He could help her there too.
“I own a few buildings with empty apartments for rent. I’m not sure what your budget is, but you can take a look and decide.”
Her eyes opened wide with delight. “Really? Because I’ve been completely overwhelmed. I’m not sure where I’d want to live or how to begin to look. I was going to call a Realtor, but I’d rather take the word of someone I know than do a full-blown search. Something tells me my brother will want me out … oh, yesterday.”
She frowned and he wanted to kiss the scowl off her pretty face. Before he could react to that thought, she leaned over, placed her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight.
“Thank you. You’ve turned around an otherwise awful week.”
She took him off guard, even more so when her full breasts pressed against his chest and he inhaled the fragrant, delicious scent of her hair. His dick stood at alert, desire taking hold.
She tilted her head back, her gaze meeting his. Her lips parted and his heart rate sped up, awareness pulsing through his veins. He raised his hand, cupping the back of her neck in his palm, pulling her closer to him, their mouths millimeters apart.
Teasing him.
Testing him.
He failed and sealed his lips over hers.
Similar to years ago, the kiss was soft, gentle, but now he was a man who knew what he wanted, and the desire to really taste her overwhelmed him. He slid his tongue across her lower lip, eliciting a soft moan that undid him, and his tongue stole past her lips, tangling with hers. He tightened his grip on the back of her neck and lost himself in the warmth of her mouth, the seduction of her kiss.
Time stood still. Their lips melded; his mind focused on the delicious taste of her and the feel of her tongue twined with his. Until the sound of the door opening jarred him back to reality.
She jerked back. He immediately released his hold and met her gaze, unable to stop the smile when he saw her damp lips.
A quick glance down revealed her nipples had beaded into tight points, in complete agreement with his thick erection, tenting his slacks.
The waiter mumbled his apology and began to serve dinner. While he worked, Derek held her gaze, sensual awareness reciprocated in her eyes while a deep flush stained her cheeks. But she didn’t look away.
When the waiter finally departed, Derek cleared his throat and raised his glass, taking a long sip of wine.
“That was … unexpected,” she murmured.
“I’d call it extremely expected. From the first time we met as kids to now. The attraction’s been there.”
“Agreed.” She wrapped a hand around the stem of her glass. “But attraction aside, I have another question. You agreed to the interview. Offered to help me find a place to live. Not to be rude, but why are you being so nice to me?” she asked.
Attraction aside, she’d asked a good question. One for which he had no answer. When tonight was over, he was going to have to take his temperature and figure out what the fuck was wrong with him, that he was rolling over for this woman without her asking for anything in return.
Or maybe that was the reason. She didn’t ask. She was unassuming and sweet, neither of which he’d expected. Not to mention, he wanted her. Badly. The businessman in him recognized that in getting closer, she might also provide him with insight into the company he hadn’t given up on acquiring. That was an bonus.
He raised one shoulder. “I suppose it’s as simple as you need something and I have the ability to help, that’s all,” he said, giving her the simplest answer. One even he could live with. For now.
“Well, thank you again.” A big smile covered her face.
“You’re welcome.”
With the kiss behind them but never out of his mind, they spent the rest of the evening with small talk, but eventually the night ended.
He hailed her a cab and waited alongside her on the sidewalk. They’d already exchanged phone numbers to arrange for her to see apartments over the weekend. He’d have to get in touch with his property manager and get the unit numbers and keys, but that was no problem.
A cab pulled to a stop and Derek opened the door. He slid an arm around her back and pulled her toward him, his gaze meeting hers. “Thanks for having dinner with me,” he said in a gruff voice.
“Thank you for forgiving me.” Her face flushed red that had nothing to do with the winter chill.
Before he could reply, she brushed a kiss over his cheek, turned, and slid into the cab, leaving him aching with desire. And confounded by how she’d defied all his expectations and, in the process, had him going against all his own good intentions.
All because he liked and desired her.
But Cassie wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of woman, and he’d be spending time with her, both helping and getting to know her better, before inevitably falling into bed with the woman he’d once considered his enemy.
As long as he reminded himself that sex was all there could be between them.
She was still Cassie Storms, after all.
Chapter Three
Cassie sat at her desk, her mind on the article she intended to write about Derek. Before Friday night, she’d known nothing about him, had no gut instinct on how to slant the piece. Now she did. Derek West was a decent guy. In fact, she’d been completely caught off guard by how kind he’d been to her.
