by Holly Rayner
Hakim threaded his fingers into hers and studied them. “I know. I’ve never been able to talk shop with one of my dates before.”
Lauren pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. He sounded so perplexed.
He looked up and saw her expression, and reacted with a sheepish grin. Hakim lifted her hands to his mouth and Lauren felt a thrill as his lips brushed across her skin.
“Fine, yes, you’re right. If I wanted to talk business with a date, I should pick a date that knows her business.” He gave Lauren a pointed look and she smiled back at him.
Back in the car, Hakim headed for another part of the city. Lauren recognized the theater right away; it was one of her favorite buildings in LA. She knew exactly what show was playing, because a bunch of her friends from her small theater group had tried to get tickets, but they were all sold out within thirty minutes of going on sale.
Lauren turned in her seat as Hakim pulled up to the valet. “How did you get tickets for this? It’s impossible.”
He gave her a cocky grin. “I know a guy.”
Lauren wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit him or kiss him. She decided not doing either was probably for the best. She could hardly contain her excitement as they walked to their seats in the front row.
All Lauren could do was look at him and say, “Really? Now you’re just showing off.”
Hakim’s full-throated laugh made several people look over at them, and made Lauren smile. They took their seats just as the lights blinked to indicate the show was about to start. Lauren took a quick look around, watching her fellow theater-goers, hoping that the audience that night would be a good one. It made so much difference when the audience was just as into the performance as the cast.
Her eye caught on a man in a dark brown suit a few rows behind her, sitting just off the aisle. He looked familiar, but Lauren couldn’t place him. Probably a work thing, but it bugged her that she couldn’t remember where she knew him from.
Then the lights dimmed and the curtain rose and Lauren forgot all about everything but the play and the man sitting next to her.
Lauren wanted to keep applauding long after the cast had left the stage, but with the audience already starting to disperse, she instead gathered her things and followed Hakim out of the theater. She was on an adrenaline high and couldn’t stop chattering to Hakim as they left about how amazing the show was.
When they got to the car, Lauren leaned against the car door so he couldn’t open it. Hakim looked at her surprised, but Lauren just shook her head.
“This has been an amazing night, Hakim. Thank you.”
Lauren held his gaze for a minute, willing him to understand just how much she’d enjoyed their date, then moved so that she could open the car door and get in. She was still full of energy, and didn’t really feel like going home, especially not alone. She wondered if Hakim would be up for another stop somewhere.
As if reading her thoughts, Hakim asked, “Since you seem to be far from tired, would you like to go back to my place for a drink?”
Lauren gave him a brilliant smile. “Yes, I’d love that.”
She stared out the window, humming just under her breath, as Hakim drove them to his house. Lauren couldn’t help but wonder if a drink was all that was being offered. As much as she hoped otherwise, given their situation, she’d understand if more wasn’t on the table.
Lauren didn’t wait for Hakim to open her door when he turned off the car, feeling at home. She walked in front of him into the house, and smiled when she heard the familiar sounds of paws padding across the wooden floors.
“Hi, Zeus! How are you, sweetheart?” Lauren called to the dog.
Zeus gave one happy bark and then bounced around Lauren, wiggling excitedly as she leaned down to pet him. Hakim laughed at the sight.
“Well, clearly, someone likes you,” he said just as Lauren looked up at him, smiling.
Lauren impulsively leaned over and kissed Hakim, not thinking, just wanted to feel his lips on hers. Instead of gently pushing her away, he leaned into the kiss. It wasn’t like their past kisses, which had been sweet, but ultimately chaste.
This time, she parted her lips and Hakim wrapped his hand around the back of her neck to pull her closer. Lauren shifted so she could press herself against him and she felt rather than heard the moan he made when their skin touched. The sound made something hot flare low in her body, and she pressed herself as close to him as she could.
Hakim stroked his hands over her skin, sending sparks of sensation all over her. Lauren wanted this, wanted him, and so she opened her mouth to his exploring tongue.
Coming up for air, Hakim took a moment to check in with her.
“Lauren, I want… I want you. Is that okay?”
She placed a hand on his cheek, wanting him even more. “I want you, too, Hakim. And I would very much like it if you would take me to bed right now.”
Hakim stood in one fluid motion, pulling her off the couch with him. Lauren grinned and tugged at his hand, knowing well the way to his bedroom even if she hadn’t been there with him before. She led him there, knowing exactly what it was that she wanted.
Chapter 18
Lauren
She woke up early again, but this time it was with a feeling of utter contentment and happiness. She looked at the man sleeping on the other side of the bed and couldn’t believe they were together. It was clear that they couldn’t stay away from each other, and Lauren was fine with that being the case.
She watched him sleep for a few minutes and thought about how she could get used to waking up like this every day.
Lauren rolled over quietly and picked up her phone, feeling the need to check in with work, just in case. She did have a text from Kayla, but all it said was: Everything’s still good. No more word from police. No media (yet). Hope the date went well!
