Free Bailey: Independence #1 by Karen Nichols Page A

tech department. She wasn’t sure how the skirt managed, but somehow it let her sink to the floor against the wall. She wrapped her arms around her knees and put her head down.
    That’s where her best friend found her ten minutes later, still trying to breathe.
    “Girlfriend!” Patsy dropped to her heels and lifted the head from her knees. “God, girl, you’re whiter that I am! What happened? You need some food…some really cold water. Come on…up…off the floor.”
    “Oh, god, Patsy! I’m dead! I am dead meat! I am…oh, god,” Bailey breathed out words until she was pushed into a chair and a tall glass of ice water thrust into her hands.
    “Drink. No more words until the water is gone,” said the strict New York accent. “Now, Bee. Drink the water.” She looked toward the line. “Normal sandwich?” She waited for the nod. “Be right back. Don’t move.”
    “Oh god, everyone orders me around,” she whispered to herself in a low wail.
    “Alright. More water. Then we are talking,” Patsy set the tray down and returned seconds later with two glasses of iced water. “Now. What happened? I swear, even your freckles were white.”
    “Oh, god, you are not going to believe me,” Bailey slumped back in the chair. “I think about it…about what I did…and I don’t believe it! That isn’t me! I’ve never…oh, god…”
    “Stop praying and tell me what happened,” she said firmly, pushing the plate toward Bailey with a nod. “And eat in between.”
    “I told you a little about Friday night,” she began slowly, taking a bite of the sandwich and hearing her stomach grumble in happiness. “I think I missed breakfast.”
    “You always miss breakfast,” Patsy shook her head. “I think you’re leaving things out of Friday. Life-long friends...and you have secrets. He must have been really hot,” she teased with a chuckle at the color that made its way to Bailey’s cheeks. “I thought so. No problem. I’ll meet him eventually if he’s that important to you.”
    “Oh, god…Patsy…I just met him! I’m going to be fired. I should ask for a letter of recommendation. I’m good at my job,” she rambled, oblivious to the shocked look on her friends’ face. “This is tech central. I can find another job.”
    “Why in the world would you get fired?” Patsy stared for a quiet minute. “It was a costume party. You wore a mask, didn’t you?”
    Bailey nodded slowly.
    “You never took it off all night?” Patsy blinked in amazement.
    “Not the mask,” Bailey looked around and whispered. “It was the only thing I had on at one point.”
    Patsy swallowed her sandwich and took a long drink of water.
    “Alright. I told you to step out of your normal and you did. And you enjoyed it,” she listened to her friend sigh. “Enjoyed it a lot. And now you’re worried about being fired? Oh, my, god! He works here?” Her eyes went wide as the explanation for Bailey’s behavior struck her.
    Bailey nodded, the bite of sandwich caught in her throat.
    “Works here is putting it mildly, Patsy,” she dropped her voice, once more checking for people close enough to hear. “He’s the owner of the company!” She hissed in disbelief.
    The sandwich fell to her plate and her palm flew to Patsy’s mouth before the shriek could break free.
    “Shhh! Don’t you…quiet!” Bailey ordered firmly. “Don’t you ever, ever tell anyone this!”
    Gabriel made it through the presentation without a hitch. But then when he was on his game, any of them, he rarely permitted things to go wrong. His managers and department heads should thank their stars. Finding Bailey O’Conner spared them the fury that had been controlling his senses.
    As they filed out, the only thing in front of his vision was the redhead in the sexy business suit and glasses. He could smell her; he could feel her body quiver and explode beneath his touch. He wanted more. He had planned to have her on his tongue, squirming and screaming, tied to