Page 26 of Executive Benefits

I took the keys out of the ignition and dropped them in my pocket. I got out the door and locked it. When I walked up to the storefront, I could see both women turn their heads toward me.

A slight smile perked over my lips as Julia’s smile widened.

I opened the door and waved and saw the black-haired woman glare.

I knew Julia said her best friend was also her assistant in her business, so it was nice to see that she was also protective of Julia. “Hello,” I said, holding out my hand to the dark-haired woman. “You must be Mia.”

She looked at my hand as though she were unsure where it had been and reluctantly took it. “Nick,” she said. I gave her a firmnod and didn’t let her colder demeanor bother me. I understood what she was doing.

“It’s really nice of you to protect your friend.” I patted the back of her hand as a warm sense of excitement settled over me. If Mia was protecting Julia, that meant she’d talked to Mia about me. That was something nice to know. I wondered what she shared.

Mia gave me the side eye and dropped my hand. She spun around and sat at her desk, crossing one leg over another and pulling out a nail file. She started filing her nails and gave me a heated look.

“Ah, I didn’t mean to interrupt...” I turned my attention to Julia, whose smile seemed to have grown wider. It was accentuated today by ruby lipstick, and I wondered what her mouth would look like wrapped around my dick.

I snapped my eyes shut and laughed the image away, trying not to make too big of an ass out of myself.

“You weren’t interrupting,” Julia said. “This is a business and you are a client, after all.” She emphasized the words, rolling her gaze to Mia.

Mia cleared her throat, and I bit back laughter as Julia rolled her eyes. “Mia was just leaving for lunch,” she said.

“No, I wasn’t.”

“You said you’re going to the deli, that you needed to get out and wanted to walk through the snowy air.”

“I changed my mind.” Mia's deadpan seemed to upset Julia, but I restrained my smirk.

“It’s okay, I just wanted to stop and say hi. Obviously, I did interrupt something,” I started and took a few steps back. “I didn’t need anything else work-related.”

Mia groaned and rolled her eyes. “No, fine. I’ll go.”

“There’s no reason for you to be so excited about it.” Julia crossed her arms, highlighting her cleavage as it lifted. My cock twitched. I rubbed my eye, trying to focus on what Julia and Mia were saying, trying to stop the images of our saucy encounter in my office from beating into my mind. The excitement that we’d get a chance to spend a little time alone started to rise in my chest.

Mia grabbed her coat and gave me a dirty "don’t you hurt her” look that I appreciated more than I could say. When the tiny bell went off along with the sound of a door closing, I chuckled. “She’s lively,” I said, taking my gloves off.

Julia sat behind her desk and smiled. “That’s one word for it.”

“Nah,” I said and walked to the chair across from her. “She’s just being a good friend, that's all.” I sat and leaned back. “I kind of liked it that you told her about me, though.”

Julia’s blush went from her cheeks down to her neck, and my eyes landed on her cleavage again. I dragged my gaze back up because I didn’t come here for sex. “Everything okay?” she asked.

“I should be asking you that question.” I stuffed my gloves into my pocket and propped my chin on my fingers.

“Why me?” she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Well, the last time we saw each other…” Her cheeks brightened, and I let my sentence die away, unsure which direction I shouldgo. Maybe I was reading more into it. I was probably out of my depth for any relationship and was still reeling from my call with Kendra. “I’m sorry about my ex-wife.”

Julia stood. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. You can’t control the actions of someone else, especially someone who’s so angry.” She took a few steps around the desk, and I stood up too.

It took all I had not to yank her to me and kiss her. My gaze cast a long glance on the desk, remembering what we did on mine. I cleared my throat. Suddenly, I felt awkward about just showing up here with no good excuse. I felt like a foolish teenager with a crush. “Ah, you said it was lunchtime. I guess I should get going.”

“That’s okay,” she said. “Are you hungry? You can come up to my apartment.”

I wasn’t hungry, but I wasn’t going to miss a chance to be alone with her longer. “Sure, that sounds good." Julia grinned and waved at me to follow her, and I watched her ass sway with each step as she led me through the office toward a narrow white door. My God, my dick was swelling and I was going to be alone with her. A bad combination after what happened the other night.

But I wasn't saying no, and I wasn’t backing away. I was following her lead and hoping it went somewhere better than my stressful office, an IRS agent, and an encounter with Kendra.

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