Crazy Thing (The Brighton Family #5)

Chapter 21

21

DARIUS

T his earache is killing me. I’m trying to focus on my work but I just can’t. It feels like there are a million and one tiny gremlins kicking at my eardrum.

I’m struggling to focus on my computer screen when Ziggy cautiously approaches my office. She even knocks and waits in the doorway for once.

While I should be impressed that she’s following office protocol, I can’t help but find it annoying. Irritating.Since when does she follow the rules?

In fact, Ziggy has been distant and quiet ever since I ate her the fuck out on the bar terrace on Saturday night. But judging by the way her cheeks flame hot pink when we make eye contact now, I’d bet she’s thinking about that moment, too.

But I’ve been careful to keep our exchanges strictly on business all week. I crossed a line. Clearly. She reminded me several times as she shakily got dressed that I’m her boss and only her boss.

So whatever moment we shared on that rooftop? That’s over. The ugly truth is, she’ll never trust me. Thanks to a selfish decision I made when I was a dumbass kid almost sixteen years ago.

I shift my attention to where she’s standing in the doorway now. “What’s up?” I mutter.

Even with all the weirdness, she approaches my desk and eyeballs me closely. “Are you…are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answer with a frown. “But, I am dealing with an earache today.”

“I’m sorry.” She winces in sympathy, and for some reason that makes me feel a little better.

I guess it’s nice to think that someone might actually care about my wellbeing, without caring about what I can do for them.

“Do you have a minute?”

I nod and instantly push my keyboard away. “Yeah, what’s up?”

Her chest rises when she inhales. I’m hit with the memory of having my face all over her tits.

I really like her tits.

Stop it, Darius.

“Well, I managed to find the owner of the waterfall property.”

At that, I sit up taller. “What? You mean the private investigator found the owner?”

Ziggy bites down on her bottom lip. That same bottom lip I was sucking on a few nights ago.

I like her lips.

“No. Actually, I did. The investigator just kept running into dead ends, so I tracked the owner down.”

I stare at her, brows pinched together. How the hell? Ziggy found the guy even when my own lawyer and private investigator—both of whom are paid quite well—could not find the owner.

My forehead furrows. “I have so many questions. But, seriously, how ?”

She shrugs. “I just used my intuition.”

“You just…?” I chuckle. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I mutter, shaking my head. “But I’ll take your word for it.”

Ziggy presses her lips into a thin smile and hands me a neatly organized folder. My cock tingles when her fingertips brush mine. and I internally remind myself to calm the fuck down. This is a serious conversation. I flip the folder open, finding a whole dossier on the current owner and seller of the waterfall property.

I’m still stuck on how the hell did she manage to track this elusive man down? But then I realize she’s talking, telling me more about her findings.

“So, this Robert Ross is supposed to be attending a childhood poverty prevention fund charity event at the upscale Stargazer Inn in Sin Valley a few days from now, and I—”

“Wait…” I mumble, digging into my desk drawer and rifling through papers until I find what I’m looking for. Then I toss the crisp, square envelope onto my desk. “I received an invitation to the same charity event a few weeks ago.”

“Did you respond?”

I shake my head. Shit. “Nope, but you’re going to RSVP now.”

She nods, and I can't help but smile to myself.

“What…?” she asks, observing my expression. “Why are you grinning like that?”

I lift a shoulder. “Each day it’s becoming more and more clear…everything in my life is more organized now that you’re working as my assistant. One day, my business was at risk of crumbling, and now, I’m leaving the office early three nights a week because everything is done. It’s almost like magic.”

Creepy—albeit beautiful—voodoo magic.

Her own smile begins to curl across her lips—accompanied by a rosy flush—but she quickly fights it off.

“Trust me, it’s not magic. You do realize that I’ve been doing the jobs of at least three people, right?”

Shit. She’s right. She’s been going above and beyond her job description since day one in this office.

“So, prepare some job postings. We’ll hire a new receptionist and…” I tap my chin. “…and how about a data entry clerk? And a bookkeeper?”

She looks at me, dumbfounded. “Huh?”

I shrug. “We have a whole bunch of empty cubicles, collecting dust. Might as well put them to use.” And besides, if I’ve got other people handling the minutia around the office, there’ll be more time for working on high-level tasks. More one-on-one time with Ziggy.

I know that she’s capable of more challenging projects. Also, I like working closely with her. She smells really, really good.

She blinks, looking a little bit disoriented.

I like the way she blinks.

“You want to hire, um…?”

“Yes. More staff.”

What’s there to be confused about? She presented me with a problem. I solved it. I’m a problem-solver. Ha!

She’s impressed. I like impressing Ziggy. So I keep going. “And how about we add ‘office manager’ to your job description? Congratulations on your promotion and twenty-five percent pay raise! ”

Ziggy starts choking and coughing. I bolt up to my feet, alarmed.

But she waves me away. “Uh, um, thank you…?” she mutters breathily, shaking her head in bewilderment.

I like the way she breathes.

When she breathes like that, I’m reminded of the way she moaned when my fingers were inside her. I’m left fighting off yet another visceral reaction.

Shit. I’m batshit crazy for this girl. How much longer till I’m institutionalized? Can’t be much longer now.

Ziggy turns to leave my office, but I stop her right before she reaches the door. “Hey.”

She spins to face me and waits for me to go on.

I hold out my credit card, and she frowns, taking it from my hand. “What’s this for? Another coffee run?”

With a subtle smile, I shake my head. “Go buy yourself a nice dress, and be sure to RSVP for two . You’re going to that charity event with me.”