Chapter 11
ARI
The Golden Spirit, the bar Joseph invited me to, is filled to the rafters, but lucky for us, several of my new colleagues have arrived already, securing a large circular booth for us all to sit around.
On arrival, Joseph introduced me to everyone, and within minutes I was laughing, which instantly made me feel like part of the team but also dreadful. I should stay away from them all because I can’t be their friend, and I don’t even know what made me say yes to coming here tonight.
“Incoming,” Joseph says, peering over his glass, dropping his mouth to the lip of it.
I follow his gaze and quickly realize who he is referring to.
Nathan. Alongside two of his brothers.
They look like they just stepped off a photoshoot.
Collectively they are handsome, but for me Nathan is devastatingly, pantie-soaking gorgeous and all day I’ve found it difficult to tear my eyes off him.
Specifically, his strong hands that expertly typed on his computer keyboard, which had me imagining what it would be like to feel them running over every inch of my skin again.
The same feeling I get when he’s close by flutters low in my belly. It’s like a mix of jumping beans and butterflies, and who the hell knows what it is, but it’s something.
Nothing.
It’s nice.
No, it’s not, it’s awful.
Why is my body betraying me?
Why him?
“Prepare yourselves.” Libby, who is our law librarian, speaks up, causing some groans and a ripple of bodies to shift restlessly around the table.
“Joseph.” Nathan greets him with a curt nod.
Just the sound of his voice has my mouth turning drier than sandpaper and I have to lick my lips to wet them. He’s just so… hot.
Ridiculously so.
“Good evening, Mr. Hart,” Joseph replies.
“Call me Nathan from now on, please , Joseph,” he says in his usual smooth and steady voice, but there’s a warmth about it this evening.
The extra emphasis on the please has me stifling a chuckle. Maybe he paid attention to my lesson in manners from earlier.
Joseph nods to acknowledge his instruction, but I can tell by the way he scratches the back of his head, brows pinching together, he’s as confused as everyone else around the table.
Nathan is being… nice.
“Arianna,” Nathan addresses me next, and I feel his stare all the way down to my core, the heat growing there making me feel both aroused and irritated.
Mainly irritated. And, okay, I can admit that I’m attracted to him, but between his gravelly voice and devilishly handsome face, it’s difficult not to be.
“Ah-ha, it all makes sense as to why we are here now,” Cole says, as if amused, rocking back on his heels.
He’s much cheerier than the other three brothers and roguish looking too. Handsome though; there’s no escaping how handsome they all are.
But Nathan’s chiseled jaw and ocean eyes give him a mysterious edge I seem to have a thing for.
This new infatuation I have with him is getting out of hand.
And what does Cole mean?
Nathan motions to his brother, formally introducing us. “Cole, meet Arianna, my secretary.”
“We’ve met.” Several times in passing, so what’s with all the formalities?
I remove myself from the end seat I’m sitting on and rise to my feet to take the hand Cole is holding out for me to shake.
He surprises me when he leans in and taps a kiss to one of my cheeks and then the other.
“I think you might be more to him than just his secretary,” he whispers out of earshot.
“This is his roundabout way of getting our approval.”
What does he mean, more than just his secretary?
My face burns from embarrassment as I remember the first encounter with his brothers. I was still wearing my clothes from the night before and it’s where his brother, Max, who isn’t anywhere to be seen, handed me my panties.
World, swallow me up now.
The second time I saw them as a foursome was my first day in the boardroom where they struggled to hide their amusement at our situation.
There was nothing funny about it.
Maybe I shouldn’t be working for Hart Law. What the hell was I thinking?
“And this is Eli.” Nathan waves his hand in the direction of his other brother.
Cole lets go of my hand before Eli shakes it, copying Cole in kissing my cheeks one after the other.
Nathan and his brother proceed to say hello to everyone else.
Despite what I’ve seen and heard from my new colleagues, the Hart brothers are much nicer than I thought.
Goddamn it, could they not all be ignorant ogres? Which is what I thought they were.
“Welcome to the company, Arianna.” Eli smiles when he stands back and surveys me then drops my hand out of his.
Shaking his head with a grin, Cole claps his hands together and casts his gaze around the table. “Who wants a drink? Nathan is buying as he’s the one who dragged us here tonight.”
Nathan scowls hard, clearly unhappy with his brother for sharing that private information.
Everyone does their best to keep their sniggers under wraps but fail before they all reel off their drinks order.
“I’m not staying.” I hold my hand over the top of my glass causing a few people to disagree and beg me to stay, but I stand my ground. “I’m leaving as soon as I’ve finished my drink.” I need to create space between me and Nathan.
