2. Griffin

Fire her. The thought had never fully crossed my mind. I was going to threaten it tonight just to get a rise out of Cora, but she beat me to it.

As she stands in front of me with a defiant tilt to her chin, I want to fire her just to prove a point.

Cora tosses her raven hair over her shoulder, blue eyes narrowed. Even the freckles across her cheeks seem to blaze with life as she takes a step closer to me.

She pokes a finger into my chest. "If you want me to leave your company, just fire me."

I grab her finger and pull her closer, heat radiating between us. "And what if I did fire you right now?"

She smirks and snatches her hand back, though she doesn't bother to move away. "I"d probably be better for it."

"If I got rid of you, I could hire someone capable of doing their job—maybe someone who actually liked me and the work."

Cora takes another step closer, and all I can focus on is the way her body is nearly pressed against mine. "Fire me or don't, but I'm here to have a good time tonight, and I'm going to have it one way or another."

I've spent the better part of the last hour watching her dance with strangers—men, trying to catch her eye, eager to impress her.

She was the center of attention on the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm with her captivating smile and graceful moves.

Cora has remained unfazed as if she didn't have a care in the world. She's been laughing and singing along with the songs, enjoying the moment.

I remember our childhood vividly, how Cora's older brother, Jake, and I'd spend endless summers exploring the woods, building forts, and getting into trouble.

Jake had been my only companion, my partner in crime. We'd share everything, from secrets to dreams, laughter to tears.

And then there was his pesky little sister Cora—six years younger—following us everywhere, refusing to leave us alone.

I desperately tried to get her to stay away—ignoring her, teasing her, even bribing her with candy—but she was relentless.

She'd push my buttons, constantly provoking my not-so-angelic side. She'd never been afraid to speak her mind, refusing to be anything less than a nuisance.

And now, looking at her standing before me with a look that says, "I dare you to underestimate me," a different kind of emotion stirs within me. She's no longer the annoying little girl who'd tormented me in my youth.

After hiring her as my assistant, I'd be lying to say that I didn't stop what I was doing every time she walked into my office.

She's blossomed into a stunning woman, and I glimpse something else in her—a spark, a fire, a hint of the woman she's become.

Although, I can't quite pinpoint what I'm feeling right now…

The carefree side of her had been lost to me for years, but tonight, it came back with a vengeance.

I glower at her, not sure where to go from here. "I'm not going to fire you."

"Then why are you over here?"

"Jake would be pissed if he saw you dancing around with a bunch of men, not to mention you're drunk. He"d want me to intervene before it became something."

Her eyebrows shoot up her forehead. Cora's eyes roll to the ceiling, and the bright strobe lights cast harsh shadows over her face.

Wrong thing to say, Griffin. That is a very wrong thing to say.

Cora shakes her head. "If this is some bizarre attempt to defend my honor after my ex wrecked my life, cut it out. I don't need you or my brother to step in and try to protect me. I can handle myself."

"It looked like you were in the middle of handling yourself just before I walked up." Sarcasm drips from my words.

Cora's glare could send a man straight to his grave. She crosses her arms and cocks a hip.

"What are you trying to say, Griffin? Because it sounds a lot like being a dick about me having fun on a night out. Especially when you don't even like me, so I'm a little confused here. Why don't you clarify?"

I rub a hand down my face, knowing I've already put my foot in it.

The last person I will admit to being jealous over is Cora Walsh.

I stare into her eyes for a moment, but her pouty lips draw my attention next. There's a spark within me, a desire to reach out and touch her, to feel the heat between us.

Get it together, you fool.

She may be gorgeous, but she's completely off-limits. She's my best friend's sister, six years younger than my thirty-two years.

She already despises me, and I know getting involved with her would only complicate things further.

Maybe it's time to stop being the Griffin that she remembers.

"Cora, I didn't mean anything by it. I don't know why I said it. I know things have been rough between us over the years, but we work together now. Don't you think we should stop bickering and start acting like adults?"

The wary look in her eyes drives a knife into my gut.

I wasn't horrible to Cora when we were younger, but I wasn't pleasant either. She was an annoyance back then, and I made sure she knew it.

