Chapter 14 Business Not as Usual #2
“Fuck,” I whispered, feeling my nipples hardening under my blouse. My eyes locked onto his lips, and I found myself moving closer to him. His demeanor was like a magnet, and no matter how hard I tried to fight, I kept getting drawn in.
“You know, sometimes, I can still taste you on my tongue,” Dexter whispered into my ear.
A whimper escaped my lips. What was this man doing to me? We had an agreement to forget about that night. Why was he doing and saying things to me as if we hadn’t shaken on it? The better question, though, was why was I falling for it?
“Ms. Nat?” Amber’s voice called down from the front of the store, causing me to jump back from Dexter.
“Yes?”
“Let’s go eat, boss lady!” Adam chimed in.
“We’re coming,” I said, running my hands down the front of my pants. Avoiding eye contact, I cleared my throat. “I’m treating the team to lunch, so let’s go.”
Dexter chuckled as he stuffed my panties back into his pocket. “That’s very nice of you, boss.”
Looking up, I arched an eyebrow at him. “Are you seriously not going to give those back?”
He shrugged before he walked past me towards the front. “Depends on how our date goes.”
“Date? What date?”
“Aren’t you taking me to lunch?”
“I’m taking the team to lunch.”
“Right. I am part of the team, and you are taking me out to lunch. I don’t care that them other people are going to be eating near us.”
I snorted, with a shake of my head as I followed. “You are impossible.”
As we got closer to the front, I grabbed Dexter’s arm. “Wait, Dex, I know you’re only fooling around, but we have a deal.”
Something like sadness flashed into his eyes before he quickly masked it. “Yeah. Yeah, I know.”
Walking closer to me, he reached into his pocket and handed me back my panties before walking away.
I closed my eyes and exhaled. This was the right thing to do.
Dexter and I couldn’t be anything but temporary coworkers.
If I were to cross that line, there was a possibility that I’d ruin the relationship between my brother and me.
Not to mention, there was the possibility that I could ruin their friendship.
I shook my head and shoved my panties into my pocket.
I wasn’t going to do that. Dexter and I had a deal, and we were going to stick with it. No matter what.
Amber and Monica rode with me while Adam rode with Dexter. Mya’s restaurant was only a five-minute drive, and at any other time I would have walked, but it was cold and windy outside.
“So, Monica,” Amber sang, looking over her shoulder. “What’s up with you and Adam?”
“Are you serious? We are literally in the car with our boss!” Monica hissed. “Ms. Hunter, I promise my work is not effected–”
“Whoa, whoa!” I chuckled. “Monica, it’s fine. If you and Adam are dating, then that’s totally fine. There’s nothing in the rules that says y’all can’t. Just be careful. Sometimes office romances can get… tricky if things fall apart.”
“Yes, ma’am. Things are still new, but I’m being cautious.”
I nodded and smiled at her in the rearview mirror.
As Amber and Monica continued to talk, I clenched my jaw as the flashback of Sandra and Lawrence ran across my mind.
I would never stand in the way of others finding their soulmates in an office setting.
However, I knew that I would never fall into that category again.
Yes, Lawrence and I were already together, but we still had romance in our shop.
I remember the times we’d have a quickie in our office before the other employees got in, but all of that faded away. Like our relationship.
We pulled into the restaurant, and I instructed the women to go ahead inside and look at the menu.
I rolled my shoulders and took a few breaths to shake away my irritation.
Damn Lawrence for ruining what we had. I shook it off and stepped out of my car.
Today was a great day; my employees were amazing, and I could feel God working on a major shift in my life.
There was no way I was going to allow my past to hold me back.
“Hey, girl!” Mya said, walking from behind the counter and embracing me. “I didn’t expect you today, let alone bringing in your entire crew.”
I laughed and shrugged my shoulders. “What can I say? My workers deserve a free lunch.”
“So business is good?”
“Better than before.”
“Hmm, so not trying to do everything on your own and moving some responsibilities to others is working?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You and Ricky were right. I don’t need to be a control freak.”
“Glad you know! So, who’s the chocolate man with the dreads?” Mya asked, lifting an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell me anything about hiring him.”
I pulled at her elbow to a corner of the restaurant. “That’s him,” I said in a hushed tone.
“Him, who?”
“Dexter! You know, Ricky’s best friend.”
Mya gasped, causing one of her busboys to turn and look at us. She smiled and said everything was fine. I waited until he finished cleaning before turning back towards her.
“Girl! When and why did you hire him to work with you? I need to know everything because you have omitted a lot of information.”
I explained everything that happened since the last time we were on the phone with Amanda. Mya’s mouth was hanging open the entire time before a wide smile spread across her face.
“It’s fate,” she said, clapping her hands.
“Fate?”
“Girl, yes! You and sexy Dexey were meant to hook up.”
“Okay, first of all, don’t call him that.”
“Please! That young man is fine! Look at all that chocolate you've already tasted.”
I swatted her arm with a chuckle. “It was an accident.”
“So, accidentally finish what y’all started! What’s the worst thing that can happen?”
“Ricky finds out and hates us both for betraying him.”
“Only if one of y’all blab,” Mya said with a shrug. “I’m just saying. There’s nothing wrong with a one-night stand. Now c’mon, let me help get y’all food ready. In the meantime, think about it.”
Mya walked back towards the kitchen, leaving me standing in the same spot.
I allowed her words to sink in as I walked back towards my group, who were next in line to order.
Dexter was fine, and as much as I tried to deny it, I wanted him.
I stared at the back of his neck and reminisced about my legs wrapped around them as he had me in the air.
My body heated as I bit down on my bottom lip.
Dexter must’ve sensed me staring at him because he glanced over his shoulder.
The same lust I saw in his eyes that night was there again.
He smirked before he returned his attention to the conversation he was having with Adam.
I shook my head to remove the image from my head. Not going to happen.