She made a sound, but if it was a word, he didn’t quite catch it.
“What’s that?” he asked, lowering down to hear her. He liked when she wore heels because he didn’t have to stoop so far. Then again, she was a tall girl—it was already easier.
“No—nothing.” She cleared her throat as they got up to the hostess desk. “I’m here for the—” Kaylee pointed into the restaurant. “That’s Ben.”
The hostess smiled at Ethan in a sultry way before slowly turning to look in the direction of Kaylee’s pointer finger. “Oh yes, you’re back in the private room. Drinks are being served now.”
“Great, thanks.” Kaylee flinched for some reason before she led the way around the tables and to the far corner, where a white-haired man with a comb-over was just turning the corner.
“My company uses this restaurant all the time,” she whispered. “For everything—department lunches, events, client meetings… I wouldn’t be surprised if one of our owners had stock in it or something.”
“That, or they get huge kickbacks.” Ethan hooked his arm around her waist and followed her around the corner.
Another, smaller area for seating opened up before them. At the back, a set of double doors stood open and several couples—the men in suits, the women in dresses—were mingling inside.
“Okay, here we go.” Kaylee straightened up, her body going rigid and her shoulders rising a fraction.
“Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute.” Ethan stopped short of the door and turned her toward him. He brushed his fingertips under her chin to angle her face up. The proximity sent a wave of heat through his middle, but this moment was about her, not him. He slid his hands over her shoulders, massaging her. Then down her arms before resting his palms on her lower waist, just above her hips. “What happened?” he asked quietly.
Another sound escaped her, but it was once again inscrutable. She gulped.
He couldn’t help a smile. He was making her nervous, and it didn’t look like in a frightened way. Good. He could work with that. Start to melt away the professional stigma that squished the magic of their being together.
“Going in there like you’re expecting a battle isn’t in your best interest,” he said softly, before lowering his lips to graze hers. Anyone noticing them from inside the private room would assume he needed a second to bask in her sexiness before sharing her with everyone else. Which was as true as this needed pep talk. “Battle is for working hours. For kicking ass and getting things done. After hours, they want to know you can hang out. That you’re someone they can shoot the shit with. Trust me. Now, some of them might resort to sexist comments, wandering eyes, or gray-area harassment—”
“They know better by now,” she said in a hard voice. The fire in her eyes made him wish he’d witnessed the dressing down she’d clearly given at least one of these men. He should’ve known that she wasn’t the type of woman who’d bear bad treatment in silence.
He straightened up and laughed. “Well, this is a different setting. And while you can clearly handle it, do me a favor. If something like that happens, let me know. I’ll take care of it. Probably not immediately, but I’ll take care of it. At work, be the battle-axe. Here, back down so I can be a territorial, jealous alpha lap dog. They’ll see that you have backup, and that your backup—me—is physically dominant over them. In guy language, that sends a very strong message.”
She gazed up at him. “You do not seem like the type to throw your weight around.”
“I’m not, generally. But when someone I care about needs help, I’m there in any capacity I’m needed.”
Her face flushed and a little smile played across her lips. “Thanks,” she said shyly.
“Ain’t nothing but a thang. C’mon, let’s own this party. We’re totally going to be the hottest couple here.” Ethan turned, and after she did as well, he let his hand fall down her back again. People glanced their way when they entered the medium-sized room, their conversations halting and their curious looks split between Ethan and Kaylee.
Easily the hottest couple there. And the best dressed.
Cakewalk.
“Kaylee, you made it.” The white-haired comb-over guy walked up with a smiling woman about his age, whose hair was much more expertly styled, in tow. “Fantastic. Good move.”
Kaylee’s smile was genuine and lit up her face. Ethan couldn’t stop himself from a giving her a quick squeeze, pulling her closer to him.
She let her hand drift to his stomach, not seeming to mind the increased contact. “This is my boyfriend, Ethan. Ethan, this is a coworker of mine, Ben, and his wife, Camilla.”
