Chapter 20
Tyler
Pacing in the kitchen, I ignore the stares Matt’s giving me. Surely, they’re almost done in there. It’s been over an hour. What could they be talking about for so long?
I stop pacing so I can stare at the opening that leads to the hallway they’ll have to walk down once they leave the office. As my mind races, I pluck at my lip distractedly.
To say I felt shocked when I opened that door to find Audrey standing there would be the understatement of the century. At first, I couldn’t even process how she could be at this house. With Joe fucking Bassham.
Maybe she won’t get the job.
Immediate guilt has me internally cringing. Like she said, she needs this job because of her mom. I feel terrible wishing for her not to get it. Audrey should get exactly what she wants and needs. At least if she does get the job, I’m guaranteed to see her all the time.
I have a feeling I’m about to be working this job more than I have been, which was already a lot.
The sound of a door opening has me on high alert. I hold my breath as I wait for them. Audrey’s heels, which look insanely hot on her, click on the marble floors. My jaw clenches when her sweet laughter filters down the hall.
When the pair appears in the doorway connecting the kitchen to the entry hall, I think my jaw might shatter with how hard I’m clenching it. Making her laugh is one thing, but the hand on her lower back might be my undoing.
“Gentleman, meet Audrey. My new personal assistant. Please make her feel comfortable as she settles into her new role.” Joe’s smile is wider than I’ve ever seen it.
Audrey’s smile, on the other hand, is strained. Which is to be expected when your new boss is basically groping you.
“We definitely will,” Matt says with an appreciative lilt to his voice.
I whip around and glare at him. He gives me a what the fuck look. I turn back to Joe and Audrey. She’s watching me with an amused expression.
My face feels brittle as I smile. “Will do, Mr. Bassham. I know you have that meeting in a little while. Will Audrey be joining you?”
Joe nods and eyes Audrey, and my stomach clenches in displeasure. “She will. I need her to take notes and make sure I don’t miss anything.”
Audrey’s face brightens a little at that, while mine dims.
“Perfect.” My voice sounds unnaturally rough.
Joe glances at all of us. “I have to make a few phone calls before we leave for my meeting. One of you will need to show Audrey around the house.”
“I’ll do it,” I call out, louder than I intended.
Audrey bites her lip to hide her laugh.
Joe turns and leaves us. The barstool makes a screeching sound as Matt pushes it back so he can stand. He walks over to Audrey, hand outstretched. “Hi, Audrey, I’m Matt.” He hitches his thumb over his shoulder. “This is Tyler. Feel free to let us know if you need anything.”
With a sweet smile, Audrey shakes his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Matt. Thank you so much. I hope not to bother either of you too much, but I appreciate the offer.”
I stalk across the kitchen and angle myself closer to her. My hand moves to rest in the same place Joe’s was a few minutes before. It makes me feel better that mine will be the last touch she has, as if it could remove any remnants of Joe. “Alright, I’m going to show her around.”
Matt steps back, still looking confused and curious about how I’m acting, but I’m beyond caring.
With pressure on her back, I walk us across the kitchen toward the back door, gesturing to the room we’re about to leave.
“This is the kitchen,” I joke. I point to the fridge.
“There’s water in the fridge that the security company provides.
Feel free to help yourself. I’ll bring some things you can help yourself to tomorrow. ”
She whisper-hisses as we step outside, “Tyler, you don’t have to bring me snacks.”
I scowl down at her. “What if it’s snacks for me and the guys? And I was just offering you some?”
“Oh, well, I didn’t know. That would be okay, I guess,” she relents as we round the side of the house.
As shadows fall over us, I spin her to face me and walk her back a few inches. We resume our positions from this morning when she first arrived, but with a very different energy around us.
My eyes drag down her body, taking in her outfit. The skirt is tight. Like, really tight. The blouse is loose on top, but it’s tucked into the skirt, pulling it taut over her large chest. A chest that makes my mouth water thinking about those dusky nipples.
And then there’s the shoes.
“You look fucking sexy as hell, baby.” I run my nose up her neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
The sharp intake of breath tells me I’m not the only one affected.
