Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Andi
Without glancing up, I pointed a finger at Rafe. “Don't say anything.”
“Me? I wasn't going to say a word.”
I looked up from my laptop where I'd been doom scrolling and cocked an eyebrow at him.
He stood with a hand pressed to his chest, over his heart, trying to look innocent.
Innocent, my ass.
“Yes, you were. I know you better than that. You can never resist.”
He sank down into the chair on the opposite side of the smaller, more elegant desk I'd had installed in my office. “Fine, but only because you invited me to speak my mind. ”
“I don't think I invited you.” I frowned slightly. “It was more… giving in to the inevitable.”
He huffed slightly. “I can be quiet when I have to be.”
My second eyebrow joined the first, arching in playful disbelief.
He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, I'm happy to offer my opinion to anyone who'll listen. Which is usually you. In this case my opinion is—” He paused for dramatic effect. “Good for you. Why shouldn't you be kissing a smoking hot hockey player on the top of a rollercoaster at the pier? Or anyone else, for that matter. You deserve to be happy, especially after what Xander pulled. What sort of man moves out without saying anything? One without balls, that's who. He needs to grow a pair. You know who I bet already has a pair? Cam North. But I'm sure you know all about that. Did you get a feel?”
I shook my head at him. “No I didn't, but if I did I wouldn't tell you. Cam North's balls are none of your business.”
Hell, they were none of mine either. He'd made that clear enough when he accused me of being a spoiled little rich girl. He was quick enough to walk away once he got down off the ride. He looked as though he couldn't wait to be anywhere but there. I'd seen that expression on Xander's face often enough, though I hadn't realized it until right then.
In retrospect, I wondered how the hell I missed such obvious warning signs. Yes, I was busy, but I was willfully oblivious as well. I didn't want to see what was right in front of me. If I did, I would have had to admit the relationship was over a long time ago.
“Fine,” Rafe said. He caught the look on my face and sighed. “ Fine . I'll have to find someone else to live vicariously through.”
“You do that,” I said. “Isn't your anniversary coming up soon?” If there was anything that could distract Rafe from my doomed love life, it was talking about his happy marriage, and spoiling his partner.
“Jacoby and I are thinking of having a big party,” he said. “The whole team could come.” He hesitated for a moment before saying, “We could have a big Christmas party with lots and lots of mistletoe.”
That sounded appropriate for them. They were happy and they wanted everyone around them to be happy. On the night, they'd make it their mission to put as many couples together as they could. And Rafe would probably take credit for each and every one of them. Not in an arrogant way, because I didn't think he had an arrogant bone in his body, he just wanted to spread joy and bask in it.
“I'll remember not to stand under any,” I said.
He pressed his lips together and gave me a look. “You need to stand under mistletoe more than anyone I know. You kissed Cam North, but you look like someone kicked your puppy.” His eyes widened. “Was he that bad?” In a whisper he added, “Did he have bad breath? That's it, isn't it? I knew he couldn't be perfect. Did he eat onions right before your lip lock?”
“No, he did not eat onions,” I said. “He doesn't have bad breath.” He'd tasted like coffee with a hint of something savory, like meat and cheese. It was warm and pleasant, like a hug after a huge orgasm. Like spooning his hard body all night long.
Like… I didn't want to admit it to myself, but Cam North tasted like home.
“What is it then?” Rafe pushed. “Is that all those photos?”
“There's only three, and they're all over social media,” I said. “Along with approximately one hundred and seventy-three different theories about our relationship. They start with suggestions he's sleeping with me so he doesn't get kicked off the team, and end with him being an alien.”
“You know you've made it when the Internet accuses you of being an alien,” Rafe said with a grin.
“I guess I haven't made it yet,” I said wearily. “Most of them suggest I'm using him.”
That stung worst of all. After the conversation with my parents, he made me feel good about myself for a while. Now, I felt like I was back at square one. Behind square one maybe, because accusations of using people who work for you, tended to stick.
Rafe grimaced. “The Internet is such a bitch. Those of us who know you, know you're not like that. The PR department is working to turn the story around. I heard a rumor they're bringing in someone special just for this.”
“Because this is a particularly bad dumpster fire,” I said with a sigh. “I never should have gone on that rollercoaster.”
“I said the same thing about Jacoby when we first met,” Rafe said. “We're both so different, it was wild for a while. But we stuck in there, and look how we turned out. I've almost managed to convince him Star Trek is the best franchise ever.” In a loud whisper, he added, “He still swears it's Star Wars .”
I shook my head at him. “That's quite the obstacle you had to overcome. Especially when the reality is, it's a tie between Vampire Diaries and Stargate .”
