by C. M. Steele
“Debbie, get your ass in my office now!” I demanded as I passed my assistant’s desk.
I had to do a double take when I realized she wasn’t in her chair. Not that her ass ever was. She was the laziest of the six assistants I’d had in the last three months. Had it been that long since Jess left me? Fuck, this one was as good as gone now. I didn’t give a shit if she was making copies for the hundredth time this month, which I knew was a lie. Her ass had been printing out her resume and looking for jobs since she walked through the door. That pissed me off more because that’s probably what Jessica had done before she quit without notice.
I pressed my hand to my chest. Her letter was still there and well-worn by now. It didn’t hold romantic good-byes, but it made me carry on. I’d looked for her everywhere. The agency only had her previous address, and because of me, she’d never filled out our paperwork. She’d blocked my number from her phone, so I had no way of finding her. I slammed my fist on my desk. The pain of her leaving was still as fucking strong as it had been on the first day.
I sent an email to my HR director to stop what she was doing and get the fuck up here.
Erin knocked on my office door a couple of minutes later. She’d gotten on my nerves since we met three years ago. She did her job well, but she seemed overly eager to please. Well, she had until Jessica quit. I’d questioned her about Jessica’s quitting, but all she’d said was that Jess called in and that was it.
“Sorry, sir, but Debbie quit,” Erin said.
“Are they sending someone else in, and when the fuck was somebody going to tell me?”
“Mr. Hendricks, she called this morning. She said you were an…”
I already had an idea of what she’d called me. “A what?” I waited impatiently for her to just fucking say it.
“An asshole—her words, not mine.” She tried to absolve herself, but I knew she felt the same way.
Most people did. I ran a tight ship, and I didn’t tolerate those who thought they could skate by with half-assed work. I’d only gotten worse when Jess left.
“Yeah. These people you keep bringing me can’t get simple shit done in a timely fashion. It pisses me off.”
“It’s Friday. I can call the agency and see if they can send someone else in for Monday.”
“Fine,” I said, waving her off, but I stopped her in her tracks. “Erin, make it Tuesday. I’m going to be out of the office on Monday. And if this one doesn’t work out, you’re going to be looking for a new job.”
“Okay.” She walked out the door and closed it, probably cursing me out all the way to her office.
My sister was coming into town this weekend, and I wanted to take her out to dinner. She was in her first year of college and on spring break, but instead of going away, she’d wanted to visit me. That was fine with me. The more boys she stayed away from, the better.
She had been my sole priority when she was growing up. I always worried that something would go wrong, or I’d fuck it up. She looked so much like my mother that I demanded she get checkups at least once a year, if not more. Now that she was a woman, letting her go was hard. I called too often to make sure she was good. It got on her nerves, but I couldn’t stop my need to protect her.
I’d sent my driver, Henry, to pick her up and take her to my place to get ready for dinner. My sister was worried about me because I’d changed over the past few months. It couldn’t be helped. When I met Jessica McNeil, I was hit with an overwhelming need to possess her. I wanted to taste her sweet red lips and feel her curves against my hard body again, but she’d run from me without giving me a reason. I had to find out why.
I made it through another day. It was easier than normal knowing that I would see Layla again. I walked into the restaurant, and Layla was sitting at the table, all by herself, with a giant smile. She was such a replica of our mother that I had to stop in my tracks.
She jumped out of her seat and into my arms.
“Wow, I didn’t realize you were that happy to see me,” I teased while I hugged her.
“You know I missed you. I always do,” she said with a grin as she took a seat. “So are you going to tell me why you look like shit, or do I have to figure it out?” She never pulled punches, but that was what made her who she was.
“You don’t mince words, my dear.” I undid my suit jacket and sat down.
“Well, it’s fucking clear that you look fuzzy and miserable. Who stole your cookie?” Her brows were raised, waiting for an answer.
“It was chocolate chip, and sweet,” I joked. I knew my expression gave my sadness away.
