Page 51 of Out of Office
“Hey, where you’re rushing away to?” Adrián said, sliding one arm around my waist, his hand finding its favorite spot on my ass. I didn’t think I’d be ready to face him after last night, but now that he was awake, I couldn’t have been more wrong. His embrace soothed all the worries away. If only I could bottle this feeling and take it to work with me, I’d have an outstanding day.
“I have to finish getting ready.”
“Okay, but why are you running?”
“I wasn’t running.” I frowned.
“Wow, you don’t even notice it anymore.” He planted a kiss on my forehead, and I puckered my lips, ready for the next one.
“Nah, I gotta brush my teeth first.” He shook his head, winking at me when I pouted, and he swaggered into the bathroom. I stared at that firm ass under the sweatpants, then shook myself, remembering I had thirteen minutes left.
I was pouring my coffee into my travel mug when he walked out, all that dick I hadn’t enjoyed the night before taunting me as it bobbed inside his sweatpants.
“Hey, eyes up here, woman,” he said, laughing.
“Sorry.” I shrugged, my cheeks heating, but honestly, I had no regrets. Well, I had one, the fact that I was leaving without a ride on his—
“No, you’re not because you are still staring at me like that. And if you continue, I’m not gonna be nice, and you’ll end up late for work,” he promised, and I was startled when the alarm on my watch went off, letting me know it was time to depart.
“I expect to see you tonight, ready for my arrival. It’s Friday, so hopefully...”
“Don’t hope, Preciosa, just make sure you get here on time. Because he and I will be waiting.” He ran his hand over his length, then grabbed right under, showcasing exactly what I was walking away from.
My paid time off bank is full again, isn’t it?
“Oh... I know you probably want to tell your boss about A.D. Nicholson... I need a second to wrap my mind around it all, and it doesn’t mean I can’t...” He shrugged, opening the door to a conversation I feared would take a lot of finesse and diplomacy. I tampered my excitement. After anger and disappointment had their way with me, a cautious hope had bloomed. Here I had A.D. Nicholson, in my house, ready for duty...but only if he wanted it. And with everything he told me about his parents last night, convincing him would be difficult.
“I wasn’t going to say anything until we spoke, but...this would be good, no? For Claudia and the babies and Mario and even Julín?” I really tried not to growl his name, but Adrián’s headshake told me I was unsuccessful. “I got no beef with him, but...the man don’t like me.”
“I know...but he has his reasons, no matter how wrong they are. And I know you think this is all good, but...have you thought what it would mean for us?”
I had. It would mean stability, security, and I’d get to see my man at work. All wins in my book. But clearly I’d missed something. “What are you saying? I know you’re still a hard worker, and I can see your steps to healing, so it would be just like working on Villa Bonita or LasDell...”
“No, it wouldn’t. I was very strategic about what I decided to do after the crash. I worked with my family, not away from them. Taking this job...it would put us with conflicting schedules all the time. I would probably be traveling a lot to different countries for projects and...” Adrián grabbed the back of his neck, eyes clouded, and I tried to see things from his perspective.
I was failing, though; we had already done the long-distance thing, so it couldn’t be worse than that. Whenever he was in the office, he’d be a couple of floors away. And I could probably manage some trips to my own territories to coincide with his. This was a good thing. How could he not see it? Not wanting to get worked up before work, I filled my lungs, expelling all anxiety and animosity.
“I...hear you. Let’s talk about it more, okay?” I wondered, if I deployed my skilled professional persuasion, what would happen? I left that Gen out of our dealings, but...it was part of me... I didn’t disagree with him that we would both have long days of work ahead of us if he accepted.
Just weeks ago, I was wondering about new ways to think of my career and my future, and here I was asking him to go back to something that clearly did not serve him anymore. But... I couldn’t shake the feeling that he did love it. Adrián had just equated everything that happened before the accident as this “big bad thing” and maybe, with his newfound balance, he would be able to make it work. I could deploy my negotiation tactics, I was tempted to, but then my watch vibrated again.
“Shit, I gotta go. Love you.” I yanked my door open, but it bounced back and closed. In some ninja move, I would have to study when I had more time; Adrián had reached the door frame, his body pressed over mine, one arm braced over me. I forgot how his sturdiness was the perfect contrast to my tallness, and I avoided the urge to purr in satisfaction.
“You don’t walk out of the door, ever, without kissing me goodbye first. Understood?” His hooded gaze studied me.
“Yes...” I moaned, and he captured my mouth in a savage but short kiss that left me breathing heavily.
“Now go, you’ll be late.” He opened the door and turned me around, giving me a swat on my ass that made me jump.
“Remember, be here on time.”
Oh yes, Adri.
Damn, the end of the day couldn’t come fast enough.
“What was that cryptic message you sent me?” Anita’s beautiful face popped up on my screen with an eyebrow raised. I had tried to see if she had known who A.D. Nicholson was, and she had always been vague with her responses. Now... I wondered...had they known each other all along, and she knew who he was?
“Have you been keeping secrets, Anita Johnson?”