Page 19 of Stick to the Plan
Thinking back to how Colin’s bright smile faded when he realized I was at his door dulls my good mood. My original plan was to seduce the man. Once he rolled over for some post-orgasm sleep, I’d dig through his phone for some dirt. Despite some truly head turning outfits - and I know this to be true because Jimmy in accounting fell out of his chair as I walked by - boy-scout McLeary here hasn’t even blinked.
He must be gay. That’s the only explanation.
For a month, I’ve tried to get him alone. Or get his computer alone and unlocked.
He is always withherand usually in this office doing god knows what. If I didn’t know for a fact Brianna was a frigid bitch, I’d think she’s screwing the client herself.
So operation coffee crotch was born.
Knowing my time is limited, I quickly search his local drive for any documents referring to Project Blarney.
No hits.
I bite my nail as I look at the door. He’ll be back any second. Time for the secret weapon.
I pull out the USB drive hidden in my bra. Howard in IT whipped together a little something that will record everything Colin does and report it back to my computer. Let him lead me to the files! I tap my nails on the desk as I wait for the program to run.
75….80….90….100% complete.
I remove the drive, hiding it in my clutched fist. Now I just need to install the sister application on my computer, and I can access everything Colin opens.
I walk back to my cube with a slight sashay. Mama always said if you got it, flaunt it. Plus, if they are staring at my ass, they won’t notice anything else.
Chapter fourteen
One Month In - She Said
Brianna
Ilean forward and arch my back with a satisfying crack, then roll my shoulders with a stifled moan. The words on my screen blur and my ass is numb. The clock reads six pm. Where has the day gone?
The day? The past month has seemed to fly by, and it is nowhere near as painful as expected. I’m still surprised, but it is easy to work with Colin. We have very similar work habits, the same exacting expectations, and the same passion for the project. Instead of being an obstacle, or one more person to manage, Colin fits into my work life seamlessly.
He fits seamlessly into my home life too - but that is a dangerous line of thought. It is nice having someone around the house. We talked rarely, at the beginning. We eat dinner together practically every night, though.
On weekends, Colin explores the area. Similar to that first weekend, I suggest a few points of interest. He always visits them and comes back to tell me about his day on the back patio. I laugh until my eyes water at the embellished tales of his adventures.
Occasionally, he joins Riley and me on our evening walks. These are always somber strolls, fewer jokes and more quiet companionship. The silence should be awkward for near strangers, but it is strangely comfortable. Intimate, almost. Nope - strike that.
My attitude towards Colin has slowly shifted - can’t deny that. The more time I spend with him, the more I respect him as a business executive and like him as a person. I’d tried to keep my distance, but when you work with someone for ten hours a day, it’s easy to blur the lines.
He has an amazing mind - quick witted, which is helpful in crafting carefully worded status reports for Stone. His sense of humor and warmth makes it easy to lower your shields. He is always shooting that lopsided grin in my direction - as if we have an inside joke. Maybe we do?
As an executive, Colin has a subtle leadership style. He is firm but fair and shows zero ambition for himself or ego. That is probably what I like most about him. Too many executives lose sight of the bigger picture. They’re too focused on how they climb to care who they step on.
Colin is also loyal - that quality makes my heart ache. Every Monday, Colin stands behind me in support. Whenever Stone puts me down in front of the team, or he tries to interrogate me on Project Blarney, Colin stands with me. But not in front of me. He trusts me to handle the situation, but still shows me support. He treats me as an equal. That thought spreads warmth in my chest.
I take the last sip of the iced caramel latte from Colin. He is also thoughtful. When I got out of my afternoon meeting, he met me in the hall with my favorite coffee drink. No clue how he knows my drink.
It doesn’t hurt that he seems to be the only man immune to Rachel’s tits, I mean charms. I have enjoyed watching Rachel try to approach him or shake her hips right in front of him, only to be ignored. Again. And again. One time, he actively turned around and walkedaway! Sometimes, her mask slips and she actually glares at his back. Anyone who dislikes Rachel is trustworthy in my eyes.
I want to trust him completely, open that last wall and share my concerns about Stone and Rachel. Let him really get to know me, but something’s holding me back. My gut tells me to be more cautious. The proximity creates a familiarity - almost an intimacy between two people. I’m probably just getting caught up playing house. Be on guard, Brianna.
I look over at the man taking up most of my thoughts lately. He is sitting at his desk speaking to a lawyer from the Dublin office. At least he’s easy to look at. Definitely a benefit when you have to spend all your time together. I smile slightly at my own dirty joke. Colin must feel my gaze on him; he looks up at me and gives me a panty melting smile before returning his attention to the document in his hand.
I press my thighs together and roll my hips to relieve the ache in my core. This has been happening an awful lot lately. It’s embarrassing, really. Especially since I accidentally got an eyeful last week.
I wasn’t snooping! It was bedtime and I couldn’t find Riley. The little shit started barking from the guest room. I heard Colin laugh, and the door was half open, so I just stepped to the threshold to call Riley out. I froze mid word - Colin was fresh from the shower. Water still dripped from his hair, glistening over tan shoulders. I followed one drop as it traveled down smooth pecs and defined abs, until it hid in the fine line of hair below his navel. He gripped a towel around his narrow hips, exposing a swimmer’s V.
