Page 2 of Believing in You

“Nyla, I know how hard you’ve been working, and I want to see you realize all your dreams. But you’ve been on this quest for years. At some point, you’re going to have to stop using all of us and start standing more on your own.”

In “using all of us” she meant that she was going to have to stop couch surfing at their siblings’ places. She also needed to stop bumming rides and showing up at their houses for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner.

Though her sister’s delivery could’ve been kinder, Cree was being herself. She always spoke her mind, even if it hurt to hear what she had to say.

“You’re right,” Nyla said reluctantly. “I need to take care of myself. If you can drop me off at the train station, I won’t ask for a ride again. As for—”

“Nyla, it’s not like I—”

“And if you can just give me one more month of free rent and board, I’ll be on my way after that.”

Cree huffed. “Of course you can stay with me. I’ll always support whatever you set out to do. It’s just that you’re squirreling away every penny to buy the club from your boss, buthave you thought about living expenses? What are you going to live on if you buy the business?”

Nyla had been thinking about everything Cree said. Yes, there were some changes she needed to make, and she’d figure it all out. Right now, though, she needed to leave, or she was going to be late for work.

“As usual,you’re right, but like I said, you don’t have to worry about me.” Nyla tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice but couldn’t. “I can and will take care of myself, but thanks for all you’ve done. Have a good day. I’ll get myself to work,” she said, and seconds later, the elevator doors slid open.

Nyla walked out with her head held high and ignored Cree when her sister called after her. If she was going to grow up and stand on her own, might as well start now. Instead of heading to the garage where Cree parked, Nyla, with a smile on her face, made her way to the front entrance with a renewed confidence. She could get herself to work from now on.

But the moment she stepped outside, her smile faltered as a strong gust of wind pushed her sideways, almost knocking her over.

Good Lord.What the hell had she been thinking, trying to stand her ground when it was twenty degrees outside? She grumbled all the way to the 51st/53rdstreet station to catch the train.

Dammit, I hate adulting.

Chapter Two

Forty minutes later, Nyla’s teeth were clattering as she rubbed her gloved hands together while entering the office building where Telecom Solutions was located. It didn’t matter that she had layered her clothes and had on her warmest boots; she was cold down to her bones.

As she moved with a crowd of people heading to the bank of elevators, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms, trying to get her blood circulating again. She was sure it had frozen in her veins. The rest of her body hadn’t fared much better.

By the time the elevators opened onto her floor, she could at least feel her fingers and toes. She was also able to say good morning to people without stuttering from being so cold. Telecom Solutions occupied the whole seventeenth floor.

Nyla headed down the hallway, past several offices, until she reached the area where the managers were housed. She supported three of them, but for the most part, they were all self-sufficient.

The moment Nyla approached her desk, the outside line was ringing. Technically, she had ten minutes before her shift started, but she set her bag down and picked up the phone.

“Good morning. Thank you for calling Telecom Solutions. How may I help you?”

After a slight hesitation, the caller said, “May I speak with Harrison Grant?”

“One minute, please,” Nyla said and transferred the call to Harrison, knowing it would go straight to voicemail.

He normally met with his team first thing on Wednesday morning in the small conference room and usually didn’t make it to his desk until nine-thirty. Which was good. It gave her a chance to get herself mentally together before she saw him. The man was hella fine, and even after being there a couple of months, her body still tingled with desire whenever she was near him.

As she shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the coat tree behind her desk, she thought about the erotic dreams she’d been having of him. Well, not just him, but the two of them together having sex on his desk, in the storage closet, and even in the women’s bathroom. Her dreams were out of control and only left her frustrated and breathless whenever she came back to herself.

It didn’t make sense that she was fantasizing and sometimes daydreaming about the man.Why him?Why did her temporary boss make her want to touch him all over and jump his bones? Sure, it had been awhile since she’d been with a man, but it hadn’t been that damn long. And sure, he was handsome in a sexy, geek kind of way with an intelligence that was as attractive as the rest of him. However, he was uptight, standoffish, and a workaholic.

So not my type.

Even with those negatives, the sexual tension that vibed between her and Harrison Grant was hot enough to leave burn marks. It was a good thing that her assignment would soon be over. She didn’t know how much longer she could pretend she wasn’t seriously interested in him.

Then again, who was she kidding? The man was so far out of her league, there was no way he’d be interested in her. It didn’t matter anyway. He seemed like the type to never step out of line. No way would he help her act out some of the fantasies.

Nyla snorted at the thought and shoved her bag into the bottom desk drawer. No sense in daydreaming about someone she could never…

The door behind her burst open, and she jumped, her hand flying to her chest. “What in the…”

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