Tomorrow will be a better day once I’m back at work. Hell, maybe one of the guys I was hanging out with will even remember my dance partner and, better yet, know her name.

  Upon arriving to work the next morning, I’m quickly reminded about the staff meeting we’re having to welcome all of the new employees that have been starting at the office over the last couple weeks.

  Hopefully it won’t last long. Since we were closed yesterday for the holiday and I was too tired to get anything done at home, I’m further behind on my work than I’d like to be.

  Begrudgingly, I lock my computer and head for the main meeting room. When I arrive, there’s a welcome banner strung on the wall with balloons floating at each end. A bit over the top, but then again, that’s Steve.

  Brian waves when he spots me from across the room, and I head toward him, sidestepping other employees who seem too chipper for this early in the morning.

  “How did you feel after our night out? Hopefully as bad as I did,” he says with a spark of evil in his hazel eyes.

  “Can’t say that I did.” I chuckle. “I only had the one beer at the table before we went out on the dance floor.”

  He groans and lets out a heavy sigh. “Dude. You shouldn’t have let me keep going back for more.”

  “Life is all about learning lessons the hard way,” I joke.

  Thad and Mikey come over and sit next to us while the room begins to fill as plenty of others walk in. My phone pings with an email from one of our distributors and holds my attention until I hear Steve’s voice raise over the room.

  “Welcome, everyone, to our first meeting of the year. I’m so glad we can finally all be together now that the construction on our floor has been completed and the holidays are past us. A big thank you to those of you who worked remotely and had patience during a few of our setbacks. I also know it’s the day after a long weekend, so I’ll get right into the introductions I wanted to make this morning. We have a lot of new faces on the fourth floor, and I want to make sure that we remain as we’ve always been: a family.”

  Steve grins as he pauses, his wrinkles deepening the longer he smiles, scanning the room. “When this company was started over fifty years ago, my great-grandfather had big dreams for what we might be able to accomplish, and I’m pleased to know we’ve not only met them, but we’ve surpassed what he’d envisioned, something that I give credit to each of you for. Without your individual roles doing their part, this company wouldn’t thrive as it does now. I truly believe that.”

  People begin to clap, and I follow suit. I’ve heard this speech before. While I can feel Steve’s sincerity in his words and gestures, he preaches it a little too much for my liking. I prefer to put my head down and get work done like I’d been doing the last couple months since joining the company.

  “Now, as much as I wish we could sit here all day and chat, I know at least a few of you are eager to get back to work.” Steve’s eyes land on me for a brief second. “Let me introduce all of our new employees and what their roles are. Some of you may have interacted by phone and email already, but it’s always nice to put a face with the name, right?”

  A few laughs ring out amongst the crowd as Steve begins asking people to stand up, like we’re in a classroom.

  Employees from accounting, marketing, distribution, and other departments I didn’t get to sit with are called out, and then he even says my name.

  “Colin Adamson, please stand for everyone,” Steve says with a glint in his eyes. “Colin has been here for a couple months now, but he arrived just after our last quarterly meeting, and given he’s one of our lead editors who stays oh-so-busy in his office, I thought putting him in the spotlight would be fun. Don’t you all agree?”

  I might know deep down that Steve means well, but I really want to kill him right now.

  “Come on now, Colin. Stand up.” He gestures toward me with one hand. “Don’t be shy.”

  Fucking hell. I rise from my seat and ignore the jests coming from Brian next to me and even the loud gasp followed by murmurs I don’t quite catch from someone else in the room.

  I wave awkwardly but don’t really glance around, in hopes that this moment will be over quickly.

  “Colin came to us from a publishing house in London, and we’re so grateful to add his ten years of experience to our company. He’s not much of a talker, but because I’m his boss and he can’t yell at me, I encourage all of you to go meet him more formally whenever you get the chance if you haven’t already.”

  Steve grins widely at me, and I slink back into my seat, my like of him lessening by the second.

