I have to force myself to breathe, then wet my suddenly dry lips with my tongue before lifting my eyes up to look at the man who’s holding me in place. As soon as my eyes meet his stormy blues, I regret it.
Shock, fear, excitement, anger…there aren’t enough words to describe how I feel seeing the man from my one-night stand standing in front of me. I feel my eyes go wide with shock, and my entire body feels as if it’s going to combust at any moment. I take him in—his angular jaw, his messy brown hair that looks as if he just got out of bed… with someone who isn’t me. I knew he was devilishly handsome the night we met, but today, in the light and awake, he looks even more delicious. In fact, he looks bigger in the suit, tougher, maybe meaner too.
“You good or do I need to keep holding you?” The annoyance in his voice isn’t missed, and I furrow my brow, trying to determine if this is really the man I gave my virginity to or if it’s just my imagination. I was so excited to possibly meet him again, and regretting I left before leaving my number, but with the way he’s speaking to me? Not so much.
Maybe he has a twin, I think to myself, trying to remain hopeful. I have to be.
“Seriously, Ryker? Don’t be rude,” Fallon scolds, giving him a dirty look. “This is your new assistant.” I take in her words without fully realizing what she’s saying. He releases me a second later, the loss of his touch leaving me cold. I don’t dare say a word. I’m still reeling at the knowledge that I slept with this man—this man—Ryker Winston, without even knowing it. I couldn’t have chosen anyone else to sleep with? Nope. I had to choose the boss at a job I really, really need. I want to drop my head in my hands and pray this is some horribly bad dream.
Ryker, the man who I know as Mr. Serious, eyes me closely, his eyes narrowing to slits. It’s almost as if he’s angry at just the idea of me being his assistant. “If you’re Ava, you better get your ass into that boardroom right now. You’re late, and tardiness leads to getting written up and eventually fired, so you better go.” There’s a sick smile forming against his lips, one that makes my insides churn more.
Anger flares deep inside me as I take a step back away from him. This isn’t the same man I met at the bar, it can’t be. He doesn’t even recognize me.
This guy? He’s crude. He’s cold. He’s menacing and a jerk.
When he leans into me, I swear I can see him smelling me, taking my scent into his nostrils. Watching him do so turns me on, but the feeling passes as soon as he opens his damn mouth.
“I said go. Or maybe you don’t want the job after all? It’s not like you’ll last more than a couple days with me. No one does,” he’s bullying me, and it makes my blood pressure rise.
Fallon gasps, and I watch as she shoves him, causing more space to form between us. “Ryker, stop, you’re being an asshole. She’s an intern, not a piece of garbage.” Turning to me, she gives me a soft smile that all but says sorry, he’s being an ass. Her shove does nothing to Ryker’s brick-wall form. He’s still staring me down like a hawk ready to swoop in and attack its prey, though he does manage to move out of the way so I can get around him and what he said is the boardroom.
I don’t waste another second standing next to the ass. Instead, I scurry through the door, damn near tripping over the threshold, my eyes barely noticing the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the city. The air is cooler in here, but does nothing to lessen the heat I can feel in my cheeks as I replay his words in my head.
“Beautiful view, isn’t it?” A man that looks similar to Ryker, though with less of an edge, speaks. His voice is comforting, and again, I find myself wishing he was my mystery guy’s twin. Unfortunately, while he looks similar to Ryker, their voices are much different, so I know that’s not a possibility.
“It… Ummm, yes, it’s beautiful.” I’m agreeing, but I didn’t really pay much attention. “Though I doubt the reason I’m here has anything to do with the view,” I quip, smiling softly and trying to let the tension ease out of me.
A third man sits at the head of the huge table that looks more like something you’d eat Thanksgiving on than have a board meeting on. “Correct,” he says, grinning slightly. I wonder if this is the Reed man I was told to ask for when I got here. As if reading my mind, he continues, “I’m Reed, and this,” he points to the man who spoke to me when I entered the room, “is my brother Remy. I see you’ve met Ryker already.” I bite the inside my cheek and nod my head yes.