Rafe raised a hand to his lips in mock horror. “Clearly I haven't educated you properly. It's time we had a Star Trek marathon.”
We were interrupted by the sound of Cam, leaning against the door frame and clearing his throat.
Rafe swiveled around in his chair. “Perfect timing. Help me to settle this issue once and for all. Star Trek is better than Vampire Diaries or Stargate , right? I mean, they're all great, but Star Trek is by far the most superior franchise of all time.”
“I'm more a Supernatural guy, to be honest,” Cam said.
Rafe raised a hand in front of him and sniffed. “You're both dead to me.” He shook his head and smiled. “But you're both invited to the Star Trek marathon. I'll convert you yet. In the meantime, coffee.” He pushed himself to his feet and headed towards the door. He stopped in front of Cam and gave him a Vulcan salute.
Cam smiled, held up his hand and returned the gesture.
Rafe turned back at me and grinned. “He's a keeper.” He hurried out of the office before I could respond.
“He's such a geek,” I said. “I guess that's why we get along, I'm a nerd.” I gestured for Cam to come inside and take the seat Rafe just vacated. “I take it you've seen the photos.”
Cam sat back in the chair and crossed his legs. The ankle of his track pants rode up, revealing brightly colored socks, covered in what looked like dancing penguins.
He rubbed his stubbled chin, brown eyes filled with regret. “I have. I've just come back from speaking to PR. Apparently they're hiring my sister to deal with this…situation.”
I sighed and rubbed my temples with my fingertips. “I'm sorry. This whole shit storm is a mess already. It shouldn't have happened.”
“I'm the one who's sorry,” he said softly. “If I hadn't kissed you…"
“It takes two to share a kiss,” I said. “You didn't hear me objecting, did you?”
“No, I didn't,” he admitted. “But if I hadn't done it, they wouldn't be saying the things they’re saying about us. About you. They wouldn't have to involve my sister.” His lips twisted to the side in annoyance.
“Is that the real problem here?” I asked lightly. “ The fact they're bringing your sister in to deal with what we did?”
Was he more concerned that family was getting involved than he was about the hate the Internet was dumping on me? I couldn't even start to get my head around how I felt about that. Of course, family was important, why would you put a virtual stranger in front of them? Especially one who was a one-woman dumpster fire when it came to relationships.
“My sister is good at what she does,” he said.
He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly out his nose. “After Clio and I ended it, social media had a bunch of shit to say about me. They claimed I abandoned her. There were only two ways to deal with it, tell the truth and drag our whole relationship through the mud, or wait and hope like hell it blew over. I chose the second option. I stayed away from social media and ignored it until it went away. Before that…" He shook his head, opened his eyes and looked directly into mine.
“I don't want you to have to weather that storm because of anything I did. The things they're saying about you are a whole lot worse than anything they're saying about me.”
“I know,” I said softly. “They always are.” He was the hockey hero who got caught playing tonsil hockey with his boss. And I was the curvy woman taking advantage of him. Because of course, a man like him wouldn't voluntarily kiss a woman like me. Except that he had, and I wished he would again.
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the desk. “I've been reading things about myself since before I started working for my father. If I let it get to me, I'd be curled up in the corner, crying. But I can't, and I won't. Because the people saying those things? They don't know me. They don't know you. They just have nothing better to do than make up bullshit. Unless you're an actual alien?”
He looked surprised for a moment, then grinned. Did he have to be so gorgeous?
I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to lick the dimple in his cheek. I wanted to lick my way down his body to his cock. I wanted to wrap my mouth around him and taste him, while he writhed, moaned and gripped my hair.
“As far as I know, I'm not an alien,” he said. “Are you?”
“Probably,” I said with a laugh. “That would be ironic. They're saying everything but that.”
“Give it time,” he said with a knowing nod. “Unless you want the PR department to spread that rumor on purpose. I'm sure Alice would be only too happy to do that for you.”
“Let's call that plan B,” I said. “Anyway, I didn't ask if you needed to see me for anything.” I chastized myself. I was supposed to be a professional here.
“I wanted to see how you were, and to apologize again,” he said. “I didn't mean to imply that I think you're a spoiled little rich girl. I don't think that, not at all. What I said about you being beautiful, I meant that. And smart. And competent.” After a beat he added, “For an alien.”
I snorted softly. “Thanks. I think.” I held out my hand. “Friends?” For a moment, I thought he was going to refuse, but he gripped my hand.
“Friends.” For some reason, he didn't look happy about it.
If I was honest with myself, neither was I. Friends was good. Friends was safe . Being friends might convince me I wasn't falling for him.