  He continues talking and introducing more people, but I don’t hear the rest of the names as I work to shake off the unexpected attention.

  Brian pokes at my ribs. “Hey, man. Meeting’s about over. Be ready to dart toward the door first if you want to avoid talking to people after that introduction.”

  I glance up and am already feeling better. Normally, I’m not that uncomfortable with large groups, but apparently, today I am. Steve is talking about the newest editor, one I haven’t met. At least, I didn’t think I had until I turn to look at her.

  Piper Fitz.

  I’d seen her name on emails and papers and heard others mention her, but given all the remote employees reported to Helen, I’d yet to speak with her myself.

  Well, not until two nights ago.

  At least, I’m rather positive this Piper is the same woman from the club with her long, flowing chestnut hair, slim waist, and creamy skin.

  Half of her face is being shielded by her long strands, and she isn’t looking my way, but I’m certain my instincts are accurate.

  Damn it. How could my luck be so bad? The first woman to interest me since leaving London, and she’s a coworker who is off-limits.

  Go fucking figure.

  She must have seen me, which is why she’s hiding now. Hell, she might have even been the person to gasp when I stood earlier. If so, that tells me she clearly remembers me from New Year’s Eve. At least, I hope so.

  I wonder if she knows about the lovely clause in our employment contracts about intraoffice romances. Probably. I don’t see why else she’d be ignoring me when we both seemed to enjoy our time together the other night.

  Thad leans forward and taps my and Brian’s knees. “It’s a damn shame she works here. But then again, a fling could be fun, too.”

  Something dark and possessive unfurls in my chest, forcing me to take a deep breath. There is something seriously wrong with me. I didn’t even know her name until a minute ago. Well, I didn’t know I knew it anyway. I can’t be that attracted to her already.

  A few minutes later, Steve ends the meeting with more of his pep talk words, and I quickly head to the door. I want to watch which direction Piper goes, so that I can attempt to speak with her later when there aren’t so many other people around.

  She’s sticking close to Shannon, who is another editor, one that I’ve talked with a few times and emailed plenty. Shannon seems to be friends with everyone, so it’s no surprise she’s taken someone new to the building under her wing.

  Previously, I was perfectly okay that the remote employees all reported to another manager, but now? Now, I wish I’d known who Piper was before going to that club.

  I observe her closer, taking in her square-framed glasses that she hadn’t been wearing the other night. I’m not a fan of them, only because they hide the depth of her green eyes that I remember getting lost in while we were dancing and kissing and touching…

  Her long dark hair falls nearly straight around her shoulders and stops at her mid-back. She’s wearing black slacks and a light-pink blouse with three small white buttons at the top. Only one is undone, and I’m very eager to undo the others.

  Her gaze flicks toward me, and I don’t miss the rapid intake of breath she takes before quickly turning in my opposite direction.

  I grin and rock on my heels with my hands in my pockets. She did see me, and she certainly remembers me.

  Good.

  I might prefer to put my head down and avoid everyone else while I work, but this woman… She’s not going to be forgotten, and I sure as hell don’t intend on letting her elude me.

  No, I’m too damn curious now to pretend nothing happened on New Year’s Eve with her. Especially with her reaction to seeing me.

  Even if I signed an HR policy stating I wouldn’t date anyone within the office.

  Chapter Five

  TANTRIC TONGUE

  Piper

  This isn’t happening. Nope. I refuse to believe that the man I made out with on New Year’s is also my new boss. No. Just so many freaking no’s.

  Shannon has stayed by my side, even though I’m fully aware she didn’t buy the “I choked on air and I’m an idiot” excuse I told her when I gasped and then could barely breathe during the meeting.

  When Colin stood up, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. I’d ditched him, thanks to my alcohol finally catching up to me and making me unexpectedly sick, a fact that disappointed me to some degree until just five minutes ago, but that isn’t the point. The point is that I mouth-fucked my boss, and I haven’t the slightest clue how I’m going to handle the situation I seem to have dug myself into.

