Page 3 of Courting the Consequences

Kara rolled her eyes. Her father did like dramatics, especially when he didn’t get his way. “Afternoon, Dad, how’s your day going?” Kara greeted as she started heading down the stairs from the thirtieth floor.

“Don’t bullshit me right now. This isn’t a game. This is a man’s livelihood we’re talking about,” her father ranted.

“He should have fucking thought about that before he sexually harassed one of my employees,beforehe wrapped his hand around my goddamn throat,” she shouted back as she reached the landing. She turned and headed down the next set of stairs.

She found Kevin Adams—a contract employee and electrician for Taylor Construction and Mechanical—on a ladder fixing a lighting fixture on the landing below. He looked up at her with rage immediately simmering in his dark eyes.

She paused, realizing she wasn’t alone in the stairwell.

Of all the people to run into, though, she was glad it was Kevin. They had developed an easy friendship over his three-year tenure with her company. The Carmichael building was on his regular rotation, and he stopped in anywhere from once a week to everyday depending on what the facilities department needed.

It had been because of his great work that she had considered hiring the company he worked for to do the remodeling project. It only made sense to keep things in house, so to speak.

Her father was silent for a moment. “He did WHAT?” he screamed.

Kara sighed and continued down the stairs. Kevin climbed down his ladder. His dark spiky hair glistened in the florescent lighting. He was tall and broad-shouldered, well built, with dark brown eyes that were gentle and kind. He wore a black T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans with his work boots. He was easy on the eyes and very sweet.

Kara enjoyed running into him on the days he was in the building.

“Look Dad, I can’t really talk right now. I’ll call you later tonight, alright?” Kara tried to get her father off the phone quickly.

“Make sure that you do,” he snapped before ending the call.

Thanks for asking if I’m alright, Dad.

Kara locked her screen as she came to a stop before Kevin. “Are you alright?” he asked immediately. His hand came up to her jaw, cupping it gently as he lifted her face up and tilted it out of the way so the light would shine on her neck.

“I’m fine,” she murmured softly, eyes on his. His chocolate orbs were so dark they were almost black with his rage.

When he didn’t look convinced, she set her hand on his wrist. “I’m OK,” she said again, slightly squeezing.

His eyes finally met hers, and she could see the torment raging behind his gaze, feel the tension between them. There was always tension between them.

This was one of those defining moments; one little kiss could change it all. One little kiss that she couldn’t afford to give him. At least not in the office. There were cameras everywhere. He was a contract employee. There were no rules stating they couldn’t date, but she didn’t need it getting out that she was making out with someone in the stairwell. She was the boss, a title most had felt was handed to her because her father owned the business.

She didn’t like giving the firing squad any more ammunition.

She was still rattled, though, from her encounter with Laraway, not to mention the sexual tension between her and Johnny that had been palpable. Now, with Kevin, she was feeling vulnerable. She moved before he could and pressed herself against him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

His arms came around her instantly. He smelled heavenly, of mint and leather. There was a hint of something metallic to his scent, probably from whatever electrical work he had been doing. She inhaled deeply and felt one of his hands rest on her lower back, while the other slid to the nape of her neck. He held her tightly as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

Kara had never felt so safe.

Kevin Adams couldn’t believe he actually had her in his arms. He had been dying for this moment since the first time he saw her three years ago when he was first hired on as a contract employee to keep up with all their electrical needs. He’d watched from afar until one day they had started their playful banter. Now he could almost admit she was a friend or acquaintance in the office. She was genuine and down to earth and seemed to actually care about the people that worked for her.

She trembled slightly against him and he had to fight back a groan. Her body was soft and luscious against his. Her blond hair smelled of vanilla and cinnamon.

He heard a light scuffing on the steps above them. He looked up to see his boss and best friend, Johnny Taylor, watching the two of them with an unreadable look on his face.

Kevin was surprised to see him. He knew he’d had a meeting with Kara to finalize the plans for her upcoming remodel. Johnny had made it seem like they would just be signing papers and then starting next week. Today was supposed to have been a formality, but something was clearly up.

“What happened?” Kevin asked Kara, his eyes on his boss and best friend.

Kara shook her head against his chest. “Just a disgruntled employee I had to let go today.”

“It wasn’t nothing. He choked her,” Johnny growled as he came down the steps, always the hothead.

Kara froze in Kevin’s arms; obviously she’d been unaware he was behind her. She jumped back from Kevin like she’d been burned and shot her gaze to Johnny’s.

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