Boss with Benefits_An Office Romance Read online

  “No problem. Just wait until you see the suite I booked us.”

  Arriving at the room produced an even better reaction than I’d expected. Once the door swung open, Nana and Alisha were frozen on the threshold, gazing bug-eyed at the sleek black and blue main suite room. Meanwhile, Christian raced past them into the room, his arms spread in an airplane motion.

  “Best birthday everrrr!”

  I went to my own bedroom, which was just as nice, although the theme was black and red. No sooner had I flopped onto the comfy bed, did a knock sound on my door.

  Chapter 24

  Alisha

  “Christian, why don’t we give Seth a few minutes to himself to relax?”

  But Christian was already pounding away on the door. As soon as Seth had the white wooden door halfway open, Christian launched into an excited tirade.

  “This is the best birthday ever! I’ve never seen a flat-screen TV so big, we’re going to eat pizza, watch cable, and stay up late!”

  “We are?” Seth asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Christian’s face fell. “I mean, if you want to.”

  Seth put his hand on Christian’s shoulder. “I was only joking, buddy. You bet we are.”

  Christian’s face cracked into another grin.

  “You think they have pizza here?”

  Seth nodded, picking up a phone on the wall. “I’d bet on it. What kind does everybody like?”

  After Seth had ordered the pizza, he and Christian went to my bedroom and parked themselves on the far bed in front of the TV. I went to talk to Nana.

  “Do you want to go to the spa now? I think they’re open late.”

  Nana patted my hand affectionately. “That’s so kind of you and your friend, Alisha, but I’m pooped. I’d doze off the second my head hit the pillow. I think I’ll just hit the hay now.”

  She gave me a hug, then went over to give Christian a hug and a kiss.

  “Happy birthday and good night, darling. Love you.”

  “Goodnight Nana! Love you too!” Christian said, hugging her back tightly. Then, she left through the door to her bedroom, leaving me to watch the two boys. I sat on the bed next to them, content to observe the two interact. They were basically in their own world anyway, immersed in a close bicycle race, arguing about the odds of the front-runner winning as he deftly maneuvered up a hill.

  “Yeah, he’s got this,” Seth said with conviction. “Once you get into the flow of biking like that, there’s no stopping it. Besides, the rest of the race is all downhill, too.”

  “I guess,” Christian replied noncommittally.

  “What—haven’t you biked before?”

  “Yeah, I guess when I was a kid, but not like that.”

  “Huh. We should go sometime.”

  Christian’s thoughtful expression became an eager one. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah, I have a smaller bike that might fit you. Twenty-one gears.”

  My heart felt so big I thought it might swell right out of my chest. If the boys looked over, they’d think I was ridiculous and sappy, my eyes full of tears at the talk of bicycles. Christian’s expression was in sharp contrast to the look on his face when he realized his father had lied.

  I got up then and paused, my stomach tossing and turning. Wearing tight jeans all day was enough to give me a tummy ache. Clearly it was time to change. I went into the bathroom, bringing the bag of new clothes we’d bought with me. In front of the mirror, despite my misgivings, I pulled on the sundress and smiled at my reflection.

  Biking, eh? Why hadn’t I thought of that? Really, it didn’t matter so much what sport Christian did, as long as he stayed active. Although Seth had clearly just made the offer thoughtlessly, wasn’t seriously suggesting that—

  My expression changed to that of rage. If Seth hadn’t been serious, he shouldn’t have said it. Didn’t he understand that Christian wasn’t an adult, didn’t yet understand that people said things they didn’t mean all the time and that the world was often just one big disappointment?

  I ripped off the dress, glaring at my reflection, at the thoughts I couldn’t even dare voice. Stupid, that’s what I was being. Stupid for letting Seth hijack this birthday trip, stupid for believing he wanted anything more with me than a hot, wild night, stupid for letting my feelings get the best of me.

