recounting from her favorite bedtime story. The big man cleaned up well in his jeans and a charcoal-colored polo. His beard was neatly trimmed. His longish brown hair was styled back from his face and his dimples showed as he greeted the book club.

“Who is this cutie?” Griz asked, his deep voice rumbling.

Lexi stared up at him with big eyes as if he were a book character come to life.

“This is my niece, Lexi. Lexi, this is my friend, Griz,” Max introduced.

Griz bent down and held out his huge hand for Lexi. “Hello, princess.”

Paige looked at her watch. At the exact time she’d told Gina to come, the door opened and the firefighter walked in. Gina was no longer in uniform, but she was wearing jeans and a tight NYFD navy blue tank top that showed off her incredibly fit arms. She also looked incredibly nervous for someone who ran into buildings on fire.

“Gina! Come meet my friends.” Paige smiled at her and turned to her friends as Gina joined them. “Gina is the firefighter who helped me after I hurt my ankle.”

Gina was looking around, trying to figure out which man was the secret date. Paige saw her eyes take in Griz, and she smiled shyly. Then Gina’s gaze took in the rest of the men there before stopping on Max. She smiled at him and Paige fought back jealousy. Was that the kind of man she wanted?

“Detective. It’s good to see you again.”

“Firefighter Diaz. I haven’t seen you since the police vs. fire department softball tournament, where we won, even with your home run.” Max looked at the rest of them. “Diaz had a hell of a hit.”

“Gina,” Paige said, cutting off their conversation about softball and introducing her to everyone, leaving Griz for last. “And this is Griz Carr.” The way Paige said his name gave Gina the cue she was looking for. She smiled nervously and shook his big hand .

“And here I thought I was big,” she said with a nervous laugh.

Griz let out a deep laugh. “You? You’re just a little thing. I could pick you up with one hand.”

Gina blushed. “That’s nice of you to say. The guys I know like to tease me about my gym habits, but how can I serve New York if I can’t rescue them?”

“They tease because they’re insecure. Real men aren’t intimidated by strong women,” Griz replied. “Physically, mentally, or professionally.”

Gina just about melted on the spot and it appeared Griz was just as smitten. “Gina, Griz knows all about working out. He’s the personal trainer for the offensive line of a New York professional football team that will remain nameless because I can’t keep the two teams straight.” Everyone laughed at Paige’s admission and relaxed into conversation.

Felix brought over a new round of drinks. Gina and Griz broke off to talk about working out. Max talked easily with her friends. Jack talked Broadway with Eli. And Paige sat with Lexi on her lap, telling her a story.

After the way Paige’s day had gone, the evening more than made up for it.

“Come on, Lex,” Max told her. “I have to get you home. Thanks for letting us crash your book club.” Lexi gave them all a spin and left to their applause.

“How’s your ankle?” Jack asked her.

“Throbbing,” Paige admitted.

“I’ll take you home so you can ice it.”

“Thanks, Jack.”

Paige said goodbye to her friends. Griz and Gina barely looked up as they were talking to each other too much to notice anyone but each other. It made Paige incredibly happy as Jack helped her from the café .

“That was . . . surprisingly nice,” Jack admitted as he drove her to her apartment.

“That’s book club.”

“Maybe your new department should host a monthly book club pick from our romance lines and pair it with a beverage.”

Paige beamed at Jack. “You’re finally getting it. Ready to admit I was right?”

“Not until I see that bestseller title in front of Mimi’s book.”

Paige laughed and relaxed into the seat as New York passed by. Tonight was a good night. She was determined the next week was going to be good too.