The Sweet Addiction Series Collection: Sweet Addiction, Sweet Possession & Sweet Obsession (7 page)

The morning went by quickly with the steady flow of customers. Mondays are always busier in the bakery, mainly with walk-in specialty requests, which I enjoy immensely and Joey hates. He prefers that I’m not tied up in consultations all day so we can chitchat and gossip. It’s close to noon when Juls walks in, looking as chic as ever in her tight pencil skirt, white blouse, and heels to die for. I really need to raid her closet someday. Besides the height difference between us, we’re similarly built and could swap clothes easily. We’re both slender yet toned, given how religious we both are about our exercise routines.

“Hello, lovies. And how is everyone’s Monday going?”

I moan as Joey smiles big, showing off his lonely dimple. “You look hot, Juls. Got a meeting with an annoying couple?” I ask as I straighten out the remaining red velvet cupcakes in the display case.

“Actually, I was just about to head over to Ian’s work to have lunch. You know I gotta look good for my baby.”

I perk up.
Perfect. I could tell him off in person
. “Mind if I joined you?”

She tilts her head to the side as Joey gasps dramatically. “Are you going to confront him?” The excitement in his voice is almost palpable.

I nod firmly. “Hell yes, I am. If he thinks he can proposition me to be his dirty little secret, he is seriously mistaken.”

“Excuse me? What the fuck have I missed?” Juls brings both hands to her hips and stares at me, waiting for an explanation. Of course, before I can speak, Joey opens his big gay mouth.

“Well,” he rests his chin on his hand, “Reese sent our sexy friend here a note with some flour saying he was sorry about fucking up and would love to see her again.” His grin cracks his face open. “Isn’t that fantastic?”

She stares at us with a furrowed brow. “Are you serious? Oh, damn it, I meant to confront him at the wedding after you left, Dyl, but he actually disappeared pretty soon after you did. Besides,” she straightens out her skirt, “I was a bit preoccupied. Wait, did you say he sent you flour? As in baking flour?” I nod and she raises her eyebrows, her mouth slowly forming an O. “Ah, instead of the traditional flowers. That’s actually pretty clever.”

I stomp my foot. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Why am I the only person who didn’t get that? And it wasn’t clever. It was stupid, because he’s stupid.”

“Wow, you’re really gutting him with that insult,” Joey states sarcastically as I pull my apron off. I throw it at his face.

“Well?” I ask, turning to Juls.

“Well what?”

“Can I come with you?”

“Oh, hell yes. I would love to see you chew him a new one. I can’t stand cheaters.” We both move toward the door as I nod in agreement.

“Hey! What about me?” Joey yells.

I turn my head. “You need to stay here and man the shop. What, did you think I was going to close down for this?”

“Goddamn it! This is why we need another employee, Dylan. I fucking miss everything.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll give you all the details
after
I cut off his testicles.” Juls and I walk out of the shop together and toward her car as I give myself a mental pep talk.
Yell first then remove balls or remove balls then yell? Hell, does it matter?

I’m slowly beginning to lose my edge as we walk into the crisp sleek foyer of the Walker & Associates building. Juls’ heels are clicking on the marble and I inwardly curse myself for not changing my outfit before I so bravely decided this was a good idea. I’m wearing a pale blue button up shirt, skinny jeans that are dusted in flour, and my favorite ballet flats. This would have been so badass if I was wearing something sexy and revealing, showing Reese what he will never touch again.
Damn it, Dylan. Think next time.
At least my hair and makeup are on point. We step off the elevators onto the twelfth floor and I follow closely behind her, unsure where to go.

“Nervous?” she asks as she walks up to a small reception area.

“Nope, but he better be.” She throws her head back and laughs as I wiggle my brows.

“Julianna Wicks for Ian Thomas, please,” she says to the pretty receptionist who smiles and picks up the phone, talking softly into it. She ends the call quickly.

“Go right in, Ms. Wicks.”

She shrugs playfully. “I fucking love this shit. My man is so important that I need to check-in with someone before I barge in.” I giggle at her and follow her through a closed door after she knocks quietly.

“There’s my girl. I’ve been waiting for you.” Ian stands up and walks around his desk, pulling Juls into his arms and smothering her with quick kisses.
Christ, they are annoyingly adorable
. “I’m starving and not just for food,” he whispers before his eyes flick to me. “Dylan. Are you joining us for lunch today?” he sweetly asks as he plays with the ends of Juls’ hair. He sounds sincere, but I have a feeling he’d much rather spend his lunch alone with my best friend.

I clear my throat.
You can do this, Dylan
. “Actually, I was wondering if Reese was here. I need to speak with him.” Juls is too busy frantically working at loosening Ian’s tie to even remember I’m in the room. I’m sure she would have snuck in a bitchy remark had she been paying attention.

“Oh, of course.” He smiles wide. “Just continue down the hallway until you see the redhead at the reception desk. She’ll point you in his direction.” I nod and turn on my feet, giving Juls one last glance as I step out, closing the door behind me.

He’s married. He’s married. He’s married. Who cares how fucking insanely hot he is. He’s married.
My thoughts are so loud in my head; I’m sure the redhead, who I am now standing in front of, can hear them. I smile weakly at her.

“May I help you?” she asks in a rather snippy tone.

“Um, yes. I would like to see Reese, please.”

She cocks her head and narrows her eyes.
Jesus. Retract the claws.
Picking up her phone, her eyes run slowly down my body. “You mean Mr. Carroll? And who may I say is asking for him?”