  Poking my head out of the bathroom, I craned my neck so I could see them. Still, there was no denying that, together, Christian and Seth looked natural somehow. The pizza had arrived, and they had the white and red box open between them, a pepperoni slice in each hand, talking as easily as if they’d known each other their whole lives.

  A pang of guilt went through me. Hadn’t I always known that Christian needed a strong male influence in his life?

  Returning to the bathroom, I pulled the sundress back on, forced my face into a semblance of a smile, and came out.

  “Pizza time!” Christian said with a sauce-toothed grin when he saw me.

  Smiling, I strode over.

  “Yes, but it’s also PJ time.”

  Christian ducked my oncoming hand, although he did scramble off the bed obediently.

  “Fine.”

  “Yours are in the blue plastic bag!” I called, just as the bathroom door slammed behind him.

  “It really is pizza time,” Seth joked, as I turned my gaze to him.

  His gaze flicked to my dress. “Wow, you really do look stunning.”

  I shoved the nearest pizza slice into my mouth to avoid him seeing the pleased blush on my cheeks. Once I’d had a few bites, I sat on the bed beside him, a good bit away.

  “Thank you for all this. It was a good idea,” I admitted.

  “I do have those sometimes.”

  Seth was smiling blithely, and I couldn’t help but give him a playful hit on the shoulder.

  “Oh please, you’re the best in the business, and you know it.”

  “Do you really think that?”

  Now, his voice was earnest, and I felt my heartbeat ramping up.

  “You know I do. Your work ethic is legendary.”

  “Thank you,” he said, “I’ve always thought you had an impressive work ethic, too. And now that I can see what you’re dealing with at home, it’s doubly impressive.”

  His gaze sought mine in vain. My glance went to the bathroom.

  “Thank you, for spending time like that with Christian, too. As I said about his father, he’s not in the picture much, if at all. You saw how that went today, and I can see that he likes you; he’s having fun.”

  “I’m having fun myself,” Seth nodded. “I really like the kid. He’s such a ball of energy; he really reminds me of myself at that age.”

  The corners of his lips tugged down, and I wondered what he was thinking about. Soon, he spoke again.

  “You said he’s been having trouble with bullies?”

  I nodded, my mouth twisting with frustration at the thought. “Trouble is an understatement. It’s gotten so bad that the past few weeks I’ve had to force Christian to go to school. The counselor and principal have tried helping, but it’s not enough. These bullies are popular, and their parents are heavily involved in school life and don’t give a shit.” Waving my hand, I apologized. “Sorry, I’m rambling. This isn’t your problem.”

  “Maybe not, but still,” Seth said with a shake of his head, “Bullying is no minor matter. I told you, I experienced it too, and it sucked. And then I went home and—”

  He shook his head again, his fists clenched.

  “Have you thought about sending him to another school?”

  “Not really, why?”

  “I don’t know. It’s not my place, and I’m sorry if I’m overstepping, he’s your kid and all. But, well, I would have given anything just for a chance to start over.”

  I nodded, mulling over his words.

  “I’ll definitely think about it,” I finally said, “and nothing else we’ve tried has worked. I just want what’s best for Christian and to have him like
going to school again.”

  Seth’s gaze was still off; he was still back to the time he was talking about.

  “Even if the new school hadn’t worked out, I would’ve appreciated the chance. I remember, back in seventh grade, I begged and begged my dad to let me try out Forest Heights—that was the school on the other side of town. Just for a week or two, just to see if things were different. But nope, the old bastard wouldn’t stand for it. Told me if the bullies punched me hard, then I’d just have to learn how to punch harder, how to not let it get to me. Sorry, now I’m the one rambling.”

  He gave me an apologetic smile, and I grinned back at him.

  “Looks like we’re just a couple of ramblers, the two of us.”

  He rolled up his sleeves and leaned back onto the bed.

  “We deserve it though. It’s been fun, but we’ve had a long day.”

  I giggled. “Oh yeah, terrible. Going on one ride after the next, getting food delivered to us in luxurious accommodations. It’s a miracle we’re still standing at all.”