I’ve more than met him, dude. I’ve let him get inside me.
A mistake I won’t be letting happen again.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m truly sorry for being late. Traffic was worse than usual today, and—” Reed puts a hand up, silencing any future words. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, so I remain silent.
“No worries. Being late happens. Even more so when you live in the city. We’re just glad you showed up and stayed after seeing just how difficult Ryker will be to work with.” Remy, the other brother, snickers, not even attempting to cover his laughter with a fake cough. Reed’s gaze darkens, and I get the feeling these three brothers do a whole lot of needling each other.
“Do I really have to be his assistant?” My voice squeaks. Surely they won’t force me to work with him after the way he treated me.
Reed nods and my hope plummets. “Yes, though I promise he isn’t always this way. He’s just going through some things right now. I’m sure when he bounces back he’ll be a much more enjoyable person to work for.” He smiles reassuringly, but Remy doesn’t. If anything, he gives me a sorry-not-sorry look when I look back over at him, and I know that probably isn’t true either.
Ryker won’t be a good boss, or even person to deal with, and if that’s the case, I think I might need to renegotiate my pay. How do I bring that up though? Hey, your brother is a dick so you need to pay me more to deal with his stupid ass. I don’t see that working.
“Your brother’s face says otherwise, and while I’m not usually this straightforward about things, I really need this job.” I pause briefly, taking in the death glare Reed gives Remy. It almost makes me laugh. Remy looks as if he’s barely containing his laughter, and when Reed rolls his eyes, he can’t stop the corner of his mouth from tipping up.
“Ryker is a pain in the ass.” Remy thinks for a moment before speaking again. “He has been every day since he was born, but we need you. We need the help now more than ever.” Remy’s eyes plead with me, and when I swing my gaze back to Reed’s, I can see Remy isn’t lying.
“I’ll take the job, but I if I have to deal with him, I need better pay,” I say it before I realize I’m going to, like my brain has disconnected from my mouth. I hope I didn’t just earn myself a swift kick out the door.
When neither of them say anything, I slowly creep backward. Way to go, Ava. Getting your ass canned on the first day? Marie and Gabby are going to laugh all the way to the paper when they have to put up an ad for a new roommate. Can’t pay rent when you get fired.
Remy looks almost relieved. “Whatever you want, it’s yours…but we need you. That means no quitting, even when he makes you want to. At least for the next six weeks.” His eyes skirt away from mine, and I look back at Reed.
“Then we have a deal. No quitting, and anything else you want to include?” I lick my lips nervously. I’ve never negotiated for a job before, but doing so builds my confidence up just enough for me to think that I might be able to face Ryker.
“Yes,” Reed replies, his voice soft and completely unlike any other bosses I’ve ever had. “I need you to keep him in line. I’m having a baby soon, and I can’t be worried about how the company is doing, and if he’s handling things, when I should be enjoying time with my baby and soon-to-be wife.”
I nod my head in agreement as his blue eyes stare into mine, sadness flickering in his deep depths. It makes sense now. Fallon and Reed. They’re probably the Barbie and Ken of the company. Ryker’s lost his brother because he’s finally found someone to be with.
Reed releases a frustrated sigh, and Remy stares off into the distance. “He’s not okay, but he will be. Just get through these next couple of weeks with him, and I’ll make sure you have more than just an internship at Winston Industries.”
Excitement and fear both zing through me all at once. That’s practically a guaranteed job after graduation. I want to jump up and down, but I also want to scream in agony.
I am officially Ryker Winston’s assistant, and even though I wanted to know the mystery man’s name who I gave my virginity to, I didn’t want it to happen under these circumstances.
“Great, where do I sign?” I force a smile, making both Reed and Remy smile too. I don’t know it when I sign the papers, but I’m in for a whole lot more than just intern work.
