I called my driver and smiled. Now that I had a quarter stake in OAA, I had every reason to drop by the offices. Take a look around.
Maybe grab some alone time with the sassy new CEO.
* * *
“Are you certain about that, Anderson?” Poppy stood at the windows looking out over downtown Portland and the Willamette River, her long curvy body framed by the early afternoon sun. One hand was on her hip and the other hung at her side. When she nodded, her head turned every so slightly, giving me the perfect glimpse of the pink in her hair as it caught the sun. “Yes, thank you. That is very helpful.” Her voice had a smile in it, then she laughed. “Yeah, it’s kind of a headache but you’ve managed to put my mind at ease.” She spoke a few more niceties on the other line and ended the call.
“Poppy, we meet again.”
She turned slowly, both hands fisted at her hips by the time she fully faced me. “Blake, what are you doing here?” She sounded tired, like maybe she’d lost a bit of her shine. It might have made me an asshole to think it, but if she felt overwhelmed by her responsibilities then I could buy the company for a lot less than the shares might end up costing me.
“I came to see you, of course.” She rolled those blue-green eyes only this time there was no amusement in them.
“Why are you really here, Blake? I don’t have time for your games today.”
My smile faded at her tone and I stepped inside her office, shutting the door behind me. “Is everything all right, Poppy?”
“Please, don’t act like you care.” She dropped into her seat and removed the vibrant green blazer she wore, running a hand through her long sable waves as she let out a long sigh.
Everything within me said to argue with her and tell her that I did care, because for some reason I did. But she wasn’t in a listening frame of mind right now. “Does that mean you don’t want to talk about what’s wrong? I’m a great listener.” Her answering scoff said more about what she thought of that idea than any words could have.
“No thanks, I can handle it on my own.” Her gaze slammed into mine and I thought I saw a hint of something hard and cold in her eyes, but just as quickly as it came, it was gone. “Did you come by for something?”
“I was in the neighborhood and I figured I’d come by to see if you had plans for dinner this evening?” It wasn’t the right time to tell her I now owned a piece of her company. She knew it was coming but after that smoking hot kiss last week, it didn’t sit right with me.
She continued to rub her temples. “I plan to eat dinner this evening. While I work.”
“Want some company?”
She laughed. “Its not OAA work so I know you wouldn’t be interested,” she said. Her words held a hint of sarcasm. And a bite.
But I noticed that wasn’t a no. “So seven? Eight? I’ll bring some top shelf tequila.”
Her lips twitched. “I do have a fondness for it, but I have to finish this project tonight and I have a feeling you intend to be an unignorable distraction.”
“I’m willing to put forth the effort if you are.”
She shook her head but she could do absolutely nothing about the smile on her face. “Seriously? Fine,” she sighed. Come at eight-thirty and you can stay no later than ten, got it?” I smiled and she shook her head and pointed at me. “And no kissing,” she hissed. “No work talk, either.”
“No mouth kissing or no kissing at all?”
Her gaze couldn’t meet mine and her skin turned a lovely shade of pink. “None at all.”
Interesting. I’d have to store that information away for a later date. “I look forward to changing your mind.”
She stood and walked over to the door, hand slowly grasping the knob. “I have a few things I need to take care of and I’m sure you have work to do too.”
I was being dismissed again. And as much as it annoyed me, it also impressed the hell out of me. “Nothing that can’t wait, but I will get out of your hair.” The mention of her hair, long and wavy, made my fingers itch to run through it again, let it spill through my fingers while I kissed her breathless.
“None of that,” she said, pointing at me but that husky sound of her voice gave away her true feelings. “No more of that, I said.”
I laughed as I stood, advancing on her as she backed up against the door. Right where I wanted her. “But more is the best part. In fact,” I told her, twirling a long lock around my forefinger as the fruity scent of her hair wafted up my nose, “hearing you beg me to give you more is going to be my favorite part, I think.”
She shivered under my touch. “No,” she said instead.
“Oh yes, Poppy. For now though, I’ll leave you with this.” This time instead of cupping her face, I speared my fingers through her hair and tilted her head so that when our lips touched, I could devour her as deeply as I wanted to. I wanted more, a hell of a lot more than a chaste kiss in her office but for now it would have to do.
She licked her lips when ours separated like she couldn’t get enough of me and damn if I didn’t go back for another taste. “We should stop,” she said without much fire behind her words.
“Yep,” I told her and kissed her again, listening to that breathy moan that sent flames straight to my cock. “We will. Eventually.” She smiled against my mouth and let me drink from her sweet mouth until I had my fill.
As it stood now, I was no where near having my fill of her.
Poppy
“You can get started on the mint juleps while I get the cornbread in the oven.” Maple smiled at me over her shoulder, long silver hair loose today in a riot of curls thanks to the humidity. “I decided to do a down home southern style meal for tonight. Fried chicken is good for the soul.”
My stomach growled and the rest of my body sighed in relief, or maybe it was just relaxation. The past week had been completely hellish, with me putting in ten to twelve hour days, which I was used to, but with my business those hours were all work. Not bullshit meetings where people went around and around about border colors and other nonsense. “I could definitely use a mint julep. A strong one.”
