Once Adrian is mayor, everything will be fine. He doesn’t even have to know that Ashley is working for me. Even though it’s only been a day, I don’t want her to leave. I don’t want to be the one who hires her and then fires her for some fucked-up corrupt reason.
So, I’ll keep it quiet. I’ll pretend I don’t know the connection between Hansen Constructions and Ashley. Hell, I’ll pretend that I don’t know that Adrian’s a corrupt son of a bitch.
Right now, I need to focus on getting out from my parent’s thumb, and that means making it through this election. Once I have access to funds, I can start my own career.
That, and Ashley. As much as I try to fight it, I know I want to focus on her. On her lips, and her smile. On the way the rest of the team loved her instantly. I want to focus on her perfect body, squeezed into that sexy little pencil skirt.
I slump down on my couch and close my eyes. My whole body is tense. I haven’t had sex in over a week, which is some kind of record for me.
And yet, when I close my eyes, all I see is Ash. When I think of other women, of Aaron’s club chicks, of anyone, they do nothing for me.
Until I have her, I won’t be satisfied.
I don’t see Ashley for two days, because my family has me running around making speeches and being the good, damaged brother that I am. I stand beside Adrian and make him look good until I feel like I’m going to explode. By the time Friday comes around, I’m actually looking forward to going to the office that used to bore me to tears.
Well, not the office, exactly. I’m looking forward to seeing that sweet, sexy PR manager I just hired.
And damn, does she look good. When I walk out of the elevators, I can see her from across the room. She’s laughing with Marcus about something, with her golden hair tumbling around her shoulders. I love when she wears it down. It makes me want to twist my fingers into it and pull her head back—
“Morning, Liam!” Linda beams. “Good to see you again. We missed you yesterday for the monthly birthdays!”
“Morning,” I say, forcing a smile. When I look back toward Ashley’s desk, she’s gone. Before I can stop myself, disappointment floods my stomach.
I hate myself for it. I hate the fact that my eyes immediately went to her desk. I hate that she has this much power over me, and she doesn’t even know it.
I hate that I can’t think of another woman without wanting to think of her instead.
She’s breaking me. She’s making me turn into something I’m not.
I stomp toward my office and then turn down toward the restroom. I need to splash some water on my face or do something to get a grip on myself. No one else speaks to me on my way there—my face must show exactly how furious with myself I feel.
A woman shouldn’t be making me feel this way. No one should! I’m Liam fucking Maguire. I’m in control. I fuck who I want, when I want, and I party like a fucking animal. I’m an Olympic medalist and the CEO of the biggest heart health foundation in Colorado.
No one—no one—makes me feel this off-balance.
So when I tear toward the restroom, I don’t speak to anyone. I march toward the closed door and reach for the handle. I need to get a fucking grip.
But before I can open the door, it swings inward and there she is: curves, eyes, lips… perfection. Ashley yelps and jumps back a step, and then giggles nervously.
“Oops! Sorry.”
I take a step toward her and fill the doorframe. She’s still holding the door open, and I let my hand drift over her hip. A growl rumbles through my chest and Ashley’s eyes widen.
She bites her lip, and my cock throbs in my pants.
I want her so fucking bad I don’t even know what to do with myself. Every time I try to jerk off, I imagine her face. I curl my fingers into her hip and she takes a step toward me. Her chest brushes against mine as she tilts her chin up toward me.
Her tongue slides out and licks her perfect lips. I can feel her pulse thundering against my chest, and the sight of her wet, pink lips makes my whole body hard. My hand slides further back to rest at the cleft of her ass. A whimper falls from her lips.
I dip my lips down toward hers. She’s so close. I can feel her body trembling, leaning toward me. Her fingers crawl up my chest as our faces angle toward each other.
I’m finally going to get to taste those perfect, tantalizing lips. Another growl rumbles in my chest, and then she pushes away from me.
She takes a step back and inhales sharply, shaking her head. “I’m sorry! Sorry! I, um. I’m not sure… excuse me.” She nods behind me and licks her lips again. Her eyes dart from mine, to my chest, to my lips, to the floor, and back up to my eyes. Her cheeks flush red.
I step aside, and she brushes past me. Once in the hallway, she glances at me once more and sucks her bottom lip between her teeth.
Then she darts back to her desk.
I lock the washroom door behind me and lean my head against it, exhaling. I need more than water splashed on my face now. A cold shower wouldn’t even cool me down after that.
I groan, pushing myself off the door and heading for the sink. I lean against it and let the water run as I look at myself in the mirror, and then sigh and turn the faucet off again.
This is beyond needing to get a grip. I need to take care of this.
I need Ashley, and whether she realizes it or not, she needs me too.
By the time I walk back to my desk, Ashley’s face is glued on her computer screen. I know she senses me, though, because her back straightens and a blush spreads over her cheeks.
What I want to do is march over to her desk, throw her over my shoulder and bring her to my office. I want to turn her around and fuck her against my desk, on my chair, against the window, again and again and again.