  “Seriously. Now that we’re alone, what’s going on with you? First-day-in-the-office jitters? Too much coffee? Not enough?” Shannon asks me after we exit the room and stop further down the hallway.

  I glance over at her and try to force a smile to my face. When that doesn’t work, I distract myself with anything other than Colin’s face flashing through my mind.

  I take in Shannon’s black-and-white blouse and her charcoal pencil skirt along with her maroon Jimmy Choo’s I might possibly kill to have. Then, I let my gaze travel back up to meet her concerned face. Deep, ocean-blue eyes are still staring at me, and a strip of her light-blonde hair hangs loosely outside the tight bun the rest of her strands are locked into.

  The need to tell someone about Colin is strong, but I read the paperwork when I took this job. I read every tiny little word, and I specifically remember that there are no intra-department relationships allowed.

  The last thing I need is for a new coworker to figure out what happened and get me in trouble. I hope Shannon wouldn’t stoop that low, but I have to be smart. I don’t know her well, and telling her is a risk I’m not willing to take.

  Working for Alliteration Publishing has been a dream of mine since I was hired at Bookish Pub as an assistant. I can’t give up everything I’ve worked so hard for, especially not for some guy I randomly kissed on a dance floor. No matter how sexy he looks and delicious he tasted.

  Shannon gives my arm a slight shake. “Hey. Seriously. Are you okay?”

  I finally nod and smile. Or at least, I hope that’s what my face is doing. “Yeah, sorry. Being in the spotlight was a bit much for me. I didn’t expect that since I’ve technically worked for this company for over three years. Plus, I’m not used to being around this many people after working from home for so long.”

  Shannon throws her arm around me and leads us back to our office area. “Don’t worry about a thing. Nobody really pays attention in there anyway, and there were more new people today than normal, so I’m sure nobody saw you trembling in your seat or heard you choke on air. You’re totally cool still.”

  She laughs as I lightly shove her away with a real grin on my face. “Gee, thanks. I didn’t think I was that bad.” Okay, maybe I did, but she didn’t need to know that. Or maybe she already did.

  “Um. Yes, you were. I only didn’t say anything before because that would have drawn attention, but let’s not talk about the meeting anymore. Have you started Spiro’s new book?” she asks, glancing behind me at my desk now that we’ve arrived at my office door.

  I nod and sigh. “Roman is…everything.” The best part of my job is that I get to pick the genres to edit in and I signed up for all things romance. Sometimes that includes crazy scenarios I don’t expect, but most of the time, I get to live vicariously through the fictional heroines. My love life has been rather lackluster, especially once I knew I was moving.

  I try to recall the last time I went on a date with a guy more than once, but hell if I can remember. Dread consumes me. Oh, my God. When is the last time I had sex?

  The fact that I don’t know the exact answer to that question is downright embarrassing.

  Shannon laughs. “Damn, Piper. You really get into your work.”

  My face is flushed, but I let her think it’s because I’m turned on by a fictional character and not because my abstinence has lasted way too fucking long.

  “Hey, we can’t all be lucky enough to marry the perfect man so young,” I tease, trying to get the conversation off me.

  She blushes. “I really am a lucky bitch. Alright. Enough talk. I have way too much stuff to get caught up on, and I’m sure you do as well after taking time off for the move. Want to do lunch at one today?”

  The fact that Shannon is treating me as if I’ve been working in the office for months rather than hours warms a piece of my heart I thought went cold when I hugged Ella and Kenzie goodbye back in Charlotte.

  “Yeah, that would be great,” I say with a smile as I lean against my doorframe.

  “And my treat to celebrate your first working day in LA!” She waves and heads two offices down to her desk.

  With a wave of my own, I take a few steps forward and close the door behind me. When I get to my chair, I lean back against the charcoal leather material and close my eyes.

