Cowboys & Bosses

by Piper Sullivan

  Looking good didn’t have to be about a man and since I wasn’t in the market for one, I wore my dress proudly for me as I walked into McAllister’s Pub. It was a pub in the loosest sense of the world with miles of dark mahogany and black leather, but the food was upscale and Michelin quality.

  “I’m here for the Masters-Sayers tasting,” I told the stunning hostess as she sauntered to the podium.

  “Follow me,” she said and I did, eyes glued to her impossibly tiny waist and long shapely legs. I couldn’t help but envy her easy confidence and effortless beauty as she led me into a private room. “A complimentary bottle of wine is available now, but nothing will be served until your party arrives.”

  I thanked her and dug in my purse to answer my ringing phone. “Let me guess Poppy, you’re running late?”

  “More than late, I’m not going to make it. Talia and I are caught up with some last minute work details. Can you just make notes on everything and get back to me? Thanks babe, love you! Bye!”

  I stared at the phone and frowned. Poppy was being weird, even weird for normal Poppy. But to call her on it risked another hormone induced emotion fest. Besides, she’d already hung up which meant I could let her down or I could sit in this room, alone, and gorge myself on high quality food.

  I chose to gorge.

  And drink.

  “Is this a solo party or can anyone join in?”

  I froze at the sound of Walker’s voice, cheese in one hand and wine in the other. “What are you doing here?” Please don’t let a date be with him, I couldn’t handle it.

  “I came to see you.” He walked over to me and took the seat beside me, so close our shoulders and hips were pressed together. “I’ve missed you Lacey, and I know I have no right to feel that way, but I do.”

  “I miss you too,” I told him honestly. I didn’t think it would change anything, but I refused to be a liar. “But it doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course, it does,” he said lightly, grabbing my hand so our fingers were locked together. “It’s the only thing that matters, I was just too stupid to realize it at the time. I’ve been miserable without you.”

  “You threw me away, Walker.”

  He sighed. “I never said I was all that bright. The way I feel about you, it took me off guard. I wasn’t expecting to feel anything, and I know that makes me sound like an asshole but it’s true.”

  It made him sound honest. And vulnerable, something I knew he’d hate if I told him as much. “How do you feel?” I held my breath, unable to believe I had the courage to ask the question. I guess that was growth.

  “I’m in love with you, Lacey. I wish I could claim some kind of deep insight, but it was your brother who finally made me realize it. And you.” Finally, he turned to me and grabbed my wrists, placing both of my hands against his chest. “I was punishing you for other people and worse, I punished you for making me feel things I didn’t want to feel.”

  Hope blossomed in my heart like a flower in Spring, but my head wouldn’t let the rest of me get too excited. “And now, do you want to feel the way you do, or are you just tolerating it?”

  He let out a shuddery laugh. “That’s another reason I love you Lace, you don’t mince your words. I want the feelings, Lacey. With you I want all of it.” He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips. “I want my heart to race and flutter when I see you, I want my body to heat up when you smile at me, and I want to ache just a little bit whenever you aren’t around. I want it all, because it means you’re here in my life, every single day. It means you’re choosing me the same way my heart chose you.”

  Damn. How was a girl supposed to remain unaffected when the beautiful, slightly broken and utterly charming man of her dreams went and said something amazing and heartfelt like that?

  “You don’t play fair, Walker.”

  “When it comes to keeping you in my life? You’re damn right.” He kissed me again, this time it was still chaste, but it lasted a little longer, grew a little hotter before he pulled back.

  “I love you too, Walker. I didn’t plan to, and I didn’t want to, but getting to know you made that impossible. You’re a better man than you let the world see, and I’m happy you let me see the real you.”

  He smiled so wide, and so filled with happiness I thought my heart would burst it was so full. “I want you forever, Lacey. I know you might find that hard to believe, but I know what I want and it’s you.” I wanted to cut him off and tell him I didn’t need false promises, I was happy to date and see where we went when we were ready, but Walker was determined. “I have something for you.”