“Please tell me you’re not going to be like him, are you?”
I knew she was talking about our father. I did love Jessica that much, but I wouldn’t do that to Layla after all we’d been through. “Not as long as I have you.”
“That’s not good enough.”
I was about to respond that that was all I could offer—my heart was fucking cracked—but the waitress appeared. I recognized the scent before I looked up from the menu. Fuck no! I was looking at the woman who had stolen all of me when she ran off.
“What the hell? Jess? Dammit, what the hell?” I growled.
Her face transformed from hurt, to anger, back to hurt, before closing off all expressions and leaving me staring at her indifference.
“Is this her, Nate?” my sister asked, angrily throwing her menu on the table, pushing her chair back, and standing. Layla looked ready to box.
I put up a hand to calm Layla down for a minute. Jessica jumped back, intimidated by my sister. I couldn’t have that, but I sure as fuck needed answers.
“It was only kissing. Sorry if that messed up your relationship, Lola.” With tears in her eyes, Jessica ducked her head and fled into the kitchen. She could try to run away this time, but I wasn’t going to let her.
“Hold on,” I said to my sister, who broke into tears and plopped back in her chair.
Bringing up my mother wasn’t easy for either of us, but it was especially hard for Layla, who’d lost our parents before she really got a chance to know them. She’d needed her parents when she was little, and she needed a mom in her life still. There were things about girls that a man like me had had to learn. I was certain I’d fucked up from time to time.
Chapter 12
Fuck, I had two women in tears for the damn wrong reasons. I pushed my way through into the kitchen, searching for Jessica. I caught my runaway bride heading toward the back exit, but she was deterred when she almost clipped a coworker. She was trapped by the fridge and a guy carrying food to a table. Nodding for the guy to move, I blocked her path. My hands landed on the fridge, locking her in. I inched closer, making sure she couldn’t get away without letting my body touch hers.
She refused to look up at me. It was as if she was destroyed. As if I’d torn her life apart three months ago, not the other way around. Sliding one hand down her cheek, I lifted her face to look at me.
She quickly pulled her face out of my hand and hissed, “Don’t touch me.”
“Jess, there’s been a really big fucking misunderstanding that we need to get straightened the fuck out. I’m guessing you think I did something I didn’t do. I told you those rumors were bullshit.”
“I didn’t need the rumors. You and your girlfriend left evidence everywhere.”
“You’ve got this all wrong, babe.” I lifted her face to mine again. I couldn’t stand that she hated me. When her eyes met mine, I could see the pain clear as day. “I never expected you to go in my drawer in my office, or I would have explained my past to you sooner.”
“She doesn’t look like your past,” she challenged, a sob trying to break free. She obviously thought my sister was my lover.
“Dammit, Jess, don’t fucking cry. I’ve missed you so damn much it nearly broke me. She’s the only thing keeping me going.” I wanted her attention, and I got it she tried to shove me away, giving me the opportunity to lift her slender hands above her head. “Jess,
I’m not going to let you get away this time. That lovely creature out there will never leave my life because she’s my baby sister, Layla.”
Her heart and mind were conflicted and it showed. “But the woman in the picture?”
“The woman was my mother. She died right after that picture was taken. It was a gift for my father. My full name Nathaniel James Hendricks, Jr.”
“But what about the roses?”
I was fucking lost. She wanted me, was hurt by thinking I had another woman, yet she was challenging me on sending her flowers? I didn’t understand why that would upset her. I wanted to give her a shit lot more than roses. “So I sent you roses. What’s wrong with that?”
“They weren’t for me. They were for you—from Lola,” Jessica hissed.
“That can’t be right. I’ve never known a Lola besides my mother.” Something crazy was going on, and I had a feeling that all my troubles for the past six months were the work of someone at my building.
“I have the card to prove it,” she offered with a glare.
God, she was beautiful. I had ached to see her for so long. Her face looked thinner, but the faint blush on her face brightened it up.