Chapter Six
Ryker
Why does she have to wear those tight-ass pencil skirts and blouses that make me want to pop the buttons and take a peek inside? I growl to myself, waiting for my assistant, Ava—the assistant I didn’t want or ask for—to enter my office.
Since meeting her the other day, my body has been more than fully aware of her presence. Her sweet floral scent is maddening, and even when I don’t want to look at her, I find my gaze slipping from the task I’m working on to where she is standing in the office.
Her blonde hair reminds me of sunshine, and her smile radiates warmth, though it’s never geared toward me. I’m an asshole. To her, to my brothers… hell, even to myself.
But, when I look at her, when I watch her, I have this strange feeling in my gut. This intuition that says we’ve met before. I know it’s ludicrous to think something like that, and it’s probably the reason I’m more of an ass to her than I should be.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Winston.” Her voice is like silk, and I want to ask her to keep talking, so I can wrap myself up in her softness. That would be weird, right?
Forcing my thoughts back to the boring shit in front of me, I crack my knuckles and look up at her over my computer screen. God. Why does she have to be so fucking beautiful. Sometimes I think God hates me. I’m lusting after a woman I don’t even know the name of in my dreams, and unable to ignore a woman I want nothing to do with in my present life.
“I’d say good afternoon as well, but it isn’t. Ya see…” I watch as her face falls, a sadness lingering in her eyes as she waits for me to deliver some shitty blow. “My coffee cup is empty.” I point to the mug, one Fallon got me that says “World’s greatest Uncle.”
“I can fix that,” she says confidently. “Is there anything else I can do to help make your day better?” Her eyes remind me of whiskey, so deep and intoxicating I could get lost in their depths. I should hate myself for what I’m about to say.
“Well, since you asked…” I trail off, smiling like an asshole. I wonder if she’s asked people in the office about me. I’m sure she’s wondering if I’ve always been this way. If anyone knows how close I am to falling off the bandwagon.
I miss him. I miss him so fucking much, and it kills me. I blink away the pitiful thought and blink back to reality.
Ava smiles, really smiles, and walks farther into the office, waiting to be told what to do. She wants to make me happy, which, unfortunately for her, only makes me more irritated. The thought of anyone trying to make me happy only angers me more.
“Yes? What can I do for you?” She’s so soft, so perfect, so… Suddenly, my thoughts shift from shoving her out of the office to wanting to fuck her hard against the desk.
I lick my lips before moving away from my desk so I’m closer to her. “That depends on what you’re willing to do.” Her throat bobs up and down as she swallows.
Is she nervous? Afraid of me? I can’t tell. Her body seems to shake as I get closer.
“Close the door, and the blinds.” I rest against the desk, undoing my dress shirt as I watch her eyes go wide. Fear trickles into them, and I feel just a tiny bit bad. I’ll never take a woman against her will—that’s below me—but even I know when a woman’s attracted to me. And Ava, well, she’s just like any other hot-blooded female in this office.
“I’m not...I wasn’t offering to…” she stammers.
“You asked what you could to do for me that would make me feel better. I’m about to show you.” My voice rises a smidge higher than it should, but I get my point across, watching as she scurries across the floor in her heels, stopping when she gets to the door.
Ava turns back to face me, and I can see the conflict on her face. She’s attracted to me, but I know she thinks doing this is wrong…and she’s probably right. Hell, I fucking know she’s right. I just can’t bring myself to care right now.
Stalking over to her, I don’t stop moving until her back presses against the door, closing the more she backs into it. There’s nowhere for her to go. She’s trapped, my prey, and nothing gets my cock harder than having a woman at my mercy.
Ava’s looking up at me, trepidation clear in her eyes. I keep my eyes on her as I lean closer, watching as her eyes turn glassy with tears and ignoring the guilt that fills my chest. She smells so good, and the closer I get to her, the more her scent fills my nostrils. I swear, it’s like we’ve been in this exact position before, even though I know for a fact we haven’t. Déjà vu is such an odd feeling.
