I coughed a laugh. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“Oh, please. I’ve watched those sexy hazel eyes undress me for two days.” She stood and picked up her smartphone. “There’s a coffee shop in Building C. You could at least buy me a drink after all that action.”
“Sure,” I said, checking the clock. It was 7:45. The office didn’t officially open until nine. Forget Stuart. Forget Derek and one-sided loyalties. I was following my new philosophy now, and ready to see how far this might go.
* * *
Nikki sipped the hot beverage, her pink lips lined as always in a darker rose. “No coffee for you?”
“No.” We walked slowly back to the Alexander-Knight offices. “I like coffee, but when it’s hot like this, not as much.”
She nodded. “I’m addicted. I could have coffee all day long in any weather.”
In the center of the cluster of five buildings was a round courtyard with benches and a tall, obelisk-shaped fountain. We paused for a moment to watch the water rippling down the sides of the smooth concrete, and I wondered how to get us on the subject of us.
Nikki broke the silence. “So tell me about Patrick Knight,” she said, giving me that cocky glance. “Why is a hot young thing like you single and relocating from Chicago to Princeton?”
“Wow,” I laughed. “You know a lot already.”
“I handle the office paperwork, remember?”
“Right,” I nodded as we started walking again. “It’s simple. Broke up with my fiancée, wanted to start somewhere fresh.”
“So you’re a heartbreaker.” Nikki winked as she sipped again.
“Nope. I was the one getting his insides kicked out that time.” Exhaling, I just said it. “Caught her screwing a guy in my building.”
Nikki’s thin brows pulled together, and she touched my arm. “I’m so sorry, Patrick.”
My hand covered hers briefly. “No worries, it’s ancient history. And Stuart said this was a great gig.”
She took another sip as she nodded. “Stuart was a lot of fun. You remind me of him.”
“He tries to be as cool as me.”
She laughed, her thick lashes fluttering as she rolled her eyes. “You’re too much.”
“How long have you worked here?” I studied her profile, her small, upturned nose and those full lips I wanted to taste, as we pushed through the heavy metal doors of Building A.
“Three months, but it’s a pretty straightforward office.”
“Except for the hard-ass boss?” I held the door for her.
“Derek’s just like every entrepreneur I’ve ever worked for.” She leaned against the marble wall, waiting for the elevator. “He has his own ideas of how to do things, and he isn’t a very good communicator.” Then she added in a sneaky tone. “He really needs to get laid.”
I smiled, but that comment stopped me. “Were you planning to help him with his problem?”
“No.” Her lips parted over straight, white teeth. “But I was sorry to see Stuart go.”
Her eyes traveled from my face to my lips briefly as the elevator doors opened. The more I thought about it, the more I was sure if my older brother had bagged Nikki, I’d have heard about it. Talk about a braggart.
We stepped inside, and when the doors closed, I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “My brother’s an idiot if he didn’t notice you. Why don’t you let me make up for his mistake?”
“You’re too young for me, Patrick.” Her voice was equally low, and she didn’t make eye contact.
I rubbed a hand roughly through the top of my light brown hair. It hadn’t been cut since I left Chicago and still have the remnants of summer highlighting in the tips. “I need a trim. This makes me look younger.”
Nikki smiled as she studied me. “I like it. It’s sexy and summery.”