Obsession (Magnetic Desires Book 4) Read Free

the poor keyboard into oblivion. Each keystroke, a hammer to my head. Wincing, I crossed the room to the other desk and sank into the leather chair. It enveloped me as it rocked beneath me, making me imagine how good it would feel to hold a cigar in one hand and rare scotch in one of those big ass glasses in the other.
    The pounding stopped, silence crashing around me when Chelsea realized I was in the room. “Good morning, Mellie. I haven’t seen you in years.”
    “It’s been a while.” I nodded, making no effort to move more than that and conserving my energy for customers. “I’m doing a favor for Mike and Orion.”
    “Oh, right. Well, let me know if you need anything.” She slid her earbuds in and went back to making an infernal racket.
    Locating scrap paper in a box under the desk, I scrunched a piece up and threw it at her. She glanced up and popped out an ear bud.
    “When do you expect Mike to be back?”
    “Not until after lunch.”
    Letting her get back to work, I shuffled through the papers on my desk. Well, it used to be my desk. And then I left, so it wasn’t, but at least temporarily it seemed to be my desk again. And quite frankly it looked like a shredder and a photocopier had gotten together and spoofed all over it. With a swipe of my arm I cleared the surface, the papers falling like confetti to the floor. Chelsea didn’t look up. The action brought little relief to the tension in my shoulders and neck, but it was a damn good start at getting my work space closer to something I could deal with. Sliding from the all too comfy chair, I sat cross-legged on the floor and began sorting the papers into piles.
     
    ***
     
    “What are you doing down there?”
    Shit! I jumped at the sound of his deep, masculine voice, right behind me. “I’m organizing my desk. How you guys could find anything in that mess is beyond me.”
    Unfolding my legs, I stood up with a stack of papers. “Do you ever put anything away?”
    Arms crossed, teeth clenched, a small tick started where his jaw met his ear. “I can always find exactly what I’m after. But now…” He darted a glance at the paper towers I’d constructed on the floor. “Do you have any idea where the Kinsley contract is?”
    “You mean this one?” I handed him the paper clipped copy from the top of the pile.
    Flicking a finger against the paper, he nodded and stalked off toward his office. “If you plan on reorganizing the office, you’re going to be stuck here, because I’ll need you to find everything.”
    I dumped the papers on the desk, straightening them out, and then went after him. “Not one person has walked through those doors this morning, not one.” I held up a finger. “If you are going to pay me, even temporarily, then I am going to work. If that means I get this office organized and efficient again, then I’m going to do it. I won’t just sit there and let you pity pay me.”
    He leaned on the desk, his legs splayed out in front of him, his chest rising and falling before he raced a hand over his head. “No one pities you.”
    “You do.”
    “I don’t pity you. Never have.” He covered the space between us in a couple of strides. “I know where you come from, remember? Your past and mine aren’t that different. You don’t need pity, Hurricane.”
    I sucked in a breath and the crisp woodsy spice of his aftershave. My heart flipped and my lips tingled while he stared at them. “Then why give me a job that obviously isn’t needed?”
    “Because we’re friends. Friends help each other out, because they care. Christ, you should know that by now.”
    “I do, but…” I tread closer to him. Maybe I wanted pity. If he pitied me he’d probably let me make a gif. Or maybe I wanted to see if he’d kiss me the way he used to, when I’d meant something to him. “Thank you. I guess I figure I ask too much of you already.”
    “When have I ever told you that you asked too much of me?”
    “Never.”
    “Then put it out