“Well, I’ve already texted him.” Alex poured more whisky into her half empty glass. “You don’t want me to text him and tell him he went through the trouble of finding the kit for nothing, do you?”
Jamie bit her lip, it did hurt like a son-of-a-gun. She hated putting Murray through trouble at all. “I told you it was fine,” she repeated.
“Jamie, you’re in pain. It’s obvious. And I don’t want that.” His professional facade slipped to show the hunger underneath. However, in the blink of an eye, it was back in place. “I need you at the top of your game during work.”
“Of course.” Jamie wished she could control her own facial expressions as well as Alex controlled his. She was sure her attraction to him was plain as day right now. Idiot, he was out with another woman. He’s already over you, if he even had any feelings for you in the first place. He didn’t even need to get over you, there was nothing to get over. When are you ever going to learn? Jamie clenched her jaw. She should know better than to fall for the boss when things were officially over between the two of them.
Alex handed her a glass and a tea-towel before he sat down across from her. “I don’t wish to intrude on anything, but can I ask you something personal?”
She nodded and took a quick sip of her drink to try to calm the sudden butterflies bashing away in her belly.
“Is it possible you’re a bit clumsier because you’ve lost weight and now wearing a couple sizes too big?”
Jamie flushed. That was his personal question? Was it that obvious? She should take offense to him asking her a thing like that, but he didn’t look mocking or teasing in any way. He just looked concerned. Which made her feel bad about herself without the ability to be mad at him. “I just haven’t had time to go shopping. Been a bit of a busy week.” She winced, hating that she was trying to make it sound like it was his fault she hadn’t gone.
“How about tomorrow I take you shopping?” Alex grinned, as if he was all pleased with himself. “During lunch. You can buy anything you want and I’ll pay for it all.”
“That’s a very generous offer, but hardly appropriate for a boss and personal assistant,” Jamie said. “Besides, wouldn’t your new girlfriend be ticked with you taking another woman shopping?” Even though all he has to do is show her a picture of me and assure her size-four skinny butt that he doesn’t do pity dating. Shit! I am drunk. She put her hand over her mouth, refusing to let any more stupid stuff come out of it.
“I was in the Hamptons with a close friend of mine,” Alex said. “You actually met her briefly when I ran into you on your birthday. Do you remember Annette?”
Oh boy, do I remember. “That lipstick on your collar says more than friends.” Jamie smacked her hand over her mouth.
Alex chuckled. “Touché.”
“Take it from me: she would mind if you take me shopping. Besides, we don’t need any more rumors being spread around the office about how close we are.”
A dangerous glint sparked in Alex’s eyes. “Believe me, there won’t be any more rumors spread about our relationship. As for Annette, I know she won’t mind. She’s already back in New Jersey and on a date with another friend with benefits right now.” He raised an eyebrow at her and then leaned back in his seat and smirked at her triumphantly. “It’s totally appropriate to take your personal assistant shopping when it’s work related.” His grin widened. “After all, you’re going to need appropriate clothes to go with the new responsibilities you have in the company.”
“New responsibilities?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “I believe I’ve underestimated you, and I plan to fix that as soon as possible. Don’t worry, Ms. Connors, you’ll also get a pay raise as well. A very fair one. After the business brunch I’m hosting in a couple days, we’ll start planning. I think your schedule showed you have plans with your sister.” He checked his iPhone. “Yup. You’re busy, but there’s still a pay raise in your future.”
Jamie smiled and leaned back on the couch. She winced as her cut pressed against the towel. As much as she liked the sound of a pay raise, it was the compliment she really liked. She spoke as a knock at the door let them know Murray had brought the first aid box. “Sounds good, Mr. Reid. I believe you can take me shopping, then.”
He motioned for her to stay seated as he stood to answer the door. “Let’s not have you fall again.”
She nodded and enjoyed the view as he walked away.
He talked quietly at the door with Murray and then thanked him before closing the door. He came back a moment later and knelt down in front of Jamie.
She smiled and realized she was drunk. There were two gorgeously sexy bosses in front of her. Wouldn’t it be fun to take the two of them to bed? One for her mouth, one for her—she giggled at the image in her head.
“Something funny?” Alex asked as he reached for the tea-towel.
She moved her arm just to the right and, giggling again, she lifted it away from him making silly circles around his hand. “Catch me if you can,” she sang.
He easily caught her wrist and leaned forward, bringing his mouth to the sensitive part of her skin where her heart beat. His warm breath teased up her forearm as his lips parted and his tongue flicked against her vein.
Her breath caught. It was the single most sensual action she had ever experienced. If he looked at her once with those bedroom eyes, she was toast. She was willing to deal with the repercussions in the morning.
Alex flipped her wrist over and Jamie imagined him doing that to her on the couch. Her pulse quickened and a soft, airy moan escaped. She watched his Adam’s apple as he swallowed hard and then bent his head to tend to her cut.
“It’s not that deep. Just long,” he whispered and opened the first aid box with his left hand. He set her hand on his knee so he could get the items out of the kit.
Jamie watched him, unable to speak. All she could do was nod, her mouth slightly hanging open.
Alex opened a packet of gauze and dabbed on top of the cut and then wiped the blood away. He took another piece and added Neosporin to it. “So it won’t get infected,” he murmured. Going through the Band-Aids, he found two longer ones and carefully put them on her skin. Not once did he look at her face.