Nathan gives Cole his drink order, handing over his platinum credit card. “Macallan on the rocks. And nothing for the lightweight.” He points his head in my direction as if goading me.
Does he want me to stay? Surely not. I annoy him, I know I do because his irritation is tangible and bounces off him like a hot summer breeze off a stone cliff most days.
“I’ll help you at the bar, Cole.” Libby slides out of her seat and Eli follows her.
“Did I tell you about that dating app I downloaded, Libby?” Cole’s loud question can be heard over the crowd, raising a few eyebrows because out of the four brothers, Cole is quieter and comes across as a bit of a deep thinker.
I like how Cole and Libby seem close, but I shudder at the mention of dating apps.
I’ve never tried them before, but my friend Maeve is never off the damn things. She’s convinced she will find her future husband on there, and maybe I’m a skeptic, but I don’t think she will. However, she’s someone who never fails to amaze me, so she’ll probably prove me wrong.
Fascinated and slightly confused why Nathan wanted to come here combined with Cole’s comment about being “more than just his secretary,” I study Nathan’s considered movements.
Slowly, as if unsure of Nathan’s dominating presence, my work colleagues finally begin to talk amongst themselves again while Nathan unbuttons his suit jacket then loosens his tie before sliding himself next to me.
It’s unexpected and he’s too close, and yet not close enough.
I reluctantly scooch over to give him space but all that does is make him move closer to me, pressing his firm warm thigh next to mine.
Please go away.
Touch me.
Not a word passes between us, the silence stretching like an elasticated band.
I pick up my glass and finish my Manhattan. I’m glad I refused another drink because I don’t trust myself around him anymore.
Although… Manhattan cocktails… followed by more great sex… hmm… Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Don’t kid yourself; it would be a terrible idea.
“Have you had a good day?” Nathan asks, sounding less than interested.
“Not really. My boss is an ass,” I reply deadpan, looking straight ahead, knowing I’m crossing the boundary into unprofessional and we need more balance to the interactions we have. But to hell with it, he is an ass.
“My new secretary is one of those too. I overheard her telling another employee that I was old.” He sighs, almost exaggeratingly. “I’m so old now, my heart might not cope with that level of criticism.”
His unexpected dry wit surprises me and I burst out laughing. “You heard that?” I cover my mouth to stifle the loudness of my laughter that’s also laced with heavy embarrassment.
“Even though I’m practically geriatric now, my eyes and ears work perfectly fine, Arianna. I see and hear everything,” he snaps back. I know it’s his way of telling me that he’s tuned into every aspect of his business.
I shouldn’t have said that to Joseph earlier. Nathan is only forty-four.
And he fucks all night with the energy of a twenty-year-old, except his experience eclipses anyone I’ve ever slept with.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
Best.
Sex.
Ever.
“I’m sorry,” I say, hoping I sound sincere.
Pleasantries aside, a gruff-sounding hmpf rattles his chest. “Accepted,” is all he says.
“Great. Well, I need to use the restroom and then I’m leaving.”
Resting his back against the seat, he drums his fingers on the tabletop. “So soon? That’s a shame because I was just about to show you the brochures I brought with me so you could help me pick out a retirement home,” he responds in a sardonic flat tone.
I think I like this playful side of him and if I stay any longer the way his mouth is now curving upward is too delicious to not have me wishing I could taste his lips again.
He’s too much of a temptation. And someone I shouldn’t be allowing to tempt me.
Flicking my hair over my shoulder, I grab my purse from under the table.
“Well, I’m sorry but discussing what brand of walking cane you should buy next is less than appealing.
” My voice drips with boredom, and I lower it to make sure no one else hears what I say next.
“Before I go, would you like me to write a Post-it with your name and address on to make sure you get home safely? Just in case you forget where you live. Now that you’re getting older, your memory maybe isn’t quite as good as it once was. ”
His jaw tightens in the same way it’s been doing since he spoke to me on my first day and when he goes to reply, I butt in and tell everyone I’m leaving then wave goodbye.
With Stephanie from marketing on one side and Nathan on the other, I urge Nathan to let me out, which he does, albeit reluctantly.
I straighten the skirt of my dress and push the handle of my purse up over my shoulder once I’m out and wave goodbye one final time.
“See you tomorrow.” Then I shift my attention to Nathan.
“Mr. Hart.” I give him a curt nod, ignoring his death stare, swivel on the balls of my pumps and walk toward the bathroom.
Another day done.
Thank God that’s over.