  “I don’t need gifts, Walker.”

  “Everyone needs gifts, especially you, and especially since I was such a jerk to you.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket and popped it open to reveal a gorgeous Marquise cut diamond with tiny pink diamonds surrounding it. Gorgeous and sophisticated, I plucked it from the cushion and frowned at the chain hanging from it.

  “Is this a tether?”

  Walker laughed and took it from me. “No, this is patience. I love you Lacey and I want to make you mine before you realize you could do so much better than me, but I know you need time. So, when you’re ready,” he looped the chain around my neck and fastened it, pressing kisses along my neck and shoulder, “take this off your neck and put it on your finger so I’ll know you’re ready to marry me, and give me a chance.”

  I channeled my inner Poppy and bawled like a baby at his heartfelt words, at the gesture that said how much he not only respected, but cherished me. “Walker, I have a counter-offer.”

  “I’m listening,” he said, hands resting low on my hips as he pulled me closer and closer.

  “Move in with me so we can do this for real and in six months this ring will go on my finger.” I can’t believe I just said those words, but I realized that I meant them. I loved Walker and I liked him too, and I wanted to make this work. Immersion was the only way to be sure it was the right move.

  “I’m bringing my bed, it’s bigger.”

  “But mine means we get to be close all the time.” I fisted his shirt and brought his lips down to mine. “Then again, I’ve got a few fantasies featuring your bed.”

  “Then let’s go get started on those fantasies before we move in together. You’re sure about this?”

  I nodded, feeling high and giddy, I just knew I was glowing. “I am. Too bad there’s no limo around when you need one.”

  His laugh echoed in the room as he pulled me onto his lap. “Who needs a limo when that door has a lock?” We both flashed a look at that door, wearing matching mischievous smiles.

  “We have to, don’t we?”

  Without a word, Walker slid me from his lap and went to the door to meet the server before she entered. “We need to discuss something privately and we don’t want to be disturbed for ten minutes.”

  “Fifteen,” I called out, feeling my face heat with embarrassment.

  “Fifteen minutes,” he clarified and slipped a bill in her hand. She grinned and nodded.

  “The door locks from the inside,” she whispered and walked away.

  He turned to me with a hungry look in his eye. “Come here sweetheart. Come here and fuck me like it’s your last time as a single woman, because it is.”

  “Even though you’re a complete Neanderthal, I love you.” I kissed him long and hard before pulling back to whisper in his ear. “And I look forward to waking up in the naughtiest of ways with you for the rest of my life.”

  “Now that sounds like my kind of future.”

  When the waitress returned exactly fifteen minutes later, we were smiling, slightly rumpled and ready to sample some food.

  Life was good.

  * * *

  THE END

  * * *

  “She's beautiful, perfect, and most importantly, she's mine.

  She just doesn’t know it yet…”

  Check out my sizzling Roommate Romance in Mr. Savior Here!

  Naughty Takeover
/>
  Lukas

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  Talia Breckenridge planted her palms flat on the linen draped table inside Blake and Poppy’s homey kitchen, fire spitting out of her honey brown eyes, lending an even more fiery element to the hot little package that was Talia. She glared at me and my brother Blake across the table, like it was my fault she’d been called here today. I didn’t want to be here any more than she did.

  “If Talia can’t handle working alongside me, I’m sure my assistant and I can handle everything.” Even though Scarlett spent more time battling her eyelashes and trying to get me to notice her spectacular tits, she was a decent assistant when she tried to be.

  She snorted out a laugh that shouldn’t have been sexy, but it was strip me down and fuck me now hot. “If the wedding was made up of dick and balls, I’d agree. But the only thing you two could possibly create together is an unplanned pregnancy.” She scooped the martini off the table and took a long, fortifying sip.

