Page 778 of One More Kiss

Nicholas

The door slams shut,and Riley scrambles off her knees in shock. My now deflated cock is still hanging out of my slacks. Fuck.

“Oh, my God! I can’t believe she saw that. Oh, God,” Riley paces beside my desk.

Still trying to gather my own thoughts, I tuck my dick away and get up. “Riley, it’s fine. She is not going to say anything.” Paula is a great assistant. She knows better than to blab this around the office.

“You don’t know that! I’m so fucked. No one is ever going to respect or take me seriously ever again. People are going to think I fucked my way into my job!”

I want to tell her she is wrong, that people wouldn’t think that way, but that would be a lie. It’s a grand example of the double standard. I would get a slap on the wrist from my dad and the shareholders, but Riley is the one who would have to deal with the fallout.

“I’m sorry,” is all that comes out. I’m not sorry about fucking, but I am sorry about her being in this situation. “We’re going to figure this out. Just calm down and we’ll fix this.”

Beads of sweat shimmer across Riley’s forehead. Her cell phone rings, just as a response begins to fall off her tongue. She pulls it out of her pocket and glances at the screen, surprising me when she answers it. She walks to the far edge of my office and speaks.

I can’t hear what’s being said on the other end, but I notice the change in her demeanor. Those deep chest rising breaths gain momentum, and her expression goes from worrying about her job to terrified about whatever she is listening to on the other line.

All the color drains from her face. Her voice takes on an edge of panic. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Riley spins around and starts towards the door. “I’m sorry, Nic. I can’t do this with you right now.” It’s the only thing she says before she disappears, walking out of the room.

What the fuck? I stand there perplexed before I spring into action. “Riley,” I call, catching up with her just in time to jump into the elevator with her. The elevator doors close, once again enclosing us inside.

“Riley, what’s wrong? What happened? Who was that on the phone?”

She turns away from me and snaps, “None of your business. Just, please, leave me alone!” The desperation in her voice hits me in the chest.

“I’m your boss, and I demand to know what’s going on if you are abruptly leaving work.” I know it’s a low blow and completely uncalled for, but right now I just want to know what the fuck is going on.

She turns to face me, her arms crossed, a frown on her face. “Ugh, you are impossible! My mom called. My dad had a heart attack. Happy?”

“Fuck. I’m sorry. Please let me drive you to the hospital. You’re in no condition to be driving yourself, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. No strings attached, I just want to make sure you make it there safely.”

Typical Riley. She shakes her head. “No, thank you, I can drive myself.”

“Damnit, do you have to fight me on everything? I’m taking you, whether or not you like it!” My words are piercing but sincere, and although reluctant, she concedes and nods.

Riley doesn’t say anything during our drive to Boston Medical Center, and I don’t push her to. This is not the time to talk about our relationship and she is too upset to talk about her parents.

When we arrive at the hospital emergency room, I drive up to the doors and Riley rushes from the car and runs inside the building. I park and walk inside, looking around the seating area. A flood of calmness overwhelms me at the sight of her. She’s hugging an older woman, who I’m assuming is her mom. Both women are crying, and my mind immediately imagines the worst.

Walking over to them, I stroke my hand over Riley’s back. “What’s going on? Is there anything I can do?”

Riley looks up at me, breaking the hug with her mother. Now that I can get a good look at her face, I am sure that’s who she is. Her face is weathered, fine lines webbed around her piercing blue eyes, but she is still a beautiful woman. Just like Riley.

“Mom, this is Nicholas Brooks,” she introduces me.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Moore, though I hate the circumstances.”

“It’s nice to meet you as well,” she sniffles.

“Could I have a word with you, please?” Riley touches my arm to get my attention. I give her mom a tight smile and let her drag me away to the other side of the room. I’m not sure what she is about to say, but if she thinks I’m leaving, she is wrong. Very wrong.

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