“Show me?” I asked.
Her body tensed, but before she could respond, my mouth was on hers. It had been too long, and I’d missed her every minute. She moaned in my mouth, sighing with surrender. I growled, pressing her harder against the fridge, grinding my cock against her belly and releasing her hands. She immediately ran them along my scruff. I groaned and attacked her lips harder. Our bodies grinding against each other rocked the large fridge.
“Um… excuse me. Do you mind? Get the fuck out of my kitchen.”
I stepped back, red-faced and completely embarrassed. I was confronted by the owner, my longtime friend.
He tried to hide his smile. “If you’re going to seduce one of my staff members, please don’t do it in my kitchen. I could get a surprise inspection.”
“Sorry, Eddie, I got a bit carried away.” I turned back to Jessica to make sure her skirt was down—didn’t want motherfuckers looking at her. I grabbed her hand and pulled her to my side, blushing and all. “By the way, Jessica no longer works here, and we’ll need a larger table. Unless she’s going to sit on my lap. And I assure you, the way I’m feeling, that wouldn’t be innocent either.”
That smile transformed into a huge fucking grin. He clapped my back and cheered, “Finally, my friend. Finally. Come, I will get you another table.”
I tugged her along while she tried to fix her hair, which I’d managed to pull out of her tight bun. Oops. We walked into the dining room, and my sister was sitting at our table with John Moriarty, my competitor. They looked lost in conversation, and he was holding her hand. I’d kill him. I coughed, alerting them to my presence. Shocked, he released her hand.
“What the fuck are you doing talking to my sister, Moriarty?” I snarled. I didn’t need this shit today. He had no right holding my sister’s hand.
“She’s your sister?” he asked in surprised relief.
“Yes, she is. I’ll ask you again. What are you doing here?”
“She and I have some important things to discuss. I followed her here and saw you two having dinner. She’s my woman.”
“What did you say?” I asked, edging closer to him without letting go of Jessica’s hand.
“You heard me. She’s my woman, and I’ve been looking for her for months.”
“Great, you found her. Now you can scram and forget her number.”
He glared at me. “Listen, Hendricks, she and I have a lot to discuss—particularly the fact that she lied to me about who she is and disappeared even though she’s carrying my baby.”
I looked around, shocked as fuck. My baby sister and this fuck had had sex? When I looked at my sister, waiting for her to reply, I saw her look of remorse. It was true.
“I’m sorry, Nate. I… well… I was going to tell you.”
“But you weren’t going to tell me, were you, Layla?” I could actually hear the hurt in Moriarty’s voice. I hadn’t thought the man had a soft side.
“I wanted to. It’s just, well, I needed to figure out how,” Layla said, looking up at Moriarty. Guilt laced her words and expression.
I looked down and noticed that she did have a slight belly. I couldn’t believe it. She was pregnant with my enemy’s baby.
“If you hadn’t run in the first place, we wouldn’t even be going through this right now,” Moriarty growled.
“I’m not getting rid of my baby, John.”
The bastard didn’t want her to have the baby? He didn’t deserve her. She could do so much better than him.
“You’re not getting rid of my baby, and I never said that I wanted you to. We’re getting married and getting ready for this baby together.”
“Look, Layla, if you want Jess and me to help you with the baby, we will,” I offered. There was no way I’d leave her to do it on her own. She was my sister and too young to raise a child all by herself.
“She won’t need your help. She’s my woman, and that’s my baby,” Moriarty snapped at me. He turned back to Layla. “Let’s get out of here so we can talk. I’m not having this conversation in public.”
“He’s right,” Layla said. “This isn’t the place for it. John and I will go talk. I promise to call you later, Nate. I’m sorry you’re upset with me.”
I scowled at him before addressing my precious, naïve sister. “I’m not upset with you. This fucker, hell yeah. He’s been sabotaging me with everything, and now he went for my sister. That’s fucking low.”
