chapter 2

Griffin

Fire her. The thought had never fully crossed my mind. I was going to threaten it tonight just to get a rise out of Cora, but she beat me to it.

As she stands in front of me with a defiant tilt to her chin, I want to fire her just to prove a point.

Cora tosses her raven hair over her shoulder, blue eyes narrowed. Even the freckles across her cheeks seem to blaze with life as she takes a step closer to me.

She pokes a finger into my chest. “If you want me to leave your company, just fire me.”

I grab her finger and pull her closer, heat radiating between us. “And what if I did fire you right now?”

She smirks and snatches her hand back, though she doesn’t bother to move away. “I'd probably be better for it.”

“If I got rid of you, I could hire someone capable of doing their job—maybe someone who actually liked me and the work.”

Cora takes another step closer, and all I can focus on is the way her body is nearly pressed against mine. “Fire me or don’t, but I’m here to have a good time tonight, and I’m going to have it one way or another.”

I’ve spent the better part of the last hour watching her dance with strangers—men, trying to catch her eye, eager to impress her.

She was the center of attention on the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm with her captivating smile and graceful moves.

Cora has remained unfazed as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She’s been laughing and singing along with the songs, enjoying the moment.

I remember our childhood vividly, how Cora’s older brother, Jake, and I’d spend endless summers exploring the woods, building forts, and getting into trouble.

Jake had been my only companion, my partner in crime. We’d share everything, from secrets to dreams, laughter to tears.

And then there was his pesky little sister Cora—six years younger—following us everywhere, refusing to leave us alone.

I desperately tried to get her to stay away—ignoring her, teasing her, even bribing her with candy—but she was relentless.

She’d push my buttons, constantly provoking my not-so-angelic side. She’d never been afraid to speak her mind, refusing to be anything less than a nuisance.

And now, looking at her standing before me with a look that says, “I dare you to underestimate me,” a different kind of emotion stirs within me. She’s no longer the annoying little girl who’d tormented me in my youth.

After hiring her as my assistant, I’d be lying to say that I didn’t stop what I was doing every time she walked into my office.

She’s blossomed into a stunning woman, and I glimpse something else in her—a spark, a fire, a hint of the woman she’s become.

Although, I can’t quite pinpoint what I’m feeling right now…

The carefree side of her had been lost to me for years, but tonight, it came back with a vengeance.

I glower at her, not sure where to go from here. “I’m not going to fire you.”

“Then why are you over here?”

“Jake would be pissed if he saw you dancing around with a bunch of men, not to mention you’re drunk. He'd want me to intervene before it became something.”

Her eyebrows shoot up her forehead. Cora’s eyes roll to the ceiling, and the bright strobe lights cast harsh shadows over her face.

Wrong thing to say, Griffin. That is a very wrong thing to say.

Cora shakes her head. “If this is some bizarre attempt to defend my honor after my ex wrecked my life, cut it out. I don’t need you or my brother to step in and try to protect me. I can handle myself.”

“It looked like you were in the middle of handling yourself just before I walked up.” Sarcasm drips from my words.

Cora’s glare could send a man straight to his grave. She crosses her arms and cocks a hip.

“What are you trying to say, Griffin? Because it sounds a lot like being a dick about me having fun on a night out. Especially when you don’t even like me, so I’m a little confused here. Why don’t you clarify?”

I rub a hand down my face, knowing I’ve already put my foot in it.

The last person I will admit to being jealous over is Cora Walsh.

I stare into her eyes for a moment, but her pouty lips draw my attention next. There’s a spark within me, a desire to reach out and touch her, to feel the heat between us.

Get it together, you fool.

She may be gorgeous, but she’s completely off-limits. She’s my best friend’s sister, six years younger than my thirty-two years.

She already despises me, and I know getting involved with her would only complicate things further.

Maybe it’s time to stop being the Griffin that she remembers.

“Cora, I didn’t mean anything by it. I don’t know why I said it. I know things have been rough between us over the years, but we work together now. Don’t you think we should stop bickering and start acting like adults?”