  I still can’t believe he works here.

  Even worse, that he’s the boss I’ll now be reporting to directly. Like, how is this my life right now?

  Thank God for Shannon. Though, her insistence that I go to that damn club is the reason I’m in this situation. Yes, I realize it isn’t really her fault, but as I pick up the manuscript I’ve been doing first-round edits on between moving and unpacking, I selfishly admit it’s easier to lay blame where it doesn’t belong than dwell on how the hell I’m going to avoid Colin for as long as possible.

  I’m finally at home and have already changed into my pajamas before pouring myself a glass of white wine. My first day in the office is done, and I managed to do just as I hoped. I didn’t see Colin after the morning meeting, but I did see an email from him. One that will require me to be around him tomorrow that he sent right as everyone was leaving for the day.

  It was short and to the point, but for some insane reason, I’m still thinking about why he called for a meeting and how many people he invited. Holy shit, what if it’s just me and he only made it sound like it was going to be a group thing?

  He wouldn’t do that, would he?

  Even worse, what if he doesn’t remember me? Could I really be the only one losing my mind right now? When we’d been dancing, he hadn’t seemed drunk, but I sure as hell was, so maybe my memory isn’t recalling things clearly.

  My hands cover my face, and I let out a loud groan. “What the hell am I going to do?”

  Call Ella and Kenzie, I think. That’s something I should have done as soon as I got in my car, but a part of me doesn’t want to make the kiss with Colin into a big deal.

  I can’t date him, so why do I even need to think about what I’m going to do when I know there isn’t anything I can do?

  Because his tongue made your toes curl, and you have dust bunnies threatening to make a home in your unused vagina.

  Okay, that’s a very valid reason my subconscious has kindly reminded me of, but it doesn’t change the fact that I literally can’t date Colin without breaking a clause in my contract at work.

  I grab my phone and hit the video button on our group chat, crossing my fingers that Kenzie and Ella aren’t too busy tonight.

  Just when I think neither of them are going to answer, Kenzie’s mussed auburn hair appears on the screen. “Hey, Pipe. I wasn’t sure we’d hear from you tonight.”

  Her hazel eyes crinkle at the sides as she grins at me.

  “Were you about to head to sleep?” I ask when I realize she’s leaning against the pillows in bed. Shit, I hadn’t thought about how the time difference between California and North Carolina would affect my ability to chat with my best friends.

  Kenzie grins, and I hear her boyfriend Bentley mutter, “Don’t you fucking dare.”

  “Bentley was just dosing me with my daily required orgasm. I’m wide awake now.”

  Ella chooses that moment to join us, and we’re both shaking our heads at Kenzie’s crass ways.

  “He’s going to cut you off if you keep talking about your sex life with other people in front of him, including Owen,” Ella says, and I can see she’s wrapped in a blanket on her couch.

  “Were you sleeping?” I ask, trying to ignore the guilt I feel at having called so late. I mean, it’s only ten their time, but still. They both have to work tomorrow as well.

  Ella grins. “No, I was reading that book you left for me, but Owen is already out, so I snuck out here to call you back without disturbing him.”

  “At least someone is considerate,” Bentley says, then I hear a door slam closed.

  Kenzie’s Cheshire grin grows bigger as she burrows further into the pillows. “Are you finally going to tell us how your day really was, Pipe? Your short texts were bullshit, by the way, but I’m trying this new thing where I’m being more considerate of people’s need for privacy. Though, I’m only successful about half the time, as you just saw.”

  A laugh bubbles up inside me. “Well, I appreciate your patience while I processed things.”

  Ella raises a brow and holds the phone closer. “So, something did happen?”

  I nod. “Well, kind of. The guy from the club?”

  “The one with the tantric tongue?” Kenzie cuts in, waggling her brows.

  “That’s one way to describe him, but yes. Him. Well, I saw him today,” I say with trepidation in my voice.

 

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