Chapter Fifteen
Julia
It wasn’t a real date, and I knew that in my head, but my tummy didn’t seem to get the message, and the hundreds of butterflies that flew around in it didn’t either. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I took in the professional hairdo I’d gotten at the salon. Pulled into a fancy up-do, tendrils hung in loose curls around my face. The aesthetician at the salon had done my makeup too. Artimus had sent over a dress and heels, along with a set of diamond earrings and a necklace to match.
Turning to look at Bethey, I asked, “Who am I?”
“One lucky bitch,” she joked with me. “Man, this job is really taking you places, Julia.”
Spending so much time with my boss was making me feel a deep connection with him. I knew dancing the night away in his arms would only make our connection that much more profound. But I’d yet to tell my roommate anything about how I’d been feeling about Artimus.
Now seemed like the perfect time to let her in on my little secret. “This job really is taking me places, Bethey. Places I never dreamed it would. Like to a place where I’m falling for my boss.”
Her expression turned serious in an instant and she shook her head. “Do not. I repeat, do not act on that, Julia. This is a dream job. Don’t let a crush ruin it for you.”
“It’s more than a crush,” I told her as I turned away from her to put my heels on. “I’m almost entirely head over heels for Artimus. Sure, I’d be crushed if he didn’t return those feelings, but I also understand how amazing my job is. I don’t take any of this lightly.”
“Has he told you he has feelings for you, Julia?” she interrupted me.
“No.” I slipped on one high heel, teetering on it as I slipped the other one on too. I had to practice walking in them so I wouldn’t embarrass myself by walking around like a newborn calf. “Help.”
Bethey came to me, taking my hand and placing it on her shoulder. “Steady there, girl.” Walking out of my bedroom, we went to the living room, where there was more space for me to get my bearings. “If he hasn’t said anything to you about having feelings for you, then don’t you think that means that he doesn’t have any for you?”
I wasn’t entirely sure about that. “I don’t know. This is new to me.” I wobbled and nearly crashed before regaining control. “Damn, these things are so high. Six-inch heels are new territory for me. I can’t believe Artimus sent over these stilts and expects me to dance with him in them.”
Bethey looked a little surprised. “Wait. He said he wants to dance with you at this thing?”
“Yes.” I looked at her, thinking that her eyes were a little too wide and that she looked a little too worried.
“That’s not good, Julia. I thought he only asked you to go with him because he didn’t want to have to go looking for a date on such short notice. Now he wants to dance too.” She shook her head. “I don’t like this. I foresee an ending where you’re fired or feel like you have to quit because you two have an office fling, and then when things end, so does your job.”
“You can see all that?” I asked her then laughed. “Didn’t realize you had psychic abilities, Bethey.”
“I don’t.” She rolled her eyes then let me go. “Take some steps without using me as your support.”
Somehow, I managed to walk across the room on my own. “Yes!”
She sat on the sofa, watching me as I kept walking. “Messing with your boss is a terrible idea. I’ve just got to tell you that, Julia. A coworker is bad, a boss is terrible.”
But Artimus was more to me than just the man I worked for. “I genuinely care about him, Bethey. And he seems to care about me too.”
“Seems to?” She shook her head again. “Just trust me when I tell you that messing with your boss would be disastrous. Trust me on this.”
The alarm on my cell went off in my bedroom, telling me I only had five minutes until Artimus would be picking me up. “I’ve got to use the bathroom and make sure I’m ready to go. He’s almost here.” Hurrying as fast as I could, which wasn’t fast at all on those heels, I made my way to the bathroom. “If he comes before I’m out, let him in—and be nice, Bethey.”
“Oh, I’ll be nice. You don’t have to worry about that.” She snickered, and I wondered what the hell that was about, but didn’t have time to ask.
Only a few minutes later, while I was putting on another layer of antiperspirant, I heard her let Artimus in, and then a few seconds later she came into the bathroom. “He’s here, huh?” I asked.
She nodded and came close to me to whisper, “Fuck, he’s hot!”
“I know, right?” I held her hands as we jumped up and down and giggled quietly.
“I can see why you’re falling for him.” Then she stopped jumping, and her smile faded to a frown. “But seriously, don’t let things get out of hand. You can’t mess around with that man, no matter how many muscles he has. And it looks like he’s got more than any man I’ve ever met. And try not to look at him too much, because he’s just too great looking. Remind yourself all night that you’re so lucky to have this job and that you won’t do anything to jeopardize it.”
With a sigh, I nodded. “Okay. I’ve got to go, Bethey. See you later tonight.”
“Have fun,” she said, then added, “but not too much fun. If you know what I’m saying.”
I did, and didn’t want to think about what she was saying.
