A Mutually Beneficial Secret: A Spicy Secret Office Relationship RomCom (The Unexpected Book 3), page 1





A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL SECRET
The Unexpected Series Book Three
HARPER REED
Copyright © 2022 by Harper Reed for A Mutually Beneficial Secret
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For more information on reproducing sections of this book or sales of this book, email HarperReedBook@gmail.com.
Furthermore, this is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.
ISBN: 979-8843291181
Cover Credit—JoY Author Designs
Editor: Jamie Holmes
Dedication
For the over-thinkers, like myself, don’t be afraid to take the leap.
There just might be a hot British guy waiting on the other side…
Contents
Chapter 1
kitty beard
Chapter 2
arse toasters
Chapter 3
killing me slowly
Chapter 4
elude me
Chapter 5
tantric tongue
Chapter 6
forbidden romance
Chapter 7
deliciously written porn
Chapter 8
penis ready
Chapter 9
basically screwed
Chapter 10
Stupid fucking spider
Chapter 11
I call bullshit
Chapter 12
with my teeth
Chapter 13
bloody hell
Chapter 14
go home with you
Chapter 15
overly eager libido
Chapter 16
less endowed
Chapter 17
extra rubber
Chapter 18
out of excuses
Chapter 19
big eggplants
Chapter 20
never have I ever
Chapter 21
a little crooked
Chapter 22
little bird
Chapter 23
kinky shit
Chapter 24
I have an idea
Chapter 25
a shitty thing
Chapter 26
literally killing me
Chapter 27
British dick
Chapter 28
dessert before dinner
Chapter 29
soul sisters
Chapter 30
fuck
Chapter 31
a favor
Chapter 32
the last time
Chapter 33
keep you
Epilogue
Connect with Me
Also by Harper Reed
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter One
KITTY BEARD
Piper
New Year’s resolutions. They’re a load of shit. But for the first time since I was in college, I’m making some. Why, you might ask? That’s a great question. I recently left behind everything I know in North Carolina, so I could move to Los Angeles, California for a job I’ve been telling myself I want. Now that I’m here, though…I’m not so sure.
Today is New Year’s Eve, and I’m a single, thirty-one-year-old woman now living in one of the largest cities in the world. Yet, instead of going out, I’m standing in the doorway of my home office, looking dejectedly at my computer and thinking I might as well get some work done.
With a heavy sigh, I force myself to pass by my newly set up and organized office and head down the stairs to do another walk around my new condo. I only moved in three days ago, but all of my boxes are unpacked, and I have nothing left to clean or move around.
The stairs take me to the short hallway that leads to my small kitchen with its cherrywood cabinets and light-tan countertops. The dining area came furnished with a high-top table that has four chairs, which will probably only be filled with people when my best friends Kenzie and Ella come to visit next month.
The living room on my left is cozy with no windows, thanks to being squished between two other condos and the garage in front of it, but there are at least bright abstract paintings hanging on each wall.
I turn back to the dining room and open the sliding glass door to take in the warm night sky. Nothing around here is quiet, and there aren’t any stars to see from my porch, thanks to all the light pollution from the big city.
Damn it, I miss North Carolina and I’ve only been gone a week. As excited as I am about my job as an editor, I’ve been having major regrets about taking it for the last couple months.
I thought that was mostly because I’d been forced to work from home for so long while my new office was being constructed, but now that I’m here? I’m still not thrilled. It’s a deflating fact I’m trying not to focus on, but it’s hard when I have nobody to distract me.
My phone rings, and I race back up the stairs to my bedroom to answer it, hoping it’s Kenzie and Ella calling to video chat since it’s almost midnight over there.
I frown—even though I really have no reason to—when I spot Shannon’s name on the screen instead. She’s a coworker, and a nice one at that, who had even been waiting to welcome me when I arrived at my new place for the first time.
“Hey,” I answer with a huff, surprised the call hadn’t gone to voicemail yet.
“Hi, Piper! I’m so glad you answered. Do you have any plans tonight?” Her voice is hopeful and much too excited for my current mood.
I glance around my room to find an already-made bed, pictures hung perfectly on the wall, and a bathroom that has been scrubbed clean. Twice.
“Not sure yet,” I half-lie. She doesn’t need to know I’m a loser with no plans other than possibly working on a book I shouldn’t be.
She giggles and then pulls the phone away. “Stop. I need to talk to Piper first.”
Shannon must be at home with her husband Matt who she’s told me so much about. Great, she’s going to invite me to something where I’ll be a third wheel. I thought things couldn’t get worse, but I was wrong.
