by J. S. Cooper
I blushed. “That is not why I’m here. Also, I’m mad at you. How could you touch me while we were on camera?”
“Well, I think it was you who started it, don’t you?” He laughed, his head going back. “But don’t worry, the camera only shows my shoulder and above. My accountants didn’t see anything other than an overly friendly maid sitting on my lap.”
“I’m not your maid.” I knew I sounded huffy, but after dealing with his mom, I wasn’t in the mood for any crap.
“I know, you’re my assistant.” He smiled. “Who likes to go commando when she sits on my lap.”
“Your mom is here.” I cut him off.
The words wiped the cocky smirk right off his face. “What did you say?”
“Your mom is here.”
“Fuck it.” He stood up with a sigh. “Where exactly is she?”
“She went to sit by the pool while she waits for me to serve her a coffee.” I rolled my eyes. “You know your job advertisement really was a lie.”
“It was?”
“I spend more time in the kitchen than I do anywhere else.”
“Would you rather spend more time in the bedroom?”
“Would you like to feel my fist in your face?”
He held up his hands. “I was just asking a question. I was wondering if you needed more sleep.”
“No, you weren’t. You were wondering if I would rather be your whore.”
“My whore? Whoa! Where did that come from?” He looked surprised as he gazed at my fuming face. “Are you okay, Savannah?”
“Do I look okay? Your mom flat-out asked if I was your whore, and then when I emphatically told her no, she called me ugly. Well, she didn’t exactly say I was ugly,” I admitted, “but she implied it.”
“You’re not ugly, Savannah.” Wade stepped forward and stroked my cheek. “Far from it.”
“Just because I’m not all fancy like her,” I grumbled. “Sorry for getting upset, but I thought you should know she’s here.”
“Yes, I guess I needed to know.” He made a face. “Not that I really want to see her.”
“She’s your mom, though.”
“In the biological sense, maybe. She doesn’t actually feel like a mom, though. Let me go and see what she wants.” He took my hand. “I guess the lap dance will have to wait until later.”
“How about until never?”
“You’re a hard one to read, Savannah Carter.” There was a small smile on his face. “You come into my office to seduce me this morning, and now you’re acting like you don’t want me.”
“I’m not the one that’s hard to read, you’re the...” I sighed. “I don’t get you. And I didn’t come to your office to seduce you.”
“You sure about that?”
“I just came to tease you,” I admitted. “That’s all.”
“You came to tease me with no panties and no bra?” He raised an eyebrow. “I’d hate to see what you’d do if the plan was to seduce me.”
“Well, you will never know.” I glared at him, feeling hot and bothered. He was correct, of course—what the hell had I been thinking by not wearing panties? Was I hoping it would just slip in?
Ugh, my thoughts were getting dirty, and I didn’t want to think about any part of Wade slipping into me.
“I wouldn’t bet on that, if I was you.” He winked and then made a face. “I’ll head out to see what my mom wants. Will you bring the coffee out in about fifteen minutes?”
“Sure.” Without thinking, I touched his arm. “Good luck.” I smiled at him, and his expression changed slightly. He looked like he was surprised by my gesture, and I looked away. “I hope it goes well.”
“Thank you, Savannah. I appreciate it.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “Sometimes I think you could make me a believer.” For just a moment, his expression flickered, making him look more like a vulnerable man, not the cocky bastard I knew he was.
“Believer in what?” I asked.
“The unbelievable.” He smiled wryly. “Let me go and deal with the Wicked Witch of the West.” He lightly kissed my cheek and headed outside.
I stood there, touching the side of my face where I could still feel his lips and staring at the French doors he’d just walked through. Wade was a complicated man. He was dealing with issues I didn’t even pretend to understand. If his mom had abandoned him and his brother and father when he was young, he most probably suffered from trauma. From the way he acted, it seemed to be that his mother still affected him. And maybe that explained why he didn’t seem to believe in love. A lone tear rolled down my face as I thought about the hopeful yet resigned look in his face as he’d just said the unbelievable. Did I have it in me to make him believe? Did I even believe?
