If Your Wife Only Knew by Cydney Rax Page A

bag close to her chest like it was a pillow.
    â€œGood morning, Nicole. You’re early.”
    â€œTraffic was light.”
    â€œNo problem. I will show you around and introduce you to the staff.”
    It was twenty minutes before eight. And it was another Hump Day in the last week of May. Kiara had been so preoccupied reviewing the budget she’d forgotten that her new employee would check in today.
    Nicole’s purple optical frames slipped partially down her nose. Her shoulder-length hair was neatly tied in a ponytail and she wore a plain white blouse, brown pleated slacks, and a comfortable pair of flats.
    â€œWe’ll go to your office. But first let’s say hello to Alexis McNeil. Hey, Alexis. You remember Nicole, don’t you?”
    â€œHi. How’s it going?”
    â€œAs you know, this is Nicole Greene’s first day. We want to make her feel welcome.”
    â€œGlad to have you. We have a really cool department with a lot of colorful characters.” Alexis smiled. “I’m sure I’ll see you again today. Sorry, but I have a deadline. You know how it is.” Alexis said good-bye and resumed typing.
    Kiara gave her attention back to Nicole. “We will fill out the key request forms and another one for a tablet. And you’ll be going to new employee orientation later this morning.”
    They continued down the hall. “I trust everything went well with your relocation. I know you were in a temporary housing situation when you first moved from Alabama. But how are things now that you’ve gotten a permanent place?”
    â€œOh, that. It’s going.” Her eyes darted around nervously.
    â€œExplain.”
    â€œIt’s just a fixer-upper that I found real quick. Rent isn’t too bad compared to what I’d pay for a two-bedroom apartment.”
    â€œObviously, there’s something you like about the place.”
    â€œI love hardwood floors. It has a huge backyard and even some fruit trees. But the inside needs work. I’m grateful to have a place to stay.”
    â€œDefinitely. What kind of work does your house need?”
    â€œPainting. Drywall. Kitchen needs a backsplash. Completely new cabinets and flooring. Plus a few odds and ends. My landlord said if I get some work done on the place he will credit me on my rent. So I’m working on that now.”
    â€œWow. As it happens, my husband is a contractor. He does it all. And his prices are reasonable.”
    â€œOkay. All right.” Her voice was so quiet that Kiara barely heard her.
    â€œMake yourself comfortable. You’re part of our family now.”
    â€œThanks, I appreciate that.”
    Once Kiara dropped Nicole off at orientation, she drove around campus and spotted Eddison walking alongside the law library. She pulled her car to a stop, tooted her horn, and rolled down the window.
    â€œHello there.”
    â€œHi, Eddison.”
    He casually approached her vehicle. “May I sit next to you?”
    â€œOnly if you’re on your best behavior.”
    â€œI promise to be good.”
    She unlocked the door. Eddison slid onto the passenger seat.
    â€œLook,” Kiara said, “we haven’t talked since that day.”
    â€œI missed you.”
    â€œYou always say words that make me feel better.”
    â€œDid you like the kiss? Did that make you feel good?”
    â€œYeah, I liked it. I enjoyed kissing you. Does that make me a bad person?”
    â€œYou needed it. And that makes you a normal person.”
    â€œOf course you’d say that.”
    Eddison grabbed Kiara’s chin.
    â€œOh, God.” She felt herself crumbling. Again.
    She opened her mouth and let him kiss her. She couldn’t believe what she was doing, but it made her feel desired.
    He stroked her thigh. She got hotter and hotter. After a while they both came up for air.
    â€œWow.” She laughed and blushed.
    â€œKiara, I need to know what you plan to