Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
But I did ask for his advice, so can I really blame him for that? And again, I might be reading too much into his message, seeing phantoms that aren’t there. Guilt stains every interaction and warps it, making my head spin.
Piper: Is something funny, Mr. Wolfe?
Logan: I feel I’ve offended you.
Piper: You seem pretty confident you can read my moods through texting.
Logan: It’s the ‘Mr. Wolfe’, Piper. We’ve known each other too long for you to call me that.
I clench my jaw. Well, actually, my jaw clenches by itself. That’s his magic power, the handsome jerk. He makes my body do things without it choosing to. He makes me hot and tense at the same time.
He’s reminding me of our history, our connection, the specter of my brother always looming. Every text he sends might as well be: We kissed years ago. Get over it. We can’t ever do it again.
Piper: I asked you a question, Logan. There, you happy?
He sends a smiling emoji with a message.
Logan: . In business, politics are often necessary. But if you want to be honest with him, I’ll understand that, too. The choice is yours.
I drum my fingers against the desk. Maybe the choice is mine when it comes to Milo and my project idea, but there’s no choice in the yearning that’s traveling hot and heavily through my body every time I think of Logan. I wonder what the expression on his face is, mentally painting the light dancing through his silver hair, imagining my hand clawing against his chest, my fingernails bending against his muscles.
Stop, Piper. Get a grip.
Piper: I’ll talk to him now. Thanks for the advice.
Logan: Anytime, Sunny.
I type too quickly, too eager.
Piper: Don’t call me that.
Logan: Fair enough. May I ask why?
The true answer? I don’t want him to reference anything that connects me to when I was a shy kid, and he was my big brother’s best buddy, my crush, and an impossible figure. I want to live in the here and now as a young professional woman full of possibilities.
Piper: If you’re obsessed with nicknames, Mr. Boss, think of a new one. Speak later.
I shove my phone in a drawer and walk to Milo’s office, knocking.
“Come in,” he calls.
Pushing the door open, I walk to his desk. Milo is in his mid-thirties with a dark brown man bun and glasses with thick, jet-black frames. He interlaces his fingers, looking closely at me. My overactive mind infects me with the idea that he’s judging me for having this job. The shadow of possible nepotism is hanging over the exchange.
“I had an idea, Milo,” I murmur. “I mentioned it to Mr. Wolfe personally, but I realized after that I should’ve come to you first. I hope that’s okay.”
He smiles tightly. “Let’s hear it.”
I sit down, doing my best to keep my voice steady as I explain the idea.
“So it’s a screen share?” he says when I’m done.
I nod. “Essentially, yes, but the concept is that we’d do our best to make it special and unique to our product. We’d make a big deal about the connection it affords and how it encourages the users to ‘spend time’ together. There are data implications, of course, for sharing video, and a bunch of other concerns we’d need to iron out…” my voice falters. Where’s my newfound confidence? Where’s the new job, new me attitude gone? “I know it sounds silly…”
“Hey,” Milo says, reaching his hand across the desk.
I move my hand out of the way before he can touch me. Was he going to touch me? I shouldn’t let that happen, but now, I’m not even sure he was going to. I feel so on edge.
“Don’t ever feel like you can’t come to me, Piper. You’re doing a great job. You’re already a positive force in the office. I think we should all meet and discuss this further. How does that sound?”
“Yes, thank you. That sounds great.”
I leave his office, reviewing the moment he slid his hand across the desk. It wouldn’t have been acceptable for him to touch my hand, would it? He definitely would’ve been crossing a line. But if that’s the case, what does it mean for these burning desires inside me, the heat telling me to take a chance with my brother’s best friend, with not just my manager but the CEO of the entire company? It would ruin me.
I stare stubbornly at my computer screen. I won’t think of Logan for the rest of the day—
Yup. I’ve already failed.
CHAPTER 7
LOGAN
The hunger in me won’t quit. When she got sassily annoyed at me sending a laughing emoji, I wanted to be with her in person. I wanted to stroke my hand across her cheek, through her hair, and tell her, “Don’t pout at me, Piper. It makes me too wild.”