“Long day?”
“Long week, Grandma. No wonder people in the corporate world are so tired and miserable. If I never seen another conference room again, it’ll be too soon.” The work itself was great. Fun and invigorating to work with others on the creative side. But the day to day shit, could drive a person to more than booze.
“How is Talia settling in over there? I thought she might join us tonight.” Talia usually did, but she had plans.
“She’s doing great, actually. Efficient and a great gatekeeper so I can actually get work done. I invited her tonight, but she has plans with Kyle,” I told her and rolled my eyes. “There’s something off about that guy that I just don’t like.” I set both drinks on the table and got busy grabbing plates and silver.
“Not that I don’t agree with you, but he is Talia’s mistake to make. All we can do is be there for her if she needs us.” She gave me that pointed Grandma Maple look that I hated, because it always came after she dropped a truth bomb. “Speaking of mistakes, tell me more about your gentleman caller. I saw he stayed for more than an hour after Talia and her young man left.”
“This isn’t the fifties, there are no more gentleman, never mind gentleman callers Grandma.” We shared a grin and I helped her bring the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, butter peas and glazed carrots and shallots to the table. I took the seat across from her and nodded for her to sit while the cornbread baked. “There’s nothing going on with Blake other than the fact that he thinks he can seduce me into selling his company.”
She took a long sip from the highball glasses with the frosted flowers around the rim and sighed. “Damn good drink, Poppy.”
“Yeah, thanks Grandma.” I often wondered if other people were as close with their grandmothers as I was, sharing cocktail recipes and dating stories. To be fair though, most of the dating stories were Maple’s since her love life was a lot more acti
ve than mine.
“Can he, seduce you into selling the company?”
“I’d love to say no, but we both know my inexperience is no match for his seduction skills. He can definitely seduce me, but I won’t sell him OAA.” If I sold it at all, I would sell it to anyone but him. Probably. Almost certainly. “Besides I won’t sleep with someone for the first time when I know going in that his motives are suspect.”
Maple tilted her head back and laughed, one hand to her chest while the other gripped her cup as her body shook with amusement. “All men have ulterior motives when it comes to sex.”
“I disagree. Men will say whatever it takes to get to achieve their goal, which is sex. The difference is that at least those men want to have sex with me for no other reason than to get off. They might not call the next day, but they want my body.”
She nodded and took another sip as she thought about my words, blue eyes sympathetic and kind, as always. “Nothing wrong with having a bit of fun.”
“Nothing at all. I love fun, but Blake isn’t the kind of guy you have fun with. He is deliberate in everything he does from the way he knots his ties, combs his hair and even the different smiles he has. Once the seduction begins, he’ll wage a full on war, not stopping until I’m head over heels in love with him and ready to sign over Out & About Apparel for pennies on the dollar.” She grinned and I rolled my eyes, ignoring the blush that stole over my skin. “Not that I’ve thought about it or anything.”
“Of course not,” she agreed with a falsely grave expression. “If that’s how you feel, I think distance is wise.”
“Agreed,” I told her, jumping up too fast when the oven timer sounded. “Anyway, tell me about your date last night. Where’d you go?”
Her face lit up as I set the glass dish on an oven pad. “We went to that artsy movie theater downtown to see ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.” Her eyes lit as she talked about watching her favorite musical on the big screen. “It was a blast, honey. And Ted even sang along, can you imagine?”
I could, actually. Ted and Maple were two peas in a pod, perfect for each other. “I need to know the most important part, can he carry a tune?”
“Oh his voice is as smooth and honeyed as The King,” she assured me, a glazed slightly wistful look in her blue eyes.
“Please, spare me the details while I eat.”
“Don’t be jealous,” she said, pointing a forkful of mashed potatoes at me. “Just go out and get some. You’re beautiful and quirky, and now you’re rich too. A catch if I ever heard one.” Silver brows arched in my direction, daring me to disagree.
“Yeah, that’s what I need,” I told her bitterly. “More men after me who want something other than my hot body.” I stole another piece of chicken and listened as Maple told me all about her date with Ted. They went to dinner and dancing after the movie, and if the glow on her face was anything to go by.
“Tell me again why Ted isn’t your boyfriend?” They went on dates regularly, had overnight visits that I’d rather not think about and spent enough time together that he should probably move in.
“I’m too old to have a boyfriend, but I like spending time with Ted. I’m going to keep him for a while.”
“Well that’s good to hear.” At least one of us was getting some action. “This dinner was so spectacular that I’m going to clean the kitchen without complaint.”
“That’s not necessary, though I do appreciate the offer.” The hair on the back of my neck stood at her tone.
“What’s wrong, Grandma? Tell me.” I braced myself, digging my feet into the updated linoleum floor as I prepared for Maple to tell me the worst news of my life. That she was sick. Or worse. “Just say it.”
I’d never seen Maple so nervous. Not since she called me downstairs that Saturday morning to tell me that my parents weren’t coming home again. “Victoria Sanchez sold her shares of Out & About.”
