was the third wheel. Again.
Shey was laughing at something Calvin had said, but Georgia wasn’t focused much on their conversation. She was too busy pushing the pasta around her plate. Max’s proposal earlier was playing on her mind; building up a storm of burning emotions she could only assume was anger.
‘Georgia, you okay?’ Shey asked.
She wanted to snip back with, what do you think? but bit her tongue. Everything grated at her since she got home to find Calvin teaching Shey how to cook. They looked disgustingly happy, with huge grins and puppy-dog eyes, as they moved around the kitchen.
Which was her first cue that she was not feeling like herself. Shey’s happiness made her happy, or it usually did.
Damn Max for offering his stud services. Damn her for wanting them.
She could only imagine what he was like in bed. His body was built, could probably give her the best work-out of her life. All power, ego and sex on legs. It wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference, though. He couldn’t make her come, no man had and she’d lost hope a long time ago any of them could.
‘This pasta’s really good. He’ll make a decent cook out of you yet,’ Georgia said, hoping Shey would drop it.
Calvin glanced at Shey, then turned to her. ‘Do you want me to leave so you two can talk?’
Georgia’s throat got thick, and she tried to swallow against it. Calvin understood how close they all were and she knew he would go home if that was what she needed. Which, regardless of how much Shey loved Georgia, would make her friend unhappy. With Shey’s new job, the couple hardly had much time together as it was.
She tried to dial her pissy mood down a notch. ‘No, stay. I’m sorry.’
The lovebirds shared a look that said they didn’t buy it. Georgia’s skin prickled with irritation, but she ignored them and skewered a hunk of pasta. Forcing it into her mouth, she made herself chew, barely registering the oregano or tomato flavors.
What the hell was she going to do? Work was going to be more than awkward, especially if Max insisted on having that conversation again. Though the thing that played on her the most was the way he told her she’d been wrong that he’d never looked at her.
And she had to admit she’d noticed, but it had been so much safer thinking she was imagining it. Better for them both if she was the only one having hot and heavy dreams about Max swiping all the crap off her desk and taking her there, or against the filing cabinets, or even in the changing rooms of the store.
‘Georgia, spill it. You look like you want to pounce on something.’
If only Shey knew.
Her friend’s golden eyes burned with determination as she waited for Georgia to say something. Both her roomies knew her well enough to know she’d never lie, and they also knew her too well to be led astray by evading their questions.
Seeing no way around it, Georgia shrugged. ‘Something happened at the office today. With my boss.’
‘The one with the hot ass?’ Shey asked, and was admonished by a glare from Calvin. She patted his hand. ‘Her words. You know I think yours is—’
‘Woah, too much information, Shey. I think my pasta’s about to take a return trip.’ Georgia was only half-joking. She’d heard more than enough on their Friday nights out when Eloisa and Shey wouldn’t shut up about all the amazing kinky sex they’d had. Which Shey was still having.
Though he’d been smiling at Shey, when Calvin turned to Georgia his expression was serious. ‘He isn’t harassing you, is he?’
Georgia thought about what Max had said. It was inappropriate, sure. And, well, a little insulting. And oh so very tempting. But he hadn’t pushed, hadn’t made a move to do more. She was certain that after she put her foot down with enough force to snap a spiky heel, he’d back off.
‘No. He propositioned me.’ Her stomach tingled just thinking about it.
‘How?’ Shey asked.
Georgia sighed. ‘He asked me to be his… fake girlfriend, with all the benefits.’
Shey’s chin dropped, but she recovered quickly. ‘I don’t get it. Why fake?’
That was something she hadn’t asked herself until now. ‘I don’t know.’
Could he still be hung up on his ex? Maybe he thought having Georgia at his side would make Clarissa jealous and take him back? And as a way of saying thanks he’d have a go at making the woman who’d never had an orgasm come.
A shudder ran through her and her stomach turned over.
‘You can report him for sexual harassment if this gets out of hand,’ Calvin said.
With the frown he was sporting and his clenched jaw, Georgia guessed he’d like to do a lot more than make a complaint about him.
Shey squeezed his arm. ‘Trust me, Georgia can look after herself. Right?’
The last part was directed at her and she nodded, but wasn’t sure if it was the truth this time. Calvin’s frown deepened, obviously he didn’t agree with his girl.
‘She’s right. Maxton Briggs the Second isn’t any different from other guys who’ve been on the end of a tongue lashing from me.’
But none of those other men had been her boss and Georgia hadn’t wanted them like she wanted Max. No, she wanted to give him a different kind of tongue lashing altogether. Damn she had to stop fantasizing like this. She had to be proactive, had to think of a diplomatic way to deal with this. Thank God Eloisa walked in then, because if anyone knew where she stood in situations like this it was the newly qualified attorney of the house.
Georgia told her friends the full story.
As Georgia made her way to Max’s office the next day, she was resolved to stop him from pushing her before it got out of hand. Last night she’d stayed up late with the girls and Calvin. She now had a plan of attack.
Offense was the best form of defense, after all.
Max’s PA frowned when she entered the hall, but Georgia didn’t stop. She walked right past the desk, making a beeline for his office at the far side of the lobby. Her heels clattered on the polished wooden floor. The place was big enough to host a pitch-and-put tournament, unlike the cramped hole she’d been shoved into, and that just annoyed her more.
‘You can’t go in there!’ the woman trilled.
Georgia heard shuffling, then footsteps but she didn’t spare the woman a glance. Her stomach was bubbling with the thought of opening his door, seeing him, and having her plans crash and burn. Arguing with his PA would only give her more time to chicken out.
She pushed his door wide and stormed right in. Max was on a call,
