by Maggie Kane
“Oh! I am so sorry,” I say laughing and blushing as he tries to catch and steady both of us. Cara is giggling but trying not to. Her face is turning so red she looks like a tomato about to pop.
We finally get untangled. “Ms. Andrews, I’d like to talk to you about an internship.”
My stomach flips and my nipples get tight when he says ‘Ms. Andrews’, but I pin a smile on my face and stick my hand out. “I’d like to hear what you have in mind, Mr. …” I let my sentence trail off to allow him to supply his name.
“Ashby. Lucas Ashby,” he says and takes my hand in a firm handshake.
Cara tells me that she’ll call me later and excuses herself. I give her a grateful smile and bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing as she pantomimes a thumbs up and fans herself communicating her conclusion that Lucas Ashby is a hottie.
She’s got that right. He is broad shouldered and several inches taller than me. His hair is a dark, dirty blond that is cropped short in a no-nonsense professional cut. He is regarding me with forest green eyes with flecks of gold that are intelligent with a dose of ruthlessness.
“Shall we have a seat and chat, Ms. Andrews,” he asks gesturing at a cluster of chairs in the foyer. “You’ll have to forgive me for pursuing you in the hallway, but as you mentioned in your opening remarks, my time is valuable.”
We sit and 20 minutes later, we are shaking hands over my internship at the Ashby-Morgan Agency.
The next several days are a whirlwind doing pre-employment screenings and paperwork and finishing up all of my classes. I pick up my phone countless times to call Garrett. He had done so many extra things to the car, and I wanted to tell him my good news. Every time, I end up putting the phone down. Garrett Castle is a complication that I don’t need right now.
My first day at the biggest marketing firm in the city is overwhelming but exciting. The only downside to the whole experience is Lucas Ashby is the biggest dickhead I have ever had to deal with. The arrogance is understandable, almost forgivable. His nasty comments and snide remarks about me and my two other fellow interns are not. He treated us like we were there to fetch his coffee, run his errands, and basically lick his boots.
Emily is in tears, Rachel is boiling over with indignation, and I am simply disappointed. We are standing in the lobby of the building discussing our not-so-awesome first day. I look at us, and it is clear to see that Lucas Ashby likes brunettes with curves. I wonder cynically if he even heard any of our presentations. The doors of the building slide open, and I look over Rachel’s shoulder to see Garrett walking in the building. He looks the lobby over as he heads toward the elevator. His eyes lock with mine and his feet change course, making a beeline directly to me.
“Tomorrow’s another day, ladies. Mr. Ashby just wanted to make sure everyone knows that he is large and in charge. He’ll tire out of his little power games soon enough,” I cut across Rachel’s rant. I want to separate myself from them before I have to do introductions.
I meet Garrett a few feet away from my stunned classmates. I know they are staring at me and wondering what is up with the tall, hunky guy. I am not particularly friends with either one of them, but we’ve been in classes together for a couple of terms. They know I am not a socializer and don’t date.
I grab his arm and steer him back toward the elevators away from eavesdropping ears. “What are you doing here,” I ask, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach and the hopeful feeling that leaped into my chest. Only the insane pace of the last week has kept me from obsessing endlessly about Garrett. I’ve only been managing, part-time obsessing, at best.
“I have business to attend to, Ms. Andrews. What are you doing here,” he retorts and tucks my hand in the crook of his arm, trapping it when I had started to pull it away.
“I got an internship at Ashby-Morgan. Today was my first day.” I try to sound confident and excited, but the words come out flat.
Garrett looks down at me sharply with those blue eyes. “Doesn’t sound like the best first day. Why did you choose Ashby-Morgan?”
“It was ok,” I say as I shrug. “I didn’t choose them. Mr. Ashby chose me, and besides, they are biggest and best firm in the city.” It sounds like I am trying to convince myself as well as him.
“Ms. Andrews, are you busy?”
“Umm..,” I try to come up with something I need to be doing. I had a date with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s to drown my sorrows, but I didn’t think that qualified as ‘busy’. “No. I don’t have any plans.”
“Good,” he says and abruptly changes course, heading for the doors.
Chapter 14
Garrett
I rein in the urge to storm into Ashby-Morgan and tear Lucas Ashby apart. He is the most successful businessman I know, a complete asshole, and my stepbrother. My mother had married his father when we were in high school. He’s two years younger than me and manages my marketing and business investments. Asshole or not, he is a wizard in the business world. I don’t want Mia anywhere close to him.
I don’t share any of this with her as I lead out into the warm sunshine. It is a brilliant day and in a fit of spontaneity, I had driven the Mustang she had practically drooled over all those nights ago. I decided it was fate that I would bump into her on the day I drove it.
“Want to go for a drive?” Driving a fast car always made me feel better.
Her eyes light up and she smiles up at me with a big genuine smile that makes my heart do a little stutter. I think I would walk to the ends of the Earth to see that smile again.
