Chapter Twenty-Five
“I’m seeing Brighton Wakeford.”
Ryan met the stares Charles and Victor sent his way. He didn’t flinch or waver when the frowns formed or the scowls followed. He met each one with the same cool calm with which he greeted opposing counsel. Nerves didn’t sour his stomach and doubts never entered his thoughts.
Brie was a part of his life, and the weekend had confirmed that she wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Not if he had any control over it. Doubts still raged right next to the fear that continued to laugh at him, but they didn’t alter his determination. He’d never let them before and he wouldn’t now.
Charles cleared his throat and Ryan cut him off before he could speak. “Company policy doesn’t prohibit employees from dating.”
“Don’t quote company policy at me,” Charles snapped. “Who do you think wrote it?”
Ryan hitched his brow. “HR?”
Victor barked out a laugh, pointed a finger at Ryan. “Good one.”
“Shut up,” Charles growled, sending Victor a glare.
“He’s right,” he said with a shrug. “You have to give him that.”
“No, I don’t.”
Ryan crossed his ankle over his knee, sitting back. The table situated in the corner of Charles’s office was littered with various notes and files they’d discussed, including the Palmaro case. He’d timed his bomb to land with the least possibility of prolonged fallout.
Victor eyed his longtime friend, shifted his gaze to Ryan. “Is this a new development?”
Ryan weighed his response. “Yes and no.”
“That is not an answer,” Charles objected. His years of litigation experience slammed down on Ryan with the vigor of a scorned lover. “Did you force her? Use your authority to manipulate her consent?”
Ryan shot forward, anger blazing. His snarl ripped over his throat to slam with force before Charles. “You will retract those insults.” He seethed and didn’t care if the other men saw. “I resent the implication to myself and Brie—Brighton.” He corrected his slip at the last second, but didn’t miss the narrowing of Victor’s eyes.
“Charles,” Victor said. The reprimand in his tone was one only he could give his friend. Charles jerked his glare to him, glowered for a long moment. He finally sat back with a tug on the edges of his suit jacket.
Victor turned back to Ryan. “I believe what Charles is trying to ascertain was if the reputation of this firm has been tarnished.”
Ryan forced himself to sit back, but he remained primed for attack. “I would hope that you know the answer to that without having to ask.” He’d followed every damn rule, overachieved every goal, and toed every fucking line they’d ever defined. And they had the gall to question him now?
“One can never be too sure.”
“And would I have said something to you if any of those things were possible?” Ryan countered.
“You could be forming a defense prior to the accusation,” Charles stated. Some of the anger had cooled from his tone, but his claws were still drawn.
So were Ryan’s. “Or I could be acting like a professional and informing my counterparts of a relationship instead of sneaking around like it’s a dirty secret.” He would never disrespect Brie that way.
A crisp knock blew through the strain. Ryan glared at the door, biting his tongue to hold back his irritation.
“What?” Charles barked, his voice edging back to a bellow.
Ryan sat up, his stomach clenching around the sudden shot of concern when Brie stepped into the room. The tension lacing through the room increased as she shut the door behind her and approached their table, stopping between Ryan and Victor.
She clasped her hands before her in a loose hold that didn’t match the sharp pull of her shoulders or the hard cut of her gaze. She scanned them, that cool professional smile in place.
“Gentlemen,” she said, looking to each of them equally. She didn’t linger on Ryan or show any sign of her purpose, but every instinct in him swore she wasn’t here to discuss a case. Especially since he’d told her of his intent to tell the partners about them during this meeting.
“I’m assuming you’ve already discussed the relationship between Mr. Burns and myself,” she continued. “If you haven’t, then I guess this is news. In either event, I hope you’ll have the courtesy to hear me out.”
“Brighton...” Charles’s tone held a warning that rankled Ryan’s need to defend. He glared at the man who was quickly losing his respect.
“Mr. Cummings,” Brie interrupted, her smile never faltering. “If I may? Please.” She sent that unwavering challenge at Charles and held her ground. That controlled mask was in place, her emotions shored up behind it.
She didn’t need Ryan to defend her. Nope. She clearly had this covered.
He relaxed on a slow wave of admiration he should’ve been used to when it came to her. He’d told her he’d handle this, but here she was, confronting the issue with grace.
“Yes, Ms. Wakeford,” Victor said, shooting Charles a cool look. “Please. Go ahead.”
Her single nod was short and efficient. “Thank you.” She glanced to him, her smile softening a touch before she refocused on the other men. Her hands lowered to her sides, and his eyes were drawn to the incremental run of her fingers over her thumb.
“As I was saying,” she went on. “Mr. Burns and I have engaged in a relationship that extends beyond professional. It is completely mutual. There was no implied threat or harassment, nor do I fear any from him.” She waited a beat, inhaled. “I do, however, understand if this creates unwanted complications within the office. Although I’ll have regrets doing so, if you’d prefer I resign, I will start sending out inquiries.”
“No.” Ryan thrust to a stand. “That won’t be necessary.” Ice formed in his veins as he dared the other men to override his assertion. Her declaration was unexpected and unwarranted. He’d leave before he let Brie sacrifice her job.
Her expression didn’t change through her entire monologue, but it wavered now. Not much, but he caught the doubt and worry in the instant before she locked it back. She was doing this for him.
And that shattered him.
Heat roared in that space in his chest that used to be cold and empty. It pounded its demands, and he refused to shut it down. No, he couldn’t shut it down. Not anymore.
No one spoke for a long moment. Charles’s glower churned between him and Brie, but his bluster had diminished.
Victor finally broke the standoff with a brisk clearing of his throat. He sat forward, folding his hands on the table as he scanned each of them. “There is no reason for anyone to depart the company.” He paused. “At least not yet.”
