Page 18 of The Ice Queen in the Corner Office

I bit back the other words I wanted to say, that no one had ever done anything so sweet, that maybe I’d mis-judged him. I straightened my shoulders and stared him down, putting up my own wall.

He grinned. “You are most certainly—”

“But what the hell were you thinking?” I asked, the words bursting from me against my will. It was like all the regret and guilt I’d been feeling all weekend had built like magma in my gut and had nowhere to go but out of my mouth. “The guy probably has security cameras all over the place. Do you know how much trouble you could have gotten into if he’d gotten video of you?”

“I do,” he said, his grin widening, the wall that had been between us collapsing. “I also glitter-bombed his vents and stuffed shellfish in all the nooks and crannies of his fancy car.”

“You could go to—”

His words registered, and a laugh bubbled up as I pictured that egotistical prick with a face full of glitter and a car full of stank. The laugh rolled through me and it felt so good, after a lonely weekend at home, feeling so bad, to laugh and enjoy the moment.

Alex stepped up next to me, his own smile warm, and held his phone out to me. He’d gotten a picture of the asshole’s face when the cloud of glitter had erupted.

“Oh, my god,” I said. “This…You…” But I was laughing too hard to speak. He took his phone back from me, probably worried I’d drop it.

He stood silently next to me while I laughed it out.

When I’d finally sobered, I met his gaze to see him looking at me like…Like I was something awe-inspiring.

It took my breath away.

He reached out and pushed a stray hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing my cheek and shooting sparks through my body, sobering me still more.

“That’s why I did it,” he said. “Not to coerce you into buying the stock or to go out with me, to make you smile. To make up for all the smiles that bastard took, for all the tears he caused.”

“There were no tears. I never cry.” My words were husky, my whole body thrumming with want for this man. I barely even knew what I was saying.

“I hope I never give you reason to.”

He leaned in, his lips so lush and inviting, and my eyes drifted closed. He was going to kiss me, and I was going to let him.

I could remember his last kiss so well that I could almost feel his lips on mine already.

Instead I felt his fingers lightly trace over my black eye. “Does it still hurt?”

I opened my eyes to see that he’d taken a small step back.

He must have known I was expecting him to kiss me, but there was no mockery in his eyes, no cocky celebration, there was only concern and warmth.

“No,” I said. “Not really.”

He pursed his lips and shook his head. “You don’t have to lie to me. I’ve had plenty of black eyes before, I know how bad they hurt and for how long.”

I hadn’t realized I was lying. It was just second nature to ensure no one ever had to worry about me.

“It hurts like hell,” I said, relieved. “I can’t sleep on my left side and every time I smile or touch my face without thinking, it stings.”

“All that laughing must have hurt.” His fingers lingered on my face.

“It was worth it. I thought I was fine with that asshole getting away with punching me, but what you did…I’m glad to know he didn’t get away so easily. I’m glad he got some payback. I just hope you won’t get in any trouble.”

He took another step back and his hand dropped to his side. “It almost sounds like you care about what happens to me.”

I shrugged. “I like working here. I’d hate for the company to go under because you’re in jail.”

He didn’t laugh, but his smile didn’t fall either. “Do you like working here? Are you happy here without your brother as your boss?”

The honest concern on his face and in his voice, warmed me through. “I do. Noah wasn’t a bad boss and we get along better than most siblings, but he didn’t have your passion for the business. You love this industry and this company and that seeps into everything you do here and infects everyone else with a similar passion and excitement.” I smiled at the surprise on his face. “Plus, it’s nice to work for a company that can afford my salary and that doesn’t require me to get creative to save it from bankruptcy.”

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