Page 81 of Until It Was Real

She bats her eyelashes at me. “What’s wrong? Paradise with your Captain not working out the way you planned?”

“You’ll pay for that.”

“Oh no. What are you going to do? Spank me?”

“Maybe.”

“Please. You keep saying you will, but you never do. I’m starting to think you’re a liar.”

My cock twitches and I nearly moan at the idea of her ass with my red handprint on it. “Keep teasing me and you’ll find out I’m not a liar while we’re at work.”

She gasps. “Rhett Raider. Wait. Do you have a middle name?”

“No. My dad didn’t believe in middle names.”

Her brow wrinkles. “Believe in middle names? It’s not a religion you can question the existence of. It’s a name in between your first and last one.”

I shrug. “Nonetheless. I don’t have a middle name.”

She clears her throat. “Okay. Rhett Raider, you are not going to get up to any sexy shenanigans in the office. I am serious about my job. I’m not putting it in jeopardy.”

“Not even a little kiss in the break room?”

“No kissing. No petting. Definitely, no nudity.”

“Eli had sex with Paisley in her office numerous times when the brewery was temporarily housed here.”

She holds up a finger. “One, I don’t have an office and I’m not into public nudity.” She adds a finger. “And, two, Eli’s a billionaire. He can do whatever he wants.”

“I’m part—”

She doesn’t allow me to finish explaining how I’m part owner of the distillery before she flashes me a third finger. “And, three, Paisley didn’t work for the distillery.”

“Neither do you.”

“I work for Eli, who owns the distillery. Therefore, I pretty much work for the distillery.”

I chuckle. “I give up. I’m not going to win this argument with you.”

“It’s good you realize when you’re beaten.”

“But I’m not entering the office separately. I’m not ashamed of you.”

“Rhett Raider – your name has a nice ring to it. I do love alliteration – you better not be ashamed of me.”

“I literally said I wasn’t two seconds ago.”

“Good.”

Dakota can talk circles around me. Before I figure out which way is up, the work day will be over. I’m not Miles or Zane. I’m serious about ensuringBuccaneer’s Whiskey and Distilleryis a financial success.

One day, I hope to be able to hand the reins of the company over to my children. Children, I hope, will have green eyes and blonde, curly hair. The thought has me smiling as I slam my door shut and walk around to open Dakota’s door for her.

“Do you want children?”

Her eyes widen, and she rears back. “You did not ask me about children right before we start work. You’re a menace, Rhett Raider. And I’ve changed my mind. Rhett Raider is too long. You’re RR from now on.”

I throw an arm over her shoulders as we walk to the office entrance. She tries to shrug me off but I don’t let her. I want her to understand I’m serious about us. I’m not pretending we’re not involved just because we’re at work. Fuck that.

---