Page 16 of The CEO

“I’m fine and dandy.” I grabbed the wine bottle and took it back into the sitting room that overlooked the city. The view was gorgeous and mesmerizing. Sitting down, I poured the small amount that was left of the bottle into my glass and took a sip from it. It was probably the best wine I’d ever had in my life and since it was in Kingston Avery’s refrigerator, I was sure it was expensive.

“Are you drunk?” I smiled at how light his tone had turned.

“I’m not sure I’d call me drunk, but I would say buzzed.” Jimmy looked up at me sweetly from the floor. I picked him up and put him on my lap. Once Orvy saw Jimmy by me, he stepped easily onto the couch and snuggled up to my side. This was why Kingston had all those crazy rules about them. They were the sweetest things alive. I was going to miss them when I had to leave. “I drank the bottle of wine that you had in your fridge.” Shit. “I hope you weren’t saving it for something special.”

“No, I had it in my refrigerator for my dog walker.”

Okay, now I knew he was fucking with me.

“I’ll get you a new bottle before you’re back so you can drink it with your girlfriend.” Even if it did cost me a paycheck.

“Pria,” he drew my name out with irritation, “I don’t care about the wine. You can drink all the wine in my place if you want. Although, that’s a lot of wine to drink in only one week.” He ended on a low chuckle.

That got my attention. “Where’s the rest of the wine?” I was feeling like another bottle tonight.

“If you can find it, you can drink it. How’s that?”

“Sounds like a challenge. One that I happily accept.” I rose from my comfy seat to see if I could find his wine stash. Jimmy wasn’t happy I dumped him on the couch.

Turning around with wide eyes, I realized I’d been letting the dogs on the couch since we’d been back from their walk and they weren’t supposed to be on any of the furniture. I couldn’t ask them to get down while I was on the phone so I let them be. What harm could they do being on the couch for a week?

“You’re looking for it right now aren’t you?” His low laugh set off butterflies in my stomach. They could fuck right off. I couldn’t have butterflies for my boss.

“Maybe,” I hummed. “Do you want me to save a bottle for your girlfriend?” There was no secret wine cabinet in the kitchen so I moved to the other end of the apartment I hadn’t been in. I figured if it was by my bedroom I would have noticed. My nose could sniff out wine when it was within a two hundred foot radius. Now that I was walking around, my buzz had changed to full on drunk, and all my aches and pains were long gone.

“Why do I get the impression that you’re fishing to see if I have a girlfriend?” The amusement in his voice made me sober some, encouraging me to search for another bottle even more.

“Does she not like wine? Good, all the more for me.”

“Why were you drinking?” he asked quietly, sobering me more. I needed to get off the phone before I was fully sober again. Or before those damn butterflies took flight from his quiet words and concern. It shouldn’t take so little for me to swoon, but damn if I was, and it needed to stop.

“Because the she-devil that lives in your house hates me. She nearly killed me today. I’m black and blue with scratches everywhere. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to take herout again. Seriously, just thinking about it is causing me to panic.”

Kingston swore on the other end of the line and then I heard typing on his end. What the hell was he doing? “I never should have asked you to watch them. I wanted to help you out and now I’ve made the situation worse. Let me see if I can figure something out with Sarah. She can be a handful.”

A handful? She was so far beyond a handful, but I wasn’t going to argue. If he could take Sarah off my hands, I would be fine. If he found someone to deal with her, would I have to leave? Surely they’d be able to handle all three. Unlike me.

“Will I have to leave?” The minute the words left my mouth I wanted to take them back. Why was I giving him the thought?

“Do you want to leave?”

“No,” I answered honestly. “I hate that I’m causing you more problems. Why can’t your dogs learn how to use the toilet? That would make this so much easier.”

A booming laugh came from Kingston. It could melt panties even over the phone. “You really are drunk. It does sound nice though. It would make my life easier.” He yawned, making me look for the time. It had to be getting late there, and I was keeping him up by making him worry about me and his dogs.

“Tonight I’ll take Sarah by herself before I take the other two. I think if it’s one on one, I’ll be able to handle her better.” If not, he was going to find a lot of puppy puddles on his floor when he got back. “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us. You should get some rest for your meeting tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get hurt again.” The last word was drawn out by a long yawn.

“I’m positive. I’ll show her who’s boss.” I wasn’t positive, and I was sure she’d put up a fuss if she didn’t get her way. I was seeing her diva ways. How was she related to Orville, I didn’t know.

“You do that and if you need anything, you’ve got my contact info.” He sounded lighter, and I was happy to know I had relaxed him some. He probably thought I was some incompetent fool. He’d probably come home from London and fire me, leaving me without a job and homeless.

“I do, but I promise you won’t hear from me again. I’ve got this.”

Sarah stood at the door of what I assumed was Kingston’s room as if on guard. I turned around and went to look for more wine elsewhere.

I so didn’t have this.

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