My heart hurt for him and hurt for me, for reasons I didn’t fully understand. What exactly was happening between us? What did I want? I truly didn’t know, and it scared me.
Something had shifted between us. It was obvious that we were both attracted to each other, but somehow it felt like there was more going on. Was that just wishful thinking on my part?
As I walked back to the kitchen and made the coffee, I wondered if reading and understanding men would ever get easier, or if I was destined to a life of uncertainty and cluelessness.
Chapter 14
“Why if it isn’t my favorite Georgia girl.” A sweet voice greeted me as soon as I entered the pub. I looked to the side and saw Beryl from the café.
“Hi.” I gave her a little wave, not bothering to correct her. “Nice to see you.”
“How are you getting on up there at Hart Manor?” She looked at me knowingly. “Got you all sorts of twisted up inside?”
“It’s going fine, thanks.”
“There are so many secrets between those Hart brothers.” Beryl’s voice lowered. “You seen anything strange up there?”
“Nope.” I shook my head, wondering what I could say to distance myself away from her.
“I’m not one to gossip, you know, but funny things have gone on there.” She pursed her lips. “Things that aren’t right.”
“Oh?” I studied her face for a few seconds. “What sort of things?” If she was going to keep dropping hints, she might as well expand on them.
“Well, let’s just say that all the Hart brothers aren’t good in the head.” She raised an eyebrow. “There’s a reason he lives in Herne Hill Village, you know. He didn’t just come here for fun.”
“Wade?” It had to be Wade she was talking about. Henry had said he didn’t live in the village and was only visiting. Though, now that I thought about it, that struck me as odd. If he was visiting, why didn’t he stay with his brother? He had implied it was because Wade had women over, but except for Etta, who’d left after dinner, I hadn’t seen Wade with any other women.
“Wade Hart is the oldest brother.” Beryl sounded like she was talking to herself. “I would consider him the best-looking brother.”
“Uhm, okay.” This was going nowhere fast.
“You just watch yourself, dear. There are men in this world that will bed a pretty girl like you just to get their own way. It doesn’t mean they like you, it just means that you can help them.”
“Uhm, I’ll remember that, thank you.”
“Savannah, there you are.” Gordon came running over to me with a huge smile on his face and he gave me a big hug. “I was wondering if you were here yet.”
“I just made it.”
“Great, let me buy you a drink, and you’ll have to tell me all about what’s going on at Hart Manor.”
“Sounds like a plan. I think I’d like a cocktail tonight.” I smiled at him and then nodded toward Beryl. “Gordon, do you know Beryl? She runs the café in town.”
“Nice to meet you, Beryl. I think I’ve been in your café a few times.”
“Mhmm, yes, I’ve seen you.” She nodded, her eyes looking at me with a knowing look. “You have a good evening, Savannah. Don’t forget what I told you.”
I began to follow Gordon to th
e bar, but I got only a step before Beryl grabbed me and pulled me back. “If something comes too easy, that’s because it is,” she whispered. “Those Hart boys are no good. Not a one of them. No matter how much they smile at you or how many drinks they buy you.”
“Well, Wade isn’t here tonight, so I don’t think he’ll be buying me any drinks tonight. Thanks though, Beryl.” I pulled away from her and hurried to the bar to join Gordon. “Sorry about that.” I rolled my eyes. “Beryl was just warning me about Wade.”
“Oh, yeah? Does she think the big bad wolf wants you for dinner?” He laughed. “Want a lemon drop? That’s their drink of the night, and they’re serving two-for-one right now.”
“You definitely can’t beat two for one, yes, please.” I nodded enthusiastically. “I will most probably down the first drink in ten seconds, so it's a good idea to have the second one ready to go.”
“A woman after my own heart.” He winked at me.