  I’d be lying if I said her indifference, no, her outrage at having to work with me didn’t sting., but it did. Women always wanted to hang around me, spend time with me in the hopes of becoming my main thing for a little while. Not Talia. And I’d wanted her from the moment I first laid eyes on her. That was almost two years ago, and still I’d made no progress.

  “As skilled as I am in the sack, I don’t fuck my assistants.” No matter how much they tried to tempt me.

  “A man with standards,” she said sarcastically as she fanned her face mockingly. “Excuse me while I swoon.”

  I rolled my eyes before leveling my older brother Blake with a stare cold enough to kill. “Explain to me again why you two, can’t just hire a damn professional wedding planner?”

  “Because,” Blake’s voice grew hard and icy as he stood, glaring at both of us. “Poppy is on bed rest for the last nine weeks of her pregnancy. She’s only two days in and already losing her mind. You guys are our family and I’m counting on you to do this. Poppy is too.”

  “Yeah, I’m counting on you guys too,” Poppy entered the dining room looking colorful and vibrant. And miserable, as she rubbed her giant belly.

  “Shit.” Who could say no to the sunny picture of motherhood she made?

  “You had to hit me with the family stuff, didn’t you?” Talia glared at Blake and then Poppy, but it was clear she was out of steam. “Fine. I know you’re going to hate being benched, but I know what you like, which means you won’t run yourself crazy running behind some wedding planner.”

  Blake’s shoulders relaxed. “Exactly, Talia. Thank you.” Unbelievably she laid a comforting hand on top of Blake’s, smiling sweetly. I didn’t even know she had a sweet side, I’d certainly never been privy to it.

  “No worries. And bed rest means I can boss her around and she has to listen.” Like the dutiful assistant she was, Talia grinned at Poppy and whipped out a notebook and pen, scribbling furiously while Blake and I watched. “Maple will be happy to help too.”

  “So I can count on you two?” Blake wanted nothing but a positive response, and I knew that. He was strung tight, my brother, with a deep desire to make sure everything ran perfectly in his world, but I knew just how to soothe him.

  “You absolutely can,” Talia assured him. “I’ll make sure this is as stress free as possible for you and Poppy.”

  “I will too,” I added too late to sound like an adult, and more like a boy who wanted credit for his contribution too.

  “Great! That’s a load off my back,” Blake smiled and sipped his water until his body was no longer drawn and tight. “Thank you for this. Both of you.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” Poppy said, but I could see the tension she carried in her shoulders. “But we have something else to discuss,” she declared ominously.

  “Shouldn’t Lacey be helping with this? I don’t want her to feel left out.” I also didn’t want to hear about the something else that had Poppy so worried.

  “She’ll be planning her own wedding inside of a year, let your sister enjoy watching this fresh hell from afar.” Talia’s words were spoken with certainty, like she knew planning a wedding was sheer insanity. Suddenly I felt sick.

  Blake’s face held a hint of red when he spoke. “Poppy’s asked Lace to plan the bachelorette party.” The way he stuck a finger in his collar told me he was worried what my twin sister might come up with for his bride-to-be’s last night as a single woman. “She’s included.”

  “Don’t worry Blake, I excel at handling difficult clients, so your baby brother here won’t be a problem. We’ll plan an upscale, but slightly bohemian wedding. You and Poppy need to start on the guest list if you haven’t already. Just so we know how much of everything we’ll need.” She rattled off several other commands while we sat there, staring at her. Talia was completely oblivious because she hadn’t looked up yet. “And if you have some place your little heart is set on for the wedding and/or reception, let me know.”

  “Whatever Poppy wants is great with me.”

  That stopped her rapid wrist flicking and she looked up at my brother with a soft smile. “That’s so sweet. I’m happy for you both.”

  Blake blinked, still getting used to showing emotion. “Thank you, Talia. I love her.”

  “I know, and that’s why I only had a mild tantrum.” She pulled a card from her bag and slid it across the table. “If you think of anything else as we go forward, just shoot me a text or email. And no need to keep the wedding too formal. Maybe consider orange cummerbunds or something.”