“Sorry about that,” she says. “Matt and I are headed out to a club where a lot of the crew from our floor will be. I thought maybe you’d like to go with us and meet some of the others more officially before your first day.”
Oh. Well, that doesn’t sound terrible. At least, I don’t think so until I eye the flatscreen on my bedroom wall and the comfy mattress with pillows piled up the headboard. I could grab my laptop, get some words down, and watch my favorite cheesy movies until midnight.
Or I could do what I probably should and go out…
God, why does making that choice feel painful? Maybe because I’m ridiculous.
“Can I think about it for a bit and text you later?” I ask.
As lame as I’ve been feeling about staying in tonight, I’m not overly excited about the idea of meeting a portion of my coworkers on a night where there will be drinking involved.
While I wait for Shannon to respond, my mind has already completely overthought the evening, and I know I should probably say no now instead of disappointing her later. Maybe one day I won’t be so uptight.
My head shakes curtly. Right.
“Sure, but I hope you’ll come with us. I’ll text you the info in case you don’t decide until the last minute. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I promise,” she says with an enthusiastic tone.
“Thanks, Shannon. I’ll do my best to make it,” I say before hanging up.
I throw myself back onto my bed, draping my arm over my eyes and sighing heavily. “What is wrong with me?”
This is not how I’m going to make things better here. I tried to convince myself that keeping Shannon or any other coworkers at arm’s length was a good idea, but a part of me—the pieces that my friends often influence—reminds me that I’m never going to thrive in Los Angeles if I fight every new thing I cross paths with just because I’m homesick.
“So pathetic,” I mutter before sitting up.
I decide I should eat and have a cup of tea before I make up my mind for sure. A full stomach and something soothing will clear my head. Hopefully.
This time, I tuck my phone into my back pocket and make my way to the kitchen. My eyes linger on my office, and I step inside the doorway once again. This time, I take in the bunk beds I requested in my furniture allowance so that my two best friends would have their own place to sleep. I frown, missing them. Again. Then, I mentally smack myself.
I made a choice to take this job over six months ago. I knew what saying yes meant. I had time to process. I need to stop wallowing.
Fuck, do I.
I force myself down to the kitchen and open the cabinets. My groceries were delivered earlier today, so I have plenty of choices. I decide on something warm and comforting: grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Soup goes on the stove
“Hey, Samuel. Play Classic Rock,” I tell my Echo and grin when the response isn’t a robot but one of my favorite actors. It’s the little things in life, right?
Joan Jett streams through the speaker, and I get my late dinner going. Once my buttered sandwich is in the pan, I stir the soup before giving my attention to the coffee maker.
I drop a tea bag into a mug and place it under the spout before pressing the button for hot water and going back to flip my grilled cheese.
My mouth is already watering, so I stir the soup again, then take a sip from the spoon. “Damn, I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
As soon as my food is done, I practically inhale every crumb and groan once my plate is clear. I close my eyes and rest my elbows on the counter.
Do I really want to go out to the bar with people I don’t know?
My phone rings again, and this time I’m sure it’s my friends. My smile grows when I see a video chat request pop up from Kenzie.
I hit accept and smile big. “Happy New Year’s Eve!”
Ella’s face is in the screen more than Kenzie’s as she waves frantically. “We miss you.”
“I miss both of you, too.” I glance at the clock. There’s less than ten minutes until midnight for them. “Shouldn’t the two of you be with your men? It’s almost twelve.”
Kenzie grins. “The bar isn’t that crowded. They’ll find us if they know what’s best for them.”
Ella shakes her head, and her eyes look around, likely for her husband Owen. They soften when I assume she sees him, but then she turns back to the phone. “What are you doing tonight?”
I shrug at the screen, then catch my face in the lower corner. My light-green eyes look pale, and my chestnut hair is flat, falling past my shoulders. The frown on my face deepens and I tilt my head, brushing my fingers over my already-fair skin, hoping it’s not actually as pallid as the phone makes me look.
“Uh, Pipe. You okay?” Ella asks when I don’t answer her previous question.
I blink several times and focus on their faces instead. Kenzie’s fiery red hair and Elle’s soft, caring blue eyes. “Yeah, sorry. Just tired from the move. I don’t know if I’m doing anything tonight. A coworker invited me out, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
Kenzie scoffs. “Ready for what? Having fun? Making new friends? I love you, Piper, and I know we can’t possibly understand how you’re feeling right now, but what I do know is that no matter how many miles separate us, no matter what new friends you make, or what you do, the three of us, we’re sisters for life. Nothing can change that. Don’t be afraid to live out there.”