As I looked into his flirtatious face, I realized that I needed to make sure we were both on the same page. I’d hate to think that I’d gotten it wrong and Gordon was straight and making a move on me.
“I don’t think anyone has said those words to me before.” I laughed and then because I was feeling brave, I asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
“A girlfriend?” He raised an eyebrow and burst out laughing. “Oh, no, I don’t do girlfriends.” And then he paused. “I know you’re not asking for yourself, though.”
“Oh, how do you know?”
“You’re so obviously smitten with Wade.”
“No, I’m not.” I shook my head vehemently, my hair swinging around my face. “Trust me, I’m not.”
“Methinks thou doth protest too much.” He grinned.
“I love Hamlet.” I changed the subject. “Shakespeare really was one of the greats, wasn’t he?”
“He was.” He handed me a glass. “Here’s your first drink. Have a sip, and then let’s go and sit down. I can’t wait to hear all about your week.”
“Are you sure?” I was surprised at his interest. Not many people wanted to listen to some random person they’d recently met complain so much.
“I love a good gossip.” He nodded as he paid for the drinks and then we looked around for a seat. “Over here.” He moved past me and made his way to two seats close to the front of the stage. “Actually …” he paused and moved back. “We can’t laugh and talk if we sit at the front, let’s go to the back.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” We took our seats, and I took a long gulp of my drink. It tasted sweet and strong, just as I liked it. “This is so good, thanks, Gordon.”
“Don’t thank me, next round is on you.” He laughed and drank from his beer. “So, how have you been? What’s been going on with you?”
“Oh, just the same old, same new, working for my boss, hooking up with my boss, meeting my boss’s bitchy mom and hating her.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” His eyes widened. “You hooked up with Wade? And his mom is in town?”
“When I say hooked up, I mean made out, not sex—well, not full sex.” I blushed. “Just oral.”
“You went down on Wade?”
“No.” I grinned.
Gordon threw his head back and laughed. “You go, girl.” He held his hand up and high-fived me. “You get yours.”
“I’m glad you’re not upset.”
“Upset?” He looked confused for a moment then laughed. “Oh, you mean jealous? I bat for the other team, if that wasn’t apparent.”
“I mean, I never like to assume.” I blushed. “Sorry.”
He just kept on grinning. “Girl, you have nothing to apologize for.” He shook his head. “Plus, like I said, I could tell you were into Wade. And even if I was straight, you’re too nice of a girl for me. I need new friends, not a fuckbuddy.”
“I’m glad we can be friends.”
“Me, too. I really want to see that mansion you work in.” He laughed, but a shiver of uneasiness crept up the back of my neck. This was the second time he’d mentioned seeing Wade’s home. Why did he care so much?
I shook my head. “I can’t really have visitors over, but maybe in a few weeks, Wade will loosen up and let me have people over.”
“Yeah, what is he, your prison warden?” Gordon chugged his beer. “Why can you not have friends over now?”
“I wish I knew,” I answered with a shrug.
We both quieted down as the lights dimmed and the host welcomed everyone to the open-mic night. I sat back and sipped on my drink, feeling warm and slightly buzzed. I was glad to be out of the house, away from Wade and his mom. I wondered how long she was going to stay. With any luck, she would be gone by the time I got home and I wouldn’t see her in the morning. She really didn’t seem like a nice person, and I was starting to understand why Wade resented her so much.
The sound of the clock chiming greeted me as I stumbled through the front door giggling and hiccupping. It was three a.m., and I was drunk. I’d gotten a car ride home and left the Range Rover in town. I’d have to ask Wade to take me into town in the morning to pick it up. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be upset.
“Of course he’ll be upset,” I giggled to myself as I made my way through the hallway, banging into the wall as I walked.
“Savannah, is that you?” Wade’s voice sounded from the living room and I froze. Shit!
“Nope.” Hiccup.
“Savannah?”
