Page 26 of Office Affairs

Chase slid down behind me, spooning my back to his chest. “We have all the time in the world.”

Russell eyed Chase over my head, and I didn’t miss the flash of a grimace in his expression. “Not really.”

Chase brushed his hand over my hip and cradled me closer. “Don’t worry about that right now.”

I yawned, fully ready to give in to the need for a nap after our rigorous lovemaking. Sex, I corrected myself. This was sex, plain and simple. I knew better than to expect anything more. They’d made that perfectly clear. But the way Chase held me combined with how Russell looked at me sent my heart tumbling.

I could fall in love with these men. The thought staggered me. I could love either of them, but knowing me, I’d fall head over heels for them both and screw everything up. What we’d just done couldn’t last. They said they could share, but seriously, how long would they do this before they tired of it? Of me?

“What do we tell Garrett?” Russell asked Chase.

Holy fucking hell. I’d forgotten about Garrett.

14

GARRETT

The chick at the far side of the bar winked at me and swirled her straw around her glass. The invitation was obvious. I tossed back another drink and set my palms on the counter.

“Another?” Brian the bartender—who’s worked here for five years and has a wife and three kids at home—moved the empty glass and raised an eyebrow.

I considered getting wasted but what was the point? Russell and Chase would just sober me up to take care of business. I snorted without mirth. Business. Right. I knew what business I’d like to be doing, and it wasn’t the bottle blonde eye-fucking me at the bar. No, my sights were set higher. Back up in the penthouse suites. I had it bad. No one to blame but myself. I waved off the bartender before he regaled me with another story about his kids and hauled my phone out of my jacket pocket. I’d already loosened my tie, but the jacket stayed in place until I returned to my room. I frowned down at my blank phone. Not a single call or text from Chase demanding I come back upstairs so we could get this shit show underway. What the hell? Not that I was complaining.

“Mind if I sit?” The blonde finally made her move and crossed the space between us. Her lips pouted in what she assumed was a pretty smile.

All I saw was the perfect stain of her lips on the glass and the puckered nipples beneath her gold dress. “Go ahead.” I motioned at the seat as I stood and slapped down enough bills to cover my drinks. Normally I’d have it charged to my room, but I knew better than to let this woman overhear my room number. I’d met too many like her through the years. I hated judging her based on her looks and the sultry actions, but I’d been burned often enough to recognize her type. She wanted a quick fuck in the hopes of something more. Or a fuck that ended up in stalking and restraining orders or a paternity test. No fucking thank you.

Brian swiped the money from the shiny counter and nodded. “Enjoy your stay.”

“Thanks.” I kept an eye on the blonde while cutting a diagonal line across the empty lounge and brought the phone to my ear after pressing Chase’s number.

It rang several times before going to voicemail. Grunting, I tried Russell with the same result. Where were they? Frustration bubbled and oozed. They wouldn’t have left without telling me. I stopped by the front desk and stared at the man Sabrina had dressed down earlier. The memory brought out a sardonic smile. “Any messages for Garrett Smith?”

The man scowled but tapped on the keyboard. “No, sir. Nothing.” He gave me a tight smile. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

I thought about telling him to make sure he didn’t give out our room number, but I doubted even he was that stupid and only our keycards allowed access to the penthouse floor. We liked our privacy. Leaving the man behind, I tried both numbers again, meeting the same result. “Fuck.” I growled under my breath and stalked into the elevator with my hands deep in my pockets and a sliver of fear rooting itself in my spine.

“Hold the elevator.” A honeyed voice called out, and I thrust my hand between the closing doors out of instinct, then cursed when the woman from the bar elbowed her way into the small space.

“What floor?” I bit out.

She riffled through a tiny purse and released a breathy sigh. “Oh shoot. I’ve lost my keycard. Can I come up to your room until I find it?”

“Front desk is right there.” I pointed. “Get a new card.” I kept my hand in place, refusing to allow the doors to shut.

“You sure you don’t want some company?” She danced her fingers up my jacket buttons.

I batted her hand away. “Don’t touch what doesn’t belong to you.”

“You could belong to me,” she purred.

By all that was holy, this woman was going to make me lose my shit. “Let me be clear. I’m. Not. Interested.” I pointed at the front desk again. “Now get off my elevator.”

With a huff and a flounce of her ass-hugging dress, she disembarked. “You don’t know what you’re missing. I could turn your world upside down.”

“Yeah, no doubt.” I didn’t bother hiding the disdain in my voice. “Your kind of trouble isn’t worth my time.” The doors closed on her incredulous face.

Russell would call me an asshole. I called it a solid life decision. She hadn’t taken the hint so I didn’t feel the need to be anything short of blunt, even if it sounded ruthless.

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