Forbidden Touch: A Best Friends To Lovers Romance - Iona Rose (free ebook reader .txt) 📗

My smile faltered. I resisted the urge to tell Mason he wasn’t the inspiration for my smile. I needed to change my attitude towards him if I wanted a crack at the Assistant Finance Director’s post.

“Have a seat,” he said.

I perched at the edge of the visitor’s chair and stared at him.

“Relax, I have good news for you,” Mason said. “Or rather, I hope it will be good at the end of it.”

I smiled politely. Nothing Mason said was ever good news. He’d given me nothing but trouble ever since I started working under him. If I became the Assistant Finance Director, I would be powerful enough to not be under his mercy any more. The Assistant Finance Director usually attended board meetings and that in itself meant the holder of the post had access to the company decision makers.

“I want you to be the first to know that Grace is leaving the company in a couple of months,” Mason said.

I raised my eyebrow in fake surprise. “Yes, she’s going on maternity leave, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Mason said. “But that’s not the news. What is important for you is that she’s not coming back.”

“Oh.”

“Which means that I’ll be looking for a new Assistant Finance Director,” Mason said, a sly smile on his face. “Are you interested?”

My heart pounded hard against my chest. Of course, I was interested but it wouldn’t do to show Mason just how interested I was. “Shouldn’t it go to someone who has been here longer than I have?”

“It will go to whoever I decide,” Mason snapped.

“In that case, I’m interested,” I said.

He narrowed his eyes. “As you pointed out, there are several people who have a slight advantage over you.”

I nodded.

“People who put in more than they are expected to,” he said.

I sat up in my chair. Now, that was unfair. Mason could accuse me of a lot of things but not anything that touched my work.

“The person I pick will have to demonstrate a willingness to go the extra mile.”

My heart fell. If going the extra mile involved my panties, this wasn’t going to happen. I was ambitious but not that ambitious. I’d been raised right and I prided myself on my morals.

“They would have to be willing to work late, come in some weekends and the like.”

I exhaled. That I could do. I felt a little ashamed at how quickly my thoughts had turned dirty. “I can do that.”

“I know you can. That’s why I gave you the heads up. You’re very good at your job.” He cocked his head. “I have a feeling that someday, you’ll even take my position.”

I laughed. “I don’t want your position.”

“Good, because it’s not vacant.”

I stood up. I smoothed down my skirt and noticed Mason’s eyes greedily following the movement of my hands over my hips. He was an irritant, that was all. I could handle him for a couple of months until I got the job.

All I needed was to work overtime and show Mason I could do the job.

Blaze didn’t come back to the office but he texted me and made plans to meet at my place for dinner.

At five, rather than rush out as I always did, I stayed to go over the payroll and ensure everything was accurate. After which I reconciled some accounts, a task that took days but which went very fast because of the lack of interruptions.

It was rather nice after everyone had left. I’d never realized how much noise happened during the day. Phones ringing, people talking and doors banging.

Just as I was about to leave, a knock came on the door.

“Come in,” I called.

Mason peered in. “I see you took my words to heart,” he said, a pleased expression on his face.

“It helps that I like my job,” I said and glanced at the time. “Oh, crap! Its already six.” I started closing open windows on my computer.

Blaze and I had agreed to meet at half past five. Shit, shit, shit.

“What’s the rush?” Mason said. “You’re just going home, aren’t you?”

“I was meeting someone, and I’m late.” I grabbed my purse and jacket.

“I’ll help you with that,” Mason said, taking my jacket.

He held it for me and after a slight pause, I turned around and pushed my arms in. My skin crawled as he arranged it, going dangerously close to the swell of my breasts. It didn’t escape my notice that when he was done fixing my jacket, he seemed a little breathless.

I almost sprinted out of my office in an attempt to get out of Mason’s sight. On the way home, I questioned my earlier confidence on handling Mason. His attention was exhausting and his lust for me a little frightening. A lot of men usually backed off if they saw the woman was not interested.

Why wasn’t Mason backing off?

I felt pulled in two different directions. I wanted the job but now, I wasn’t sure I could cope with his attention. I paid for the cab and hopped out. As soon as I entered my apartment, the scent of food wafted up my nostrils, quickly followed by guilt.

I was supposed to cook, not Blaze. I dropped my purse on a small table by the entryway. “Hi,” I said as I walked through the living room to the kitchen, kicking off my shoes.

“Hello you,” Blaze greeted me. “I thought I’d get dinner started, seeing as you were running late.”

“Thanks,” I said and sniffed the air appreciatively. “What are you cooking?”

“Grilled chicken breast and spinach salad,” Blaze replied.

“Sounds delish,” I said.

“Go and shower. By the time you’re done, it will be ready.” Blaze nodded.

“Thanks,” I said, hurrying to my room.

I took a quick shower all the while thinking what a great guy Blaze is. Another man would not have been so cool about me being almost an hour late for our date or even gone ahead and cooked.

I felt happy Blaze had the key to my apartment. I had given him the spare in case he needed