“Ben, hello.” Ethan reached forward to shake the man’s hand. His weak grip wasn’t totally unexpected. “Camilla, it’s a pleasure.” He loosened his grip for her, and wasn’t surprised when she did that weird handshake some ladies did where they cupped the top of a person’s hand. He was never sure what to do with that.
“Lovely to meet you, Ethan,” Camilla said, beaming.
“Yes, good to meet you.” Ben smiled as well, shifting his gaze between Ethan and Kaylee. “It’s good to see that you do have a life outside of work, Kaylee.”
“Everyone needs a life outside of work.” Camilla nodded solemnly. “Companies these days try to wring their employees dry. It isn’t right.”
“I don’t mind,” Kaylee said. “We have to pay our dues.”
“Don’t I know it.” Ben nodded, now as solemn as his wife. “Do it while you’re young, I always say.”
“Well, don’t let us keep you.” Camilla smiled. “Go. Grab a drink.” She motioned to the side of the room, where a small bar was set up, saving the guests from having to walk to and from the front of the restaurant where the main bar was located.
It was actually a good setup. If only the food was up to par.
“Great, thanks.” Kaylee shifted and Ethan was twirling her before she had to take a step. “Wow. Do you dance?”
“Very well, yes. I always could to some degree, but I learned ballroom dancing for this.” He flinched. Great job, Ethan. Call this a gig when it’s not, reminding her of how you met. “I mean, not this, per se…”
Terrible cover. Cool as they come—yeah, right.
“There won’t be dancing, no. Where would we do it, between the tables?” She laughed as they reached the bar. “Do you like it? Dancing?”
He leaned on his elbow and turned toward her, able to see the room while giving her the majority of his attention. “Sometimes. With a good partner, yes.”
“Ah. So you’d only like dancing with me decently.” She laughed again as the bartender showed up. “A glass of red wine, please.” He listed off the suggestions and she chose one.
“And for you, sir?” the bartender asked.
“All the bigwigs drink brown drinks. Only a couple dare to ask for an ice cube,” Kaylee murmured.
“Dry gin martini with two olives,” he said to the bartender.
“All right, then.” Kaylee drummed on the bar in what was probably a nervous habit.
He chuckled and pulled her closer. “Relax. I got this. And as for dancing, I’d love dancing with you. And will, anytime.”
“I bet you say that to all your…dates.”
“No way. I’d smile politely and change the subject. I like to try and stay a moving target in those situations.”
She gave him a funny look but didn’t comment. When the drinks came, she reached into her clutch.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He pushed her hands down and reached for his money clip, something he only brought when he was trying to advertise wealth. He had assumed that would be necessary in this place.
“It’s an open bar,” the bartender said with a tight, professional smile. “Enjoy.”
Ethan flicked away hundred after hundred before getting to the middle of his wad and peeling off a five. He laid it on the bar. “For your trouble.”
“Thank you, sir.” The bartender nodded and took the tip.
“Nice to
uch,” Kaylee said, shifting her weight.
He stepped away from the bar with her, keeping their sides touching. “I learned the money-clip trick from Colton. Funny story—he tried it once with Madison, on the date she’d hired him for, and she flipped out. She was not impressed.”
“Was it also a work function?”
“No. She hired him for an ex’s wedding because her dumbass boyfriend had dumped her right before it. It was supposed to be a quick and easy gig, no funny business, but…well, they hit it off immediately. They’ve been together ever since.”
“They met on one of these things?”
“Yup. Just like us.”
“I bet she didn’t hire him for a second situation.”
“She did, yes, but it didn’t work out. Janie…needed help at the time. Colton wasn’t going to let her pay for it anyway. It was just a means of reconnecting.”
Kaylee stopped in the middle of the room and slightly turned toward him. Her hand found his hip and she leaned into him.
