Chapter 10
Going back to work on Monday was grueling, and I realized that I did need to take vacations more often. I rubbed my eyes as I looked at the computer screen, blurry again from concentrating too hard on the advertisement on my screen. Despite the initial turnover in the team, we’d finally gotten to the point where everyone knew the company’s style. I smiled as I flipped from the ad sample to the branding plan. Charlie’s sass certainly showed in this new design, and it was precisely the reason I had paired her with this client. She’d nailed it, and I was happy to click the approved button.
The music I had been listening to in the background turned to a commercial, and West’s company logo flashed on the screen, catching my attention. A video played for the advertisement.
“Get a sneak peek into the hit reality television show, Brightside Designs’ new season by clicking here!” The voice talent went on to explain the channel and times along with an overview of what the show was, but I’d tuned out. My eyes locked on the image on the screen of West and his team in their shop. I swallowed hard, my hand tingling to tap the advertisement. Then, just like with Adam’s music video, my body took control and did. The video popped up on my phone.
“This season on hit reality television series, Brightside Designs — the shop gets some new friends and West falls for yet another one of his clients…”
My jaw clenched hard. Just like West warned me–drama. Just as I was about to hit the close button, the video changed to the guys sitting around talking. I knew it was something that was rare, and it peeked my interest.
“You seriously do this?” Temp asked with his arms crossed as he looked at the guys. “Take bets on your boss’ love life?”
Ryan nodded, a smirk plastering over his face. “It’s fun as hell. So what’s your bet?”
Temp shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean it’s not like I have a clue what the average is.”
Ryan looked over at Mark. “You’re good at math.”
Mark’s eyes narrowed on the ceiling as he calculated. “Average is about three and a half months.”
“Average for what?” West asked as he walked out from the back room.
My face burned as I stared at the screen, unable to rip my gaze away from my boyfriend.
“Time before your relationships implode on themselves,” Ryan replied, and Temp’s muscular arms tensed.
“Not this shit again,” West said with a roll of his eyes.
“I bet another two weeks,” Ryan replied.
West pushed his tongue into his cheek. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I don’t know.” Mark spun in his chair to he face West. “I think this one will last about five months. You seem more enamored than usual.”
“That leaves your bet, Temp,” Ryan said, and Temp shook his head, obviously uncomfortable. “Nope, you’re not getting out of this, think of it as a right of passage to be in the family.”
Temp’s jaw clenched almost as hard as West’s did, and he looked down at his hands. “I don’t know, a year.”
“A year?” Ryan laughed. “Yeah, okay.”
West ran his tongue over his teeth. “Are you fools done?”
Ryan twisted in his chair, crossing his arms as he leaned back. “No, what’s your bet?”
My pulse skyrocketed as I watched West’s eyebrow raise. Someone clearing their throat yanked my gaze from my phone, making me jump and pull my earbuds out. West stood in front of me with almost the same look on his face as the one paused on the screen.
“I thought you weren’t going to watch?” West asked, sitting down across from me.
I ran my hand over my forehead, trying to calm the crazy beating of my heart. “An ad popped up, and I accidentally clicked on it.”
“Accidentally?”
I looked up at the ceiling before letting my gaze lock on his as the conversation from the show played over in my head, reminding me I should be mad at him.
“Fine.” I sat back, mirroring his stance. “I clicked on it.”
“And now you’re pissed.”
My eyes widened. “You were taking bets on our relationship!”
“No,” West replied with a single shake of his head. He pointed at the phone. “They were taking bets.”
I bit my lip, my gaze going to my hands. “Ryan asked you your bet.”
“And it cut off there?”
I didn’t look up at him. Instead, I hit the play button, and the advertisement went to black before he could answer.
“That’s what I thought.” He heaved a sigh. “Drama, Riv. I told you that’s what it’s about.”
I tried to inhale, but the air seemed to stick in my throat as I finally let my eyes meet his. “What did you bet?”
He stood and came around my desk before turning my chair and leaning down to tilt my chin up.
“Forever, Riv. I bet on forever.”
Whatever quick response I was calculating in my head immediately stopped. I figured he didn’t bet anything. That would’ve been simpler.
Forever.
The thought made me lightheaded.
“That’s a long time,” I replied.
“Not with you. It’s not long enough.”
My body tingled as his eyes flicked back and forth over mine.
“I’m betting you get sick of me before then,” I said, and he chuckled before kissing me lightly on the lips.
My hands moved up to his biceps. I wanted so much more than just that piddly kiss. West’s eyebrows pushed up into his forehead, and then he cocked his head to glance over at Charlie through the glass of my office surrounds. She had her pen stuck in the corner of her mouth and was eyeing us like we were a romance movie just getting to the juicy part. A blush crept up my neck to my face and West pulled away to go sit across from me.
He licked his lips, and my own tingled.
“That’s not fair,” I replied, and he glanced down at his watch.
“Lunch date?” he asked.
I grabbed my purse. “Sounds good. Where are we going?”
West wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked towards the door and his lips brushed my ear as he replied, “My office has a back entrance — no windows and a lock.”
Charlie raised an eyebrow as we passed. “Lunchtime.”
“Mhmm.” Her eyebrows remained up, and the blush crept back up to my face again.
The tattoo shop was only a few minutes down the road, and when we got to it, West parked in the back. He came around to my side of the car and opened the door, pulling me up into his arms and into a kiss that made my toes curl. He led me to the back door, and my heart raced as I glanced over my shoulder. His bright orange Audi TT was a beacon, and I was pretty sure the guys saw it drive in. It was impossible to miss. I pressed my eyes closed, about to tell West there was no possible way I could do this when a distinct howling echoed from the other side of the door.
West tipped his head back. “So much for being stealthy.”
I burst out into a ridiculous giggle, and his brows went up as he stared at me. I pointed at his car, then the door, but I couldn’t manage to explain how impractical the whole idea seemed to me. His shoulders caved.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” He pulled me into his arms, kissing my neck up to my ear. “But you can’t blame me.”
“It’s almost as bad as the fishbowl,” I replied.
“We could try to park?”
I blinked at him and looked over my shoulder at his car and back to him.
“We should’ve brought the Beemer,” he said, and I blinked at him again. It wasn’t all that much more discreet, aside from being black.
“Okay.” He put his hand up in surrender. “We should’ve just gone to your condo.”
I pursed my lips, and he looked down at his watch. “Burgers?”
“You read my mind.”