I let her words sink in before I said anything. Victoria was the one shareholder who’d made her dislike of me apparent from the beginning. It was no surprise that she’d jumped ship, I figured it was only a matter of time. But knowing she’d sold it wasn’t the problem, knowing who the likely buyer was though? That pissed me off. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?”
I nodded, still silent because what I wanted to do was scream until I lost my voice, maybe strangle someone or throw rocks at people. I’d done my homework over the past couple months and I knew exactly what that meant. “It means Blake is twenty percent closer to his goal.” And I was that much farther away.
“You know this isn’t the end, don’t you?”
“Hell yeah, I do. I still have the majority share so all I need is one person on my side. I plan to get the rest. No matter what.”
Maple patted my hand and smiled. “That’s my girl.”
I stayed a bit longer but I was too distracted to be decent company, so I made a pitcher of mint juleps for Ted’s imminent arrival, kissed Maple goodnight and went to do two things.
Drown my sorrows in booze.
Plan my attack.
Blake
It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen or spoken to Poppy, and I was starting to take it personally. She didn’t take my calls, during the day at work or later when she was at home. She didn’t even pretend to respond to my text messages and when I stopped by her house she never seemed to be home. The last time I saw her, I had my tongue down her throat and my hands held her ass in a death grip.
And now she was avoiding me.
I didn’t know why and I planned to find out by ambushing her at the OAA offices. Maybe even sneak in a few more kisses.
But when I entered the shiny lobby I knew my plans would have to wait because Victoria stood with her arms crossed, glowering at the tall, built black man in the security uniform. “What do you mean I am no longer allowed on the premises? Do you know who I am?”
The man looked bored of the conversation and completely unaffected by her condescending tone. “Victoria Sanchez, former shareholder. Are you here to see someone specific?” She sucked in a breath, and she seemed to choke on at the question.
I stepped in before she said something that might end with her in handcuffs. “Victoria, what’s going on?”
She turned to me with a pinched expression and sighed dramatically. “Blake! You won’t believe it, that dreadful woman thinks she can bar me from a company I helped get off the ground. If it wasn’t for me there would be no company for her to inherit!”
“Look ma’am, if you’re here to see someone, I can call them and they can come down and escort you up. If not, you need to leave.” The man held his bored expression but he didn’t seem moved by her words.
She tried to move past him but the man took one step to the left and then the right, effectively blocking her path. “Move, please.”
The large man, his nametag said Nathan, looked over at a much younger redheaded kid. “Riley, call the police.”
“Oh that won’t be necessary,” she said, practically spitting the words out. “This isn’t the end of me, young man.”
Nathan’s lips twitched. “I never imagined it would be, ma’am.”
With as much dignity as she could muster after such an embarrassing message, Victoria walked out with her head held high. I shook my head and turned to Nathan. “Blake Sayers,” I told him and offered my hand. “I’m here to see Poppy Masters.”
He gave a curt nod and picked up the phone behind the large silver desk that made up the security station. He spoke in a low voice before handing me the phone. “Come back here to get a visitor’s badge,” he said and turned back to the next person entering the building.
“Poppy, sweetheart, I’m here to see you,” I told her, my voice low and laced with seduction.
The voice that answered me however, was not Poppy’s, but her friend and assistant Talia. “Once the grace period has cleared on the purchase of your shares, you will be allowed access to the busines
s. Until then you need an appointment as well as an escort.” She gave an exasperated sigh. “You will receive notification by email and standard email when the grace period is over.” Without another word, she ended the call.
“Dammit!” My outburst drew the attention of a few employees waiting at the bank of elevators but I didn’t give a damn. I couldn’t believe she was acting this way because she found out about the shares. I hadn’t made it a secret what my goals were.
I guess it’s my fault for thinking she understood the difference between business and pleasure.
* * *
“What’s crawled up your butt and died?” Lacey’s flair for words pulled me from my own dark musings and earned her a scowl.
“Women. You included,” I grumbled. Hours had passed since I visited OAA and I was still fuming about her refusal to see me. Her rejection.
Lacey’s eyes lit with excitement as her body practically vibrated with energy. She closed the door and took a seat across from me, cradling her chin in her hands with a sympathetic smile. “What did you do?”
“You can’t possibly think I’m going to talk to you about this.” She might be a grown woman with a mortgage and in charge of the creative department, but to me she’d always be the little baby I held in my arms and promised to protect forever.
“Why not?” She shrugged and sat back in her seat, leaning to the point of being nearly asleep. “I’m an adult woman and I know about love and sex and relationships.”
“As far as I’m concerned you’re a virgin and will remain so until you get pregnant.” I winked and she flashed an affectionate eyeroll. But she only stared, the weight of those damn golden brown eyes made it hard to ignore her. “Fine. Brat.” She laughed and I gave her a brief rundown of my last few encounters with Poppy. Minus the kissing and touching.
“Are you on drugs? And not the good party drugs, but the kind that make you eat people’s faces?”
Cowboys & Bosses Page 31