Like her body was a live wire, electricity shocked through him, tightening his muscles and pulling on his gut. His cock hardened, pounding with need. He moved the hand on her back to her waist and pulled her to him, clenching the other into a fist and doing everything in his power not to bend down and claim her lips.
“Why are you so tense? What’s the matter?” she asked.
“You’re unbelievably sexy and it’s a struggle to keep my hands off you.”
She sucked in a breath and looked up at him. “Do you say—”
“I know your impulse will be to question how genuine I am, given the nature of how we met, but please know, Kaylee, that I don’t think of this as—”
“Well, look who it is.” A fat man with a pompous swagger threaded between two groups of people, aiming for Ethan and Kaylee. His smug smile and hawkish eyes were glued to her. He held a snifter of what was probably cognac. “Miss Overachiever has graced us with her presence.”
Twelve
Kaylee didn’t have time to feel any routine annoyance at Ray’s personality, because Ethan straightened up and squared his shoulders. His vibe completely changed from relaxed to dangerous—something that made her small hairs stand on end.
She glanced at him in confusion. What was he reacting to? Ray said crap like that all the time, belittling and condescending. Not just to her, either. As the VP of finance, he got to spread it around to all the peons. His department, who had to deal with him the most, absolutely hated him. The man was on a constant power trip that had nothing to do with her sex, and everything to do with her being another person in his vicinity.
As long as she was being treated equally with the guys on her level, whether equally well or equally badly, she didn’t much care. Which said something about what she’d endured in her career. But if she hadn’t learned to pick her battles, she’d probably have been locked up for killing someone by now.
“And miraculously, she has a date.” Ray smiled wolfishly at Ethan.
“This is Ethan,” Kaylee said. “Ethan, this is Ray, the VP of finance.”
“Ethan.” Ray stepped forward with an outstretched hand.
When Ethan shook it, Ray’s eyes widened and a small furrow worked into his brow. Ethan’s knuckles were white.
“All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy,” Kaylee said offhandedly, resting her hand on Ethan’s arm.
He gave Ray a flat stare before draping his arm over her shoulder protectively. “Yes, it does,” he said. “Or Jane, in this case.”
“Yes,” Ray said, drawing out the word, studying Ethan. “And what is it you do, Ethan?”
“I’m in real estate, mostly.”
“Is that right?” Ray said. “Can you do well with that sort of thing? Selling houses?”
“Oh, I don’t bother selling houses anymore. I manage my various properties. And yes, you can do well with that sort of thing. Renters have their advantages.”
Kaylee tried to keep the shock from her face. For such a laidback guy, Ethan was being very domineering and condescending, something she thought would make normal people feel small. She loved it, since Ray sucked, but Ray wasn’t a normal person. He’d probably just rise to the challenge and get nasty.
“Anyway.” Kaylee gently pulled on Ethan’s arm. “It looks like people are migrating to the tables. Should we head that way?”
“Of course, love.” Ethan nodded stiffly at Ray. “Nice meeting you, Ray.” Then he was walking with her, all ease and charm.
“What was that about?” she asked softly. The tables were arranged in two long rows along the back of the private room. Chairs were being pulled out and sat in—the lesser employees aiming for the far corner, the bigwigs heading for prominent places in the front.
Kaylee made to join Ben at the far side of the front table, but Ethan hijacked her plans, guiding her to the end where the VPs had gathered.
“He was being a dick to you. It didn’t sit well.”
“He’s a dick to everyone,” she whispered as he pulled her chair out.
“I don’t care about everyone. I only care about you. He’d better mind his manners if he doesn’t want me to make a fool of him.” Ethan helped scooch her in before settling into the chair next to hers.
“Pushing her chair in—that’s so romantic,” a woman across from them said. A gaudy necklace with precious gems set in gold adorned her neck. She put her hand to her chest, her long blood-red nails rounded at the end.
“What’s so romantic about it?” Theo, the VP of marketing, looked over at her with shrewd gray eyes that almost matched his slicked-back hair. “Might as well say she can’t sit at the table by herself.”