Unable to stop grinning, Lauren thought, Oh yes, the date went very well.
She thought about waking Hakim up, but decided against it. If she did that, there was no telling how long they would be there and in spite of Kayla’s text, Lauren wanted to be visible in the office that morning. She hated to leave so early, but if she left now, she could make it home, shower and change, and still get into the office before everyone else.
She carefully climbed out of bed and quietly gathered her things while Hakim slept. She left a note on the kitchen counter telling him that she’d had a wonderful time and was headed into work (just in case), and said she’d call later. She put the note where he would be sure to find it and leaned down so that she could give Zeus a pat good morning.
On the drive home, Lauren still couldn’t stop grinning. It was a silly, sappy smile, she was sure, but it was a smile she was happy to be wearing. She briefly considered what their night of passion had meant for their deal of just one date, but Lauren was too blissful to dwell on such details. At that moment, it didn’t matter. They were good together, she was happy; those were the important things.
She was so distracted, she missed when the red light she was stopped at turned green. The driver behind her honked loudly and Lauren jerked her head up and realized the car was waiting on her. She stepped on the gas and gave the other driver a little wave to say sorry. The car turned right and Lauren was kind of glad she didn’t have to deal with the mortification of having that driver follow her all the way home. She glanced back again and noticed that while the car immediately behind her had turned, there was another car behind her as well and he didn’t appear to be going anywhere.
She sighed. Oh well, so everyone would know how distracted she was that morning.
It was totally worth it.
It didn’t take her long to shower and get ready for work, and she hummed a merry tune the whole time. Still ahead of schedule, she grabbed some coffee and filled a to-go mug then headed for her car. When she got there, Lauren realized she wasn’t sure if she had her phone, so she put the mug on top of the car while she fished in her large bag. It wasn’t in the side
pocket, where it belonged, but then she found it in the bottom of her bag. She put it in the right place, unlocked the car, and reached for the mug.
If she hadn’t done that, she might not have looked over and seen a car parked across the street. A car that looked very much—no, exactly like—the car that had been behind her after the missed green light. That side of the street wasn’t legal parking, so it was possible the car had just pulled over for a moment.
Somehow, Lauren didn’t think so. She got into the car and checked her mirrors to see if she could get a better look at the driver without him noticing. She felt a sense of shock when she realized it was the same guy who she’d recognized but couldn’t place at the theater the night before.
She was being followed!
Lauren still couldn’t remember where she knew the guy from, but given the timing, it was possible it had something to do with the embezzlement. Maybe the cops were watching her to make sure she wasn’t in on it?
She thought about simply walking across the street to ask the guy what he was doing, perhaps surprising him into telling her who he was working for, but wrote that off as a dangerous thing to do. Instead, Lauren decided to do a little detective work of her own.
She pulled her phone out of her purse and held it up to her ear. She shut the car off and took her foot off the brake, so he would know she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And then she made a show out of glancing in her mirror so that he would see her. She needed him to drive off so she could follow him, and she wanted him to think she was calling someone about the car sitting across from her apartment.
It took a few minutes and a bigger show of “seeing” him, but finally, the guy started his car and drove off. Lauren made sure to memorize the license plate and waited a minute. There was only one way out of her neighborhood, so she knew what direction he was headed in.
She carefully followed the car, keeping far enough back that he wouldn’t notice her. Or he wasn’t paying attention, because a couple of times she was sure she’d gotten too close. She knew the part of town they were driving in, which helped.
Actually, she was very familiar with this part of town. She hadn’t been here that often in the last few years, but often enough before than that she still knew all the roads and turns. Lauren started to get a bad feeling about who was in that car.
And ten minutes later, her fear was confirmed. She knew this building well indeed. And just as she realized where she was, she remembered who the man in the car was: her mother’s driver.
Oh, Patricia had gone too far this time.
Parking haphazardly in front of the building, Lauren stormed out of the car, slamming the door. She stopped by the other car, tapping on the window. When the window rolled down, she saw concern in the man’s eyes.
“I don’t care what my mother told you to do. Follow me again, and I’m calling the cops,” Lauren said furiously and then continued into her mother’s office building.
Not stopping at the reception desk, she hit the penthouse button in the elevator, ignoring the receptionist who was calling after her. When she got off the elevator at the top floor, she blew past her mother’s secretary and went directly into her mother’s office.
Patricia was on the phone, but the moment she saw Lauren, she hung up. She opened her mouth to speak but Lauren held a hand up, palm out.
“Are you having me followed?” Lauren spit out the question.
“No. I’m having someone keep an eye out for you, so that you don’t get into trouble.” Patricia made her voice calm, like she was talking to a small child.
“Mother, that’s the definition of being followed. I want you to stop it.”
“I don’t think so, sweetheart. You obviously need someone keeping watch over you.”
Lauren’s eyes got wide with fury. “I’m sorry, but what? I’m a grown woman, I can look out for myself.”
