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CHAPTER 1
PIPER
I keep glancing at the delicate watch on my wrist, knowing Landon Sullivan is going to be back in his office any minute. I would prefer to be dressed and gone before that happens. He’s the only one who has a private bathroom attached to his office or else I wouldn’t be in his little man cave at all. But here I am, feeling like a dog trying to catch my tail so I can zip up my dress.
It’s not a good look and the anxiety swamping me at the thought of Landon catching me is not helping.
I know he’d look at me with disappointment. Or maybe he wouldn’t look at me at all. I’m not sure which would be worse.
As much as I try and deny it, there is a truth I need to confront and can’t ignore, especially in the dark of night. I’ve been in love with my boss since the moment he interviewed me. I don’t think he feels the same way toward me and after working here for a few years now, the reality of it stings. There’s an ache in my chest and he’s the cause.
For a little while I held out hope something could happen between us, but each day the sliver of hope gets smaller as the ache grows. It sucks.
I shake my head and let my hands drop to my sides as I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror. I’ve touched up my makeup and the last thing to do was change out of my work clothes and put on this nice dress. I can’t even seem to do that right.
I’ve been looking forward to tonight for weeks. It’s not often I can meet up with Celeste and Ezra Payne, twins who I’ve been best friends with for years. The only thing which would make it better was if Stella could be there as well, but she’s busy working.
We’re all busy with our own lives now, especially Ezra since he’s the goalie for the New York Storm hockey team, but we make sure to get together once a month, at least. We don’t normally go all out and head to a fancy restaurant, but Ezra’s season ended recently, and we need to celebrate. In style, apparently.
“What are you doing in here?”
The rumbled question in the silence has me jumping a fucking mile and letting out a yelp of surprise. I turn around so fast I reach out for the counter of the small vanity to stop myself from tripping over my feet. I’m more of a flats around the office girl so I’m out of practice in the heels I’m wearing. Why should I wear heels in an office where I’m surrounded by giants?
The main men of Sullivan Protection—Weston, Easton, Remington, Blaze and Hale—are all former SEALs and larger than life in all ways. Then there’s Barrett, Owen and Colt who are newer to the team here at SP. They’re broad and strong, strategic and deadly. They all work under Landon.
With my free hand clutching my chest and my eyes wide, I gasp, “Landon you scared the hell out of me.”
He arches an eyebrow and I fight myself to keep eye contact instead of looking away. He doesn’t like it when I curse. Which is ironic because the man has a mouth like a…well, a sailor and so do the rest of the men. Still, whenever I curse, I can almost see the way he wants to tell me to watch my mouth.
Since he’s not my father, I usually brush it off, but there are times, like right now, when the look he gives me makes me want to roll over and show him my belly. Which is ridiculous.
When he doesn’t say anything, I want to squirm under his intense gaze, but I force myself to square my shoulders. I hate when we get into a battle of wills like this. I hate knowing I’m going to back down.
Because I have no other choice when it comes to Landon.
“I’m using your bathroom to change.” When I try and zip myself up again, it’s just as futile as it was moments ago. I don’t need to show my boss, the man I’ve been lusting after, my back and bra. “I didn’t feel comfortable using the restroom in the lobby and you were out meeting with a client. I expected to be in and out.”
I huff out a breath, exasperated and hating how I tend to babble when I’m nervous. Landon always makes me a little nervous.
He narrows his eyes at me and steps into my personal bubble. I fight my instincts to step back. Landon is a lot of things, including a moody man who I can’t read a lot of the time, but he would never hurt me. Hell, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to touch me most of the time.
“Turn around,” he grits out the command through his clenched teeth.
My body reacts before I can stop myself or argue. When I turn, the first thing I see in the mirror is Landon looking at my body. A hunger flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone just as fast. I’m not sure if I saw it at all.
What I am sure about is Landon has been able to see my bra from the moment he walked in. And he’s looking at it now. My cheeks heat and it only gets worse as I try and tear my eyes away from him. I can’t.
It’s a full-blown out of body experience, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling when Landon’s fingers skim my bare back right above the zipper. Even when I’m zipped up, I can feel the ghost of his touch on my skin.
The way Landon’s eyes slide closed before he takes a deep breath makes my stomach feel like it’s free falling. I turn slowly and look up at him, trying not to throw myself at him. How embarrassing would it be if I gave into the impulse? Would he reject me?
Fear keeps my feet firmly planted in place.
This bathroom isn’t big enough for both of us. I need to get out of here. I can’t be trusted.
“Excuse me,” I whisper the words, hating how loud they are in the confined space.
Landon’s eyes snap open and his gaze rakes down my body. He growls, “I don’t know where you’re going, but you’re not wearing that.”