“Really? In one of your…” Her sentence is cut off when she sees the Mustang. “Oh, yes, please.” She breathes the words out like a prayer to the All Mighty. I chuckle. She has a carnal glint in her eye, and I can only wish she would look at me like that.
I open the driver’s door and gesture for her to take a seat. Again, I get the 1000 watt smile and a small squeal of excitement. I slide in the other side and start to instruct her on the manual transmission.
“I’ve got this,” she says, shifting smoothly into first and pulling into traffic. “One of the few worthwhile things my father ever taught me.”
I sit back and just let her drive. She doesn’t talk but works her way through traffic and onto Highway 54. I chuckle a little. This was the same drive I choose whenever I want to outrun whatever is bothering me.
“What,” she asks, never taking her eyes from the road.
“Nothing, baby. Just drive.”
Mia handles the car and its power with confidence and control. She isn’t intimidated, but not reckless with it either. I am so incredibly turned on watching her attack the curves with utter focus. My dick is hard in my jeans, and I shift trying to find some room.
Finally, she seems to mentally downshift, though her foot stays firm on the accelerator. “I guess I should head it back to town?”
“Actually, there is a great view of the city if you’ll just keep going a little further.” I point out the little turn off, and she steers the car down the small drive that opens into a large open area. She pulls to the edge of the clearing and cuts the engine. The city is below us with its lights and hectic energy, but here there is just stillness.
Silence fills the car as we just relax and take in the view. I remind myself that I am not a 16 year old hoping to get into my girlfriends pants, though I so want to get into Mia’s everything. She surprises me by reaching and taking my hand in hers. It makes me feel warm and protective. I just want to wrap her in my arms and hold her there forever.
Her thumb is tracing circles on the back of my hand. I break the silence. “I want you to stop working at Ashby-Morgan.”
Ok, so not the wisest way to open the conversation. I have been thinking about her being around Lucas every day. I know what a womanizer he is. It didn’t escape me that his fresh crop of interns was all curvy and beautiful- just his type. He loves big tits, a round ass, and glossy brown hair. The thought of Mia with her luscious curves and chestnut curls
having to deal with his bullshit every day about makes me insane.
I feel her stiffen next to me and she yanks her hand from mine. “Excuse me? Where do you get off wanting me to do anything? Do you know how hard I worked for this?” She is pushing away from me and I can feel the anger coming off her in waves.
Oh shit, I think. Smooth, Castle. Really, well done, I mentally berate myself. I grab her hand to prevent her from starting the car. “Damn it, Mia, I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just that I know what an ass Lucas Ashby is and I hate to think of you around him.” That was the truth. It wasn’t the whole truth, but I didn’t want to get into all of that right now.
She deflates just a little bit, but doesn’t let me keep ahold of her hand. “He is an ass. Poor Emily was in tears after he told her that Marvin, the mailroom guy, had a better chance of getting a place on his team.” She’s quiet for a moment. For the first time, I see doubt cross her face. “What if I can’t do this? Today was awful. If this is what it’s like, I just committed the last five years to a mistake.” The tear that leaks out of the corner of her eye just about rips me in two. I’m going to kill Lucas, I think reaching out to brush the tear away.
I don’t give her a lot of empty words because I know she just needs to work through it. A few moments pass and I gently rub her shoulder and stroke her hair. I watch as her shoulders come up and that steel core straightens her back. Her resilience is phenomenal. Nothing keeps her down for long.
“You know, Ashby-Morgan isn’t the only firm in town,” I say, hoping that she won’t be angry. I have to try at least one more time to get her away from Lucas. “I can put in a good word for you at Gateway or Trademark. I have friends in both firms.”
Mia scoffs slightly. “You don’t know a thing about my business skills. I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t need it. Lucas Ashby will destroy poor Emily and push Rachel until she scratches his eyes out, but he’s going to promote me.” She reaches down and turns the key over.
I lean over and gently pull her chin toward me. I kiss her softly, trying to show her just how much I believe in her. Her fiery spirit turns me on. This is a real woman who knows what she is about. If there is anything sexier, I have no idea what it is.
The ride back to town is silent but comfortable. When she pulls into the empty parking garage next to her Camry, she looks over with a smile that twists my heart.
“Thanks, Garrett. This was exactly what I needed tonight.” She leans over and brushes a kiss across my lips. Before she can ease away, I pull her half over the console in a searing, passionate kiss that she instantly responds to. Her mouth is hot and hard against mine and she buries her hand in my hair pulling me toward her. Finally, we break apart, coming up for air.
“No, Ms. Andrews. That was exactly what you needed.”
She laughs as she gets out of the car and slides behind the wheel of her own without looking back.
Chapter 15
Mia
The week has flown by. Friday afternoon is here, and the office is almost empty as people check out to start their weekend a few hours early. Emily quit yesterday, but Rachel is holding her own. She has adopted the avoidance tactic and associates with everyone but Mr. Ashby. One of the senior marketers has taken a shine to her, so it will probably work for her.
