One night stand with my daddy's best friend
82

Bridget

Sometimes I wondered if I imagined the kiss that Dane gave me in the copy room. Ever since that day, I rarely ever saw Dane, and when I did, it was excruciatingly awkward. I wasn't sure if the discomfort was coming from me. After all, each time I saw him, all I could think about was the kiss and the fantasy I had about him later that night. I was sure if he looked closely, he'd know I'd spent way too much time thinking about him naked.

But another part of me thought he was purposely avoiding me. Was that because he couldn't stop thinking about me? Maybe he worried he'd want to kiss me again. The idea of that made me want to replace ways to be around him more often. But then I'd scoff at myself. That was silly schoolgirl thinking and I wasn't a silly schoolgirl anymore. I needed to be a professional.

More likely I didn't see him much because he was busy running his father's multimillion dollar company. It wasn't like we worked closely together. Dane was leader of the company and only the heads of departments reported to him. I reported to Ethan, so it made sense that I wouldn't see Dane on a day-to-day basis.

I shook my head to get myself focused on work. I was wasting way too much time going over Dane's kiss.

I was just finishing gathering marketing data when my phone rang. My heart skipped a beat hoping it was Dane. Dammit. How long would I act like a teenager with her first crush?

I picked up the phone. "Bridget Franklin."

"Hey Bridget, it's Ethan. I was wondering if you could stop by my office

for a minute."

I pushed away my disappointment. "Yes, of course. I'll be right there."

I rose from my desk, exiting my office, and walking towards Ethan's office. The first few days I got lost even in the little section of the building that housed the marketing department. Now, a week later, I'd learned to navigate the labyrinth of the halls and was able to get to his office straightaway.

When I got there, his secretary sent me straight in. "Is everything all right?" I asked.

"Yes, yes, everything is fine. You're doing great work, Bridget. I've actually brought you in on a different matter." He motioned for me to sit in a chair in front of his desk.

He laced his fingers together and set them on his desk. It occurred to me that he looked nervous. Was he about to fire me? Fear slid up my spine. Had I been caught daydreaming about Dane? Was my work subpar?

No. My work was fine. Ethan just said I was doing great work. My fear turned to anger. Did Dane ask Ethan to fire me? How dare he kiss me senseless and then because he couldn't control his libido, have me fired.

"As you know my grandfather Wheatly is a very successful businessman. I think I told you that one of the reasons I'm working here now is to gain the experience I need, so when he's ready to step down, I'll be able to step in.

I nodded, although I wondered why he didn't work in his grandfather's business to get that experience. Maybe Mr. Wheatly didn't want to make it easy for Ethan to earn his way within the company.

Then it occurred to me that if Ethan was talking about his grandfather, maybe he wasn't going to fire me. I inhaled a breath to calm my nerves.

"The thing is, I'm not the only grandson in contention for the job. So, it's really important that my grandfather looks favorably on me."

I had no idea where he was going with this. I just nodded again.

"My problem is that my grandfather has a thing about family values. He has this idea that part of what makes a successful businessman is a wife, someone who grounds and supports him." I arched a brow. "This isn't a proposal, is it?"

His brows shot to his hairline, and he waved his hands. "No. No, not at all. Well... Not a marriage proposal. I was hoping that maybe you would attend a charity event with me as my date." That didn't seem like such a big deal. "Just as your plus one?"

He rolled his shoulders; another tell that he was nervous. "Well, between you and me, it would just be friends supporting an important charity. For my grandfather, he needs to have the idea that I am looking to settle down." "So, I'd be like your fake girlfriend?" During summers at college, I used to read a lot of romances in which fake relationships were a common trope. I thought they were silly, but I enjoyed reading them.

"Something like that. Look, I understand it's a lot to ask of you, and I'm probably risking a sexual harassment case just by even asking it, but since we get along so well, I figured we could pull it off. But, I promise I'm not looking at it as any more than a business transaction."

I studied him for a moment. Ethan was a very handsome man with blond hair and chocolate brown eyes who came from a prominent wealthy family. It didn't make any sense that he didn't have a girlfriend already, or several for that matter. "How is it that you don't have a girlfriend already?"

"I just don't have the time. When I'm not working here, I'm researching and preparing to take over my grandfather's business. It doesn't leave time for much of anything else, especially a relationship."

I admired Ethan for his commitment to his goal and decided if there was a way that I could help, I would. "Yes, okay, I'll go with you to the charity function and pretend to be madly in love with you."

He laughed uncomfortably. "If Dane replaces out about this, I'll be fired for sure."

Was that because we worked together or because Dane would be jealous? I remembered Dane's reaction to Bran. I quickly pushed thoughts of Dane away.