  “Fuck no it won’t,” I shouted at her, making her, Poppy and Blake laugh.

  “Who knew this one had such strong opinions on wedding attire?” She was purposely trying to rile me up, and it was working.

  I had plenty of strong opinions, and Talia would see that soon enough. Not only would I help plan this wedding, but I planned on using our time together to finally get her out of my mind. A quick roll, or ten, between the sheets and her allure would be gone. I’d see her for who she was, just a woman.

  Plan in place, I flashed my most charming grin her way, and leaned in. “Just you wait sweetheart, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  She snorted and rolled her eyes as she began to repack her giant bag. What was the woman carrying around in there?

  “I look forward to you proving me wrong.”

  Poppy clapped excitedly. “I’m so glad to hear you both say that, because Blake and I have another issue we need you to deal with. Both of you.”

  Fuck my life. “The wedding isn’t enough?”

  Poppy blinked like she was trying to hold back tears, and I had to remember she was twelve hundred months pregnant and sensitive as hell. “Sorry to inconvenience you.”

  “What do you need, Poppy?” Talia’s tone was sympathetic and kind, but she sent a searing glare my way to let me know just what she thought of me. As if there was any doubt.

  She sighed and rubbed her belly, gaze fixed on the table as Blake rubbed her shoulders in soothing circles. He spoke instead. “We’re sponsoring the Northwest Adventure Classic, and we’d like you two to take care of the details.”

  I smelled a rat, but with Poppy on the verge of tears there wasn’t a damn thing I could say about it now. Luckily Talia was on top of it.

  “Send me whatever details you do have, and I’ll coordinate a time to meet with Lukas through his assistant.”

  I heard a hint of resignation, or maybe it was annoyance, but she still refused to look at me.

  “Is that all?” Blake nodded and I walked out, ready to go lose myself in a drink, a steak and woman. Not necessarily in that order either.

  Talia

  Finally!

  I’d spent the past four days putting together two different binders to handle the chaotic hell my life had just become. The Northwest Adventure Classic was six months away, but when it came to events like this, that meant we were already six months behind. And I couldn’t just take care of it on my own, because Poppy and Blake wan
ted both their companies to sponsor it equally. So, I had to do my part for Poppy’s company as her assistant, and Lukas would take care of his and Blake’s family company’s contribution.

  Why they’d decided to dump this on my plate along with all the wedding crap was beyond me. But now wasn’t the time to whine. There would be plenty of time later, and lots of vodka, for me to curse my best friend, my boss and my godchild growing inside of her.

  With both binders complete, I could no longer avoid the one thing I’d put at the bottom of my list the moment I left Poppy and Blake’s place.

  Meeting with Lukas.

  It wasn’t that I disliked him, even though I kept him at arm’s length. It was just that everything about him, from his curly blonde hair, that even the best product couldn’t tame, to his chocolate brown eyes with lightning rods of gold shooting through them, it all reminded me of my ex. He was too rich and too arrogant for my taste. And he’s been trying to get in my pants ever since Poppy’s and Blake’s orbits overlapped.

  He was tempting as hell, and I knew it would be an unforgettable night if I was ever foolish enough to act on it. But I didn’t shit where I ate, and no man was more in my life than Lukas, whether I wanted him to be or not.

  A quick look at the clock told me I needed to get going, because heaven forbid the man try to make my life easier. His assistant had insisted that he couldn’t possibly make it out of the office today, so I grabbed my jacket, packed my bag and made the drive to Peak Adventures. This wasn’t my first trip to Lukas’ workplace, but it was always as Poppy’s assistant, not that much had changed, but this time I had to deal with him on my own.

  “He’ll be with you soon. Have a seat.” Scarlett was no fan of mine, which was strange, since I’d only ever been polite to her. Lucky for Scarlett, I didn’t give a flying rat’s ass.