Mr. Carroll. Oh, how fucking formal.
I glare down at her. “Dylan.”

“Just Dylan?” Her tone is borderline bitchy and I am beyond over it at this point.
Sweetie, this is not the day to test my patience.

“Yes, just Dylan,” I snap back, hands fisting at my sides.

She rolls her eyes and speaks softly into the phone, slamming it down with more force than is probably necessary. “Go on in, just Dylan.” She motions with a quick swipe of her hand toward a door that stands at the end of the hallway.
What the hell is her problem?

“Thank you. Have a nice day,” I reply extra cheerfully to pluck her last nerve. She scowls.
Mission Accomplished.

Not bothering to knock, I open the office door and step inside, stumbling a bit at the sight of the man behind the massive desk.
Yup, that’s what he looks like. Completely perfect.
His eyes slowly come up to mine from his computer screen and soften.

“Dylan, this is a pleasant surprise. I assume you received my package?”

I close the door behind me and cross my arms. “Yeah, cute pun. Do you have a minute?”

He smiles and I stumble a bit. “For you? I have several.”

Standing up, he gracefully moves his body around the desk and sits on the edge, crossing his long legs in front of him at the ankles and bracing himself on his hands. I shake my head at his cockiness.
Damn it to hell.
If he wasn’t so gloriously attractive, this would be so much easier. He stands before me in a light blue dress shirt, gray plaid tie, and khakis, his hair a perfect mess and his green eyes freezing me where I stand. He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak. I could speak. I had a lot to say. But right now, I want to either throw him down and fuck him right on his desk or slap him so hard across his face that he will feel it next week.
Hmm, I could do both. Oh, Christ, Dylan. No. Slapping him. That sounds satisfying.
I move quickly, his eyes widening as I stop just in front of him and strike him across his face, a loud crack echoing throughout the room.

“Jesus Christ,” he almost yells, his hand coming up and rubbing his now reddened cheek. “What the fuck?”

“You fucking prick. Who the hell do you think you are?”

He stands up, towering over me in my flats.
Fuck, he’s as big as a tree.
“Okay, I probably deserved that.” His tone is sharp, but he doesn’t sound angry. He seems more concerned than anything. “Look,” he pauses, rubbing his cheek, “I’m sorry I kind of shut down after the bathroom. I’m not used to sex getting to me like that, and I handled it like an asshole.”

I see red. “Are you serious right now?
That’s
why you’re sorry? Because you freaked out afterward?”

“Yes, well, that and the fact those men saw you in there with me. I’m sure they knew exactly what we’d been doing.” He steps closer to me. “Why the fuck else would I be sorry? I’m not sorry it happened. Are you?”

I push against his chest, but he doesn’t move.
Damn it, I need to start lifting weights.
“Yes, I’m sorry it happened. I do not fuck married men, Reese!” I’m shouting now and my throat begins to ache, but not enough to make me stop. However, his current look of confusion is taking away some of my fire.
He’s a smart guy. Why isn’t he grasping this?

“Okay, that’s good to know,” he says with a furrowed brow.

“Great. Now you know. So stay the fuck away from me.” I go to leave, but I’m stopped by his grip on my arm, turning me around to face him.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

I step out of his grasp and look down at his left hand, narrowing in on his bare finger. “You asshole. Why don’t you wear your ring? Hoping to get your dick sucked behind that massive desk of yours by some girl who
doesn’t
know you’re married?”

His look stuns me. I expected him to get angry with me for slapping him, maybe a bit disappointed in me for not wanting to pursue this any further, but the amused look on his face is not what I expected. He runs his hands down his face and laughs, stopping only when he sees my hardened expression.

“Married? Who the fuck told you I was married?”

I step back. “Juls. Answer my question. Why don’t you wear your ring?”

“Really? And where did Juls hear I was married?”

I throw my hands up in frustration. “What the fuck does that matter? From Ian. Who else?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me with him toward the door, swinging it open and storming down the hallway.

“Where are we going? Let go of me.”

“Shut up, Dylan.” My fighting is useless. He is clearly on a mission as he walks toward Ian’s office door, dragging my infuriated self behind him. “We’re settling this right now.”

“Settling what?”

“Mr. Carroll, Mr. Thomas told me to hold his calls.”

“It’s fine, Jill,” he grunts at the nice receptionist as he swings the office door open, pulling me into the room with him.

“Fuck. What the fuck, Reese?” Ian’s voice causes me to shriek, and then I focus on what is happening in front of me. My eyes widen at the sight of Juls bent over Ian’s desk, completely naked and getting fucked from behind. Ian quickly moves and covers her up as Reese and I spin around and shut the door to keep the curious eyes from the hallway from getting a show.

“Shit. Uh, sorry, man. This will only take a minute,” Reese says as we both stare at the door.

“Jesus Christ, Dylan. I was so fucking close,” Juls growls.

I hold my hands up. “This was not my idea. Blame the asshole next to me.” His head flicks toward mine and I stare him down.
Yeah, that’s right. I said it.

“Well? What the fuck is it?” Ian asks, still out of breath.

“Why the hell did you tell Juls I am married?”

He laughs. “Uh, I didn’t. You? Married? That’s fucking hilarious. Babe, who told you Reese was married?”

“
You
did. Last week when we all went to The Tavern after work. Right?” She sounds nervous and suddenly unsure of herself.

“This is so fucking stupid. Can I go please?” I ask and Reese’s arm shoots out and prevents me from grabbing the door handle. I try to push it away, but my efforts are useless.