Page 32 of Executive Benefits

I checked out my heels thinking about how Nick plowed into me while I was wearing heels and a skirt. I smiled at the memory. Although I wasn’t wearing a skirt today. My red dress came tomy knees but flared out from my waist, making it a good outfit if he did want to stick his hand under it.

“You’re almost as red as your dress.” He put an arm around me. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I swallowed and forced myself to meet his gaze. My cheeks flamed. “I think you should probably come to my house after the party. What do you think?”

I nodded before I even thought about it. “Yes,” I said. When he pulled away from me, I scrunched my eyes. I couldn’t believe I just did that. But maybe there was a reason for it?

“Well, Nick. Look at your girlfriend. Isn’t this fun?” Kendra said, slinking her arm around Nick’s shoulder. I took a step back and did not want to be in the middle of that. That woman had some nerve. I mean, it wasn't like we were actually dating, but she didn't know that. I could tell she was just here to cause trouble. Instead of listening to them bicker, I walked over to the bar and Frank gave me a red wine.

“Thanks,” I said as the other staff members started to watch Kendra and Nick snipe at one another. My discomfort grew. I turned to look at Frank, whose eyes bounced back and forth from me to them. “Did that happen a lot?” I asked. He looked terrified.

He shrugged. “Not this way. Nick is actually much calmer than he used to be. I think it had something to do with you, though.”

I brushed the compliment off and took a sip of my wine. “This is a good one,” I said, trying to take the attention from the Nick and Kendra fight. I heard her screech, and I whipped my head to where they were arguing.

“I’ll try to save him,” I told Frank.

“I appreciate it,” he said. He probably didn’t want to get in the middle of his old boss and the current boss, even if he technically still worked for Nick.

I walked over, giving the other staff members a sympathetic look. They all watched with wary eyes, and it told me they’d seen this show one too many times. I stopped next to Nick and Kendra. “Excuse me, Kendra?—”

“That is Mrs. Grayson to you,” she spat.

“You are not my wife. You also changed your name. I know you haven’t had that much to drink that you’ve forgotten,” Nick snapped back. I placed a hand on his arm. “What?” he spat. Instant regret popped into his eyes. I could see he was trying to hold back his frustration when speaking with me.

“You have a phone call. I told them you’d take it in the office,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t press the question further. His sapphire eyes danced over my face and some of his steam simmered down.

“Fine...” He looked back at Kendra. “I’ll take it there.” He walked away muttering, but I was relieved to break up the argument. I didn't bother to stop when Kendra said something about me under her breath. She might not realize it, but I’d had enough barbs thrown at me in the six months before I moved to Heart’s Creek that the words of an angry ex-wife couldn’t touch me now.

The rest of the staff looked at me with relief, and I nodded to them, hoping to get them back in a celebratory mood.

Nick opened the door to his office and let me walk in first. I flicked the lights on and was surprised by how comfortable I felt here. I chewed on the inside of my lip. I never felt that way with Jared. I was constantly on edge second-guessingmyself, questioning what I was doing wrong when he was acting strangely.

I liked that when I was with Nick, I didn’t question whether it was my fault that he was angry. Instead, I knew it wasn’t my fault, which actually had nothing to do with Nick and everything to do with the lessons I learned from being with a manipulative asshole.

I tried to shake the thought because comparing them didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t help it. With the ringing of what Mia said in my mind and the crazy good sex, it was hard for me not to wonder what it all meant. I was growing more used to the idea that I did like Nick and that I couldn’t find much more to argue against.

Even the idea that I was making a mistake because he was a client was fading pretty quickly at this point. Even as I thought it now, it sounded more like an echo of another life.

Nick's groan pulled me back to him. He wiped his hand over his face and sat back in his chair. I walked over and sat at the edge of his desk, and almost automatically, he placed his hand on my leg. While it wasn’t the time to get turned on, the excitement of having our skin touching pulsed up my leg and tangled in my core.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes finding mine. I gave a brief smile but waited for him to keep going. “It’s just a lot. She’s pulling these punches that make me feel like I’ll never be free from her.” He dropped his hand away from his face. “And that really is what I want. I just want to move on from the mess.

"She didn’t pay the IRS for three years, almost like she was planning on fucking me over at every turn she took. That’s whythe budget had to be cut. I don’t even want the money back from her. Then, she egged the principal of the high school to go to another place for their staff party. It usually brought in a good chunk of money. Then, with the bar across the street, she’s ‘consulting’ them with their new ‘rebrand’.”

He sighed. “Plus, how she treated you the other night and tonight. It’s wearing me down.”

I tipped my chin. “I think that’s a normal reaction for someone who’s going through what you’re going through.” He leaned forward and pulled me onto his lap. I couldn't straddle him because of the arms, but just being close gave me all kinds of other thoughts. It was comfortable in a scary way. He massaged my neck, and even though I closed my eyes, I said, “It’s just as important to rebrand your outside persona as it is to rebrand your restaurant.”

“Like you’re doing?” he asked. His breath tickled up my neck, and the hairs stood at attention. His hand rode up my thigh, and when I opened my eyes, our lips were incredibly close. As much as I wanted to kiss him, I didn’t.

“Yes,” I said, keeping only a small space between us. “It helped that I moved away from the chaos, but I don’t think that’s something you want to do.” His sapphire eyes sparkled with humor. I was happy to see my words were helping him feel better. I could also see the alcohol in his gaze too. The party had been intense, and I'd seen him drink one too many.

"You're right. I don't want to move away. Why move to a different town when the prettiest girl in the world lives here?" His playful smirk made me snicker.

"Mr. Grayson, I think you're drunk."

“Can you drive me home? I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink.” His grip on my thigh tightened, and I felt the warmth pooling in my groin again. I should have said no, but I couldn’t get the idea of his hands on me out of my head.

“That also plays a factor in why you’re reacting so strongly to her.” I laughed.

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