you,’ he said.
‘Excuse me?’
But she’d heard him and understood what he was referring to. Eloisa had often been in predicaments she’d described as so embarrassing she wished a hole would open in the ground and suck her in. Georgia had never understood, since nothing normally embarrassed her, and if she started to feel uncomfortable she took herself out of the situation. But right now, with nowhere to run—unless she wanted to climb out the window and take her chances with the two-story drop—and all of her failings as a woman laid bare for her boss, Georgia understood her friend’s words perfectly. She’d have to grit her teeth and get through this, showing as little emotion as possible. And bite her tongue. The last thing she needed was her runaway mouth making this a hundred times worse.
Why the hell had she left that email open?
‘You heard me.’ Max thrust his chin in the direction of the computer and her cheeks caught fire, or felt like they did anyway. ‘What kind of jerks have you been dating?’
Anger leaked into his tone and she wondered if Mr. Mood Swing was paying a visit. She squared her shoulders. ‘That’s not your business. None of this is.’
One brow rose over his incredulous eyes. ‘When you use company time to worry about your sex life, it becomes my business.’
Georgia’s quick tongue deserted her. He was right, she should have waited until she’d gone home, but Eloisa or Shey could have caught her, which struck her as horrifying. This situation made her friends’ teasing seem like lying in the bath with her favorite scented salts after a hard day.
He took a step closer and she had to force herself to meet his eyes. They were stormy-blue now and focused on her in a way that made her blood race faster. Was it anger? Or something else? Closed into the crappy closet that acted as an office with him was unnerving, especially when a line formed above his brow and his jaw clenched tight.
Georgia’s heart kicked up double time as she imagined a formal warning coming. Maybe he would even can her on the spot. Was what she did a violation of her contract? She couldn’t remember.
Biting back her pride, she said, ‘I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.’
Both brows shot up this time, and his arms unfolded. Messing up that wavy hair of his with a drag of his hand, he blew out a breath. ‘That’s not why I’m pissed, actually. I’m pissed because a selfish jerk made you feel like there was something wrong with you.’
His eyes softened and she felt the pull of their connection right down to her toes. This was not what she was expecting. Her heart sped again but it had nothing to do with fear of losing her job.
‘This is going to sound crazy.’ Max’s gaze dropped to the floor for a second, and the frown was back. When he looked at her again, determination etched across his handsome face, making her stomach swarm. ‘I think we could help each other out.’
‘I don’t understand.’ But she was starting to, though maybe that was wishful thinking. No, she shook the unruly thoughts away. She had to work with him, for cripes sakes.
His jaw tightened. ‘I’m sure you heard the rumors after the Halloween party.’
Georgia nodded, remembering walking past the gossip circle down the hall where they had all whispered that Max’s ex, Clarissa, was all over some guy dressed as Dracula, though she hadn’t bothered listening to the specifics.
‘She’s with him now. He’s one of our designers.’
His voice was void of emotion and his expression a mask. To hide his pain at losing his love, or maybe his anger at being betrayed, Georgia didn’t know.
Max took a deep breath. ‘My father still controls what designers we sign. As you know he likes to treat them to nights out to keep them from giving up their work to the competition. Since his health’s deteriorating, I’m expected to play host at the parties.’
Georgia felt some of her own shame drain out of her, to be filled with a sad understanding. If the guy brought his date, Max’s ex, he’d be forced into their company again. ‘I’m—’
He held a hand out. ‘I don’t want your pity, I’m telling you because you could help me out on that score.’
Her brows furrowed. ‘How?’
‘Come with me to all the social events. As my girlfriend.’
Georgia’s lips parted on a gasp. ‘You can’t be serious.’
It was clear from his tone he was dead serious. ‘In return I’ll show you that you are normal, that you can—’
‘Stop.’
The shame burned back, along with something else that made her lower belly warm and tingly. She covered it with her hands, hoping to quell the sensations. No such luck. Especially when she’d just been imagining herself with him, doing all those things and more. That was fantasy, though; this was reality and it could never happen.
‘You’re my boss. That would be…’
Insane, delicious, even more embarrassing when he had solid proof she was a freak, and yet seriously tempting.
‘Inappropriate, I know.’ He stepped closer again and she backed up, knocking over the night-of-the-living-dead plant in the process. ‘But it would benefit us both.’
His gaze got hot, then dipped to her mouth. On reflex she licked her lips, but cursed the second she did. She wasn’t encouraging him. No way. Even if her panties were soaking at the thought of him dropping to his knees and hitching her skirt around her waist.
She couldn’t let herself think about being with him. Couldn’t allow the fantasy to form – well, this new one anyway. Shit, shit, shit.
Grasping for anger, she said, ‘Let me get this straight. You want to save face in front of your ex and pay me in sexual favors when really, the only one getting anything from that would be you. I’m nobody’s free hooker. Go find yourself another woman who’ll pant all over you.’
Screw the fact he was supposed to be her boss. He’d crossed the line first.
Max took a step back, surprise widening his eyes. ‘Georgia, I don’t see you like that. I never have.’
‘You’ve never seen me. Not as more than an employee.’ She slammed her mouth shut before she gave away anything else to this man.
Frowning at her, he picked up the file. ‘That’s bullshit Georgia, and you know it.’
She pressed her lips together and glared at him, fighting the urge to open her mouth and let far more than she should roll off her tongue.
He let himself out, but before he closed the door behind him, he threw over his shoulder, ‘This isn’t the end of the conversation.’
‘You’ll get the same answer every time,’ she let slip.
His slow grin made her heart stutter. ‘We’ll see.’
* * * *
Georgia was the third wheel.
