That First Kiss by J. C. Valentine Read Free Book Online Page B

lunch,” Piper confessed, thinking over all the ways her day was quickly spiraling down the toilet.
    “Then we’ll eat out. My treat,” she added, cutting her off before she could object. “You wouldn’t want me to eat all by myself, would you?” She batted her eyelashes shamelessly.
    Piper laughed. “Alright, yes, we’ll do lunch.”
    Poppy’s face brightened. “Great.”
    “Back so soon?” They both turned to find Felix coming toward them. He had an almost catlike grace that both women paused to a ppreciate. He really was a good-looking man.
    “Tate fired her,” Poppy said loudly, drawing a few heads their way.
    Piper dropped her gaze to the floor, more than a little embarrassed. Felix burst out laughing, which puzzled her. “You didn’t even make it to the lunch hour, huh?” Piper shook her head, wondering what the hell was so damn funny. “Then my instincts must have been right. I don’t know what you did to piss him off, but anything capable of drawing that kind of reaction out of him this fast tells me we’re on the right track. Keep up the good work.”
    “But, he fired me,” Piper spluttered.
    “And I hired you.”
    “First boss,” Poppy muttered beside her.
    “Look.” Felix stepped closer and lowered his voice so it didn’t carry beyond their little circle. “Ignore what Mr. Larson says. I have first and last say over who gets hired or fired around here where he is concerned. You just concentrate on getting him from A to B. As long as you are doing your job, you’ll continue to have one. If you have any concerns, come to me. My door is always open. Don’t let him run you off so early in the game.”
    “Okay.” Okay. Could she do this? She could do this.
    Felix patted her on the shoulder and continued toward his office. “And Poppy, I need to see you in my office please,” he called over his shoulder.
    “Go show that punk what you’re made of.” Poppy gave her a sympathetic smile and flitted after him.
    Bolstered by the pep talk, Piper marched back to the coffee shop. Upon entering, she saw Tate typing away at his computer, oblivious to the world.
    And he had found himself another chair.
    Grinning internally, Piper approached the table and yanked the chair he had his feet propped on out from under it, then took a seat.
    “What the fuck! ” Tate leveled her with his steely glare.
    “Let’s start over, shall we?” Piper smiled sweetly. “Hi, you must be Tate Larson. I’m Piper Donovan, your new assistant.” She held out her hand, but he refused to take it. Shrugging, she dug into her tote until she found her organizer. Finding the schedule Poppy had made up, she ignored the look of pure outrage Tate was sending her way, and got to work. “Oh, and just so you know, I am not fired.”
     
     
    *** **
     
    “I can’t believe you flipped him off.” Poppy sat across from her sipping at a mug of warm tea and eating a wilted sandwich. Piper hadn’t fared much better with her own lunch. Thanks to Tate’s constant demands, she had been running late and by the time she got back to the office, they only had a half hour left for lunch. Poppy suggested they eat at the cafeteria downstairs instead of going out.
    Unfortunately, b y the time they had reached the little cafeteria located on the first floor of Bookish Temptations, the only thing she had left to choose from was a deli sandwich with shriveled tomatoes or a tuna on white, which she had opted for. It was better than starving, which she was dangerously close to doing. Had Tate kept her over any longer then she might have torn into him, but one look of death from her was enough to have him shooing her away.
                  “I can’t believe I did that either.” What could she say; the man seemed to bring the worst out of her. Who would have guessed, especially considering how much good he had wrung from her just days ago. She shuddered. Even though she was sure she detested the man, her body had yet to receive