I put a finger to my lips. “I’m a figment of your imagination.” Hiccup. Giggle.
“Savannah?” Wade was now standing in front of me, looking larger than life. He was wearing white briefs and a navy-blue T-shirt. The briefs left nothing to the imagination, and I swallowed hard.
“Is that a banana or are you just happy to see me?” I reached out. “Ooh, hard.”
“That’s the handle of an umbrella, Savannah.” He looked down into my face. “Are you drunk?”
“No.” Hiccup. I leaned back into the wall. “Is bitchy still here?”
“Who?” He frowned.
“Your mom.”
“Oh.” He laughed. “Yes, she’s in one of the guest rooms.”
I groaned. “That sucks.”
“Indeed it does.” He swept me up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” I gaped up at him.
“I’m carrying you to bed.” He strode down the corridor. “You seem to be having trouble walking.”
“No, I don’t. I’m walking just fine.” Hiccup.
“I hope you didn’t drive home.”
“No, I left the car in town. We have to get it tomorrow.”
“We do, do we?” He sounded amused. “So, who were you drinking with?”
“My friend.”
“Your friend?” He frowned. “Not that man?”
“What man?”
“The man that texted you? Gecko?”
“Gecko?” I giggled uncontrollably for what felt like minutes. “You mean Gordon.”
“Yes, I mean Gordon.” He stopped outside his bedroom door, opened it and walked in.
“What are you doing? This isn’t my room.”
“I know.” He carried me over to his bed, placed me on the mattress, and looked down at me. “Stay here, I’m going to get you some water and some crackers to eat. Do not move.”
“You’re the boss.” I sank my head into the plush pillow and closed my eyes. “Whatever you want.”
“That’s the right answer.” He chuckled, and I heard him leaving the bedroom. A few minutes later, he walked back and sat down on the bed next to me. “Drink this.” He handed me a glass. I took the water from him gratefully and gulped it down. Then he handed me some saltines for me to nibble on. “How much did you drink?”
“Not that much, really.” I sat up and leaned back against his headboard.
“And how much is not much?”
“Four lemon drops, one beer, and two shots of tequila.”
“Ugh. You’re going to be in for a bad m
orning tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine.” I looked at the clock on his desk and groaned. “Though maybe not super great. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to wake up to make your breakfast in time.”
“Don’t worry about my breakfast tomorrow.”
“But what about your mom? Won’t she be expecting me to cook for her?”
“You’re not the cook of the house, Savannah. She can fend for herself.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “It’s a pity you’re drunk because I want to kiss you very badly right now.”
“So, why don’t you?” I leaned forward, but he just shook his head.
“You need to have a shower first.”
“I don’t want to.” I shook my head obstinately. “I just want to sleep.”
“Have a quick shower.” He pulled me off of the bed. “It will make you feel better and help to prevent a hangover in the morning.”
“Will it really?”
“That’s what I’ve been told.”
“Fine.” I headed for the door, but he grabbed my hand.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“To my room to have a shower.”
“You’re sleeping here tonight.”
“But I still need to shower and put on my pj’s.” I didn’t even protest at the thought of sleeping with him. It was just one night, and it would feel nice to sleep in his arms.
“You’ll shower here, and I’ll give you a T-shirt to wear.”
“Fine.” I was too tired to argue with him. I yawned and leaned my head against his chest. “You feel so warm and delicious.” I looked up at his face. “And sexy.” I reached up and touched his lips. “You have such juicy lips, I could just eat them.”
“Well, hopefully not.” He laughed. “Come on, Savannah, let’s get you to the shower.”
“Okay.” I nodded, and then I frowned. “How come you’re still awake?”
“I’ve been waiting on you to get home,” he said gently. “You didn’t say you’d be gone all night.”
“I didn’t know I had to say.”
“So, were you on a date?” His voice sounded gruffer as he helped me get out of my clothes. “Did you kiss him goodnight?”
“Kiss who goodnight?”
