Hot Summer Nights: A Four Seasons Novel

by Lee, Geneva

  “I should’ve told you,” I said apologetically. “I just figured you’d still be in the office.” It sounded like the lamest excuse ever, especially since I was breaking her no boys rule. In fact, I’d pretty much broken every rule on the counter just now. Guilt washed over me and before I could kick Gavin out, he stepped forward.

  “ We’re cooking dinner. There’s more than enough. Have you eaten?”

  “Steak,” I added.

  “That sounds amazing. I’m famished.”

  Had we actually gotten away with it? Did it really look like we were innocently cooking in the kitchen? Lillian excused herself to go change in her room and I collapsed against the counter as soon she was down the hall.

  “You look so guilty right now “ Gavin told me.

  “I did pretty much break the only rule she gave me. Next weekend I could hold a kegger, then I could disregard everything she asked of me when she let me live here for free.”

  Gavin brushed his index finger down my belly, sending a tremble of anticipation running through me. “Next time we’ll do it at my house. I’ll kick Imogen out if she’s not run off to a beach somewhere. We can even put a sock on the door if that makes you feel more comfortable.”

  “Put a what on the door?” Lillian asked as she reentered in a pair of lounge pants. The evening had become increasingly casual, it seemed. Nothing killed a date like your roommate coming to dinner in her pajamas with your pseudo-boyfriend.

  “Nothing!” I chirped. The kitchen timer went off saving us all from this embarrassing turn in the conversation. Gavin showed me how to sear both sides of the steak now that it was cooked internally. Then we made the Brussels sprouts. Okay, he made the Brussels sprouts and I watched. I did, however, contribute by pouring everyone a glass of wine.

  After nearly getting caught in the act by Lillian, my nerves were rattled, but Gavin was a natural at easy conversation and the discussion flowed as we sat around and ate. The evening began to draw to a close and I was left to wonder if I dared to ask him to stay for dessert. Lillian seeming to sense my dilemma, stood up and grabbed all of our plates. “I’m exhausted, I think I’ll head to bed.”

  I shot her questioning look. If she was going to protest his being here, I’d rather know about it now. She only gave me an encouraging smile. She stacked the dishes in the sink and turned to head to her room when Olive appeared with my large, purple vibrator clutched in her jaws.

  How had that damn cat figured out to turn it on?

  She dropped it on the floor in the middle of the room and began batting it around. All three of us shared a look before Lillian dashed over, scooped Olive into her arms and began to scold her under her breath, “Not yours. Although I think Cassie might not be needing that any longer.”

  She winked at me as she whisked the cat away to her room.

  “So that’s what having an older sister is like,” I said out loud.

  Gavin was obviously trying to look everywhere but at the vibrating elephant in the room. Why Lillian had to take the cat was beyond me. It seemed simple enough to me. Leave the cat and take the vibrator.

  I got up, mustering as much dignity as possible, went over and turned it off. It whirred to a stop with a sad mechanical sigh. Turning to Gavin, the vibrator still in my hand, I said, “Best date ever?”

  He got up and crossed to me, stopping for a moment to study his competition. He didn’t look intimidated. “Absolutely.”

  “Is there any point in asking you to pretend you never saw this?” I asked him, my voice taking on a desperate edge.

  “Hold on. Trying to judge if I measure up.”

  “You’re terrible.” I smacked him on the shoulder with it.

  “Did you just hit me with your vibrator?”

  I gasped, realizing what I’d done, but Gavin only chuckled. “I mean, I don’t want to get between you two.”

  “Why can’t a giant piano fall on me right now?” I asked. Gavin caught me around the waist and planted one soft, promising kiss on my lips.

  “I’m not the jealous type. Although I think your roommate might be right about how much you’re not going to be needing that.”

  Knees buckled? Check. Niagara Falls down below? Check.

  Why didn’t I have my own apartment?

  He stepped back and surveyed the mess we left in the kitchen. “We should clean that up and then I should get going.”

