“Just because you figure them out, doesn’t mean they’ll make sense, Erika,” Carter suggested quietly.
“File the charges, please.” She looked up to see him nod. “Will they contact you or me when you do?”
“That’s a guess, Erika. I know the resort and Zee said you begin work tomorrow. Their security will keep people from you,” Carter told her.
“But only until I leave there. I intended to put my name on the list for housing in their units,” she recalled with a little smile. “Now, I’m not sure. It would be best for Zee…people won’t be hounding him but somehow I don’t think he’ll take that answer well.”
“I have to ask this and you can feel free to tell me it’s none of my business, Erika. But the situation you described with Adam Wayne, the engagement,” Carter watched his words meet the intelligence in the blue eyes studying him. “And I don’t want to insult you…”
“I don’t insult that easily, Carter,” she laughed, her head shaking.
“Zee is a friend of mine from way back. I’ve never seen him…let’s use the word protective.”
“What are you trying to say, Carter?”
“Are you where you want to be or…”
“Oh,” Erika stared at him, her head shaking slowly. “Zee…” She sighed, a smile in her eyes. “If I didn’t want to be with him, I wouldn’t be. Everyone seemed to involve themselves in making certain I was with Adam Wayne. It seemed to be important to them all but no one told me the plot of the story. With Zee…it’s just him and me. He makes me laugh and think. I don’t recall having conversations with Adam about what I wanted out of tomorrow, but Zee is different. The relationship is about us, not just him or me. But us, as a couple.” She paused thoughtfully. “Does that help with the question?”
“It tells me you’re happy and where you want to be,” he acknowledged with a nod, straightening up and lifting his case. “I have your cell number and when I get this ready and filed, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, if anyone approaches you, send them to me or give them a flat no comment. I’m operating under the belief that it’s alright to talk to Zee.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” A frown creased her forehead and she shrugged. “I won’t have a relationship without disclosure. I don’t know what or how to protect him except to leave and that wouldn’t make either of us very happy. I’m more than a little sure it would piss him off, to be honest. Trying to explain rational to a male…nothing personal,” she added hastily.
Carter chuckled. “None taken. Be careful, Erika. We haven’t included Adam Wayne in this and he might be just as tenacious as your parents. Zee told me he came to Tre’s party the other night and that he is determined to change your mind, so allowing them to believe you’ve married might not be a bad idea for now.”
“He was annoying. I think the reporter tipped him off and he just crashed their party,” she shook her head. “Part of me thinks I should sit down and find out just how or why he wants to continue the charade. He wasn’t or isn’t in love with me. I’m not sure he even likes me, more the idea of who my father is and what he can become in the company because of me.” She stood up. “I can write you a check. I totally…excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
Since she took off at a light jog toward the stairs and up, Carter barely had time to open his mouth before she was gone. He heard her moving around upstairs and waited by the desk. He tucked the retainer into his wallet a few minutes later and offered his palm.
“Relax and let me represent you. The police will ask for a statement, Erika. Just tell them about meeting your mother for lunch. Nothing else, if you can avoid it. We’re only going to deal with that portion legally for now.”
Erika puffed out her cheeks.
“The police. Alright. I’ll just tell them the truth.”
“Exactly. Good luck with the new job tomorrow,” he couldn’t stop the smile at the bright grin she offered and nodding head before he went to the front, pulling Zee aside and having a brief talk with him.
It was shortly before two in the afternoon when Zee went in search of Erika. He tried his office first and then climbed the stairs to the apartment. His part of the shift was over until about five when he helped them close out. He carried the dinner he’d made for them in between customers and set things up on the table before dropping to his heels next to the sofa.
Erika wasn’t sure how she knew he was there. Her glasses fell over the side of the sofa and into his hand, the strong features and smiling eyes coming slowly into focus as she blinked at him.
“Did Carter come talk to you?” She asked, her voice low and husky with sleep. “I was going to but I didn’t want to bother you while you’re working.”
“He did. How about some dinner?” He waited, bouncing on his heels while she stretched, a low growl forming in him at the sexy, sleepy woman half smiling at him.
“We just had breakfast.”
“Babe, that was at nine-thirty. It’s two in the afternoon,” Zee laughed and barely scrambled to his feet before her body bolted upright. “It’s okay, Erika, slow down,” he laughed again, offering her the glasses. “Mariah said you might still be feeling the effects of the sedatives. You might even want to take off tomorrow…” He swore he’d just suggested she drown a puppy, her eyes went wide, her gaze appalled. “Or not…”
“I already set the alarm,” she told him, putting the glasses on and slowly rising, one hand up and one finger poking at his chest. “I am working tomorrow,” her nose twitched a little. “Dinner?”
“Hmm…focus is a bit scattered,” he teased, taking her palm and leading her to the waiting table. He’d brought some of the hot and spicy vegetable soup and crusty bread for himself and one of the large chef salads she’d eyed the day before.
“Oh, yum…that looks gorgeous,” she spun to the side and kissed him soundly. “Thank you. Can I get drinks? Water?”
“That’s good,” he told her, sinking into the chair and waiting for her to join him.