“Not where Hakim Khalif is concerned. Which you know, otherwise you would have told me before about what happened last week.”
“What happened is none of your concern.”
“Oh, but it is. He is using you, either to hurt me or to hurt you, and I won’t stand for it.”
“You know, if you’d been at my party, you would’ve known long before this. How did you even find out?”
“You never ask about any of my competitors, even when we talk about work. You asked very pointed questions about him, and then you admitted he had been at your party, so I did a little digging. How dare you not tell me that he bid that much money to buy you at your auction!”
“Really, Mother? Would it have been better if it had been less money?” Lauren couldn’t hide the sarcasm in her voice.
“My point exactly. He bought you! Why aren’t you mad at him? I’m doing what I need to do to keep you safe.”
“One, whatever I feel about Hakim winning the auction to buy me is my business, not yours. If I chose to forgive him for that, that’s my decision. I was the one who chose to do the auction in the first place, so I can’t complain about being bought.”
“Yes, well, that might not have been your best idea.” Patricia’s tone made it clear what she thought.
“Also none of your business. I don’t try to run your company; you stay out of mine. And two, the week is over, so it’s not an issue anymore.”
Patricia looked thoughtful, like she was considering what Lauren had to say, but her response was, “That’s not how it looked to my driver last night.”
“Oh, for the love of… Mom, who I see is none of your business.”
Patricia stood up and for the first time, Lauren heard real emotion in her mother’s voice. “But it is, Lauren. Hakim Khalif has been after my business since he expanded to California. He will do anything to hurt Sanders & Company, and that includes using you to get to me. He only bought you for that reason.”
Lauren dropped heavily into a chair, suddenly tired. “Well, of course, he was using the auction to get back at you. It was stupid and petty and he knows that.” At the incredulity on Patricia’s face, Lauren added, “Yes, he told me all about it.”
“And you believed him?” Patricia sounded like she couldn’t believe what her daughter was saying.
“Yeah, I did. He didn’t lie to me, even from the beginning. Told me exactly why he showed up at the party and bid on me at the auction. It didn’t work out the way he’d planned—once we got to know each other better, he realized this whole rivalry has been counterproductive for both of you.”
“Oh, Lauren. I know he’s charming, but you didn’t actually trust him when he said that, did you?”
“Actually, yes. He’s a good man. He’s got a definite business persona, but under all that, he’s a good person.”
“No, he’s really not. I’ve known him longer than you have, and I know for a fact that he’s only out for himself.”
“What about what you’ve done, Mother? Why didn’t you tell me about your side of this little war, hmm?”
Patricia lifted her chin. “I’ve only done what I had to in order to protect my company. And now I’m doing the same in order to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection. I want you to promise that you will stop following me around.”
“I can’t do that, Lauren. I only have your best interests at heart, and unless you agree to cut this man out of your life, I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe.”
Lauren couldn’t do anything but stare at her mother. Lauren knew Patricia could be cold when it came to business, but this insistence on protecting her by having her followed was unnerving. Lauren wasn’t sure what to do. She’d insisted, her mother disagreed, and they were at an impasse.
All Lauren could do was leave, so that’s what she did.
Chapter 19
Hakim
Hakim was a little disappointed to wake up without Lauren beside him, and even more so to find that she had already left the house. But her note made him smile. She’d written that she wanted to talk with him later,
and that meant she was open to finding a way to be together.
Or at least that’s what Hakim hoped she meant. Being with her—being as close to her as he could get—had meant more than he could have imagined. They fit together. Going to sleep with her in his arms had been unimaginably sweet, all the more so this time because of what had preceded it.
He knew that they still had issues to deal with. Patricia wasn’t going to be happy about the two of them dating, but if Lauren was willing to risk her mother’s wrath, he would do whatever it took to support her.
Zeus met him downstairs, tail wagging, and Hakim remembered how happy the dog had been to see Lauren. He knelt down to pet him and said, “You and me both, pal.”
The dog barked once in agreement and Hakim laughed. He got food and water for Zeus and then coffee and breakfast for himself, half hoping that Lauren would come back before she went into the office, all while inherently understanding her need to be there in the wake of an almost-crisis.
He arrived early at work himself, surprising a few of the people who were normally first in. He smiled and chatted around the kitchen’s coffee pot, and wondered if maybe he shouldn’t spend more time out of his office talking to his employees.
The day was busy as usual, but time seemed to drag. Hakim finally figured out that it was because he was checking his clock every five minutes waiting for Lauren to call. By the end of the day, she still hadn’t called, so he sent her a text.
Hey there. Everything okay? Want to have dinner tonight?
He paced his office until his phone chimed with a response:
Bad day. Well, not the beginning of the day. But everything after that has been pretty bad.
Hakim texted her back right away, hoping that it was something else with work that was the problem:
I’m sorry. What do you need? What can I do?
