Chapter 39 – Remington
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Dilemmas
Remington
Mindy exits the bathroom dressed in her black suit.
She’s twisted her hair on both sides and pulled it back into a low ponytail secured with a floppy, sheer black bow.
Her shiny ebony heels tap on the hardwood floor, and she’s the picture of professionalism, other than the wary look on her face.
And the blooming hickey on the side of her neck. Fuck.
Her duffel is zipped and held in her right hand, and her black coat is draped over her arm. I gesture with a tilt of my forehead. “You can go put your things in your closet. Then come back, please.”
“Okay,” she says softly before turning and leaving my office.
As soon as she’s gone, I send a quick text to Antonio and receive a thumbs up in reply.
Good. That’s one problem handled. The second problem, my erection, is finally starting to tame a bit after our…
activities. I’ll deal with the rest of our issues when she gets back in here.
A small closet is located to the right of Mindy’s desk for her to store any personal items while she’s at work, and I hear the sound of the door opening and closing. Then the snip of her shoes receding. Where the hell is she going? Is she running away?
I’m disturbed to find the thought of that fills me with panic. I wait for one minute. Two minutes. Just as I’m about to stand and go after her, she returns, bringing the scent of magnolias and peaches.
Setting a plate of my favorite cookies and a cup of coffee on my desk, she offers a tentative smile.
“A little bribe in the hopes that you won’t fire me for using your shower.” She takes a seat as I reach for a cookie and take a large bite. Mindy rolls her lips together. “Is it working?”
Chewing, I eye her. “Are you going to file a complaint with HR for… what just happened?” I wave my cookie at the bathroom.
Her eyebrows fold together. “Of course not. I would never do that.” I tilt my head and level a skeptical glare her way, and she sighs.
“Okay, I know I said that on the first day you came back, but I wasn’t really going to do it.
You said you were going to fire me, and I panicked because I needed to keep my job. ”
I nod and take a sip of my coffee. “Noted. Why were you in my shower this morning?” Mindy’s eyes drop to her lap, and I lean forward, lowering my voice. “I need you to be honest with me, Mindy. Tell me why I found you naked in my office bathroom.”
She plucks at the hem of her skirt, and I brace myself for her answer. “My hot water heater is broken.” A beat passes as I anticipate what she’s going to say next, but she’s silent.
“And?”
“And I just wanted a hot shower. I’m sorry.
” Mindy peers up at me from beneath her lashes, a guileless remorse on her face.
“I live on the other side of town. I go to the bakery early, and then I usually go home to shower and get ready before coming back here. But I thought ‘Why go all the way back to that side of town just to get pelted by sleet from my stupid shower when there’s a perfectly good hot shower right here that’s only a few blocks away? ’”
I drag my hand down my face, stroking my fingers through my beard. “Why all the secrecy? Why not simply tell me?”
Her lips twist to the side as she clamps her hands in her lap so tightly her knuckles turn pale. “I was embarrassed. My apartment is kind of shitty.” I watch her throat work with a swallow. “It was all I could afford at the time, but my financial situation is better now.”
Now that she’s finally getting a paycheck from my company, I remind myself.
Scratching my eyebrow, I sigh. “So you come from all the way across town to work at the bakery. Then you go back to your apartment to get ready, after which you come back to this side of town to work here. Did I get that right?”
She rushes to add, “My lease is up at the end of this month, so I’m looking for something closer to work. I know it sounds complicated, but I was only late that one time, so it hasn’t really been a problem, and…”
She’s babbling nervously, and I hold up a hand for her to stop. “I have no problem with the work you’ve been doing here or your punctuality. I’m just concerned for you.”
Her eyes narrow like she thinks I’m bullshitting her. “You are?”
Fuck, I’ve been an asshole. “Of course I am. Your hot water heater has been broken for three days?”
“A week, actually,” she admits quietly.
A damn week? I have to temper my outrage. “You should call the superintendent of your building. They can get maintenance up there to fix it.”
“Oh, why didn’t I think of that?” she drawls. “First of all, my super is the only maintenance person we have. Second, I spoke with him last week, and he said he would have it fixed by the time I got back from Thanksgiving. And third, he’s a belly-button-lint-picking liar.”
I ignore number three because what the fuck? I’m sure I don’t even want to know. Taking another cookie, I push the plate across the desk and gesture for her to take the last one. She does and takes a tentative bite.
“Mindy, I want you to feel free to use my shower until yours gets fixed,” I say. “Though maybe you could text me when you’re done so I’ll know it’s safe to come over. We don't want another incident like today.”
