CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tara
Thursday came and went in a blur of work. I did my best to avoid Zach. I answered emails. I sat in on a few meetings. I organized Sean’s photoshoot for the following day. And I spent the entire day daydreaming about Sean. By the time I went home that night, I was miserable. It was ridiculous, but I missed him. The entire day felt like a waste because I didn’t see him.
I woke up on Friday morning feeling giddy and excited. Getting to work early, I busied myself with random projects until it was time for Sean’s photoshoot. I half-ran to the elevator at nine o’clock and almost collided with the photographers when I stepped into the showroom.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I was just coming down to see if you needed anything.”
“No,” the photographer said. “We’re just about set up down here. Just waiting on Sean.”
“He should be here any—” I began.
“Minute?” a familiar voice said from behind me. My heart skipped a beat as I turned around to see Sean walking toward me. He smiled when our eyes met, and my knees went weak.
“Hey,” I said, checking my watch. “Right on time. Impressive.”
“Trying to be a model employee,” he said. “You know? Taking a leaf out of your book and all that.”
“So, you’re trying to be a goody-goody,” I said with a nod. “Not exactly the ideal image for a biker.”
“Well, that’s what wardrobe is for, right?” he teased. “To make me into something I’m not?”
“That’s a little harsh,” I said. “It’s more to make you an even better version of yourself.”
Sean laughed and said, “Nice spin. Yet another reason you’re great at your job.”
“I try.” I shrugged. “Come on, let’s get you changed.”
We walked toward the changing tent and Sean disappeared inside without a word. I expected him to complain when he saw our clothing options for the day, but he never made a sound. When he stepped out of the tent, he wore his own t-shirt under the Yates’ leather jacket. I shook my head and smiled slyly at him.
“What?” he asked. “There wasn’t a shirt this time, so I just assumed I should wear my own.”
“Not exactly,” I said. “No shirt. Just the jacket.”
“You’re kidding,” he said. He stared at me with a baffled expression, waiting for me to change my mind. I didn’t.
“You’ll still have the jacket on,” I assured him.
“What’s the point of this?” he asked. “I thought we were trying to target ‘real bikers?’ No real biker is going to want to see me without a shirt on!”
“The women will,” I said. “We aren’t just targeting men, you know? These ads are also for women, so—”
“So, I’m also a sex object,” he groaned.
“Basically,” I admitted. “Sorry, but that’s the way it is.”
Sean sighed and removed the leather jacket. He handed it to me, and I took it with a frown. Surely, he wasn’t about to strip down right here.
Just as the thought entered my mind, Sean pulled his t-shirt over his head. He turned and tossed it into the changing tent before turning back to me. I handed him the jacket, trying desperately not to stare at his abs. I thought the jacket would help divert my attention, but it did the opposite. The black leather accentuated his ab muscles in an incredibly sexy way. I swallowed hard and forced my eyes back to his face.
He grimaced at me one last time and made his way to the photographers. I watched from a distance while they posed him and gave him orders. Sean stayed still and let them take a few test shots. Then, they set him free and told him to just have fun. I could tell from Sean’s face that he wasn’t all that used to having fun. I smiled to myself at his discomfort, but I still couldn’t peel my eyes from his chest and stomach.
I realized why the photographers wanted him outfitted in just the jacket. Coupled with the motorcycle, Sean was the picture of a sexy biker. No woman alive would have been able to resist him in that moment. I told myself my attraction to him was a good thing. It meant our plan was working. Our female demographic would be drawn to him, just like I was.
Still, I knew I needed to pull myself together. Sean was off limits. My sexual attraction to him was completely inappropriate, and I needed to make it stop. He was my employee and my boss’s son. I could never date him. It would cross so many professional lines, not to mention it would put my job in serious jeopardy. Which, based on my last conversation with Zach, it already was.
Zach was just looking for an opportunity to get rid of me. Ever since I rejected his offer to take me out, he’d been on a witch hunt. Anything that went wrong, he came running to me. If a single sheet of paper was misfiled, it was my fault. If there was a scheduling conflict, it was my responsibility to fix it. He was doing everything in his power to make me miserable. I couldn’t imagine what he would do if he caught wind of something happening between Sean and me.
The photoshoot continued. I thought about disappearing into my office until they were done, but my feet were cemented to the floor. Sean was there and I had no desire to move until he did. No matter how many times I told myself I was being stupid, I couldn’t help it. Every part of me wanted him.
“Okay, Sean,” the photographer called. “Take the jacket off for me.”
“What?” Sean asked, his eyes widening slightly.
“Just for a few shots,” the photographer said. “It’ll be quick.”
