“It’s really none of your business,” she huffed. “I’ll report tomorrow for my first day.”
“It’s none of—” I almost choked on my wrath, my hard on forgotten—mostly—and before I could get another word out, she spun around and yanked open the door to the gym, letting it slam against the wall with a loud bang.
I followed her as she streaked across the floor, but I had the feeling that I wouldn’t win this argument by keeping her in the office and talking myself to death. Calista was a level-headed, unflappable person. Until it came to me, apparently. The thought made me grin, knowing I got to her. It was obvious she was also stubborn as fuck, and it would take action over words for me to win. And I. Would. Win.
Chapter 5
It was hard to believe Xander let me escape his office so easily. I’d figured he’d put up a fight, figuratively and quite possibly also literally, considering how well he’d sparred against me. Then again, the gleam in his eyes when I’d turned back to look at him through the glass doors had me thinking he had his reasons for letting me go. I had a feeling the tricky bastard thought he was going to convince me to do everything his way. The scariest thing was, I was starting to wonder if he might be right about that. I tossed and turned, worrying about it all night.
Once I’d cooled off and realized what I’d actually said, I regretted the way I’d told him it was none of his business. I couldn’t believe I’d been so horrible to him. My only defense was that I’d been thrown completely off balance by the surge of fear, mixed with frustration and attraction, running through my system at that moment. Nobody had ever managed to pull such a wide range of emotions out of me the way Xander did. I was completely unaccustomed to feeling so much all at once, and I’d handled it badly. Really, fucking badly.
Heading back to his offices the next morning, I knew I owed him an apology. A fucking huge one.
Kicking off my first day at work by telling my boss I was sorry for being such a bitch to him because I completely lost my mind at the idea that he might have knocked me up wasn’t exactly how I’d pictured starting my new career. Hell, the possibility of being pregnant wasn’t a topic I’d ever imagined I’d have to discuss with a guy at all, and the circumstances of my current work situation only made it more complicated.
The morning after pill should be the obvious choice considering everything. And yet, somehow it wasn’t. If anyone had asked me how I’d react to the idea of being pregnant a couple of months ago, the answer would have been simple because it just wasn’t on my radar at all. I’d been completely focused on my career, with no plans to get involved with a guy, let alone have a baby.
Then I got shot, and everything changed. I’d been in the spy game long enough to know when it was time to get out. It was still a tough decision to make, but it had been the right one for me. It was also the choice that put me in the right place at the right time to meet Xander, and even with all the craziness from yesterday, I didn’t regret what had happened between us.
As I pushed through the doors to Gray Security, it was as if I conjured him up out of my thoughts. He strode out of his office and straight towards me, with another hot guy right behind him. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Xander had a Calista radar because he didn’t even pause in his steps or need to change direction.
“Shit. Fuck. Damn,” I mumbled to myself, spotting his assistant at her desk and another guy coming down the hallway, presumably just after finishing up in the gym since he was wearing athletic shorts, a T-shirt, and was rubbing his dark hair with a towel.
“Morning, baby,” Xander greeted me, blocking everything else from my vision as his head bent low so he could drop a kiss on my lips.
“So much for not being blatant about us,” I muttered, making him chuckle. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned to see me glaring up at him. He just offered me a confident grin as I stepped away from him.
He gestured to the guy with him. “I don’t think you’ve met Quinn. He’s one of the best here, and he’s engaged to Weston’s sister, Jenna.”
Evie had introduced me to Weston and Aspen when I’d been in Atlanta for a quick house hunting trip the month before I moved here. I grinned. “Ah yes, I believe Weston mentioned something about the fucker who does unspeakable things to his baby sister.”
Quinn laughed. “Guilty as charged.”
“Great, now you’ve met,” Xander interrupted impatiently. “Excuse us.”
Xander put his hand on my lower back and steered me toward his office. His assistant looked like she was about to have a breakdown. I took pity on her and stepped forward to say hello.