  This evening wasn’t turning out how either of us had planned. And I understood why he wanted to get out. Lillian, her cat, and my vibrator weren’t exactly the welcome committee most guys expected. “I’ve got this. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”

  We would take our time. There was nothing wrong with that. I did my best to avoid the nagging voice in the back of my head that worried I had scared him off. That bitch never shut up anyway.

  This time, I shoved Mr. Dependable in a box at the top of my closet. Lillian was right, I wouldn’t be needing him anymore. Not since I had found Mr. Right.

  Chapter 15

  The next morning, in a shocking turn of events, I was running late. I skidded into the kitchen, my lipstick in hand, praying that Lillian had put coffee on. Even terrible, automatic machine coffee would be better than nothing at this point. I didn’t expect to actually find Lillian there.

  She was leaning against the kitchen counter, a mug clutched in her hands. She looked over to the clock on the microwave. “Running a little late?”

  That was an understatement. I nodded. “Tell me there’s more of that.”

  “Put your lipstick on.” She turned and pulled a mug out of the cupboard and began to pour me a cup of liquid happiness. “Long night?”

  “I have a lot on my mind. Big presentation.” I was lying, but not about the long night. I’d been awake fantasizing about what had happened between Gavin and I—and what might have happened if he’d stayed over. I’d been too giddy to overthink things. All I had done was bask in the orgasmic glow of our first serious alone time.

  “You were probably thinking about your boyfriend, too,” she tacked that bit on like the lawyer she was—a quick rebuttal to my claim but a loaded one.

  Was this the part where she told me off for breaking the rules? I paused and sized her up, for the first time realizing that she wasn’t even dressed to go into the office. What was she doing here at eight in the morning? As far as I could tell, she worked sun-up to sundown plus overtime. I was in real trouble if Lillian had called in sick just to tell me off.

  She held out the cup of coffee like an olive branch, so I took it tentatively, wondering if it was a trick. Was this the Trojan horse of roommate offerings? Would I take it and find myself under siege? I didn’t know what I would do if she kicked me out. It was only midsummer still. There was no way I’d be able to find somewhere else to crash. I didn’t know anyone else in the city well enough. How long could I get away with sleeping in the office before anyone noticed?

  “Where did you meet him?” she asked conversationally.

  “At work,” I said slowly. She seemed to be trying to put me at ease. Maybe she was hoping I would spill my guts and tell her exactly what had happened—on the kitchen counter she was now leaning against. My eyes flashed to the spot, wondering if she could sense the promiscuous activity like some people claimed to experience paranormal activity. “He’s actually my boss.”

  “Your boss?” she repeated archly. “The one you thought hated you?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “Well that explains that.” She spoke matter-of -factly as though I could translate what she meant. I suspected I should understand her. The trouble was that I didn’t.

  “Explains what?” I’d managed to lift the coffee mug near my lips, but I hadn’t been brave enough to take a sip yet. I realized looking down at it that my hands were shaking. I couldn’t imagine facing her in a courtroom.

  “It explains why you thought he hated you. Everyone always thinks that boys grow out of being mean to the girl they like, but they
don’t really.”

  “He’s pretty nice. I think I had the wrong impression of him.”

  “When did you to start seeing each other?” Apparently, the interrogation was going to continue.

  I stayed on my guard, abandoning my coffee on the counter. If I was going to face this, I didn’t want to risk third-degree burns by dumping it down my shirt due to trembling palms. I took a deep breath and came clean. “I know I broke the rules,” I began, “and I should have warned you he was here. We’ll hang out at his place from now on. I hope you can forgive me.”

  I felt so grown up that I half-expected her to hand me a gold star sticker.

  “I’m not upset,” Lillian said quickly. “I know I said no boys. It’s just that Jessica told me once about your boy-catching thing.”