  “Seriously though. I’ve been having way more fun than I expected I would. Clearly I need to invite myself to more of the family celebrations my employees are having.”

  We cracked up at that.

  Seth’s face grew thoughtful.

  “This whole day has been an experience, that’s for sure. It just makes me wonder—” He stopped abruptly, shaking his head.

  “What?”

  “Is this what it’s like? Having a family, I mean?”

  His eyes met mine. There was genuine interest in that icy blue, twined with an underlying sadness. Pity panged through me.

  “I guess so,” was all I could respond. Seth nodded and said nothing more.

  Impulsively, I grabbed his hand. As our fingers entwined, then re-entwined, a glance at him found interest had sparked in his eyes. Was he thinking what I was thinking?

  Slowly, painstakingly almost, he leaned forward. His lips were parted—and ready. Clearly, he was thinking exactly what I was thinking.

  Uncomfortable, I drew back, glancing at the bathroom door. It was shut, and you could hear the sound of water running, but still—we couldn’t.

  If Seth noticed my apprehension, he didn’t let it stop him. His face kept nearing mine with a focused determination there was no escaping. It wasn’t long before his lips were on mine and I was forgetting my reticence entirely. Those lips and that not-familiar feeling enveloped everything. And now, his tongue, thrusting between my lips, over and over again, foreshadowed what was to come.

  My phone rang, and I froze, although Seth paid it no heed. His tongue continued to gently explore.

  “Mom?” Christian’s voice sounded from the bathroom. I ripped myself free of Seth and picked up the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Can’t a man talk to his son on the boy’s birthday?”

  Hearing Todd’s forced cheerful voice, my fingers tightened around my plastic phone case. Crap. What had I expected anyway? This was Christian’s birthday, the day his dearly disappeared dad never failed to call. He’d even promised it an hour or so ago during our awkward hotel lobby encounter. I guess I’d hoped his evil wife would prevail to my benefit for once.

  “One minute,” I said.

  I walked to the doorway to hear confirmation of what I knew already. Sure enough, that was the sound of running water; Christian was still taking his shower.

  “He’s in the shower. Can you call back in a few minutes?”

  A pause, then the sound of voices, and Todd’s voice again, as annoyingly cheerful as ever. “No can do. We’re about to go to the casino, so it’s now or never.”

  I rolled my eyes. Of course Todd would squeeze this phone call in, giving it the two minutes he thought it warranted.

  “Okay, hang on.”

  After my knocks on the bathroom door went unanswered, I opened it, yelling, “Your dad’s on the phone.”

  Seconds later, the water snapped off, and Christian was scrambling out, grabbing the phone.

  “Yeah, Dad?”

  I left them to talk and returned to the main suite room, where Seth was now parked on the couch, looking at me expectantly.

  Chapter 25

  Seth

  Alisha didn’t just look stunning in that dress; she looked abso-fucking-lutely delicious. The way it swept over her curves, the ombré red to yellow flowing from her generous bust to her wide hips. If only I let my hand follow the pattern, stroke down the sweep of the fabric.

  “What?”

  Alisha was sitting beside me, staring at me like she had a pretty good idea what was on my mind.

  “Nothing. That was him, huh?”

  Her face fell, and I silently cursed myself.

  “Sorry, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

  Alisha gave her head an undecided shake.

  “If I only did what I wanted to when I wanted to, there isn’t much I would do at all.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. Alisha swept her gaze my way.

  “Sorry, I’m just being melodramatic. Todd’s just a dick, and he puts me in a bad mood. I don’t know what game he’s playing at being concerned and stepping in all the sudden, but it’s not fair to Christian.”

  “Or you,” I added softly.

  “I don’t know if I’d say that,” she said as her gaze met mine.

  Anger coiled in my gut.

  “What would you say then? That your ex-husband left you with a sunny view of marriage and men in general?”

  She couldn’t help a rueful smile at that.