“You can’t get respect if you don’t give respect,” Ethan said nonchalantly, throwing his arm over the back of her chair in that relaxed way of his. He could’ve been waiting for a mai tai instead of engaging in stuffy conversation. “She kicks ass all day long. Everyone needs a break from dragging chairs up to tables, am I right…”
“Donna,” the woman said with fake, fluttering eyelashes.
“Besides, we’ve only been dating for a year. I have to pull out all the stops to get her to marry me, don’t I?”
Donna laughed and leaned across the table toward Kaylee. “That’s a reason to put off a wedding, let me tell you.”
Ethan matched her laughter like it was the best joke he’d ever heard. Theo grunted.
“And what is it you do…” Theo narrowed his eyes at Ethan, waiting.
“Ethan,” Kaylee supplied. “Ethan, this is Theo, the VP of marketing.”
“He’s a real estate mogul. I already asked him,” Ray said in a booming voice, thankfully sitting two people down on Kaylee’s side. Clearly he thought the answer was ridiculous.
“Real estate?” Theo took a piece of bread from the basket as a waitress delivered letter-sized cards to everyone, listing three meal options. “Whereabouts do you own property?”
“Thank you,” Ethan said as he took the card, one of the only people so far to use thank you. “Oh, all over. My most recent acquisition was in Southern France. There’s this little town that all my sources say is up and coming. I took the plunge.”
“You took the plunge?” Kaylee asked quietly.
“Yes.” He smiled at her before dropping his menu card onto his plate. “I had a lump sum from my rentals that needed investing. I was able to get in relatively inexpensively. Worst case, I can get my money back. The prices there have been steady.”
“So what makes you think the prices will inflate?” Theo asked, an intelligent sparkle lighting his eyes.
Ethan tapped his finger to his nose. “A possible deal going through in the next town over. Large companies are making fast grabs over there, so the prices have already skyrocketed. I’m anticipating spillover. It would be a great bed and breakfast, a little removed from the hubbub.”
“And if the deal doesn’t go through, you really expect the prices to remain steady? Won’t both towns see a slump?�
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“I don’t flip houses. I invest in property. Real estate is a long game.” Ethan took a sip of his drink, making Theo wait for his answer. If it was a power play, it was a damned good one. Theo stared at him with barely patient eyes, ignoring Gerry, the VP of sales, who was vying for his attention. “I’ll wait for the dust to settle, and for everything to get back to normal, and then I’ll unload it and look somewhere else. In the meantime, I have a vacation spot ready and waiting.”
Theo stared at him for a moment longer, studying. Gerry made another play for his attention, all but nudging him, but Theo took no notice. Finally, he tore his gaze away as the waitress approached him for his food order.
“I thought you were just holding the property from your mom,” Kaylee said in a low whisper, not wanting anyone else to overhear.
“Holding it, managing it, collecting rent, and reinvesting. Same difference.”
“No…not really. You really are a mogul.”
He moved the hair off her shoulder and stroked her skin, giving her goosebumps. “Does this make things weird?”
“Why would it make things weird?”
“People that have to work for a living get creeped out by those who…don’t.”
She reached to put her hand on his knee, but stopped herself. This wasn’t a real date. That might be overkill. “You do work. Managing all those properties, making decisions on where to invest…I’m not sure I’d be comfortable doing that. And the South of France? How cool is that?”
“Can I just say?” Donna leaned across the table again. “You two are really sweet together. I love a young couple in love.”
“Jesus, Donna,” Theo said, shaking his head and reaching for his drink. “Leave them alone.”
“Why? They’re sweet. Look at them.” She turned up her palm and gestured. “See what a small thing like pulling out a chair will do for you?”
“Make him into a sucker?” Ray, who’d clearly been eavesdropping, boomed laughter.
“I am not a fan of that man,” Ethan said in a rough voice.
Undertow: Big D!ck Escort Service Page 9