He wasn’t surprised that they talked and laughed through the meal and fell into bed at nine, wrapped around one another and ignoring the storm throwing branches against the windows.
Zee sat at the counter in the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee making an attempt to clear the sleep from his eyes. They’d lain awake talking until midnight and still the alarm went off at six the next morning. He almost threw it across the room until a pair of perfectly shaped breasts came down on his back and pulled his fingers from the radio.
And several minutes later, he stared like he was in fifth grade watching a hot teacher enter the room.
She wore a simple dark blue suit and white silk blouse. A nice side slit let her walk freely in the low, comfortable heels. She’d left her glasses off today and her hair was still damp but wound into a nice French braid and then pinned against the back of her head. Erika set the leather case by the door and went to pour juice.
“I could drive you out and be there at four-thirty,” Zee said, absently watching her ass twitch in the pencil skirt.
“You have a business to run and I can drive, but thank you,” she kissed his cheek in between drinks of the frosty juice.
“And you promise to take it slow. You’re still recovering,” Zee frowned when she giggled. “What?”
“We didn’t take it slow last night, Zee,” Erika came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his bare waist. “I’m okay. Honest.”
“Then humor me and let me drive you to work.”
“No. You need to go back to sleep,” she kissed his cheek.
“What about lunch? I could…”
“There is a first class cafeteria, Zee,” Erika finished the juice and shook her head, her lips brushing his shoulder before heading for the door. “Zee, I’ve had jobs before. I’m a big girl.”
“Believe me, that ass in that skirt definitely says big girl,” he murmured watching her slowly turn to face him.
“Then you be a big boy and think about that all day while
you’re working,” she suggested with a wink. “And we can play when I get home.” Erika laughed at the single brow he arched. She could almost see the possibilities playing out inside his mind. And other places.
“You’ll call me when you get there. Please?”
“I gotta pee…my phone’s in the pack on the side, I don’t have your number,” she said taking off toward the bathroom.
Chuckling, he went to the stylish leather shoulder case, dropped to his heels and pulled her phone free. He’d tapped in his number when he noticed the missed calls. Several from her parents and Wayne. Even three from the prospective candidate. He set those numbers on block and dropped her phone back into its slot, rising to meet her as she came back into the room, straightening her skirt.
“All ready for your first day?” Zee snagged her around the middle, staring down into the upturned face that grinned like a child on her first day at school. She nodded rapidly. “Be careful, Erika. Lock your car doors.”
“I will be careful, promise,” she went to her toes and kissed him. “Go back to bed. I’ll talk to you later.” She lifted her case, his palm cruising possessively over her behind and making her sigh.
“You could be indulgent and let me drive you to work,” he pressed one last time.
“In the sports car?” She teased, laughing at the frown on his lips.
“Why the sports car?”
“Then I can tell the other girls my boy toy dropped me off,” she listened to the low growl, stepping quickly through the door. “Later, Zee. Bye.”
“You’ll pay for that one later,” he called out, her laughter tinkling in the lightly frosted morning.
Chapter Thirteen
Zee stood on the landing, unaware of the forty-five degree temperature until he watched her drive off toward the resort. He went to the bedroom and stretched out, thinking about the people attempting to do damage control, especially the candidate. Ten minutes later he grabbed for the chiming phone, read her text, grinned and pulled the blankets over his head for another hour or so before it was time to open the shop.
Paperwork, human resources classes and meeting four of her new part-time staff. By the end of the day, Erika knew her brain was swimming with so much new information, she wasn’t sure what to be fascinated by first.
Kyle looked out the thick glass as he was latching the blinds down.
“Erika’s back,” he called out, lifting his pack from the floor at the main door. “We watched when we were outside, Zee,” he said casually, watching the blonde stride toward the entrance. “Nothing new today. See you in the morning.”
“Later, Kyle, thanks,” Zee wiped his hands on the apron at his waist and pulled it free, rolled it into a ball and tossed it into the hamper near his office. “Hey, gorgeous. How was the first day?”
He barely had time to open his arms when she grinned and took off at a light jog, launching herself into his arms with a bright laugh.
“Amazingly fun! I have four three-quarter time people working and finishing up their degrees and on work release as part of the program with the community college. We topped off the required classes in the morning and worked at our schedule,” she leaned back in the strong arms and kissed him. “I missed you, though.”
“How about some dinner and tell me all about it?”
“Well…I am hungry,” she admitted, avoiding the arched brow.
“You skipped lunch, didn’t you?”
“Maybe,” she murmured, wiggling and trying to get her feet back on the floor. She glanced to the side, frowning at the foot and a half of space between her feet and the floor. Somehow she managed to forget just how tall he was. “Down, Zee.”
“If you insist,” he said with a dramatic sigh, his hand sliding down her arm to take her palm. “Sit down here and I’ll get you some soup and crackers.”
“Clam chowder?” She asked hopefully, hurrying to the stool and hopping up, feet swinging excitedly.
“My special and perfect clam chowder,” he corrected smugly. “I made sure to save you a big bowl,” he ladled the soup into the deep bowl and slid a bottle of tiny oyster crackers toward her before going after his own dinner warming in the oven.