I try to object, but she raises a finger to silence me and continues, “This is what you’ve wanted, and I know it’s scary, but it’s time to grab life by the balls and live a little. We didn’t force you to do enough of that here, and I don’t want you becoming a hermit out there. I won’t allow it.”
Tears burn in my eyes, but I’m also grinning. “I appreciate the words, but maybe I made a mistake. Maybe I should just come back.”
Ella is shaking her head, but before she can say anything, Kenzie’s rant goes on. “Fuck that nonsense off right now, Piper Lucille Fitz. You’re going to do this. Hell, you’ve already been doing it from home for months now while you waited for the new building to be finished. The only difference now is your address and the fact that you get to work back in the office. Something you’ve been wanting as well. Remember that? Remember how much you wanted this promotion and what an accomplishment it is? I know you do, and you should be grinning like a badass bitch, because that’s what you are.”
I’m laughing and crying by the time she’s done. My chest aches with mixed emotions, and I want nothing more than to hug both of them. Instead, I swipe at my tears and sit up a little straighter at the table. “Thank you, Kenz. I’m sure I’ll stop being a hot mess soon. It’s just…a lot right now. I promise I’m going to try harder.”
“So, you’re going to go out with the coworker who invited you?” Ella asks, her head tilted and eyes full of hope for me.
I nod. “I think I will. I might not make it to midnight, but I’m going to try.”
Kenzie runs a hand through her red locks. “Damn right you are. Go curl your hair, clean up your kitty beard, and wear a sexy dress. If you don’t make a real effort, then we won’t come to visit you.”
“First, kitty beard? That’s incredible, even for you. Second?” My eyes narrow at her. “You would not cancel your trip.”
She raises a brow. “Wouldn’t I, though?”
I know better than to continue challenging Kenzie. “Fine. I swear to go tonight, and you two better be here next month as planned.”
Ella smiles wide. “We will. Happy New Year, Piper. Love you.”
I blow her a kiss and return the smile. “Same to both of you. All the love.”
Kenzie throws up a peace sign like a nerd, then the video chat ends.
A part of me really hates that Kenzie was right. About everything.
I’ve been working toward being an editor with our main company Alliteration Publishing for years now. I always knew if I made it that there would be sacrifices. I didn’t realize how unprepared I was for them, but this is a new opportunity I need to take.
A new place at work. A new home. A new year. Hell, maybe even a new me.
I’ve been the reserved, meek friend of our trio for as long as I can remember, but this is my chance to start over. To be whoever I want.
Those resolutions I’ve never made before but have been thinking about all day begin to surface again.
Be brave and take real risks.
Figure out who I am without the predictable life I’m used to.
Finish the book I’ve secretly been working on and tell Ella and Kenzie.
That last one makes my chest tighten with equal parts eagerness and dread. It’s the only secret I’ve kept from my friends: my desire to one day write books instead of editing them.
Though, I’m pretty sure I have to accomplish items one and two before I can tackle number three. I need to channel Kenzie’s bravery and Ella’s steadfastness and stop hiding behind my fears.
If there was ever a time for me to do this, it’s now. I shouldn’t waste the opportunity by wallowing inside my house all night and avoiding life.
I send Shannon a quick text confirming that I’ll be meeting them there, then I head to my closet, intent to find the perfect dress to wear.
A woman doesn’t start over properly without looking her best.
Chapter Two
ARSE TOASTERS
Colin
Bloody hell, I don’t want to do this. My boss is lucky my mum raised me to be a proper man, or I’d have told him to piss off when he “asked” me to attend the New Year’s celebration with the other employees.
It’s not that I don’t like my coworkers, it’s more that I’m their boss and hardly know them yet. Going out to a club with them seems highly inappropriate. I’ve only been working closely with most of them for a few weeks since I spent my first couple of months with Alliteration Publishing shadowing other departments. I don’t feel comfortable enough to just “hang out.”
According to Steve, my boss, it’s a non-issue for me to worry about crossing lines as long as I’m not dating one of them. Drinking and dancing? Apparently, that’s perfectly okay.
With a heavy sigh, I pick invisible lint from my black button-up long-sleeve shirt and swipe at the singular wrinkle in my gray slacks.
“I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I say when I turn to face my cat Sir Charles. Yes, I’m a grown man with his own cat, but he was my mum’s before she passed last year, and I couldn’t abandon him. Not even when I moved from England to Los Angeles over two months ago.