But I know I need to do this properly. I need to make her come to me. And when she does, I’m going to give her more than she has ever wanted or dreamed of. I’ll make her scream my name until she forgets that other men even exist.
15
Ashley
For a full fifteen minutes, I can’t concentrate. I stare at my computer screen without seeing anything until Belinda appears at my side.
“You okay? You look a little out of it.”
Forcing a smile, I blink a few times and tear my eyes from my screen. “Fine. Didn’t sleep very well last night, that’s all.”
She nods, and then puts some papers on my desk. “Here’s the press release you asked for. I also put together the presentation for our new social media strategy and made sure to flood everything with photos of the race.”
“Good, good,” I say, trying to focus on the papers. All I see is Liam’s name right at the top of the page, and my whole body immediately burns hotter.
His hands on my hip, on my back. His lips inches from mine. His chest pressed against me. My nipples hardening to stone that he must have felt.
I want him.
I nod to Belinda.
“Thanks, I’ll have a look.”
I throw myself into the work. It’s not until Marcus raps his knuckles on my desk that I realize it’s lunchtime. All three of them are looking at me. Marcus nods to the elevators.
“You coming? We’re getting Thai.”
“I’ve brought lunch today,” I smile. “Got lots to do, might just work through lunch.”
“That’s sad, Ash.” He shakes his head in disappointment. “I expected more from you.”
“Give her a break,” Tristan grins. “She’s new. See you in an hour.”
“If you want to bring me back a coffee, I won’t be mad about it.” I pull open my drawer and grab a couple dollars. Belinda waves them away.
“On us today.”
“Thanks.” I smile and watch them walk away, and then go back to my work. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to think about the man sitting in the office a few feet from me, or maybe I’m just enjoying this job more than I thought, but my concentration is absolute.
That is…until I feel him
next to me. His warmth, his smell, his energy. Anytime he’s near, my whole body reacts. He’s a puppeteer, pulling all my strings exactly how he wants to and I’m more than happy to oblige.
I look over to see him standing a few feet away from me.
“Working through lunch, Ms. King?” He arches an eyebrow. His green eyes sparkle. “You’re very dedicated.”
“There’s lots to do.”
“Will you come to my office for a moment?”
My mouth goes dry. I nod, and Liam spins around, stalking toward his door. I follow him, scurrying in his wake as my heart bounces against my ribcage.
He’ll probably tell me that what happened was unprofessional. He’ll probably apologize.
Or maybe, he’ll throw me up against his desk and—
“Close the door.”
I gulp and shut the door until the latch gently clicks. Liam motions to a chair. I sit down, and I expect him to sit in his executive chair on the other side of the desk. Instead, he takes the chair beside mine. His knee brushes against mine, and my heart goes wild. I force myself to drag my eyes up to his.
“Is everything okay?”
He nods. “Everything is great. I saw the presentation you sent through this morning—good work, Ms. King.”
Is it wrong that every time he says my name like that, a little thrill runs down my spine? His lips twitch at the corners, and I swallow.
“Belinda put it together. I just tweaked it a bit. You should be thanking her.”
“In the three years Belinda has worked here, she’s never done a presentation of that quality. I’m thanking you.”
He holds my gaze, and I nod. “Okay, well… thanks. Is that everything? I was just—”
“What do you know about John Hansen?” He stares at his fingernails, as if he doesn’t care what I answer. But I can see his jaw ticking, and the pulse running thick in his neck. His body is tense, and I know he’s waiting for my answer.
“Uh, he was my boss.”
“What kind of boss was he?” His eyes meet mine and I try not to squirm. Maybe Red was right, he’s scoping out the ‘competition’.
He was terrible. Vindictive. A bad communicator.
“He was okay.”
“Did you ever see him do anything… unscrupulous?”
That makes me laugh. I sigh, shaking my head. “It was the construction industry, Liam. The scruples are pretty low to begin with.”
He grunts.
I frown. “Why are you asking me this? Is everything okay? If you’re regretting hiring me—”
“I’m not.” He gets up and moves back behind his desk, finally looking up at me and nodding. “That’s all. Thank you.”
“Oh,” I say, my eyebrows jumping up. “Okay.”
I push myself off the chair and head for the door. When I open it, I glance back at Liam, but his eyes are on his computer. He doesn’t say anything when I step through the door and close it behind me.
I walk back to my desk with my head spinning. It’s like the moment at the washroom didn’t even happen. All he wanted to talk about was my old boss. He didn’t look at me like he did this morning or move toward me like at all. Apart from our knees briefly touching, he didn’t put his hands anywhere near me.
I’m disappointed.
Every time I’m near him, desire pumps through my veins like a drug. I let myself imagine his hands on me, his lips on mine, his cock buried deep inside me.
I haven’t imagined that in years. I haven’t slept with anyone since Randy, and I haven’t enjoyed sleeping with anyone since before I married the bastard.
But now?
Now my whole world has tilted on its axis. Before, the only thing driving me was survival. Now, whatever is driving me feels a lot like lust. I glance at his closed door and take a deep breath.
