“Ah yes, Remington Hale, the least bossy man in the world,” I snark.
Antonio’s rumbly chuckle comes through the sound system. “I’ll pick you up in the morning, dear.”
“She’ll be at my apartment,” Remi announces, glaring at me and daring me to contradict him.
He’s impossible to argue with when he gives me that look, so I sigh and lean my head back against the headrest. I haven’t been staying overnight at his penthouse since we got back from Florida on Sunday, despite Remi’s pouting over the issue.
Once Antonio hangs up, I do my best to act as bossy as Remi. “You know I said I’d be staying at my apartment on the nights before I have to go to the bakery. I don’t want to disturb your sleep.”
He links his fingers with mine and casts me a pleading look. “Do it for me. Just for tonight.” Then he really gets me when he adds a soft, “Please.”
“Ugggh, fine,” I grump. “But we’re going to bed early.”
His grin is pure sin with teeth. “Sounds like a fantastic idea to me.”
When you’re with a man like Remington Hale, “going to bed early” does not equate to sleeping. Not that I’m complaining about our nocturnal activities. Last night was amazing, and I feel like we connected on an even deeper level than we ever had before.
I’m still smiling when Antonio insists on walking me up to the office.
“Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asks, and I pat his arm.
“No, it was fine. Thank you for getting up so early to go to the bakery with me.”
“And thankyoufor the extra cookies,” he replies with a twinkle in his eyes. “I’ll be outside in the reception area if you need me.”
I have no idea why I would need him since security is extra tight downstairs due to all the hoopla surrounding our little impromptu dance in Target. As Antonio predicted, the press now knows my name and that I work in Remi’s office.
Getting settled in at my desk, I open my email to find one from Phoenix, Remi’s brother and the marketing director at Hale Cosmetics. It contains a company-wide memo as well as a press release for our approval, both regarding our relationship. I roll my eyes, finding it ridiculous that this even requires a damn press release. But apparently it’s big news when one of the richest men in America starts dating someone new, so I read it over and then forward it to Remi’s personal email address.
Remi strolls in a few minutes later in a pristine navy suit and matching overcoat.
“Good morning, Ms. Espinoza,” he says, maintaining the professional demeanor we decided to adopt at the office.
“Good morning, Your Unholiness,” I reply, earning me a grin.
His eyes drop to my clothing. “I see you’re wearing the red suit.”
“My others were at the cleaners,” I say, challenging him with a glare. “I haven’t had time to pick them up because we’ve been running around to dinners with our families all week. I know you said it’s not a professional color, but you’ll just have to deal with it today.”
Remi props his hip on my desk. “I lied when I said I didn’t want you to wear it because it wasn’t professional.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I quirk an eyebrow at him. “Oh really? Then why did you make such a big deal about it?”
He leans closer until his face is so close I can smell the mint of his toothpaste. “Because it’s the same color as the dress and lingerie you wore the first night we were together. And every time I looked at you, all I could picture was you with your legs spread and me eating your pussy. I could literally taste you on my tongue.”
Then he brushes a soft kiss across my lips before standing andknocking twice on my desk, leaving me a bit flabbergasted with that admission. “Have a good day, Ms. Espinoza,” he says casually, back to being my boss instead of my boyfriend.
“You too, Mr. Hale.” Before he reaches his door, I say, “Oh, there’s an email I forwarded to you from Phoenix. He said he wants to get the press release out today.”
“I’ll do that first, and then I’m going to hop on that conference call about the new construction projects in California.” His nose wrinkles. “Hopefully it won’t take the entire morning. I’m going to turn off my cell and put my office on safe mode so I can concentrate, but if you feel the need to come suck my cock under my desk, I have no problem with that.”
“Remi!” I scold, though there’s a giggle behind it. “So much for professionalism.”
He winks and goes into his office, and a minute later I hear the door lock engage and the whir of the system kicking on. The entire security system was upgraded last week, and executives can now turn off all notifications to keep them from being distracted by constant messages while they’re in important meetings. The system automatically sweeps for listening devices and malware, and it also locks the office door since they’re often discussing proprietary or confidential matters.
His office is now soundproofed, and the door is secured with a thumbprint scanner. Remi, Antonio, and I are the only ones who can enter when the office is in safe mode, though there is a way first responders can bypass the system in case of a medical or fire emergency.
Throughout the morning, I take approximately five million messages from people who justhaveto talk to Mr. Haleright that minute, and I still manage to get through most of the correspondence Remi dictated yesterday afternoon.
