My meeting with Tara was so short that I arrived home hours earlier than I expected. I didn’t have to pick Paisley up until later so I made myself some lunch and watched T.V. I tried to focus on the show, but it was no use. My mind was entirely occupied by thoughts of Tara.
It took me completely by surprise. She was just an irritating woman that happened to work with my father. When I met her, I disliked her immediately. She was sent to babysit me, and I resented my father for putting her in charge of me. I hated Tara for the simple fact that she was my father’s right hand and now, my boss.
When she showed up at my house, I hated her even more. Who did she think she was? Just barging in without any notice? I was livid. Until she helped Paisley. Then, everything changed. Suddenly, she was no longer the irritating woman I thought she was. She was kind and patient. She was beautiful and caring. Everything I thought I knew about her was wrong.
I finished my lunch and decided to take a shower. I thought it would help clear my mind, but all it did was the opposite. I couldn’t stop thinking about how attractive Tara was. That morning, at work, I tried to pay attention to her words, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her blonde curls were long, and I wanted nothing more than to run my fingers through them. Her lips were so alluring I could barely think. And her breasts…
I did my best not to stare at them during our meeting. Tara didn’t wear cleavage baring shirts, but her blouse was tight in all the right places. It was hard not to notice how sexy her body was. In the shower, my mind raced with images of her. I washed my hair and shook my head. I shouldn’t be having these thoughts. Tara was my boss. She worked for my father. It wasn’t appropriate for me to think of her that way.
Still, I knew I was powerless to stop myself. Before long, I was hard just picturing her lips. I groaned and gave in to my desires. My hand found my erection and I went to work. Tara swarmed my mind even more. I pictured pulling her hair out of its ponytail and watching those curls fall haphazardly over her face. I imagined kissing her lips and sliding my tongue deep inside her mouth. When I was close, I pictured popping the buttons off her blouse and setting her breasts free. I wanted to throw her on her desk and hike up her skirt. I could already hear her moaning my name…
I finished hard and fast. I gasped and leaned against the shower wall. Taking deep breaths, I washed myself clean and let the waves of pleasure continue to wash over me. Tara was still fresh in my mind, and I knew she would be for a long time. Something shifted between us that day. Deep down, I knew things were going to get complicated, but in that moment, I didn’t want to worry. I just wanted to think about the next time I would see Tara’s face.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tara
Tuesday arrived quickly. After my meeting with Sean the day before, I felt confident for the future. Sean finally turned his act around. He was no longer giving me attitude all the time, and I could see all kinds of possibilities for him with the company. Before I saw Sean with Paisley, I had been ready to give up on him. That day changed everything between us. He no longer looked at me like a pesky fly that needed to be swatted. He seemed to finally respect me, and my feelings toward him had definitely softened.
I was having lunch with Niki, but my thoughts were still wrapped up with Sean. I told myself it was just work. I was just planning out his schedule, but I knew that wasn’t true. Sean occupied my mind far too often now. I thought about him while I was at work and when I wasn’t. He crossed my mind on and off throughout the day. I kept telling myself it meant nothing. Nothing at all.
“So,” Niki said. “How’s work?”
“You’re actually willing to talk about work?” I asked in mock surprise.
“Ha. Ha,” Niki mocked right back. “I was just being polite. Besides, I already know how things are going.”
“Oh, you do?” I raised my eyebrows.
“I do,” Niki nodded. “I saw that Yates’ has dropped in the stock market.”
“You looked up our stocks?” I asked with genuine surprise. “Really?”
“I was curious.” Niki shrugged.
“And you say you hate corporate America,” I scoffed.
“I do,” Niki promised. “Which is exactly why I enjoy watching big companies fail. You may be struggling to keep Yates’ Motorcycles afloat, but I’m just itching for you to fail. I get off on it.”
“You’re a terrible friend.” I laughed.
“And yet, you adore me,” Niki teased.
“Hanging out with you is just an obligation at this point,” I said. “After all these years, how could I just abandon you? What would you do without me?”
“Have one less connection to the world I hate,” Niki answered easily. She looked at me with a fake seriousness before she laughed. “But seriously, Tara, when was the last time you were even on a bike?”
“What do you mean?” I asked with a frown.
“Well,” she began. “Before you started at Yates’, you rode all the time. It was your thing. Then, you started working there, sold your bike, and you haven’t ridden since.”
“That’s not…” I began. “Yates’ isn’t the reason I stopped riding.”
“Then what is?” she asked.
“There is no reason,” I said evasively. “I just lost interest. It happens.”
“I guess.” Niki shrugged. “It’s just strange that you spent most of your life on bikes and now, nothing.”
“I still spend my life around bikes,” I reminded her. “It’s kind of my job, Nik.”
“Not the same thing,” Niki said. “And you know it.”
“What does it matter?” I asked. “You always hated them, anyway.”
“Did not,” Niki argued. “I just never saw the point in risking my life. Call me crazy, but I’d rather have a protective metal cage around me while I’m flying down a highway.”
“So much for that free spirit of yours.” I laughed.
“I’m free,” Niki said. “Free to avoid motorcycles.”
“Such a badass,” I mocked. “Really, bad to the bone.”
“Shut up.” Niki laughed.
We spent the rest of lunch talking and laughing together. I worried Niki would bring up Sean, but she graciously avoided the subject. I thought I saw something in her eyes that was a little too understanding, though. She knew something was going on with me. She could tell something shifted since the last time we saw each other, but I wasn’t ready to explain it to her. I wasn’t even ready to admit my feelings to myself.
Denial is a powerful thing, and I was smack in the middle of it. I told myself over and over again that Sean was nothing more than an employee. He was Ray’s son. Zach’s brother. Paisley’s father. And that was it. Beyond work, Sean meant nothing to me. Nothing at all.
***
Back in my office, I busied myself answering emails. It took me almost an hour to work my way through everything. When I finally did, I looked up to see Zach standing in my doorway. He cleared his throat loudly and stepped inside. I didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, watching me.
“Hey, Zach,” I said uneasily. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to check in with you,” Zach said smoothly. “It’s been a while since we touched base.”