  “I just wish I could forget about it and leave him in the past where he belongs,” she bit her trembling lower lip before she continued. “But I know cutting him off isn’t fair to Christian.”

  Taking her hand, I tried to be supportive.

  “Who knows, maybe one day Christian will decide himself to cut his jerk of a father off.”

  She glanced at me questioningly, but I averted my eyes. When our gazes met again, I shook my head slightly.

  “Some fathers aren’t worthy of the title.”

  Her hand was cold in mine, limp. I put it back on her leg gently.

  “Look, Alisha, most important is that you’ve done the best you can with Christian. You’re a great mother.”

  “You keep saying that,” she said, as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  I grabbed another slice of pizza and took a big bite.

  “I have to rationalize letting you off the hook for being late somehow.”

  Laughing, Alisha grabbed a slice of her own. After she bit down, there was a smear of ruby-red sauce on her lower lip. Automatically, I leaned forward and swept it away with my finger.

  When I glanced at her, she was gazing at me intently.

  “Sorry,” I muttered.

  “No, it’s—” she swallowed and shifted further away from me on the couch.

  “Though you’re right about Todd,” she said, finally. “He really fucked up my view of men, and I think that’s what I’m the most afraid of—making the same mistake again.”

  She said it easily, but afterward, as if finally realizing just what she’d said, she assumed a stricken expression.

  “Sorry, I—”

  “Whaddya think?”

  Christian raced into the room, clad in his new dino pajamas, his hands proudly on his hips as he did a quick twirl.

  Alisha cast an approving look over the little black dinosaurs set on the dark blue cotton.

  “You look dino-riffic.”

  Christian rolled his eyes; then his gaze found mine.

  “Do you think they have something to drink here, too?”

  Alisha sighed. “So this is your new strategy of getting what you want? Just getting Seth to buy it for you?”

  Christian shot me a cheeky grin. “Is it working?”

  I glanced at Alisha, and she nodded. I rose.

  “Okay, bud, let’s see what the vending machines have got.
”

  No sooner had we set foot out the door, did Christian cry, “First to the vending machines wins!” And with that, we took off down the hallway.

  Christian won, although I got the first sip of the soft drink I bought. As he gulped a good half of the liquid down, I took in the bright-eyed kid. It was strange, this feeling of comradery I had with the twelve-year-old. I’d never had a brother, so maybe that was it. Or maybe it was what he stood for, what this all was like. Like I’d told Alisha, I’d never been around families much, never really had one myself. Was this what I’d been missing out on?

  “First one back to the room wins!” Christian cried, racing ahead already.

  This time, I was the winner, though Christian took solace in another two slices of pizza. It wasn’t long before we were flopped back in front of the TV, and Christian was passed out, exhausted.

  “I guess it was a long day for him, too,” Alisha said with a soft smile.

  “Here, we should put him in your bedroom,” I said, and Alisha nodded.

  Together, we carried him into her room, setting him on the nearer of the two beds. Alisha was the one who tucked him in. I watched as she swept the black sheet over the boy’s body, tucking it right under his chin. For a few seconds, she stood there, looking down on him, her whole face suffused with tremendous love. Then, a quick kiss on the cheek, and she swept away.

  We returned to the main suite room, and finally, it was just Alisha and me.

  I flopped on the couch, not shifting my gaze from her for a second.

  “So.”

  Alisha flopped on the opposite end of the couch.

  “So.”

  “What time is it? Is it too late for room service?” Nana asked.

  With her white hair in something of an Albert Einstein-esque poof, and her frail body clad in the brightest pink penguin pajamas on the planet, Nana looked hilariously ridiculous.

  “What?” she asked, as we stared at her, self-consciously adjusting the sleeve of the shirt.

  Alisha grinned. “Those pajamas are pretty something, Nana.”

  Nana assumed a look of defiant pride that vaguely reminded me of Alisha. “Yes, I suppose they are. Is there any pizza left?”