Page 54 of Boss with Benefits

“Archie is in prison.” Mona’s lower lip quivered. “He moved down to California after I left and met a girl. She wasn’t as lucky as me and didn’t have someone like Brady looking out for her.”

Jessica’s heart lodged in her throat. “Did he… kill the girl?”

Mona nodded. “Brady called to tell me when he found out Archie was headed for prison. We talked for a while, and I mentioned how much I missed Seattle, so he offered me a job.”

Jessica marveled at her husband. “I had no idea. Wow. I’m so glad Brady was there for you and able to save you from a bad relationship.”

“I wasn’t the only one,” Mona said. “When I was still trying to make up my mind if I should trust him, he put him on the phone with another woman he saved.”

“He saved someone else from an abuser?”

“He’s like Batman. You are so lucky to have him love you.”

Jessica forced another smile. Yeah, lucky her. If Mona knew the truth that he didn’t actually love her, the receptionist would be feeling sorry for her instead of being envious of her. Behind her, the elevator dinged, signaling its arrival, but she didn’t need it any longer.

“Thank you for telling me,” Jessica said. “We’ll just keep this between us. I won’t tell Brady you told me and embarrass him. He likes to do his good deeds in secret.”

Mona agreed with a nod of her head and a relieved smile. “I owe him my life. Hopefully, someday I can repay him.”

The problem was, Brady didn’t like people to feel they owed him anything. She knew from first-hand experience. “The best thing you can do for Brady is have a good life. That’s the only repayment he wants.”

She was about to leave when something caught her eye: a framed picture of Mona with a familiar man. Jessica gasped, recognizing the man at once. No wonder she had thought she’d seen Judge Wilson before. He was staring at her every day as she crossed to the frosted glass doors leading to their offices. “He’s your father,” she said.

“Excuse me?” Mona’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t catch that.”

“Judge Wilson is your father.”

Mona turned to glance at the photo before nodding at Jessica. Her shoulders raised in a slight shrug. “Yeah. Do you know him?”

“We’ve met.” Now she knew why the judge was willing to risk his career for Brady. It was because Brady had saved the judge’s daughter from an abusive boyfriend. She smiled. “Have a good day, Mona.”

The receptionist returned the smile. “You too.”

She returned to her office and worked quietly on her own for the rest of the day. Mona’s words replayed in her mind several times. What had happened to Brady’s mother? She considered asking him, but she didn’t want to pry.

She was sure she was the last person he wanted to see after her I-love-you admission last night, so it was a total surprise when he stuck his head in at the end of the day. He peeked around her door and said, “I want to photograph you. Meet me in the studio in ten minutes.”

Her jaw dropped. “Huh? What? You want to take my picture?”

“I told you at the zoo. Remember? I’ll see you in ten.”

Then he was gone, giving her time to gather her thoughts. Was it a good sign he wanted to take her picture?

She stepped out of her office, walking on rubbery legs, and found the place empty. Everyone had gone home. Was there a reason he had waited for their employees to leave before making the offer?

Reluctantly, she went to Brady’s studio located in a separate area behind the offices. He was already set up. Bouncing with energy, she could tell he was in the zone. He tossed an outfit at her and told her to put it on.

Without protest, she went behind the provided screen and changed. The chosen dress was gossamer silk, see-through, and hung loose as if she were wrapped in a bed sheet. Barely. The material covered one arm and shoulder while leaving the other naked. It felt incredible against her skin.

When she walked across the room, both of her legs were revealed through long slits. She felt suddenly shy in his presence. Although he had seen her nude on several occasions, she felt extra vulnerable.

“What do you think of the dress?” Brady asked with a quick glance in her direction. He was too busy getting his camera ready to take a good look at her. “I had it especially made for you.”

She blinked. “You did?”

“I have this vision of you in my head that I need to get out. I need to photograph it. A goddess beyond the reach of mere mortal men.”

She swallowed hard and mumbled, “That’s a lot to live up to.”

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