Page 5 of Tempting All The Way

“You want a pay raise?” He laughs. “Do you even know what this job is paying?” he asks.

“Yes, twenty-five dollars an hour, with overtime at time and a half. I want twenty-eight and overtime at double. Call it an asshole allowance, because putting up with you should surely come with an additional stipend,” I tell him.

His eyebrows shoot up in shock.

“Oh, I like this one. Can we keep her?” A voice behind me has my head turning and then my mouth dropping.

“Hi, I’m Nathan, and you are?” he asks, offering me his open palm.

I stand and hold out a hand as Nathan’s wraps around mine, his hold firm. Strong.Damn, I think my ovaries just summersaulted. He’s jaw-droppingly hot. Like GQ model hot. He has dark hair that hangs loosely across his forehead. Dark-brown eyes, with tanned skin that suggests he spends a lot of time in the sun.

As hot as he is, though, he doesn’t compare toXavier freaking Christianson. I don’t think anybody ever could. There’s a reason Melbourne’s female population is vying for his attention.

“Nathan, is there a purpose for your presence in my office?” Xavier growls—yes, growls—behind me.

Nathan smiles wide, a smile I bet would have girls throwing their panties at him. “Yes, Alistair told me you had a hot little thing in here. I thought I’d come and save her.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Xavier grunts. “No, just fucking no. Don’t even think it. This is Shardonnay, Lucy’s best friend,” he says.

“Huh, well, that’s… interesting.” Nathan’s brows draw down. “Anyway, I’m just across the hall, if you need anything, sweetheart.”

“It’s Shardonnay,” Xavier corrects him.

“So you’ve said.” Nathan sends a wink in my direction as he turns and walks out of the room.

I sit back down in the seat. “Who’s that?” I’m asking for more than just the man’s name.

“That is someone you need to stay far, far away from,” he says, opening his MacBook.

“Why? He seems nice—and hot.” I smirk.

Xavier tips his head to the side. I can’t help but squirm under his scrutiny. “He’s way too fucking old for you, babe, and he’s technically one of your bosses. Nathan’s a partner here.”

“He’s not too old for me. He can’t be any older than you are. And, fine, I get it. No screwing the bosses.” I smirk again. I have no intention of screwinganyonehere, but the look on Xavier’s face—the anger—it does something to my insides. He’s really too easy to work up; he’ll probably die of a heart attack in his forties at this rate.

“There are rules if you want to keep this job. I suggest you follow every single one to the T.” He pulls out a piece of paper and writes something at the top before handing it over to me.

It’s a typed-out list. Of rules. Are we in school? Where the rules have to be spelt out for you? Isn’t that what an employee handbook is for? It’s the one scribbled across the top that makes me smile, though. He’s just added it. It clearly wasn’t a rule before, and I can’t help but wonder why he’s adding it now…

#1: No fornicating with employees or associates of the firm.

“Fornicate? Really? Are you fifty?” I laugh.

Xavier pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes. “Don’t question the rules. Just fucking accept and follow them.”

“Fine, but back to that pay raise?” I question.

“I’ll give you twenty-seven an hour and time and a half for overtime,” he counters.

“Deal.”

“Take that list of rules with you. Memorise them,” he says. “Come on, I’ll show you your workstation. Today, I want you to familiarise yourself with my calendar. Visit HR and fill out the necessary forms. They’ll issue you all the equipment you’ll need.”

“Okay,” I agree. This job won’t be hard. I think the hardest part will be keeping my panties dry around Xavier. I might despise the man, but I’m not blind, and apparently my sex drive seems to go intooverdrive whenever he’s around.

I probably just need to get laid; it’s been a while. A really long while. Maybe I’ll head out with Lucy this weekend. Experience my first one-night stand. Even as I think of it, my whole body cringes.

Ew. Nope, I don’t think I can do it.

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