  I cringed at the memory of our freshman pact. None of us had ever been very good at it—except maybe Jillian. Come to think of it, boy catching had been Jillian’s idea. It was the kind of thing that sounded cool and worldly to eighteen- year-olds. Now? It was a bit silly. Basically, we’d agreed to stay away from serious relationship and be total players. I had lasted one week before I met Luka. Jessica had gone a little bit longer before she met her ex. Jillian had clung to the concept the longest, but even she had fallen victim to the lure of true love after a one night stand gone right and was now off the market. Boy catching was something to laugh about now. “I really don’t do that anymore. I don’t even date—until last night. I didn’t even want to date him.”

  “If he’s acting inappropriately…” Lillian began, instantly shifting from cross examination to attorney-client privilege.

  Oh crap. Now I had given her the wrong idea. I quickly reversed my tune. “No. It’s not like that. He’s made it perfectly clear that I have every right to kick him to the curb.”

  “Do you want to? He’s kinda hot.” Just like that she was back to older sister mode.

  “I thought it would be smarter if I stayed away from him. I didn’t want to cause problems at the office. I know it’s kind of a gray area to date someone you work with, especially your boss.”

  “He’s not Donald Trump,” she scoffed. “He can’t be much older than you. If you showed interest and he respected your boundaries, it doesn’t seem all that questionable to me.”

  “He’s 26,” I told her.

  “That seems reasonable to me. I’m guessing he’s a workaholic. The twenty-six- year-old boss of a real estate investment firm probably doesn’t take much time for dating.” She paused, her coffee cup hovering near her lips. “He must think you’re something special.”

  He was a workaholic, and his role in the success of NorthWest Investments proved that. I didn’t tell her who his father was or why he’d spent more time at the office than picking girls up in bars. I wanted to respect Gavin’s desire for people to know him before they knew who his family was. “We’ll still hang out at his place.”

  “Just put a sock on the door if you don’t.” She winked as she started toward the living room. “Your coffee is getting cold.”

  It was mercifully cool enough to chug and warm enough not to suck. It turned out, Lillian was taking the day off. That was something I thought I would never see. I left her home on the couch, cuddled up with Olive. I was a little jealous. Part of me wanted to stay in my pajamas. A bigger part of me wanted to get to work though.

  I wished it had to do with my job—which I loved—and not what was waiting for me at the office. But I couldn’t lie to myself. I wanted to get to work, so I could see Gavin. The second I got to my desk, he appeared. “Cassie! You’re here. There was something I needed to discuss with you about the Majestic Theater project.” He spoke so casually that no one would have guessed what was really going on between us. I, however, caught the simmering desire heating his words.

  “Let me get my stuff put away and then I’ll head into your office.” It was better to pretend like I didn’t need to run after him. Not only because walking together to the office might be a little too obvious, but also because I didn’t want him to think I was too eager. I kinda enjoyed the fact that he was chasing me. I took as long as I could before my patience gave out and headed in. I paused in the doorway and tilted my head. Was this official business talk or something more private?

  “Can you shut the door? I think it’s best if we speak alone,” he said loudly enough that anyone passing by might hear. The door had barely shut before he was on me. His hand snaked behind me and I heard a lock click.

  This was definitely something more private.

  He’d shaved and part of me missed how his stubble had felt on my skin. But work Gavin was equally sexy. Maybe it was the suit. Or the tie. Or just him. My hands slid up his black jacket and found his broad shoulders. How were we going to get anything else done for the day? Thank God, I’d worn the no smudge lipstick.

  “What did you want to talk about?” I asked breathlessly between kisses.

  “This dress to start with.” He kissed along my neck and down to the hollow to my collarbone.

  “What is wrong with this dress?” I demanded. I thought the black sheath looked pretty sexy, in a work-appropriate way.

  “Absolutely nothing. I just wanted a closer look.” His hands roamed over my hips as though a look wasn’t all he wanted. Before he could take it any further though, I placed one hand on his chest and pushed him away. Gavin backed up without argument.

