“He has five minutes.” I didn’t care that he was the CFO of a big corporation, we had a meeting scheduled, and if he couldn’t stick to the timeline, this would never work. Taking a seat, I pulled out my tablet and sent confirmation emails to pick up the cake bites for tasting when I left this meeting, fielded two phone calls and glared at Scarlett at least thirty-nine times. “That’s it, I’m out of here.” Next time I would just make the appointment with Lukas directly.
“Maybe he forgot.”
I turned back to look at her. She knew what her assets were, and based on her outfit, she planned to use them to snag a rich husband.
“No honey, I think it’s you who forgot. My best friend is marrying your boss’ boss, do you really want to play this game with me? Because I promise you, no bedroom acrobatics you could pull would save your job.” I was beyond being polite right now.
The door office opened, and Lukas stepped out. His frown disappeared and morphed into a welcoming smile that I told my body to ignore. His rugged jawline and that barest hint of a dimple did nothing for me. Nope, nothing at all.
“Hey Talia, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on is, I should have known you wouldn’t take this seriously, I just wish you’d had a little bit of respect for my time.”
And then I was out of there. Those two can stew in my dramatic departure.
The only good thing about this mix up was that I could stop and have lunch before picking up the cake samples and taking them to Poppy. When I found a deli, I ducked inside, grateful it was the tail end of the lunch hour rush, and there were several free tables. I set my stuff down in a booth and placed my order before calling Poppy.
“Have you eaten anything today?”
“I’m going crazy Talia, break me outta here. Please!”
I shook my head at her stricken tone. “It’s barely been a week Poppy, nut up.”
She sucked in a breath, and then promptly burst out laughing. “Nut up? Seriously?”
“You were spiraling. So, food?”
“I’m good. Blake offered an intern a job in the mailroom while he got intern credit if he would keep me fed each day. The kid has good taste, brought me a lobster burrito with tomatillo salsa and fresh chips. Fresh chips, Talia!”
At least now she was calm. Mostly. “Well, I’ll be by with the cake samples soon, so I hope you didn’t overdo it on fancy burritos.”
“No way, I only ate half in anticipation cake!” It was nice to hear Poppy back to her usual upbeat self. I couldn’t imagine spending two months in bed, then again, I couldn’t imagine growing a baby in my belly either. “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting with Lukas? Don’t tell me you skipped it.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Poppy. I showed up and he kept me waiting for thirty minutes, so I left. I have other things to do, so I’m just going to take care of it myself and you guys are just going to have to trust that it’s equitable.” I sucked in a breath and realized—too late—my mistake. “It’s taken care of and if you worry about it I swear I will kick your ass.”
“Fine,” she sighed and I could see her rolling her eyes in my mind. “I’ll see you later.”
Poppy ended the call before I could issue any more threats, which was fine by me, because the pink haired waitress brought my pastrami with dill chips just as I set the phone down.
“Mmm, so good.” It was the kind of deli sandwich that should be illegal, because it made the person eating it moan like a porn star.
“Looks like I showed up at just the right time.”
I groaned again, but there was no pleasure in it.
“Why are you trying to ruin my lunch?” It was bad enough he’d screwed with my day.
“I guess that’s just a happy byproduct.” He dropped down into the seat across from me. When I didn’t respond, he ducked low until it became so awkward that I had no choice but to look at him. “That’s better. Care to tell me what I did today to piss you off?”
I finished chewing my food and glared at him. “You mean other than wasting my damn time by not showing up for our meeting, and then not having the decency to call to say you were busy, and then you let me wait in your lobby for a half an hour? Gee Lukas, I have no clue what you did to piss me off.”
“I don’t know who told you we had a meeting today, but we definitely did not.”
“No!” I smacked both of my hands on the small wooden table and I’m sure my eyes were spitting fire in his direction. “Don’t fucking lie to me, Lukas. I called and spoke to your assistant myself the day after we met at Blake and Poppy’s. This meeting was on the books for almost a week.”
He blinked, looking genuinely puzzled by my words. “I honestly have no clue what you’re talking about.”
I wasn’t surprised that was the excuse he would go with, so I flipped open my email program, and showed him my follow up exchanges with his assistant. Because I always follow up in writing after a call.
“Want to tell me again how you’re not fucking her, but she went through these lengths to stop the meeting?” Lukas didn’t say anything, because what could he possibly say?
“For the last time, I am not sleeping with my assistant! But I will find out what the hell happened today.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll have a copy of both binders sent directly to you and they won’t be handed over unless you’re there to sign for them directly. If you’re still interested in helping out, then I prefer to deal with you directly.” Before his assistant decided to go all Fatal Attraction on me.
“Fine, that’s probably for the best.” He glanced down at his expensive watch and then up at the chalkboard menu above the register. “Do you have time to meet now?”
“No. I have other stops I need to make before picking up the cake samples to take over to Poppy.”
He frowned again, unhappy with this news. “I thought we were both doing that.”
“You want to drive across town to pick up cake samples, drive them back to Poppy’s, go over the notes from the baker, and help her make a decision?”
