Page 17 of It Must Be Love

She cleared her throat. "Ethan has a servant-leader philosophy."

"And me?"

"I don't know. I don't work for you. Ethan says you're fair and intelligent. And that you have strong instincts. He thinks of you as a boss and friend. He has tremendous respect for you."

"And you? Do you have respect for me?"

What the fucking hell are you trying to pull, Amias. Shut up and let her go. You're digging a hole here you won't be able to get out of.

"Yes, absolutely."

She had full lips. She licked them a lot and bit them, so they were ripe. I wanted to taste her lower lip and…what in the world was wrong with me? I was getting sex on the regular with Ann. Damn good sex. She was wanton and ready to try anything. This mouse probably just did missionary. She'd be too vanilla for me, and I wanted to nibble on that soft lower lip of hers. I was losing my fucking mind.

"Naya, we're going to be working together on Project Phoenix so if you have any issues with my style of leadership, I'd prefer to hear it from you, not from Ethan."

Fuck that was unfair! She'd not gone to Ethan. I knew that. But she was so goddamn stoic that it was like a red cloak in front of a bull, which was me, angry for no good fucking reason.

"I have no issues with your leadership style."

I stared at her for a long moment.

"Is there anything else?" she smiled gently. Her gray eyes lit up. She was uncomfortable as hell in this meeting, I'd made sure of that and yet her eyes didn't show any turmoil. They were peaceful. What inner strength did this woman have?

"Yes. I know you said not to bring personal stuff into work, but I don't see you socially often enough except apparently around the streets and restaurants of Back Bay. I'm sorry about how Ann talked to you and your…ah boyfriend."

I still couldn't get over the fact that she was dating an ex-football player. Ann had been incensed about it and jealous. I was surprised…and annoyed. Yeah, I was irritated that she had a boyfriend that I knew nothing about. Nolan had never mentioned him. Hell, Kara kept talking about how Naya had no life. Darren fucking Wright! They must be close because of the ease with which he handled Nolan's kid. It was obvious that Magnus knew Darren and was comfortable enough to be held by the giant of a man and play with him.

Naya rose. "Why are you apologizing for Ann?"

The question surprised me. "Because I was with her."

"You have nothing to apologize for." Her voice was low, smooth. She didn't seem the kind who ever threw a hissy fit. No, she was probably always gentle. What kind of sounds did she make when a man pounded his dick into her? Did she moan? Did she—fucking hell, now I was getting hard thinking about curve-less drab Naya?

But she has curves, the fucking devil on my shoulder smirked. She just hides them.

"Maybe so, but I didn't like how she talked to you."

"Then you should tell her that. Have a good rest of your day."

Good fucking point!

She then lowered her head and walked out of my office.

I ran a hand through my hair. When did Naya start to twist me into knots like this?

Chapter 7

Naya

"Thank god this meeting ended a half hour early. I need to get on the road and take the family to the parents," one of my colleagues said as he rushed out of the meeting room the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

It was a pivotal meeting for Project Phoenix, and it had gone well. I was relieved. Amias was treating me decently, and I appreciated it, though I was surreptitiously looking for a new job. It grated on me that he'd done Nolan a favor by hiring me. I was good at what I did, and I didn't want his charity.

I was looking far and wide for the right next step. I didn't need to live in Boston any longer. Sure, I'd miss Magnus and Darren, but I'd make time to come see them whenever I could. Maybe if I could live and work from a less expensive place than Boston—I could pay off my father's medical bills faster and start to save up to maybe buy a house and build a life for myself.

As people left the conference room to wishes of Happy Thanksgiving, I watched Amias as was my habit and then wanting to break that very bad and embarrassing habit, forced myself to look away.

Stop staring at him, woman, it makes him uncomfortable. He already doesn't like having you around.

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