Page 32 of Playboy Boss

Chapter Twelve

Too many thoughts ran through Scottie’s head, none coherent. None gave her clarity. Konrad had definitely been rivaling with Jeff. The whole table knew it. Was the fight for her?

After their kiss, she wasn’t sure what to expect from Konrad. Even though she’d started the kiss, she’d ended it. It was a mistake, and she still felt that it was. But the more she looked at him and felt his dynamism take her, she wasn’t as sure anymore. Scottie needed to stop presuming to know him. Was his life exciting? Did he have everything he wanted? She didn’t have a clue. His expression said it all. She was the asshole this time.

Go home, Scottie.

Scottie glanced at her watch. Sorting out her money situation with Tara should be her only concern, anyway, not trying to figure out her boss.

“I’ll be back,” Scottie said to the group, who had been leaving one by one. Only five remained.

“Where you off to?” Jeff’s eyes gleamed at her.

“The ladies room, nosey.” Scottie quipped.

He lifted his hands in surrender. “Just making sure you’re not bailing on me. Us, I mean.”

“My God, Jeff. Do you want to join her in the loo?” Konrad didn’t hide his annoyance.

“I’ll be back.” She’d be back to say goodbye.

In the bathroom, she gazed in the mirror, getting her thoughts together. The pear ale and the scotch may have been a bad mix. She felt a slight lightness, a tingly feeling of intoxication, though not enough to impair her judgement.

When she reemerged from the bathroom and went to the table, only two coworkers remained, Jeff and Konrad.

Not sitting, she gripped the back of an empty chair. “Where is everyone?”

“They left.” Jeff glanced at his watch. “It’s nine.”

“Already?” It was past her bedtime.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Konrad said, standing to his full, glorious height. He towered over her, as he did everyone.

“I guess so.” She pointed to her purse on the table. “Can you please hand me my purse?”

Jeff snatched it before Konrad could. “You’re leaving?”

She reached for her purse, tugging harder when he held on playfully. His eyes sparkled, and when he released it, she tucked the purse under her arm. “Yeah. It’s getting late.”

“Come on. I’ll walk you.” Konrad moved closer to her. “Close out the tab, Jeff.”

Jeff was speechless, and so was Scottie. But, she didn’t refuse Konrad. She nodded and said goodbye to a yearning Jeff. His eyes said he wanted to be alone with her, though he dared not defy Lord Korr.

Humidity enveloped Scottie the moment she stepped out of the Bowie Brew. Once they’d exited the bar, she steadily looked down at her pumps with each step and her stomach fluttered all the while. She was alone with Konrad again. He wasn’t even a foot from her, and it made her feel anxious. What would he say to her? What would she say to him? Together, they walked, outside of work hours, outside of any formalities. Like they had been at the EaDo property. What would happen at the end of their walk?

For half a block, neither said a word. Each step echoed in her ears, emphasizing the silence between them, though the street had been busy with cars and pedestrians.

“What did you really think of the scotch?” he finally asked, distracting her from counting her steps.

She turned to meet his perfect profile, her lips fighting a smile. “It was awful.”

Still looking straight ahead, his lips pulled back, and she swore this man grew even more attractive. “It was atrocious.”

She laughed in unison with him and then said, “I guess the Bowie Brew isn’t a place to get a good glass of scotch.”

He shook his head, wrapping his fingers around her wrist, stopping her from crossing the street. The no walk sign had lit up. “That is a correct assessment, Schatzi.” He looked at her, his mouth still parted from his smile.

Schatzi. The term of endearment he’d called her before.

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