Cora rolls her eyes and brushes past me, heading for the door. "I'm civil to you at work. That's good enough."

A whiff of her sweet vanilla scent envelops me as she turns around. I watch her skimpy black dress hug every curve, accentuating all the right places as she stomps away.

She strides out of the bar on long legs that I'm already picturing wrapped around my waist as I pin her against a wall.

It's almost a primal urge to claim her, to make her mine.

Would she taste like tequila or whiskey?

I quickly follow her out of the bar.

Cora leans against the brick wall, the cold breeze not bothering her in the slightest. "Why did you follow me out here?"

"I'm not done talking to you yet." I move closer to her, still drawn in by the curve of her full lips. Her lemon and vanilla perfume wraps around me, and it's intoxicating.

I clear my throat, making a conscious effort not to touch her, burying my desires beneath a veneer of professionalism as her boss.

"Cora, it's been years. I was a dick to you when we were younger, but don't you think it's time that we both get over that and move on?"

If I've already put my foot in it with her tonight, I may as well keep talking and making things worse.

There is something about Cora that makes me unable to form any rational thought—such as the one that would have told me that provoking her when she's drunk is probably a bad idea.

"Move on?" Cora's cheeks flush, her arms crossed. "Griffin, I took the job as your assistant because I had to bail myself out of thousands of dollars of debt. If I had it my way, I would have never seen you again."

"What debt?"

She sighs and rakes a hand through her hair. "Don't play stupid. Jake had to have told you why I needed a job. I know you hate me. You wouldn't have hired me if you didn't pity me."

"Cora, I don't hate you."

"Don't. Just don't, okay? I'm not interested in playing nice after all these years you spent being a pain in the butt to me. I just want to have a good night and forget everything else in my life."

I sigh and step closer to her as a shiver runs through her body. "It's cold out. Why don't we go to another bar, and we can talk? I'm sorry for how I treated you when we were young; I really am. But that's not who I am anymore."

Cora studies me for a moment, her gaze dragging down my body and back up. The flash of interest in her eyes is hard to miss, but there's apprehension there as well.

Even after working as my assistant for the last few weeks, she still doesn't trust me. That knowledge doesn't sit well with me.

"Come on, Cora. One drink—maybe two. I promise I didn't know about the debt when I gave you the job. Jake didn't mention your financial situation. I was only doing him a favor by taking you on because he'd asked me to."

She pushes off the wall and steps toward me. "If I go get this drink with you, this is the last time we're going to talk about anything personal between us."

"Sure. If that's what you want."

With a sharp nod, she starts walking away from the bar. I hurry to join her, guiding us down the street and around the block to a different bar.

The bar is tucked away from the rest of the restaurants on the block. If you didn't know it was here, you would miss the small, dark stone building at first.

However, once the doors open, the building comes to life. A live band plays on a stage at the front of the room, and several people prepare drinks behind the bar.

Others dance in the middle of the bar, and tables line the edges.

Cora looks up at me. "I didn't think this would be where someone like you would go."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I keep my tone light and teasing, wanting her to relax around me. I don't want the tension between us to continue.

I want to get to know the woman I"ve written off for many years—the same woman who's been charming her way around my office.

She seems to draw me in without really meaning to. I hate to admit that I've started to think her smile is addictive, and the scent of sweet lemons and vanilla haunts me when I go home.

What the hell is she doing to me?

Whatever it is, I don't know if I want it to end.

Cora shrugs and makes her way to the bar. "You're a lawyer—and a CEO. You"ve taken over Blake Associates from your father and spend your days preparing for cases, reading contracts, or going to court. You have to show off for every other corporate lawyer in Maine because that's how the industry works. A little hole in the wall like this doesn't scream I'm a lawyer with status."

"Sometimes I prefer to be alone and have time to myself without worrying about what everyone else thinks of me."

The bartender sees us and walks over, his gaze running the length of Cora's curvy body. I clear my throat and lean on the bar beside her.

When my shoulder brushes against hers, I can't deny the sparks ignite.

"Hey, man." I peer up at the menu hanging behind him on the wall. "Double whiskey on the rocks for me."