I, on the other hand, have taken the head-on approach. Whenever Mr. Ashby turns around, I’m there and am two steps ahead of him. His snide comments have much less sting to them when I can stand there and sweetly make him look like a jerk. In a meeting earlier today, one of his partners laughed when the moment he opened his mouth to say something snarky, I stood up and addressed the room with the numbers he was about to rudely ask for.
I’m feeling pretty good. I feel like I have gotten my feet under me and while I am still fetching coffee and running errands more than I would like, I’m getting a feel for what it would be like to actually work here. I like the pace and intensity. I like the discussions about how to make something better or bigger. Garrett was right, too. Lucas Ashby may be an arrogant asshole, but his business sense cannot be doubted. I’ve learned quite a bit just hanging around him for the last week. It almost makes up for all the crap he has made me wade through- almost.
I have one last thing to finish before I can call it a day. I want to get the presentation folders put together for Monday afternoon’s meeting. Normally, we do everything on iPads and the smart board. However, this client is an older man and Lucas shrewdly requested everything be done old school. I can see the wisdom in it. I file it away under the ‘know thy client’ rule.
The copy room is empty. I am rummaging through cabinets looking for some binders to put the presentation notes in.
“Mia.”
I jump and spin around, startled. I had been in my own little world. “Oh! Mr. Ashby, you scared me!” I take a breath or two to calm myself and smooth down my jacket and slacks that are slightly out of place from searching in cabinets. “Do you need something? Shouldn’t you be out on the golf course by now?”
He gives me a half smile and takes several steps into the room so he is standing close to me- too close. The copier is at my back, and I have no place to go. I stand my ground and meet his eye. Surely, he isn’t going to try to kiss me.
“I’ve told you, call me Lucas. I’ve been very impressed with you this week, Mia.” He doesn’t try to touch me. He just stands in my space, crowding me.
“Well, I appreciate that Mr. Ashby,” I say, stressing the proper address. “I could totally tell how happy you are with my performance when you told me that a chimpanzee can add faster than I can.” That insult had been so stupid, it hadn’t stung. Actually, none of his little comments had had much effect on me lately.
“You’ve got great potential, Mia, but you need to learn to play nice. I can teach you. There is so much I can teach you.” He leans in and kisses me softly and when I don’t respond, with rising intensity.
I manage not to punch him, but I twist my face away and give him a mighty shove. It forces him back a couple of steps- which is all I needed. I push quickly past him and stop to look back at him from the doorway. “Mr. Ashby, you might have had some luck with interns in the past, but if you touch me again, I’ll rip your dick off and shove it down your throat. You have a great weekend. I’ll have your reports ready for Monday’s meeting.”
I make myself walk to my little cubby to grab my purse. My hands are shaking so badly that I have some trouble getting the combination of my lock correct. Finally, I have my purse and flee to the safety of the elevator. I am in full flight mode when the doors ding and open. I barrel out without looking where I am going and collide with a tall, hard body.
Garrett’s arms are around me, keeping us both from falling as I careen into him. I know it is him without even looking up. I don’t even pause to wonder why he is there. I just bury my face in his chest and hold on to him.
“Easy, baby. What’s going on? Mia, look at me,” he puts some edge in his voice, and it penetrates my reeling brain. I look up with tears swimming in my eyes. “I’ll kill him,” he growls, correctly interpreting my distress.
I swipe at my eyes, embarrassed and angry with myself. I push away from him, putting some distance between us. As always, he lets me go easily but stays close to me. I am still shaking, but I suspect some of it is in response to Garrett and not just my fury at Lucas. “What are you doing here,” I demand. It is a public building where he does have legitimate business, I remind myself. I try not to feel so happy to see him, but the truth is, I really am happy to see him. The week has been a whirlwind and seeing Garrett just seems to press the pause button somewhere inside me.
He looks a little shamefaced for a second before saying, “I came to talk to Lucas about something, but I was hoping I would catch you in time to ask if you wanted to have dinner tonight. I didn’t really think I was going to ‘catch’ you,” he adds with a smile that makes me smile back automatically. The smile doesn’t stick though, and I bite my lips
to keep them from trembling. A dark look crosses his eyes before he softens them. “Instead of dinner, how about a milkshake? There is a great little ice cream shop down the street.”
I sniff and smile, trying to get control of my emotions. “Don’t you have business to take care of,” I ask, trying to decide why I feel so sappy because he just offered to take me for an ice cream.
“I don’t think it is safe for me to be in the same room as Lucas right now. Besides, you need my attention far more right now.” He tucks my unresisting hand in the crook of his arm and towed me toward the door.
Chapter 16
Garrett
I walk with Mia to the little corner ice cream shop. I work hard to get my temper under control so I can concentrate on her. That jackass stepbrother of mine has just crossed a line. He doesn’t know it, yet, but soon he and I are going to have a little chat. First, I have to help Mia sort through whatever load of bullshit he just forced on her.