My eyes fall closed as my lips ghost against hers. They’re so soft against mine, and I sink further into the way kissing her makes me feel. Everything fades away. My grief, all the anger I’m carrying around inside, all the resentment I feel toward my brothers. I’m reveling in the absence of all the negativity, so focused on it I don’t notice she’s moving until her hand strikes my cheek.
She smacks me so hard I don’t immediately feel the pain. Even the sound of her hand slapping me takes a few seconds to register in my mind, but when it finally does, I jerk back to stare down at her in disbelief. My cheek stings, but my ego is more wounded than my face will ever be.
Her eyes are just as wide as I’m sure mine are. We stare at each other, and Ava’s looking up at me like she can’t believe she just smacked me, like her hand moved without her permission. She quickly recovers, though, and her hands come up to shove me back. Her hands against my chest are something I never expected to feel, and I’m so shocked I let it happen. The minute we’re no longer touching, she moves farther away, putting as much space between us as she can without moving far from the door.
“I...I can’t…” She’s so upset she can’t get the words out, but when I take a step toward her, not sure if I’m going to apologize or try to kiss her again, her spine straightens and she holds out a hand to stop me. The tears in her eyes overflow, and if looks could kill, I’d be buried beside my dad right now. “You’re such an asshole,” she hisses, pain filling her voice. “I can’t believe I ever thought you were different.”
My brow furrows in confusion. What is she talking about? She hasn’t known me long enough to think I’m different. I’m the same person I’ve been since the day we met. I don’t get the chance to ask what she means though. As soon as she says the words, she spins around on her heel, grabbing the doorknob tightly and yanking it open. I’m frozen in time, unable to speak or move, and it’s all because of her.
She’s halfway out of my office when she finally turns around to face me. There’s a look in her eyes, one that promises pain.
“Don’t ever touch me again, or I swear, Ryker, you’ll regret it.”
I can’t explain the pain coursing through my body at the combination of anger and hurt in her voice. She’s just another woman, no one special to me. There’s plenty of willing women who will let me drown my grief in their bodies, so it’s not like I need her.
The only problem I have with that? The only person I want isn’t someone I can actually have. My mystery girl from the bar is gone, and I have no idea how to find her. The only thing that has remo
tely helped even a little is touching Ava, but I don’t understand why.
I want to dislike her so badly it hurts, but I can’t. So, I do the only thing I know I can do. I turn around and walk back into my office, slamming the door so hard it rattles the blinds.
I don’t care if anyone knows I’m mad.
I don’t care if I scare anyone.
I’m drowning, but with Ava near, I’m on the cusp of getting just enough air to survive the next sink to the bottom.
Chapter Seven
Ava
Disgust and bitter disappointment courses through me for the rest of the day and into the evening. I force myself to go through the motions, even though I want to burst into tears. I thought Ryker was different, but the man I met that night in the bar isn’t the same man I saw today. I can feel it deep in the pit of my stomach, and I think that makes the feelings I have for him worse. I want to believe in him. I want him to be the knight in shining armor that whisked me away and kissed life back into me, but I can’t. I just can’t.
“Okay, that’s it. I’m going to give you five minutes to tell me what’s going on before I get Marie to help me drag it out of you.” Gabby meets me at the door, her dark gaze meeting mine. She is so perfect it actually hurts. Her dark skin is toned, her face flawless. She looks like a model; tall with olive skin, she just has more curves than most of them do. I’ve been avoiding her texts all day, and I know as soon as Marie walks in the door shit is going to hit the fan.
“Nothing’s going on. I’ve just been busy all day and I’m exhausted,” I lie unconvincingly as I set the Chinese takeout down on the table before sagging against the couch so I can kick off my heels. “Plus, the only reason you care about my sanity is so I keep bringing Chinese food home.” I fake a laugh, trying to cover up the anger inside me so I don’t start sobbing. If I do, I’m not sure I’ll ever stop.
Winston Brothers Box Set Page 20
