Page 65 of The More the Merrier

“It’s delicious, crisp, with a hint of warm notes I find soothing. But you know you can’t call it Bacchus, that name is already trademarked.”

Gregor took another sip and rolled the frothy brew on his tongue, looking for the right adjectives to describe it.

“Rolling in the sheets.” He chuckled. “The flavors aren’t boring, but they are soothing. Rolling in the sheets is how I’d describe it.”

Atticus grabbed the beer and took a swig. “How about Karpy Dance?”

Gregor was genuinely puzzled by the termkarpyand assumed Atticus confused it with the word harpy. “Don’t you mean harpy?”

“No, Karpy, for Karpathos, a Greek Island dominated by women.”

“Then why not call it Soothing Helen? Then your title includes what it does and allows you to use a famous Grecian legend to boot.”

“Hmph, maybe, I’ll think on it and hand it over to the marketing team. After you approve, of course.”

“Of course,” Gregor smirked, and wrestled the bottle from Atticus, taking another sip. “It needs a hint of mint, then it’s a go. Maybe get a barrel ready for the masquerade ball in two nights and we can roll it out to the others.”

“See now that’s why you’re the bossman.” Atticus stood and stretched. “I better get a move on if you want it ready. Later.”

“You realize it’s nine at night, right?” He spoke to the retreating form of Atticus as he disappeared back the way he’d come with a small shrug to show he heard him.

“Strange Greek!” he hmphed.

Gregor sank deep into the tub, relishing the gentle massaging of the jets as he let go of his day and relaxed. Soon enough, friends and family would fly in to join them for the company retreat, and then there would be no peace during the six days of fun and parties.

Closing his eyes, he tried not to think about the impending chaos.

Claire

The next morning, Claire locked the door to her almost empty home for the last time. Her engine coughed to life. This would be the last time she drove it. And despite wanting the changes, and taking the steps to ensure them, it was all a bitter pill at the moment.

Life had been really hard these past few years, she reminded herself. Colorado would be a fresh start where no one knew her or her background and she could float in anonymity within the company that employed so many people. She would be one in thousands, perfect!

Her last day at the Dionysus division included many tearful goodbyes and training up her replacement. A sharply dressed curvaceous woman of color with a few freckles dotting her perfect skin and hair that fell down her back. The woman looked only twenty, despite being closer to thirty. And Claire felt sorry for the new PA, Layla. Every time her eyes landed on her boss, her lips parted, and she got a far-away look in her eyes. Yeah, she really had a thing for Blaze, poor woman!

“Here.” Claire handed Layla a folder that contained an eight-page typed document that included her most recent additions about Blaze. Layla opened the folder and smiled.

“You certainly know him well. Did you… you know… get together?”

Claire broke out in peals of laughter. “Sorry,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “No, we didn’t have that type of relationship. I am the younger sister in our dynamic. He’s been good to me and helped me out a lot. Safe to say, we never had that chemistry.”

She was about to say more when the man in question waltzed in.

“What are you two ladies up to?”

Was it her imagination, or did he intentionally make his voice deeper and more growly in his deep Scottish burr? He wasn’t looking at her when he asked. His eyes were laser-focused on Layla.

The woman beside her froze, wide, almond eyes completely captured by his. The pulse in her neck beat out at a rapid pace and Claire watched in fascination as Layla’s nipples pebbled, her dark areolas standing at attention inside her blouse. And she wasn’t the only one who noticed. She glanced back to her boss, well former boss after today, to find an almost wolfish expression in his hungry eyes that practically devoured Layla.

Awkward much?

Claire cleared her throat. “It’s getting time for me to head to the airport. Is there anything you need from me before I head out?”

Blaze dragged his eyes from Layla, whose head dropped immediately following the broken connection. No doubt she was collecting herself for their next encounter. Claire almost wished she was staying to watch what was sure to be an epic game of capture the sub. She couldn’t hide the grin that spread at the images playing in her mind. Office intrigue sounded like fun, but god help them with their working relationship if there was any fallout. Maybe it was good she had found no one connected with the company of interest to her.

“What are you grinning at, bratty girl?”

“Oh, nothing,” she singsonged. “I’m just imagining how things will be after I’m gone.”

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