Dane wasn't jealous. He simply didn't like Bran and thought he was looking out for me by warning me away. Dane and Ethan got along well. Maybe Dane would be relieved if he thought I didn't give a second thought to the kiss and was interested in Ethan instead.

"I feel like a fool and an idiot to even ask this." Ethan smiled sheepishly. "No, it's okay, Ethan, really. I understand what you're trying to do and I'm

happy to support you. I know you're a hard worker and you're a good boss, so I know that you will do a great job when you take over your grandfather's business. And then I'll be able to know that I helped put you there. The woman behind the man, so to speak."

He let out a relieved breath. "Thank you, Bridget. If anything, I think

we'll have a lot of fun. You have a great attitude about life, a great spirit. Sometimes it's hard to replace in the competitive corporate world."

"Just let me know where to meet you and what I should wear. I'll be sure to be ready."

"I'll text you the details. Thank you again, Bridget. I owe you big time." "I'll hold you to it."

I left Ethan's office feeling amused by his predicament, but also looking forward to getting out with a friend. And speaking of getting out, I went towards Dane's office to replace Lane to see if she wanted to go to lunch with me. As it turned out, she was free and needed a break too.

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I was glad to get out of the building, away from the possibility of seeing Dane and doing something stupid like swooning.

Lane and I went to a diner on the corner and ordered burgers and fries.

"I know this is bad for me, but I don't care. You only live once, right?" she said, dipping a fry into ketchup.

"Here, here." I held up the diet cola I washed down my bacon cheeseburger with. Yes, I saw the irony of eating fat and carbs with a diet drink.

"So, you've settled right in. Are you liking it here?" she asked. "I don't get lost anymore, so that's a bonus."

She laughed. "I think old man MacLeod set up the offices like that on purpose to make it harder for people to leave. Before his heart attack, many people worked way past five without overtime." I tilted my head. "But not with Dane? Are they taking advantage of him?"

She shook her head. "Nah. Dane told everyone to go home at five or at the latest six. I don't think his dad knows, but you know what? Productivity is up. Go figure."

"I bet he knows a thing or two about efficiency and motivation. I suspect you need it in the military."

Lane got a thoughtful look on her face. "Do you suppose Dane is like that at home?"

"What do you mean?"

"Efficient and motivated." She waggled her brows.

I stuffed a fry into my mouth to keep from saying he was an efficient and motivated kisser.

"Or Ethan. Or Bran?" "Bran?"

She made a face. "I know he's a jerk half the time, but he's good looking.

They all are. I wonder what they're like in bed." I choked on my burger.

She grinned. "Don't tell me you've never thought of them like that?"

My cheeks reddened at the memory of touching myself to the fantasy of Dane. "I can see you have."

"Actually, I have. I've come to the conclusion that Ethan probably takes his time. He's a thorough and generous lover."

"Wow."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Dane is probably intense. He tries to act relaxed but there's always an edge to him. Like he's ready for danger. I bet that makes him an intense lover."

I sipped my cola to cool down my burning blood. "And Bran?"

"Bran is probably the fast and furious type of lover. Wild. It's great but over fast."

"Do you have lots of experience with men to make these assessments?"

She shook her head as she turned her attention to her burger. I thought I saw sadness in her eyes. "I like to read romances. Live vicariously, you know?"

"I used to read them. Do you believe in happily ever after?"

She shrugged and took a bite of her burger. I had the sense that there was more going on.

"Have you been in love?" I asked.

She wiped her mouth. "I believe happily ever after is possible, but you have to grab on to it when your soul mate shows up."

"That's very profound." I knew there was a story there, but I could also see she didn't want to go into details. So, I moved back to the original conversation. "I bet Ethan is wild in bed." She laughed. "Oh?"

"The nice, quiet guys always hide their animal side." She thought about that. "You could be right."

"Dane is the slow methodical lover. He's intense, but he's also detail oriented. Plus, his past in the SEALS probably taught him to savor life."

"Good point. And Bran?"

I laughed. "He's fast and furious, just like you said. But it'd be different than Ethan. Bran is all about the big O, whereas Ethan is about the wild ride with his partner."

Lane nodded. "I have to agree with your assessment." She dragged a fry through her ketchup. "So, which would you fuck, marry, and kill?"

Could I pick Dane for fuck and marry? "Who would you?" "Easy, fuck Dane, marry Ethan, and kill Bran."

She had a point. "But if Ethan is the wild man, shouldn't you fuck him and marry Dane?"

She laughed. "Notice how we both would kill Bran?" "Great minds think alike."

“Here, here.” She held up her diet cola and clicked it with mine.