The Sexy Boss - Sedition: Book One by Z. L. Arkadie, T. R. Bertrand Read Free Book Online Page B

it’s complicated too.”
    I look at Nolan and point at him. “Yes!” I say playfully, relieved that he's given me an out on two not-so-easy questions. “And how long have you been divorced?” The conversation is far more interesting if he’s the one answering questions.
    “We've been divorced for about nine months now.”
    “Oh, and you don't have any kids?”
    “No.”
    My eyes narrow. “Let me guess—you were too focused on your career?”
    “Actually, we both were.”
    “What does she do?”
    “The same thing that I do.”
    My body shifts. “Really? That must have been interesting.”
    “It has certainly made our split more complicated.”
    “I bet.”
    “Excuse me,” our server says.
    We sit back. I guess neither of us had noticed how close our faces were. The server places our food in front of us.
    We both enjoy our meals and talk more about some of the greatest spots in the city. Neither of us cares to order dessert. Mostly, I want to have another drink and see Nolan's place, though I doubt that the offer will arise.
    The food is on the house, so Nolan leaves the waiter a hundred-dollar tip. Gosh, he’s such a generous man. His ex-wife must regret the day she let him go. If I were her, I know I would. We make our way toward the exit. As we cross the restaurant, a well-dressed, attractive woman, who is speaking with the maître d’, looks at me and then focuses on Nolan. He stops walking behind me, so I stop walking too.
    The woman raises a finger to the maître d'. I read her lips as she says, “Wait a minute.”
    Suddenly she’s walking toward us, and I feel Nolan go rigid behind me.

7
    “ N olan ,” the woman says.
    I step aside to keep her from running into me.
    Nolan’s expression loses the pleasantness that I worked so hard to put on it. “Kelsey.”
    I wonder who in the world this woman is. Perhaps she’s his girlfriend. He’s not married, but a good-looking man like him is bound to have some woman he screws on a regular basis.
    Kelsey strokes the side of her neck with her finger. “Funny meeting you here.”
    “It sure is.” Nolan looks at me, and her gaze follows. “Kelsey, Abby. Abby, Kelsey.”
    She continues with her forced smile, “Hi, Abby, you must be…”
    I finish the sentence for her. “Nolan's assistant.”
    “Oh, well, how nice of him to treat an employee to a meal.”
    My eyes widen as I look at Nolan. This chick must be the queen of taking sideways jabs. However, I’m no pushover.
    “And you are?” I say.
    “My ex-wife,” Nolan says.
    She looks at him. Her smile is even more forced than it was a second ago. “Well, it was nice seeing you, Nolan.” She turns toward the maître d'. “Excuse me?” She motions with her hand for him to come over.
    “Have a wonderful evening, Kelsey.” Jeez, Nolan sounds so sterile.
    Her overdriving smile is back. “You too, Nolan.” She looks at me. “Nice meeting you, Abby.”
    I don’t believe her. “Likewise,” I say, using my own brand of fakeness.
    Nolan is quiet as we walk back to his car. I hate that he’s lost all the pleasantness he had earlier. I guess that’s why Kelsey’s his ex-wife. She just sucked all the joviality out of him.
    I fold my arms across my chest. “Well, it sure got brisk this evening.”
    “I'm sorry if that was uncomfortable,” he says.
    “Oh no, I was referring to the weather.” I smile. “But the passive-aggressive ice queen blew some chill in the air too.” I make a squeamish face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to speak negatively about your ex-wife.”
    Nolan waves off my apology. “No need to apologize. She should’ve made a better impression on you.”
    I look up at him, and that soft look in his eyes has returned.
    “Well, at least she’s beautiful. I guess that’s something.”
    Nolan walks with me to the passenger side of his vehicle and opens my door. “I guess so.”
    I plant myself in the seat of the Range Rover. Nolan closes my door, and soon we’re on