Page 14 of Whispered Sins

“What is this place, Daniel? I thought we were going to do something fun,” griped Kiera, shooting me a look.

“It’s a work day.” I shrugged. “Not all of us can live off divorce money and shop at Barney’s all day.”

Kiera rolled her eyes and leaned against the doorframe. She looked ridiculous in a champagne slip dress and strappy heels. Where did she think I was taking her on a Tuesday morning? Then a thought came to me. She probably looked like this for the paparazzi who had been staking out my place since after last night’s auction. They’d already taken several photos of us since—leaving my place, to getting coffee, to coming here. While I didn’t want the public thinking Kiera and I were an item again, at least visiting a nonprofit would look good for me.

I ignored Kiera and took a look around Addison’s office, trying to find little things that would tell me more about her. I didn’t have time though because I heard a grunt outside the door and glanced up to see Addison carrying a heavy armchair. She set it down with a loud clunk and I couldn’t help but notice the little bit of cleavage that peeked through her blouse. I wondered if they were real. If so, she was blessed.

I got my mind out of the gutter and walked toward her as she caught her breath.

“Here, let me,” I offered.

I grabbed the chair and lifted it with ease through the doorway of her office, setting it down across from her desk.

“Thank you,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Please, sit down.”

I sat down and watched as she walked to her seat, ignoring Kiera, who huffed beside me. Addison wore a camel skirt. It was shorter than the one she wore yesterday, revealing her creamy thighs. I imagined my hands sliding up them, feeling their smoothness, but then she slid behind her desk and my train of thought was broken.

Addison looked from me to Kiera, and I realized I hadn’t introduced the two of them.

“Addison, this is Kiera. Kiera, this is Addison.”

I decided to keep it simple because explaining that Kiera was my ex was not something I wanted to get into, and explaining the ridiculous notion of auctioning myself off was embarrassing. Kiera gave Addison a curt smile, which Addison took with grace.

“Very nice to meet you,” she said.

“I’m hoping you can tell me a little more about Leading to Learn and what you do here,” I said, leaning forward and placing my hands on the desk. I caught a whiff of her vanilla perfume again. Sweet, but also with a note of spice I hadn’t noticed yesterday.

“Of course. Well, as you know, we are a nonprofit. We were formed around five years ago after our founder traveled abroad on his honeymoon. While traveling, he had come across several regions that were underdeveloped, leading to a lack of education for the children who resided there. He wanted to give back, and that’s how we came about.”

“Who would want to honeymoon in poor countries?” asked Kiera. “Sounds like a nightmare.”

Addison looked at Kiera, and I saw a small amount of disdain cross her face before she answered sweetly.

“Our founder is fond of giving back. They planned their honeymoon so there was a mix of pleasure and charity work.”

“That poor wife.”

“Actually, it was her idea,” said Addison.

Kiera let out a small laugh through her nose and inspected her nails.

“I like that idea,” I said to Addison, hoping she didn’t think I shared the same lack of values as Kiera. I was no saint, but I also was not a total asshole.

Addison gave me a smile and continued to tell me more about the nonprofit, and I did my best to concentrate. The way her mouth moved was distracting. Her lips were almost too pouty to fully close, and they were lacquered with a shiny gloss I wish I could taste. Plus, there was that small mole above her lip that was sexy as hell. I wondered if she knew it.

“Would you like the tour now?” asked Addison.

I met her gaze and wondered if she knew my eyes had been wandering, and my thoughts had wandered even further.

“A tour?” huffed Kiera.

“That would be great,” I replied.

I wished Kiera would just stay in the office so I could have time alone with Addison. That was why I had set up this whole meeting in the first place. I heard theclick-clackof Kiera’s heels behind me as I followed Addison around the building. I watched as her hips swished back and forth in the leather skirt that hugged her like it loved the hell out of her.

I met a few people around the office and saw others’ curious expressions as we passed by. I didn’t blame them. Here was a billionaire CEO who probably looked like a drooling dog following their coworker, and behind him was a heavily Botoxed woman dressed as if she was going to a cocktail party.

We ended the tour back in Addison’s office, where she looked at me hopefully. I realized all I wanted to do was please her, in more ways than one.

---