Liam Maguire is exciting, attractive, and dangerous. He’s woken something up inside me… but he’s no good. I know myself, and I know I’m still fragile. I’ve only just started feeling like myself again. I can’t go and give myself to a man like that.
Even today, the fact that he’s so hot and cold with me is proof that I should keep my distance. He’ll hold my heart in his hand and enjoy squeezing it dry.
I take a deep breath and tear my eyes away from his office door.
I’ve seen the tabloids. Liam Maguire has a new woman warming his bed every night. He’s in the Oxford English Dictionary under the word ‘player’.
He’s the kind of guy that I should pine over if I want my delicate heart smashed into a million little pieces.
He’s the exact opposite of the type of guy I should be pursuing. The fact that I’m even thinking about it—and the fact that he’s just shown me that he doesn’t want anything to do with me—should be motivation enough for me to move on.
If anything, I should thank him. He’s woken up the woman in me again. I’m a sexual, sexy, desirable woman.
Just not with Liam Maguire.
I jump when Belinda puts a coffee cup on my desk, and I force a smile.
“You get much done?” She nods to my screen.
I laugh. “No. I should have come with you guys.”
“You’ll learn.” Marcus waves his hand. “They all learn eventually.”
I laugh. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“Next one’s on you,” Marcus says, pointing his finger at me.
I nod, smiling. “Deal.” I allow myself one last glance toward Liam’s closed door, and then drag my eyes back to my computer screen. I have work to do. I can’t spend all day lusting after a man who is unavailable, unattainable, and 100 percent no good for me.
16
Liam
“Darling, how are you?” My mother croons over the phone. I hold back a sigh.
“I’m good, Mother, how are you?” What I mean is: Why are you calling this time? It’s never just a social call.
“Never better. Your brother told me how well you did at the University speech. You’re a natural, Liam. I don’t know why you didn’t want to follow in your brother’s footsteps.”
“Politics just isn’t my thing, I guess.” I lean back in my chair and kick my feet up on my desk. My computer dings with another email and I scan it quickly as my mother talks.
“… and I just wanted to make sure that you were all set for the anniversary event next weekend.”
“All set? What do you mean, all set?”
“Honey, Time Magazine is doing a feature! We need to look impeccable.”
“I’ll make sure to get a haircut next Friday.”
“That’s not what I meant, Liam,” she sighs. “But it would be nice.”
“What did you mean?”
“It would look better if you had someone with you. Not one of your… casual women. A real lady. It’s for the pictures.”
She pauses. I say nothing.
“Liam?”
“I heard you.”
“So you have someone in mind?”
“You want me to just materialize a girlfriend out of thin air for your anniversary party in a week’s time? Mom, seriously? Why does it matter? Why not just be single? What if I bring someone and she’s in these pictures forever, and then we break up the next week?”
“Oh, Liam. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous? You want me to somehow find a girlfriend that I’m going to bring to your stupid party, and then I’m supposed to keep dating her afterwards, too?”
“It’s not stupid. And if you can’t find someone, I’m sure your father will be able to—”
“I’ll bring someone. I got to go.”
I hang up the phone and blow all the air out of my nostrils. Through the blinds in my office window, I see Ashley get up from her desk. She tucks a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear and smiles at something Marcus says. Then, she waves goodbye and walks toward the elevators.
I could ask her….
I shake my head. I can’t. Until I know what is going on between John Hansen and my brother—and
if her being fired had anything to do with it—I have to keep her far away from my family. And unfortunately, that means far away from me.
I pick up my phone again and call Aaron.
“Yo!” He says as he picks up the phone. There’s loud music in the background, as usual.
“What are you up to tonight? I need a drink.”
“Long week, eh?”
“You have no fucking idea.”
“I’ll pick you up from your place at eight. I’m checking out a new venue tonight—it’s on sale, and I want to see if it’s worth investing in.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know where I can find a date for my parents’ anniversary party, would you?”
“What, like an escort?”
“No! I mean… maybe? I don’t know. My mom wants someone who would look good in pictures.” I glance through the door as Ashley steps into the elevator. She glances up at me and holds my gaze for a second, and then the doors close on her.
Aaron makes a noise. “There are agencies for this, man. I can hook you up.”
“Alright. See you in a couple hours.”
“You better not pussy out like you did last week. We’re going hard tonight.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
I hang up and sigh. No part of me wants to ‘go hard’, and that in itself is worrying. This past week has been all over the place. Usually, I would be dying to get fucked up. I’d probably already have left the office and be two drinks deep with a girl on each arm.
Instead, I’m here, at the foundation that my parents started for me that reminds me of my failed running career. I used to hate it here, but this week…
I shake my head and turn my computer off. Grabbing my jacket, I head for the exit.
When I’m outside, I scan the street for a second. A car engine is sputtering somewhere. The driver tries it again, and again, and again. I frown, looking for the car.
When I see it, I sigh.
Ashley Fucking King.
Even when I try to get away from her, I try to let her leave before me, the universe just puts her right here in front of me. Before I can stop myself, my feet are taking me toward her.
Love/Hate: The Complete Enemies to Lovers Series Page 26