Going out to the living room, my jaw dropped at my first look at Artimus. Artimus at work was already enough to set off all my hormones, but Artimus in a tux was a sight to behold. “Wow.”
He came to me, taking my hands in his as he looked me over. “That dress does look amazing on you. Just like I knew it would.”
He’d sent over a daring red dress that went to my feet but had a slit on one side that went all the way up my leg to the lower portion of my hip. A tiny thong was the only thing between me and the dress. I couldn’t even wear a bra with it, as it had plunging Vs in both the front and the back. As revealing as it was, it still looked sophisticated and glamorous, and I didn’t mind the extra skin one bit. It made me feel sexy and fabulous. That’s all that mattered to me at that moment.
He let get of my hands and then put one of his on the small of my back. My insides melted at his touch as we headed to the door. He called out over his shoulder, “Bye, bye, Bethey. It was nice to meet you.”
She came out of the hallway, waving like a little kid with a smile plastered on her lips. “Bye, Artimus. It was nice to meet you too. You guys have fun. But not too much.”
I was thankful when he closed the door behind us. “Why doesn’t she want us to have too much fun?”
With a shrug, I acted like I didn’t have a clue. “How should I know? Bethey’s a little odd sometimes.”
On the ride over to the event, it was hard not to gawk at Artimus, so I chose to look out the window more than I looked at him. We made light conversation as we rode the ten miles to the hotel the event was held at.
Artimus took my hand in his, helping me out of the car. His arm slipped around my waist as he leaned in to whisper, “You’re much too beautiful for me to let go of tonight. I don’t want any men to bother you, so I’ll keep a hold on you. If that’s okay with you.”
It’s more than okay.
“Sure, Artimus. Thanks.” I didn’t want him to think I might get getting any other ideas about why he might be holding that way.
Dinner was served, an auction was held, and then the dancing began. Artimus swept me up with the very first song. “Shall we?”
Thankfully, I’d mastered the heels by that point and could not only walk with ease but dance pretty well too. The way he held me, the way his body swayed with mine, the way he smelled … it all had me dancing better than I ever had.
Our bodies seemed to have been made to fit together. With the heels on, our hips were on the same level. His hand was on the small of my back, the other held mine against his shoulder, and our bodies touched from the waist down.
The way his blue eyes held mine made me want to kiss him. Of course, I didn’t do that, but I wanted to. His lips parted. “Are you having a good time, Julia?”
“I am.” I had to smile. “This might be the best night of my life, Artimus. Thank you for asking me to join you here tonight.”
A few lights flashed, and I looked around to find they’d let in the paparazzi. Several of them were taking pictures of us. “Smile for them, Julia.”
I did as he’d said but wondered how his family would take seeing him in pictures with me. “What will your sisters and friends think about you taking me out like this?”
“That’s not something I’m worried about,” he answered, seeming unfazed by the question. “And you shouldn’t be either.”
“Okay.” I let that thought go, but then a new one came to me. What will Price think?
He’d already accused me of digging into Artimus’s pockets. Would he try to ruin this?
And what was this anyway?
It felt more like a date than a business event. Especially with the way we danced all night and then laughed all the way back to my place.
“You and I will have to go out dancing more often. We make a great pair.” He twirled one of the tendrils of my hair. “Your hair looks so pretty like this.”
I palmed one side of it. “If it weren’t just a bit too fancy to wear like this at work, then I think I’d wear it like this every day.”
He nodded. “That is too bad.” The way he gazed at my hair made me think he must be feeling the same way about me as I was about him.
But neither of us seemed to be willing to take the chance and just say what we felt. I knew I wasn’t going to be the first person to admit I had feelings for him.
And then there were Bethey’s words to consider. Disastrous was by far the worst one of those words.
Would it really be so bad if we were together?
I hated that I let myself think that way. Artimus wouldn’t settle down with me, so there was no point. I was fooling myself.
The car stopped in front of my building, and the driver opened the door. Artimus got out and reach back in to help me out. “I had a good time, Artimus …”
His finger touched my lips. “Save it. I’m walking you up. You can tell me what a nice time you had after I get you safely home.”
“You don’t have …” His finger stopped me once again.
“Hush. You know I’m not about to send you up to your apartment alone.” He took my hand, and that was that.
At my door, he held out his hand for my key. I gave it to him, and he unlocked then opened the door. He moved back and I stepped inside. Giving me the key back, he smiled. “I had the best time tonight, Julia. Thank you.”
“Thank you.” I froze as he leaned in. I thought he might be about to kiss me.
One hand went to my shoulder and then his lips pressed against my forehead. “Goodnight. Have a good weekend.” And then he left me standing there breathless.
If that little kiss could send me into a state of arousal so deep that I felt the wetness pooling in the little bit of material that made up my tiny panties, then what would a real kiss do to me?