  He really was such a gentleman. I couldn’t wait to see what he was like when that careful, responsible part of his personality gave way to his more primal instincts. I had a pretty good idea how to get a preview. I kept my palm planted there, marveling at the firmness of his pectorals as I urged him backward toward his desk.

  “If we’re going to have an affair in the office,” I told him, “then I want the whole cliché.”

  “Cliché?” he asked.

  “Haven’t you ever read a romance novel?”

  “I can’t say that I have.” His loss.

  “Let me show you what I mean.” I kissed him firmly on the lips, my tongue slipping past his teeth and licking across the roof of his mouth. Now that I had him where I wanted him, I gripped his tie tightly, then I used it as leverage to lower myself to my knees.

  Gavin looked down at me, his eyes hooding over with want. “I think I would like romance novels.”

  I practically purred with delight as I unbuckled his belt and yanked it free. I unbuttoned his pants slowly, allowing him to keep them on, as my hand stroked past his fly and found his rock-hard dick waiting for me. He was wearing black boxer briefs that probably hadn’t been so tight a few minutes ago. Now they were struggling with their increased capacity. I pressed a few kisses to their elastic waistband before I pushed them down, allowing him to spring free.

  Holy crap. I sat back on my heels just so that I could get the full view. I’d been too close to see all of it. I needed to zoom out. Magnificent didn’t begin to cover it. He made Mr. Dependable look like a joke. As I knelt there almost drooling, I couldn’t wait to get my lips on him. I wanted to hear him lose control. I needed to.

  I took my time though. Running my fingers down the silken length of him, I marveled at the spectacle. Gavin groaned, a low guttural noise that emanated from his chest. The sound made me wet. When I finally lowered my mouth to him, I ran my tongue from his tip downward, relishing the power I held over him. His hands clutched the desk behind him as though he needed to brace himself.

  “Jesus, Cassie. You’re going to kill me.”

  “I haven’t even gotten started jet.” I murmured as I ran my tongue back up and swirled it over his crown.

  “You are so unbelievably hot,” he murmured in a low voice, “with your red lipstick and your little black dress and my cock in your mouth.”

  I felt an uptick of interest between my legs at his words. I didn’t think I could be any more turned on. God, I wanted to make this man feel as good as he made me feel every moment we were together. My lips closed over him, sinking lower
until I’d taken him into the back of my throat. Gavin growled in response. He actually growled. I wondered how much louder he would get, if he would lose control entirely. I should be more worried that someone would hear, but part of me got off on the idea of it. We were doing something dirty and sexy with only a door and a couple walls shielding us from dozens of people.

  I stroked along his shaft as I continued plunging my mouth over him. Gavin’s hand shot out and caught my ponytail, guiding me to go farther and deeper. It wasn’t forceful, but rather encouraging, and to be honest, I loved it. I loved how he looked down at me with such naked need. I loved how I felt under that gaze. When he suddenly tensed, I prepared myself, pulling back with his crown still between my lips

  “I’m going to come,” he warned me.

  Such a gentleman. He was about to find out I was no lady.

  I kept him in my mouth as he finished, allowing one single drop to drip down over my lips. I waited until his body had stilled before I sat back again and licked my lower lip. Gavin watched without comment but his jaw tightened.

  It was how I’d felt last night, when he kept going after I’d climaxed. I’d wanted to return that feeling of being wanted, so there would be no doubt that he could have me any time and anywhere.

  “Come away with me this weekend,” he said. I hadn’t expected that. It wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t demand either.

  “Where?” There were one million reasons why now wasn’t the time to go away. Gavin seemed to sense my hesitation. Somehow, it didn’t wreck the mood though.

  “You can’t possibly be more ready to present on the project,” he told me, offering me a hand and pulling me to my feet. He tucked his dick back in his pants and buttoned them, ignoring his belt which still sat on the desk. When he was decent, he pulled me to him, his hands on my hips. “You’ll just spend all weekend worrying. Spend it with me instead.”

  “You think you can distract me from worrying?” That was a challenge.