“You don’t have to do that,” Juniper says from behind me. “You’re going to get your suit dirty.”
“Good thing I get a discount at my favorite dry cleaners then,” I quip while finishing up.
The softest, sweetest laughter falls from her lips. I feel it trickle down my spine, lighting up every nerve ending along the way. “Yeah, I heard you have a pretty great assistant.”
“Is that right?” I ask, standing up and turning to face her. “What else have you heard about my assistant?” I’m aware that her mom is sitting a dozen feet away from us, but I can’t stop myself from stalking forward.
“Um…” Her trembling voice trails off as she fixes her emerald gaze on me. She’s trying to be playful, but she’s too nervous to pull it off.
“Juniper,” her mother calls. “Offer Mr. Sloan a drink and invite him to sit down. Show him we have some manners.”
Juniper rolls her eyes and my lips twist into an almost-smile. I see where she gets her sassiness from. “Yes, Mama,” she drawls, though I can hear the love in her voice. “Mr. Sloan—”
“Vincent,” I correct her. She stares at me for a second, apparently as surprised as I am at my words.
Once again, I’m speaking without thinking. My employees never address me by my first name. I like the distance it puts between myself and everyone under my employ. It’s not that I think I’m better than them. I’m just more important, and I pay their income, so that deserves some respect. Looking at Juniper now, however, I realize I want something more than isolation and respect. I wanther.
“Uh, okay,” she quickly recovers. “Would you like something to drink,Vincent?” Juniper emphasizes my name, and goddamn if I don’t like hearing her say it. She bites down softly on her bottom lip, a gesture that’s both adorable and sexy as fuck.
“No, thank you.”
“Okay then.” Juniper stares at me from across the living room, waiting for me to say something.
For the first time in my life, I feel awkward. I’ve never cared about anyone’s opinion enough to let it make me nervous. In fact, I don’t care much about what anyone says about me, period. Who gives a fuck when you have millions in the bank and adding to your wealth every day?
But this woman…
Fuck. She’s rearranging my future, making room for her needs, wants, and dreams. Juniper is also digging around in my chest, trying to get to my heart. I’m not sure what good it is, or why someone like her would want it, but I’m just obsessed enough to not give a shit. She has a hold on me, and now I need to make her as crazy as I am. How the hell do I do that?
“Are you okay?” Juniper asks.
At the same time, I say, “What happened?” as I sweep my hand out to the carpet that still has a faint stain from the spilled beverage.
“That would be my fault,” Beth sighs. “I gave my girl a good scare this morning. It’s my fault she skipped out on work, too, so please don’t take it out on her.”
The mention of work feels like a slap in the face. I showed up here with the intent to reprimand my assistant and tell her she’s on thin ice. But then she turned out to be sexy and adorable, on top of her sweet and sassy personality. I wasn’t expecting her to have such a big heart, but it takes a special person to take care of a sick parent. Plus, I can’t yell at someone in front of their mother. I’m not that much of an asshole.
“Of course not,” I reply, clearing my throat. I know I’m being weird and intrusive.
Beth looks amused. Exhausted, but amused. Juniper just continues to stare, her round eyes blinking up at me while she nibbles her bottom lip again.
“I came to… check on you,” I lie. Though it’s not really untruthful, is it? I knew somewhere deep down when I got her address, I wouldn’t be firing her. I just didn’t know I’d be tripping all over myself to get her to smile at me. “What happened today? Can I help?”
Juniper’s jaw drops. God, I must really be a bastard if she’s this surprised at my offer. She’s about to answer, but Beth beats her to it.
“If you couldn’t tell, I’m not quite myself these days. Damn cancer. Lymphoma, to be exact.” I nod my head and murmur that I’m sorry to hear that. “Anyway, things have been up and down lately. Today was a down day. No big deal.”
“No big deal? You had a seizure! It was terrifying!”
I turn to look at Juniper, resisting the urge to pull her into my arms. I don’t hug people. I don’t even like touching them if at all possible. But this woman? I want her as close as possible. I want her sweet scent in my lungs, her curves pressed against my hard body, her moans filling my ears as I devour every inch of her.
“Sweetie, I’m okay. No harm, no foul,” Beth says soothingly.
Tears spring into Juniper’s eyes, but she blinks them back quickly. I wouldn’t have noticed they were there if I wasn’t studying everything about her. I reach out on instinct, wanting to comfort her somehow. Dammit, I’m no good at this shit, but for the first time, I want to be.
Juniper ignores her mother and me, scurrying off to the kitchen. I don’t know if I should follow or give her space. My chest aches, knowing everything she endured today. All on her own, too. I look at Beth, who gives me a subtle nod, motioning toward the kitchen.
“I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit,” she says, already leaning her head back on the couch.