Cora digs her elbow into my side and gives me a pointed look. With a bright smile, she turns her attention back to the bartender. "Long Island iced tea for me, please."

The bartender nods and grabs a bottle of whiskey. "Opening a tab or paying now?"

"Tab." I hand over my credit card, and he enters the number into their sales system.

He makes the drinks quickly, and I pull out cash, leaving a hefty tip on the bar. Cora takes her drink and rolls her eyes.

I ignore the look she's giving me and lead the way to a small table in the dark corner.

Cora slides onto one of the tall stools, still sipping her drink. "Why are you so eager to stash everything that went down between us in the past? Why bother now?"

I sit across from her and down half my drink. "I'm not the man I used to be. I"ve grown up and realized how I spoke to you when we were young was wrong."

Cora toys with the straw in her drink. "And you want to move past that?"

"We're both too old to keep carrying around anger and resentment. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry that I made you feel excluded. If I could go back in time and kick my own ass for treating you that way, I would."

I pause, taking a sip of my drink before I tell her that I kind of like her now. That I want to touch her… kiss her. But those words are on the tip of my tongue. If I'm not careful, I might make a decision I'll kick myself for later.

Cora is my buddy Jake's sister. My employee. A woman who resents me.

Although, with the way she is looking at me right now, it's hard to believe that she fully dislikes me.

Cora finishes her drink, glancing at me every now and then. She sways in her seat to the beat of the band"s song. Her soft smile makes me get out of my seat and hold out my hand.

Her eyebrows pull together. ‘What are you doing?"

"Dance with me."

"You can dance?" Cora slips her hand into mine, sending my heart racing. "And you want to dance with me? Don't you think it's a bad idea? What if someone we know sees us together? That will be the talk of the office for the rest of the retreat and beyond."

"Nobody we know is here." I lace my fingers with hers. The tingle that I get each time we touch is back.

I don't know how I will survive dancing with her when all I want to do is… kiss her.

Cora follows me close to the stage. I spin her beneath my arm before pulling her back to me.

My chest presses against her back. Her hips roll against mine, and I hope she doesn't feel the way my cock swells against her ass.

When she spins, heat flashing in her eyes, I realize the hope is useless.

A waitress passes by with a tray of shots. Cora reaches out and takes two, handing one to me.

We clink our glasses together before throwing back the shots and putting the empty glasses back on the tray.

Cora loops her arms over my shoulders, her body moving against mine to the beat of the music.

I dip my head closer to hers as the band plays a slower song. Her gaze locks on my mouth before flicking back up to my eyes.

I let my fingers trace down the low dip in the back of her dress. She leans into me, her fingers sinking into the hair at the nape of my neck.

I kiss her without thinking it through. She freezes for a moment, but just when I'm about to pull away, she tugs on my hair.

My moan is low as her mouth slants and moves against mine. She gasps when I nip at her bottom lip.

Our tongues tangle as my hands slide down to grip her ass. I pull her hard against me, getting lost in the feeling of her body against mine.

She tastes like alcohol and addiction.

Cora's hands slip beneath my shirt. My muscles flex as she drags her nails over my skin.

I squeeze her ass tighter, hauling her against me as I kiss my way down her neck. She moans, her body still swaying. I suck on the sensitive skin at the base of her neck.

When I kiss her again, she rolls her hips against mine. Her tongue flicks over my bottom lip as her stiff nipples press against my chest through the thin layers of material that separate us.

The kiss will be permanently seared into my brain, especially when she pulls away, a sultry little smile on her lips.

"What do you say we get this party started?" Cora grabs my hand and tows me to the bar. "If we're going to start being friendly with each other, I'm going to need a lot of alcohol first."

She orders a round of shots, and we sit ourselves at the bar. We go shot for shot with each other. Cora laughs and rambles about the office gossip.

After a few more shots and another shared kiss, we pour out of the bar and out into the open streets of Colorado.

Cora laces her fingers tighter with mine, pointing at a white building with a rose arch. "Let's go see what they've got going on."

I follow her across the street, alcohol making my judgment hazy.

We should go back to our separate hotel rooms, but right now, I would follow her off the edge of the earth if she asked me to.