Well, I want a million of those incidents, but those wants will have to remain inside my nighttime fantasies in the privacy of my own apartment.
She nods and gives me a small smile. “Thank you.”
Heaving in a breath, I dive into the more difficult topic. “About what happened in the bathroom…”
“The incident?” she asks, widening her eyes playfully, and I can’t help but chuckle. Mindy can make even the most awkward conversation a bit easier.
“Yes, I want to apologize to you. I overstepped, and I’m very sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Okay,” she says simply.
“It’s really not, but thank you for being so understanding.”
“Well, I did surprise you. I can understand why you were mad.”
I nod gratefully. “That doesn’t excuse my behavior, but thank you again.”
“We do have the small issue of this little souvenir you gave me,” she says wryly, pointing at the bruise I’d sucked onto the side of her neck.
I try not to smile at my mark on her. “I kept this side turned away from Ambrosia a few minutes ago, but I’m not sure I can hide it from everyone for the rest of the day. ”
I sit back in my chair and cross my ankle over my knee. “Already taken care of. I sent Antonio to get you a few scarves to wear until it’s gone. He should arrive in a few minutes.”
“Oh, well thank you. I guess I’ll get to work then.” She stands, and I keep my eyes on her face and not on the body I know is hiding beneath that prim suit.
As she starts to walk out, she pauses and looks over her shoulder at me, almost catching me ogling her ass. “We’re all good, right, Mr. Hale?”
“All good,” I confirm.
“So I can still call you names every morning?” she asks, a glint in her eye.
My voice forms a flat, “No.”
A catlike grin curls her lips. “Whatever you say, Lord Hale.”
Oh yeah, I’m definitely jerking off tonight while imagining myself working over that smart mouth of hers.
I poke my head out of my office. “Ms. Espinoza, I’m expecting my sister—” I stop when I see Perri perching on the corner of Mindy’s desk. “Oh, hey. I didn’t realize you were already here. You ready to go to lunch?”
“Yep. I hope your card has a high limit. I’m starving,” my sister whines, hopping down and planting a kiss on my cheek.
“I think my card can handle it. Unless you want tacos, and then I might have to take out a loan,” I tease, pulling at her blonde ponytail.
She gives me her annoyed little sister face, complete with scrunched nose and sneering lips. “I do, in fact, want tacos. Mindy, do you want to come?” she asks, turning pleading blue eyes on my assistant. “Taco Reyes has the best street tacos.”
Mindy smiles. “No, I brought my lunch, but thank you for the offer.”
I’m annoyed to admit I’m disappointed she didn’t want to join us.
“Okay, but I’ll see you this weekend?” Perri asks.
“Three o’clock on Saturday,” Mindy confirms.
“What’s happening on Saturday?” I ask, looking back and forth between the women.
“Mindy’s teaching me how to decorate Christmas cookies. Reece is coming too. We thought it would be fun for her.”
“Would you like to come, Mr. Hale?” Mindy asks sweetly, and my heart rate practically doubles. Then it slows considerably with her next words. “We’re making Grinch cookies, so you can be our model.”
Perri howls with laughter, and I plant my hands on my hips in mock indignation. “I pay both your salaries, and all you do is abuse me.”
My sister regains her composure and gives my shoulder a shove. “Oh, calm your tits, bro. If it will make you feel better, I’ll let you buy me some chips and queso too.”
“Wow, how generous of you,” I drawl.
“We should have named you Dyson,” I announce, watching my tiny sister inhale her fifth taco. “Or Hoover.”
“I prefer Roomba,” she corrects, grinning at me across the table. “Because I’m smooth and handy to have around.”
“Well, smooth operator, you have green sauce on your shirt,” I comment dryly. She doesn’t but making her look down in panic is part of the big brother handbook. Chapter two, I believe.
“You butthead,” she scolds, flinging a flour tortilla frisbee-style at me. I catch it and bite off a chunk. I’m about to ask her how work is going when my phone rings. Checking it, I see it’s Auburn Bouvier.
“Do you mind if I grab this? It’s Auburn.”
“Sure, and tell him I love that new sparkly pink dress that’s coming out soon.”
I nod and answer. “Bouvier, how are you?”
His voice is deep and friendly. He used to be such a grumpy bastard until Gianna came into his life. “Doing great. The kids are growing like weeds and making me feel old.”
“You are in your forties now,” I point out, looking over at Perri, who’s motioning up and down her body to remind me to tell him about the dress. “I’m sitting here with my sister, and she said she hates that new pink dress you’re putting out.”