Page 21 of Worth Every Penny
I glance over to see Kate walking into the building, and a rush of heat assaults me. She looks even better than she did at the party. How she makes a pencil skirt and white shirt so damn sexy, I have no idea. If I weren’t acutely aware of Seb watching me for a reaction, I’d probably be gawking just like Charlie.
“That’s Kate Lansen,” Seb says coolly. “Our newest recruit.”
“Oh,that’sher?” Charlie says it like he’s heard her mentioned before. It makes my hackles rise. “She is hot as—”
“Watch your mouth,” I snap. “You talk like that about a colleague in the office and I’ll fire your arse faster than you can say ‘hot as fuck’.”
Charlie tilts away from me, eyes widening. Next to him Matt straightens, surprised by my vitriol, but then gives a tense nod to signal he agrees with my reprimand.
“Shit, Nico,” Seb mutters. “The kid just got here. Cut him some slack.”
Charlie shifts awkwardly on the spot, mumbling, “Dad said the same thing.” He glares at Matt, his voice clearer when he adds, “You said Kate Lansen was gorgeous—”
“Enough.” Matt booms, before lowering his voice. “In the office, we don’t comment on people’s appearance. It’s a hard rule.”
“Actually, I’d call it a flexi-rule,” Seb interjects. “If I’m about to go into a meeting with my fly undone, you can definitely comment.”
I’m not sure anyone hears Seb apart from me, because Charlie and Matt are too busy glaring at one another, which is just as well because if Charlie comments on Kate again, I’ll wring his neck. I don’t know why, but hearing him call her ‘hot’ as if she’s nothing more than a teenage boy’s pinup irked me.
Matt beckons one of the receptionists over. She rushes out from behind the desk and Matt instructs her to take Charlie up to his desk to meet his new team.
When they’re gone, Matt turns to me and Seb. “If he acts out, or messes anything up, I’ll make it up to you, I promise. But please, I need you both to swear you’ll be there for him if he needs you.”
Seb and I share a glance, and I’m pretty sure he’s thinking the same as me.What the hell are we signing up for?
I want to say no, but Matt is looking so desperate that I can’t deny him. “Sure.”
“Absolutely,” Seb agrees.
“Great. I owe you. I’ll see you in a few weeks.” Matt bids us farewell and heads outside, where a car is waiting to take him to the airport.
I look at Seb. “Did he sound weird to you?”
Seb pouts his lower lip. “A bit. He’s been anxious about heading back to the States and leaving the kids with Gemma. Charlie’s a handful, sure… but Lucie’s only three. How hard can that be?”
Just as I’m wondering what’s going on in Matt’s private life, Seb nudges me and points at where Kate is standing, talking to her brother, Jack, who’s just arrived. “Go on then.”
I’m tempted to tell Seb to shut the fuck up because his knowing glances and smirks are dangerously close to teasing and that pisses me off, but it’s not worth my time. There’s nothing here to tease about. Kate hates me. But the least I can do is be polite.
I walk towards the Lansens with Seb at my side.
“Morning, Jack,” I announce, setting a professional atmosphere from the get-go. Kate, her back to me, goes rigid.
“Nico.” A wide smile spreads over Jack’s face as he takes my hand and shakes it vigorously. “Didn’t realise you’d be in the office in person.”
“Where else would I be?” I answer casually.
Slowly, Kate turns to face me. I don’t miss the way her eyes rake over me in what appears to be appreciation before she throws a frosty glare my way. It’s enough to give me whiplash.
Seb greets them both with equal enthusiasm, before drawing Jack away towards the lifts.
Subtle, Seb.
Left alone, Kate and I stand in awkward silence. I’m painfully aware of the way her breasts move beneath her silk shirt witheach inhalation. The neckline exposes an irresistible hint of cleavage, and I have to drag my gaze away.
It won’t do me any fucking good to be staring at a woman I can’t touch.
“Little K.”