Page 5 of Assistant to the Assassin

Henry scoffs. “Yeah, you said that about Mary and Matthew and look where that ended up.”

Fair point. “Okay how the fuck could I have seen that coming?”

“You’re the one that claims to be clairvoyant, so you tell me.” His eyes glimmer with humor, his tone teasing.

I elbow him gently in the side. “Fuck off.”

We stay silent for the rest of the episode, eating our delicious food while we watch the Crawley family deal with the bullshit of high society. They’re a bunch of pompous assholes, but they’re entertaining as hell to watch. When we’re done eating, we do the dishes side by side and then settle back down on the couch to watch another episode. Around this time, I usually get sleepy and spread out on the cushions, resting my feet on his lap, and as usual, Henry reclines as well, slumping against the elbow rest with one arm propping up his head while the other rests on my ankle. Even this small bit of contact has my pulse fluttering.

It’s pretty stupid to have feelings for Henry, for multiple reasons. First of all, he’s, my boss. An assistant trying to get into her boss’s pants is a recipe for disaster. Second, he’s my friend, and trying to get into your friend’s pants is an even greater recipe for disaster. Then there’s the tiny fact that he clearly only views me as a friend and coworker. Nothing more.

Him being an assassin isn’t included in my list of why loving him is stupid, and that probably makes me as deranged as he is. The people he’s sent after are the worst of the worst. They’re human traffickers, rapists, mobsters, weapons dealers, and corrupt politicians. These people are better off dead. And what the fuck does it say about me that his dangerous and violent life makes me want to jump his bones and cuddle him even more?

“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asks me, his chest slowly rising and falling under his T-shirt.

“You aren’t leaving for your next assignment for a few days, so you get to help me by making sure the nosy dentist receptionist stays distracted while I take care of our new shipment of ammunition.”

He grumbles, and I know without looking at him that he’s scowling. “Why do I get to be the butt monkey?”

“Because that receptionist has the biggest crush on you, and she won’t ask questions if you start flirting with her,” I reply.

He grunts, and I know he’s starting to cave to me when he goes all Neanderthal. “Fine.”

I silently preen, but I try to be humble in my victory. “Thank you.”

I can practically feel his scowl. “Mhm.”

He’s going full Neanderthal now. I sit up a little and give him an innocent smile. “You’re the best.”

He still scowls.

I mimic his expression and poke him in the ribs with my toe. “Don’t be such a butthead.”

He scoffs, batting my foot away. “I’m not being a butthead.”

I poke him again. “Come on.”

He rolls his eyes and forces a smile. “Better?”

“Much.”

“I live to please you.” Sarcasm drips with each word, but my mind conjures up a mental scenario where he’s saying that to me in that deep rumbling voice of his, with his lips on my skin and his hands caressing my body.

Focus, Beth.

“I should get going,” I announce, sitting myself up. Henry fantasies are usually welcome but only when I’m alone with a vibrator in hand, not when I’m in the same room with him. “You know I hate driving at night, and it’s nearly dark.”

“I can always drive you,” he offers, running a hand through his shaggy black hair.

I wave off the offer, knowing my imagination will only run wilder in a confined space with him. “I’ll be totally fine.”

I search around for my purse, but it’s dangling in Henry’s hand, as is my coat. He passes me the bag while holding up the jacket for me to slip my arms into, and my heart does a little jump.

Ever the gentlemen.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I say with a smile, completely unprepared for the grin he gives me in return. It knocks the air from my lungs, even after all these years.

“Bright and early.”

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