“Come in, Harlow,” he says in a smooth voice, holding the door for me. I swear, there’s a devilish sparkle in his eye. “Join me in the kitchen.”
He leads me to the barstools at the kitchen counter, but I look around his house on our way there. Me and my dad live in luxury, but Gray takes it to another level. The marble floors are ivory perfection, and the cream-colored walls have paintings I recognize from my art history class. I’ve been here before, but never like this. I was always his friend’s bratty daughter in the past, but now the air between us is different. Everything’s different.
He opens his fridge before pausing.
“Can I get you a drink? You are legal, aren’t you?”
I laugh, although it sounds more like a wheeze.
“Yes, Uncle Gray. I’m legal. In fact, I’ve been legal for a few months now because I turned twenty-one in January.”
He nods and grins.
“Good because you know our kombucha has a tiny bit of alcohol in it. Nothing that will get you drunk, but just to be sure. I would hate to have your dad wringing my throat when he finds out. What flavor would you like?”
“Oh!” I blush. “Um, Pineapple Upside Down Dog would be nice. I really like the combo of pineapple and coconut.”
He grins.
“Coming right up.” Then he hands me a yellow bottle before grabbing a bottle of Ginger Bliss for himself. I crack open my drink and take a sip of the fruity, fizzy liquid before starting.
“So Uncle Gray, about this morning.”
But he cuts me off.
“Sweetheart, I was just as surprised as you to see you on screen, away from your desk.”
I flush hotly.
“Yes but I wasn’t given any instructions, or even anything to do! Karen walked me to my desk and then left me there like I was a rotting piece of garbage. So I decided to wander around a bit. I mean, I don’t think I was doing what I should have been doing, but I hadn’t been given any assignments either. Plus, I’ve only gotten one email so far, and that was from your secretary.”
“Stop,” he says with a smooth smile. “Your video was actually the highlight of my morning. But I have to ask, honey: why did you do it?”
I blush. Oh my god, did he really just say that? My nipples tighten, and I stare down at the counter, feeling hot all over.
“I got bored, that’s all.”
His eyebrows raise.
“So, that’s what you do when you’re bored?” he teases. “At work, no less?”
I flush hotly, and I swear, sweat is beginning to pour from my armpits. Oh my god.
“Maybe I should go,” I mutter. “This isn’t working out.”
“No, you should stay,” he says firmly.
My head snaps up to look at him.
“But why?”
He changes the topic for a moment.
“What did you mean when you said Karen was rude to you this morning?”
“Oh, that,” I shrug, biting my lip. “She said some lame things about me being the boss’ daughter, but honestly, it’s no big deal. I’m already over it.”
His eyes shift from mild amusement to something more dangerous. “I’ll speak to her.”
“Please don’t. I didn’t mean to complain –”
He holds up a hand.
“She needs to know she is not to be rude to anyone, Harlow. This isn’t only in reference to you, but also her other co-workers, clients, and even superiors. I do not tolerate rudeness at my company.”
“Well,” my voice softens. “That’s a good thing, then. I guess.”
He smiles grimly.
“Consider it handled. And as far as a lack of work to do,” he continues, “I can always find a job for you if you like.”
There’s a dangerous tone to his voice, and I take a long pull off my kombucha to buy some time.
“What were you thinking?”
“There’s always something that needs to be done,” he says in a vague tone, his expression giving nothing away.
I feel like a mouse between a cat’s paws, being batted around with no chance of survival. I am dizzy with longing; Gray is so gorgeous and yet so enigmatic too. He’s clearly out of my league, and I’m utterly outmatched. But I have to try, otherwise this is going to end up even worse.
“Gray, tell me what I have to do to make it up to you.”
He contemplates me for a long moment, those blue eyes cool.
“Tell me why you’re doing the marketing internship.”
I sigh.
“Because my dad wants me to.”
“That’s it?”
I nod. “He wanted me to get into marketing so that I can work at Kombuchaid at some point in the future. You know, family business, yada yada yada.”
Gray stares at me and then asks, “Is that why you’re getting a marketing degree?”
I nod miserably.
“Pretty much. I mean, I liked some of the classes, but most of the time I was bored and it’s just so dry!”
“Not challenging enough?”
I shake my head, even more miserable now.
“Not interesting enough.”
Gray takes a moment to think.
“What would you have chosen instead?”
I look down at the counter. Where are we going with this? Why are we playing Twenty Questions, when we should be talking about my mishap this morning? But my lips quirk into a small smile.
“Digital Art, probably. Or Art Education. I liked my Art History classes the most.”
He nods.
“Do you have fondness for pretty things, Harlow? I know I do.”
Again, my head snaps up to stare at him. There’s a double entendre to his words, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was calling me pretty. But then I hang my head once more. Me, Harlow Marshall, pretty? I don’t think so. Not with my enormous breasts, wide hips,