“Tyler, we can’t.”
I chuckle as I nibble on her skin. Audrey tips her head to the side, negating her protests with that simple action. “Well, we can’t do everything I’d like, but you can’t tell me we can’t do this.”
As my tongue caresses her skin, she tilts her head back, resting it against the wall. “I guess this is okay.”
My hands find her tits, and I squeeze, loving the very full handful that they are. When a moan leaves her mouth, I capture her lips in a searing kiss. Our tongues meet, and I deepen the kiss as I wrap one arm around her waist, pulling her body against mine.
I can’t suppress my growl as I pull my lips away from hers. A smirk lights me up as I take in her puffy pink lips and blushing cheeks.
“And this is the yard,” I explain, loving the laugh that she lets out.
She rolls her eyes. “Great tour you’re giving here.”
I chuckle and grab her hand, pulling her away from the wall. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the house. Then we’ll get ready to leave for Joe’s meeting.”
Having her work for Joe might not be such a bad thing after all.
The number of times I’ve looked in the rearview mirror instead of keeping my eyes on the road is undoubtedly idiotic. But hell if I can help it. Audrey and Joe are in the back seat. While they do have the middle seat between them, Joe keeps leaning over to get closer to Audrey.
Fortunately, for my sanity, Audrey has basically flattened herself against the door to keep space between them.
I finally tune in to the conversation and hear Joe say, “So, that’s who we’re meeting with, Audrey.
I need you to take notes of what’s said and what follow-up items need to be completed and by whom.
” He taps his fingertip against the notepad on her lap.
“You’ll have to write it down. But you’ll need to transcribe the notes later and email them to me.
Your laptop should be delivered to my house by the time we get back. Do you understand?”
I frown. Of course, she understands those simple instructions, you dick.
“Yes, sir. No problem at all. I can type really quickly.”
I scoff, and Matt hisses, “What’s going on with you, man?”
“Nothing,” I grind out.
“Okaaay,” he replies, drawing out the word with obvious suspicion.
Everyone falls silent as we finish the drive to the restaurant, and I already hate that Audrey’s going to be at the table alone with Joe. He better not lay a hand on her or make her feel uncomfortable in any way.
Besides being kind of an asshole and his questionable past, I can’t exactly say what it is about Joe, but I don’t trust him under normal circumstances.
And now that Audrey’s here, I trust him even less.
I wonder if she’d be willing to quit as soon as this job is over for me.
Because the thought of her working for him without me nearby has me infuriated.
We pull up to the restaurant, and I stop at the front door. Matt escorts Joe and Audrey inside while I park, regretting my decision to be the driver today.
Matt’s standing right outside the door as I walk over. His eyes are narrowed as I stop beside him.
“You want to tell me what the fuck is going on?” he demands.
Shoving my fingers through my hair in frustration, I explain, “I am, uh, kind of dating Audrey.”
His eyes widen comically large before he bursts out laughing. “Wait, did you tell her about the job Joe was hiring for?”
An uncomfortable emotion sits in my gut. It’s not quite guilt, because I don’t think I did anything wrong, but that is the best way to describe it. “No, of course not. She said she got fired from being a librarian, so she’s been applying to a bunch of different jobs, including this one.”
“Wow, what a goddamn coincidence. I bet you shit your pants when you answered the door.”
I huff a laugh. “You have no idea.” I look around the parking lot. “But if you could keep that fact to yourself, I’d appreciate it. I don’t want the guys to think this will impact my abilities to do my job.”
Matt’s assessing eyes watch me for a moment before he replies, “I won’t tell them.
But I will say, I can’t even imagine how hard it is seeing someone you care about work for a jackass like Bassham.
You’ve got to keep any feelings you have about it under wraps until you leave for the day.
Or you’re going to get both you and her fired from this job. ”
My inhale is deep, and I blow it out as if I’m letting go of any negative thoughts I have about this situation. Matt’s right; I can’t do anything to jeopardize either of our jobs.
Especially if I get myself or Nash fired, and I have to leave Audrey here unprotected with Joe.
That’s something I wouldn’t be able to handle.