“I didn’t go after your sister. I had no idea who she was, and undercutting you is nothing. I can’t help that you fucked up your career with those women. Now, Layla and I are going to leave. She’ll contact you tomorrow.”
“I’m not letting you take her anywhere unless she wants to go with you,” I warned him.
“No, he’s right. We need to talk. I’m sorry, Nate. I really am.”
Eddie came back from dealing with our table situation and looked completely red in anger. “Men, this isn’t the place for this. Please sit and have dinner in peace.”
“Sorry, sir. We’re were leaving,” Moriarty muttered, glaring at me he took my sister’s hand and walked her outside.
Jessica pulled my attention away from their backs. “Nate, I know you want to sit down to dinner, but can’t we just go? I’m not in the mood to eat.”
“Yes, let’s go. I don’t really want to have this private conversation in public either.”
“Eddie, I’m sorry, but we’re going home.”
“It’s not a problem. Have a great night,” he said, walking us to the door. “Jessica, you’ve got a great man. And, my friend, you are one lucky bastard. I can’t wait until you bring some little ones to enjoy some of my food.”
“Thanks, one day we will.” I planned on filling her with my kid tonight.
“Thank you for everything, Eddie,” Jessica said, handing him her apron. “Nate, I have my car here. Do you want to meet me at my house?”
“No. We’re going to my place after we go to yours to get you some clothes, and if you think I’m going to let you drive that death trap again, it’s out of the question.”
“Death trap? It’s a fast car, but not a death trap. Wait, you must be referring to my old beater. I got rid of that car a while back. My new ride is a sweet 2016 Dodge Challenger V8.”
I wondered where she’d gotten the money for that. “Still, I’m not letting you go anywhere without me. Not until we’ve got things settled between us. Hell, even then I might have to keep you locked away in case you get some crazy idea about running away again.” I grabbed her hand and walked out to the parking lot.
My driver was taking a nap when I knocked on my truck window. He rolled down the windows. “Hey, boss. I didn’t expect you for at least another hour,” he replied groggily.
“Henry, this is Jessica. We’re going to take her car back to m
y home. Please head back to the house. Thanks.”
We continued to the parking lot, where her car was the only one around. I didn’t like that she’d parked so far away from the rest of the cars.
“Babe, don’t ever park in such an isolated place again. It’s dangerous.”
“When I parked here, it was packed. I didn’t realize that it would empty out by the time I left work.”
She unlocked the doors, and I helped her in before going to the other side and hopping in. It was similar to my 2015 version. “I have the same car. Well, the 2015 Hellcat, but still. It’s a sweet ride.”
“I love the body of this car. It’s so sexy.”
“Woman, using words like that can get you nailed on the hood.”
She gave me her address, and I was pissed. It wasn’t too far from her old place. If I’d had people scouring the neighborhood like I wanted to do, instead of doubting myself, I would’ve found her months ago.
“So, Nate, if you were looking for me, why didn’t you just go to HR and pull my information? I had emergency contacts listed you could have called.”
I tilted my head, hitting the push to start and letting the engine come to life. I pulled out of the parking spot. “They said they didn’t have anything for you but the stuff from the agency.”
Her mouth dropped wide open, then she closed it, obviously a bit confused. “That’s bullshit. Before I left that day we… kissed, I handed the paperwork to the HR director herself.”
Rage bubbled up in my blood. My mind reeled with possibilities and reasons. I had asked Erin outright if she had Jessica’s personal information. What the fuck was Erin playing at?
“Baby, do you mean the blonde one?” I asked, making sure she knew who she was talking about. I didn’t want to call out my head of the human resources department for nothing.
“Yes, the one who was in the finance meeting with us that day.”
“That’s her. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I’m going to find out. It doesn’t make any sense to lie to me.” Then it hit me. Could she be orchestrating the whole assistant debacle? She had hired them for me. It was a part of her job. “It must be about the past assistants.”