He grinned. “I do. Thanks for asking, Talia.” He let my name roll of his tongue like he was a Spaniard or something. It was sexy, and he damn well knew it. I crossed my legs under the table to stave off the ache his presence often caused.
“You can’t be serious.”
He smiled and leaned back, casual as you please as he flung one arm along the back of the booth. “I can, and I am. Pick me up in front of the office?”
“Follow me to my car, or have your assistant set up a ride for you.” With any luck she’d send him to her apartment and I could finish my day in peace.
“If you’re that impatient to get me alone, let’s go.” He grabbed the other half of my sandwich just as I started to wrap up for later.
“Hey, that’s my food!”
He shrugged. “Now it’s mine.”
I glared again at his entitled ass, so much like Frederico it made me physical ill. Desperate to get away, I left Lukas sitting inside the deli while I left a tip for the pink haired girl and stormed out, walking as fast as my fabulous stilettos would carry me to get as far away from the man as possible.
“Jackass.”
“You forgot me, Talia!” His footsteps sounded behind me, and I knew when I was beat. For now. “Why’d you leave?”
I could hear the smile in his voice, I turned and I pointed at him. “Stop talking. Just stop talking. Right. Now.” Maybe if he was silent for the next few hours I’d make it through this without an arrest for murder.
To his credit, Lukas didn’t speak. But the spectacle he made while trying not to laugh was making me second guess my stance on the color orange.
Lukas
I was getting to Talia.
She would never admit it, but I could see the truth of it in the way her eyes flared with unbanked desire, the way her mouth parted ever so slightly when I stood too close. And my personal favorite, that delicate slip of skin at her throat that fluttered like a
butterfly’s wing in my presence. It could just be annoyance, but always the optimist, I like to think it was desire.
That’s why I was standing in the doorway to her office, watching her in a teal dress that clung to her hips and ass. It was a thing of beauty, round and heart-shaped. Just a bit more than a handful, her ass was pure perfection. Even though the dress stopped just above her knee, it looked as sinful as if she were naked. And then it happened. The moment she realized she wasn’t alone and froze with her ass aimed right at me, such a blissful few seconds.
But when she straightened up and turned, there was a war within me. Do I let my eyes drop down to her amazing tits that looked like a solid D cup, which is what my dick wanted, or do I keep my gaze trained on her face, so I could see that flash of lust and happiness when she saw me? It was a no brainer, my brain overrode my cock, reveling in that flash of emotion before it quickly disappeared from her sweet face.
“Hey Talia.”
“Lukas. What are you doing here?”
Not exactly a warm welcome, but I was tough. “I’m here because we have plans.”
Her auburn brows furrowed, and I lasered in on three little freckles on the bridge of her nose in the shape of a triangle. “No, we don’t.”
She took a step back when I moved forward, but my hands landed on her shoulders before she could get too far away and slid down her arms until her hands were inside mine. “Do you trust me?”
“Not in the least,” she laughed lightly, but she was shit at hiding her emotions, and I could see excitement shining in her eyes.
“Okay fine.” I rolled my eyes, ignoring the disappointment kicking my gut at her answer. “Don’t trust me, just come with me, and know that I won’t let any harm come to you.”
She sucked in a breath, and her raspberry lips curled up into a smile. “I can do that.”
Thank fuck. “Come on then.” I stood by the door, and when she was ready, kept my hand at her back until we were in my midnight metallic blue Porsche 918 Spyder.
“Of course you have this car,” she muttered as she slid into the passenger seat.
I kept quiet until we were on the road. “What do you mean?”
“You’re a cliché, Lukas.”
“Please call me Luke.”
“You’re a cliché, Luke. Rich, gorgeous playboy with the fancy sports car. Makes me wonder if you’re compensating for something.” I laughed and reached for her wrist. “What are you doing?”
“Letting you decide for yourself if I’m compensating.” Her whole body tensed, but my hold was light, and one gentle pull from her separated us.
“Not necessary,” she said, relaxing into the seat. “So, where are we going?” But I held her off with questions about wedding details, because I wanted this to be a surprise.
“We’re almost there.” By the time we arrived at our destination, Talia was anxious. Restless. She jumped out of the car and began to stretch, making my mouth water as her ass came into view again. I adjusted my pants before she noticed.
We were an hour outside the city, the air was fresh and dewy, and I knew the moment Talia spotted the church. “It’s gorgeous!” She grabbed at my arm, looking up at me with a wide-eyed smile that hit me right in the cock. “Look at those stained glass windows,” she pointed as I pulled her along, towards the entrance. “Oh my!” She ran up ahead and ran her hands along the thick wooden doors with the oversized steel handles. “Wow, just wow!”
I caught up to her, and pushed the doors open with a flourish as though I’d done something great.
“Go on in, you know you want to.”
She hesitated for one second and then dashed in, taking in all the details carved into the wooden pews, the imagery in the blue, red and yellow stained glass windows. The sun sent in thick shards of light, giving the pulpit an unusual glow.
“How did you find this beauty?”
“Someone I know mentioned it was available.” She didn’t need to know that I’d put out feelers for wedding locations even among my former bedmates. I didn’t owe Talia an explanation, but I felt like I did, and that irked me. I stood by the door watching her take in the view, walking down the back hall to check out the other details.