Sean sighed and rolled his eyes. He shrugged the jacket off his shoulders and tossed it to the side. The photographer’s assistant caught it and jumped back out of the frame. I looked down at the floor, focusing intently on my shoes.
It wasn’t long before my eyes traveled back to Sean. Now, not only were his chest and abs on full display, but his biceps were flexed just enough to seem natural. He had the kind of body most men dreamed of. I could tell he worked out regularly, but he wasn’t obsessive about it. He was built in a sexy, effortless way. I felt my mouth go dry as I watched him pose over and over again.
My entire body was on fire, and I felt completely out of control. I worried that everyone would know what I was thinking. I looked away again, telling myself not to look up until the shoot was completely over.
***
“That was torture,” Sean said when the photoshoot ended. He walked over to me with slumped shoulders. He didn’t stop until he made it to the changing tent. He disappeared inside for a few minutes. When he reemerged, he was fully dressed in his own clothes. I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t know if I could talk to him while he was shirtless.
“It wasn’t that bad,” I said lightly.
“For you,” Sean argued. “You weren’t the one half naked up there.”
“I should have warned you about that,” I apologized. “I honestly didn’t think about it until this morning.”
“It was your idea?” Sean asked.
“Well,” I said weakly. “Yeah? At least, the shirtless part was. It’s the best way to play to our female demographic. Trust me, they’ll love it.”
“If you say so,” Sean shrugged. “Anything for the company, right?”
“Say that with a little more oomph next time,” I teased.
“I’ll do my job, Tara,” he said. “but you’ll get absolutely no oomph out of me.”
I laughed and looked down at my feet. I shifted my weight from side to side, trying to think of something to say. I thought about going over his schedule for the following week, but we’d already done that.
“So, listen,” Sean said, breaking the silence. I looked up at him quickly. “Tomorrow is Paisley’s first official day of summer.”
“Yeah?” I asked.
“She’s been out of school for a few weeks, but she’s been going to swim camp every day since,” Sean explained. “I really want to start the summer off on a good note, you know? With something fun.”
“Sure,” I nodded. “That’s a great idea.”
“The problem is,” he said. “I have no idea what to do with her. I mean, she’s eight years old. I have no idea what eight-year-old girls like to do for fun.”
“What does she like?” I asked. “What is she interested in?”
“I don’t know,” Sean admitted. “I know she loves to swim and that she’s really into art, but that’s about it.”
“Well, maybe you could take her to a water park or something?” I suggested.
“Actually,” he said slowly. “I was hoping you might come with us? I don’t know where yet, but I could really use your help.”
“My help?” I asked breathlessly.
“Yeah,” he said. I could feel his excitement growing. “Paisley really likes you. I think she would have more fun if you were there.”
I paused, not sure what to say. Sean looked at me with expectant eyes and a slight smile. I could tell how badly he wanted me to say yes, but I couldn’t get Zach’s threat out of my head. If he found out I was spending time with Sean away from work, I didn’t even want to think about what he might do.
Still, Sean’s words tugged at my heart. Paisley was adorable, and I enjoyed talking to her that day. When she was sick, I really felt like I helped make her feel better. If Sean said she liked me, I believed him. I wanted to spend time with her again. And with Sean.
“Only if you’re free,” Sean added suddenly. “I mean, I know it’s short notice. If you have plans already, it’s okay.”
“I don’t think I can,” I said softly. “It’s just, mixing my work life with my social life isn’t something I usually do.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Sean chuckled.
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Well, you shouldn’t,” Sean said. “I promise it’ll be a lowkey day. You would just be helping me out with my daughter. I’m new at this whole dad thing, and you were so great with her the other day. I know she would love it if you came.”
Sean’s persistence was wearing me down. I knew I couldn’t continue to say no. More than that, I didn’t want to say no.
“Okay,” I said with a reluctant smile. “Sure, why not?”
“Really?” Sean asked, smiling brightly. “Thank you! That’s amazing. It’ll be fun, I promise.”
“I’m sure it will.” I nodded.
Sean and I planned out the details and said goodbye. I watched him as he left the showroom and disappeared into the parking lot. It was almost time for me to go home, so I went upstairs to grab my things. When I made it back downstairs, my mind was racing. What had I just done?
I climbed behind the wheel of my car and turned on the ignition. The air conditioning blasted against my face, and I shook my head slightly. I felt like I was living inside a dream. Nothing felt real. Not the car around me. Not the office building in front of me. And definitely not my plans with Sean.
I pulled out of the parking lot, cursing my decision. I felt certain I just signed the death sentence on my career. Part of me regretted it, but a bigger part of me couldn’t wait to see Sean and Paisley again.