Zee couldn’t remember a better end to a day, sitting at the end of the counter listening to Erika and laughing with her when she asked about his day.
“You have a talent for food,” Erika said with a sigh, leaning her chin on upturned palms as she watched him finish the large sandwich he’d made for himself. “I bet I’m not the only one who forgets to eat sometimes.”
“I manage to eat while working,” he took her hand, pulling lightly until she came off the stool and took a couple steps closer. “You are looking beautifully happy tonight.”
Erika wrinkled her nose at him. “Maybe I should reserve a little of the happy for a day when I come home in a really bad mood.”
“Hmm…and maybe I should take advantage,” Zee decided he definitely liked hearing the words ‘come home’ from her lips and bent his head, his mouth cruising over hers lightly from one corner to the other before swiping his tongue against the full bow of her lower lip. His tongue slipped between her lips, curling and teasing hers; tasting the chowder and hidden sweetness that he’d come to recognize as Erika.
His palms began at her shoulders, caressing slowly down her arms and twining their fingers together. Zee backed up carefully through to door to his office. He’d worry about cleaning up in the morning before he opened. He guided her inside, never lifting his mouth from hers even when he reached out and pushed the door closed behind her.
“What if I want a turn at taking advantage?” Erika whispered against his mouth, her hands coming between them and pushing beneath the T-shirt he wore. So deliciously warm, the woman in her mewed in pleasure at the heat sliding beneath her fingers.
“I’m a fair kind of guy,” he murmured, still amazed at the fire that spread through him when she touched him, kissed him. It didn’t hurt that the sexy gleam twinkled in her eyes as she pressed her palms along his ribs, taking his shirt with them until she tugged it over his head and dropped it to the floor.
Erika kept moving forward until he hit the edge of the large, old wooden desk he used. He kept it mostly clear of anything with the exception of the closed laptop in the far corner. It was an old school type desk, easily five foot across and three feet deep. And very solid.
“You don’t seem to mind being taken advantage of,” Erika kissed his chest, their heights more even now that he was perched on the edge of the desk. She fit nicely between his thighs, took his palms and placed them firmly on the lip at the edge of the desk, curling his fingers under while staring into his eyes.
“Well…that’s not quite true…I am particular about who I allow the power,” he assured her, the corner of his mouth up just a little. It dropped and he swallowed hard when she slid the suit jacket down her arms and dropped it to the chair at the side. Her fingers moved to the buttons on the front of her blouse and he was unable to take his gaze from the sight. The moisture in his mouth dried up and it was a definite struggle to drag his tongue over his lips as he watched her fingers move from button to button.
Zee started to lift one hand toward her face, her palm freezing in midair when she took a step back and shook her head ever so slightly. When his fingers were wrapped around the lip of the desk once more, she stepped forward again, her fingers continuing to open the front of her blouse.
It was the smile that made him groan more than watching the creamy skin begin to make itself known to his eyes.
“You’re enjoying this, Miss Vincent,” Zee felt his teeth. He was sure of it.
“There wouldn’t be a point to it if I didn’t enjoy it, Zee,” Erika pulled the sides of her blouse free from her skirt. Her gaze flowed over the flexing muscles on his chest, over the taut stomach and onto the rigid length of his cock outlined by his jeans. She reached for the button at his waist and popped it free. “I believe you’re enjoying it, too.”
Zee groaned when she pressed her palm against the fabric of his jeans, stroking her hand down the hard, throbbing length of him. At the base, she turned her hand, dragging the edges of her nails back up his cock. His hands tightened considerably on the edge of the desk and he was grateful that it was good old solid oak.
Erika reached into the pocket on her skirt, the foil packet held up between her fingers.
“You come prepared,” Zee followed the packet to the desk top and caught the saucy wink she offered.
“I’m a pharmacist, you can trust me,” she teased, both hands on the opened band of his jeans and traced the zipper down. Why did his husky laughter send ripples of pleasure through her just as potent as his kiss? She just knew she liked it and wanted more of the feelings he shared willingly with her.
He’d had the shop for over three years but this erotic fantasy had never entered his imagination before. And he knew he’d never be able to look at his office quite the same again.
Erika trailed her nails over his chest and onto the suddenly frozen stomach, his breath held when she took the opening of his jeans and finally slid the zipper down. She peered up at him, lashes half open.
“Have you had fantasies about your office, Zee?”
Prepared for the question? Hell, no. Prepared to think past the erotic sight and feel of Erika? Oh, hell, no! But since she was asking him a question and seemed to expect an answer because her hands had stopped moving in their stroking along his cock, he decided it might be best to form words together and answer.
“Not until today.”
Her laughter was soft at the gruff, husky sound of his voice. Erika stepped closer, her face against his throat. He hadn’t lifted his hands since she placed them the second time on the desk edge so that was one less temptation she had to attack her senses. She let her tongue come out, stroking lightly along his throat and down his chest, twirling slowly around one male nipple.
WindSwept Narrows: #22 Erika & Vianne Page 12