“A bridal suite!” Yeah, I’d done a good job. The smile she wore when she came back was evidence of that. “It’s perfect. I took a thousand photos, but I know Poppy will love it.” She stepped outside and looked at me. “Do you think it would be too much to ask people to drive to another location for the reception after driving all the way out here for the wedding? Maybe we could charter a bus or something.”
“Stop right there. No one is showing up to my brother’s wedding in a fucking bus.”
“Snob.”
I rolled my eyes. It might be true, but I was also right. “This is a friends and family event, no networking, or media, or any of that bullshit. The church won’t fit more than a hundred, maybe one hundred and fifty people, so if we need to, we can get a fleet of limos, but we might not have to.”
I loved that shocked look on her face, when her plump lips formed a sexy little ‘o’. I imagined she’d wear that same expression the moment she came undone around my cock. I would have loved to look at her longer, but we had a long walk ahead, and I didn’t think her fuck-me heels would manage in the dewy grass, so I scooped her up into my arms.
“What in God’s name are you doing?!”
“Pay attention, Talia. And don’t swear, we’re in front of a church.” I whispered in her ear, nipping it and enjoying the shiver that rolled up her body. My body practically vibrated from having her lush curves in my arms. Her squirming wasn’t making things better, but I was a fit, and soon we were at our next location. I set her down, so we were face to face. “Okay, keep an open mind, and let me know what you think.”
She turned and sucked in a breath while I held mine, waiting for her to say something cutting, something guaranteed to put me in my place.
“It’s perfect.” Her smile was satisfied, and I finally exhaled. “We have a lot to do to get it ready, but it’s doable. Totally doable. This is…so great, Luke.”
That smile right there, it made me feel ten feet fucking tall. For once. “See, I’m not totally useless.”
She frowned. “I never said you were.”
That was true, she was never that openly rude. “You didn’t have to,” I grumbled and headed back to the car.
I hated that I let Talia’s words get to me. It’s not like I expected her to fawn all over me just because other women did—all other women did—but I was charming and handsome, with the cherry of being rich on top. Besides all that, I knew Talia wanted me too. Maybe it was pride or ego, or maybe I needed to just move on.
I would, too. As soon as I fucked her and got her out of my system.
“Okay, what’s going on Luke? All of a sudden I have the ability to hurt your feelings?”
I snorted, angry and simmering. “Don’t flatter yourself sweetheart.”
“Good,” she spat at me. “Then stop acting like a baby. We have a lot of work to do, and it’d go a lot faster if you weren’t sulking the entire time.”
I should have been pissed off, at least offended by her harsh words. But I wasn’t. I was amused and impressed. I was turned on. “Just because you don’t like me Talia, doesn’t make me a bad person.”
“I don’t think you’re a bad person, and I don’t dislike you either.”
“I call bullshit. You go out of your way to let me know what you think, and that’s fine, you don’t have to like me. Just don’t disrespect me.”
I realized being an asshole wouldn’t get me what I wanted. To part those creamy thighs, I would have to pursue her. I hadn’t chased after a woman in a long time, but the challenge might be nice.
“I wasn’t trying to, but I’m sorry Luke. You act like nothing can get to you, so I guess I just assume it’s true.”
“Have dinner with me.”
“What? No. That’s not a good idea.” She shook her
head and continued to mumble about what a bad idea it was, trying to convince herself more than me. “A very bad idea.”
I smiled. She was nervous. Good. “It’s a great idea. We can eat while we work. We have a lot to accomplish over the next few months and it’ll be easier to get it done if we do it more than one hour at a time.”
“And how do you propose we spend five hours working at a table at some exclusive restaurant downtown?”
I grinned. “You’re right. I’ll make us dinner at my place.” She opened her mouth, and a strangled sound came out that made me chuckle. “Can’t think of a good reason to say no?”
“No, dammit.”
I laughed outright that time, not even giving a damn when she smacked my chest or pinched my arm.
“Good. I’ll see you at six.”
Talia
What the hell was I thinking, letting Luke con me into coming to his place for dinner?
It was the spider issuing an invitation to the fly, who was then stupid enough to accept it under the guise of work. I was sure we would get work done, just as I was sure that he’d have my panties on the floor, and his cock buried deep inside me before I set foot outside his apartment again. Even knowing he had an ulterior motive, my desire to get ahead on my work made me willing to chance it. Or so I told myself.
I was pathetic.
But I was here, and I needed to prove to myself that I had more willpower than lust, if only to myself. So, I smiled at the nice doorman when he walked me to the elevator and pressed a few buttons to take me to Luke’s floor. I used the ride up to give my appearance a final check in the mirrored doors. I’d gone casual in a green wrap dress with golden flats.
Just to make sure he knew, that I knew, that this was not a date.
The doors opened and Lukas was right there, acting like a pod person. He was nice and charming. Sweet, even.
“Talia you look…stunning.” His eyes were sincere and with the gold flecks more prominent, he never looked more like a big cat on the prowl. “As always.”
“Thanks, Luke. What’s all this?”
Cowboys & Bosses Page 48