Ryan opened his mouth to object, but Victor cut him off. “And I see no reason for that to change if everyone,” he cut a glance to Charles, “remains professional.” No one spoke to counter that statement.
Ryan released a relieved breath, his shoulders lowering from their tense perch, but he didn’t relax.
Brie’s smile was gone, in its place was the cool distance he’d come to respect during their hours spent deposing potential witnesses. But he knew how expressive she could be. How her smile could light up her face, and her eyes could flash with heat.
Victor huffed a short laugh, a smile blooming. “Thank you both for informing us of the situation.” He turned his focus to Ryan. “I trust you’ll let HR know, to keep things aboveboard.”
He nodded. He’d planned to head there next.
“Charles,” Victor prodded. “Do you have anything to add?”
The other man simmered in his own frustration before heaving a sigh. “I’d hate to lose either one of you,” he finally admitted, the starchiness draining from him. “So please, keep it contained in the office.”
Brie nodded, a courteous “of course” coming out.
Ryan, however, was done with the unearned reprimand. He let a sarcastic smile glide over his lips. “I have a sudden urge to turn into a hormonal teen and maul Ms. Wakeford over the boardroom table.”
Brie’s jaw dropped. Victor chuckled. Charles’s scowl returned.
Ryan scooped up his items from the table, tucked them under his arm. “But I believe I can restrain myself until after working hours.” He nodded to the men and escorted Brie from the room before he said something worse, like all the ways he planned to fuck her on that boardroom table soon.
If the two uptight men ever found out about the wild, dirty acts that’d been conducted on their precious cherrywood table, they’d both croak from heart attacks.
He stopped at the first free conference room, motioned for Brie to enter, and followed her in. Her giggle broke the second the door clicked shut. She slumped against the wall, her head tilted back to expose the long line of her throat.
He swallowed, his own laughter dying before it could fully form. She was so damn beautiful. The relief and shock glowed on her expression. This Brie took his breath away every damn time.
There’d been no hint of her professional cool all weekend. No pushing from her. No voiced concerns or unsaid expectations. They’d simply shifted into something deeper on a current so natural he barely understood it. Nothing in his life—nothing—had ever felt so right.
He should heed the warning for what it was. Something this good never lasted. Not for him.
She turned her head to shoot him a harmless glare. “I can’t believe you said that.”
He shrugged. “If they only knew...”
Her eyes widened before they dropped to a sultry promise that match the hushed tone of her voice. “Tell me, Mr. Burns. How many women have you ravished on that boardroom table?”
“None.” He slid his fingers down her jaw. Her brow hitched up to scream her doubt. He shook his head. “That I can remember,” he added. “Not after you.”
Her sarcastic snort shot out as she shoved him away, grinning. She straightened from the wall and smoothed a hand over her suit jacket, her head shaking the whole time. “I’m not fooled by your bluff.” She shot him a wink that took the heat from her words.
His smile spread easily. “Who said it was a bluff?”
Her expression turned serious, but with it was an understanding he couldn’t decipher. “I don’t want the details, but I’m also not naïve enough to believe that I’m the first woman you’ve...been with in the Boardroom.” Her hand fisted, relaxed. “I get it. I just...” She glanced down, her hand fisting again.
He used his finger to raise her chin until she looked to him. “Just what?” Nerves clashed with something new. Something light. Hope, maybe? Belief? Promise? Whatever it was, it’d been zigzagging around in his chest all weekend.
She searched him for a long moment, emotions rushing in and out of her eyes. She inhaled, held it. “I just hope that going forward, while we’re together, I’m the only woman you’ll be with.”
Did she not get it? “You’re the only woman I want. Anywhere.” The only one he’d ever truly wanted—in every way. “You’re not another Boardroom woman, Brie. You’re mine now.”
Relief flashed before it softened into something warmer, deeper. “Good.”
Good. So much hung on that single word.
He trailed a finger down her jaw, tracked its path, marveling over the softness. He was close enough to catch her light scent that teased him with memories and more of those damn promises. The fear was there, scratching out his history, but he dismissed it.
Fear had lost its power over him the moment he’d embraced the strength of the darkness and solitude within that tiny, cramped closet.
“I expect the same.” His voice had turned colder than he’d intended. Her frown told him he’d been too brisk, but he couldn’t alter the facts. The thought of another man sinking into her lit a venomous anger he barely recognized.
Her lips quirked, those frown lines fading. “I accept your terms, counselor. With one addendum.”
“That is?”
She patted his chest and slipped by him to reach for the door. Her smirk was pure sex and cunning when she looked back. “I still get to be yours in the Boardroom.”
And she still had the ability to shock him.
“Not a problem,” he choked out. At all. His dick twitched, the desire racing south as expected with a declaration like that. But the tightening in his chest and the sudden loss of breath was different. “Should I arrange something?”
The sultry heat in her slow perusal left scorch marks. She bit her lip, let it roll out in the same blatant move she’d used that very first time in the Boardroom. It still worked.
She turned the door handle, gave a careless shrug. “If you wish.” The seductress disappeared the second the door opened. Her expression went blank, her profile displaying her professional facade.
He stared at the open doorway, his throat dry, his erection demanding attention. Sure thing. He’d get right on that.
If you wish.
Just the thought of watching her come undone beneath him while everyone in the room raged with want and admiration made his dick ache. But knowing that she was all his, that she opened to only him, was free and sexy and so damn stunning. For him? Just him?
That—He swallowed. A shiver simmered under his skin and pranced on his longing. That was...everything.
He couldn’t lose that.
Now the fear laughed. A big rocking roar that mocked his declarations, trampled his walls and threatened to expose the scared, lonely kid who only wanted to be seen.