Not only had he accepted her apology but he’d offered her the two things she needed most. The interview—something he disdained, yet was willing to do for her—and help finding a place to live. She’d go so far as to say they’d put the past behind them as much as possible. She didn’t kid herself. There had been—and would be again—more awkward moments between them. Like when she’d admitted to living in the house he’d grown up in.
She’d seen the wariness go up, the defensive posture and a brief flare of what looked like anger in his eyes before he’d composed himself again. She wasn’t certain where that irritation stemmed from or if she’d even read him correctly, the emotion gone too quickly for her to judge.
But none of those things had anything to do with chemistry, and she and Derek had that in high doses. All she’d had to do was look at him when she arrived and unexpected desire had engulfed her quickly. And when she’d hugged him in gratitude, he’d smelled so masculine and good; her breasts had crushed against his hard chest, her nipples hardening in reaction.
She hadn’t planned or expected the kiss. He knew how to take charge, and the way he’d kissed her reflected the alpha-driven man he’d become. With his hand behind her head and the hard press of his lips, she’d been lost. At least until they were interrupted by the waiter. She ran her tongue over her lips, imagining she could still taste him, before she forced her mind back to the business at hand.
Moving forward on the interview.
She called his cell phone, and he answered on the first ring. “Good morning,” he said, sounding happy to hear from her.
She wondered if that good feeling would continue after he heard her idea.
“Morning. Do you have a minute? I’d like to run something by you,” she said, doodling on a piece of paper on her desk as she spoke.
“For you I’ll make time.”
Her body warmed at his words. “I wanted to discuss the interview.” And before he could change his mind, she continued. “With everyone else, I’ve met with them once, maybe twice, and written based on that discussion and prior research. I wanted to go in a different direction with you.”
“Uh oh.”
She laughed at his response. Little did he know…
“What did you have in mind?” he asked.
“I thought I could shadow you. Sort of a day in the life except over the course of a longer period of time. That way I’d get a broader perspective of what you do, how you think … how you became the success that you are.” She bit down on her bottom lip and waited for a reply.
“You do realize you’re asking a lot. I don’t want to open myself up for public scru
tiny.”
“I understand and I can give it that slant. I promise I’ll respect your boundaries.” She could almost hear him thinking and she held her breath.
“I’ll do it for one reason,” he said at last. “So I can spend more time with you.”
“You won’t regret it,” she promised as her heart skipped a beat at his answer, equal parts thrilled for her interview and for herself personally.
Because she wanted to spend more time with him too.
* * *
Derek waited for his partners at the gym for their Thursday night boxing, sparring and workout. He’d arrived first and ran on the treadmill for fifteen minutes before he saw Kade make his way in.
“Sorry I’m late,” the other man said as he joined Derek, putting his duffel on the wooden bench by the treadmill.
“I’m here,” Lucas muttered a few minutes later, jogging in, out of breath.
“Held up at work?” Derek asked neither man in particular. He stepped off the machine and wiped his face down with a towel.
“No, Lexie baked some chocolate chip cookies, which are my favorite,” Kade said.
“And what? She let you lick the pan?”
A smirk lifted Kade’s lips. “Nah, she let me kiss the cook.”
Lucas snickered.
“What was your excuse?” Derek asked his friend, who still laughed at Kade.
“Nothing I’m willing to discuss in public. Or with you two.”
Derek was lucky all three of them were here at all. While they used to see each other more often, since Kade and Lexie had married and Lucas and Maxie had become engaged, guy time had declined.
Derek got it. Well, he accepted it. He didn’t get it, as in, he’d never fallen for a woman to the extent he wanted to spend most of his time with her. His thoughts immediately went to Cassie, who he couldn’t wait to see on Sunday, before he shook his head hard.
No. Getting a woman out of his system wasn’t the same thing as a lifetime commitment.
“Are we ready for some sparring?” Lucas asked.
“Yep.”
An hour later, they’d worked up a good sweat and showered in the newly renovated locker rooms.
“Since I’ve got you two in one place, I wanted to tell you guys something.” Derek figured it was as good a time as any to fill them in on what was going on in his life. As Cassie would be around the office now, they deserved to know.
“I agreed to do an in-depth interview.” They both knew his reluctance to delve into his past, and he braced himself for the inevitable questions.
Kade paused in tying his sneakers. “What happened to over my dead body?” he asked.
“Oh, I know. I saw the gorgeous brunette walking into your office the other day,” Lucas said in a knowing tone of voice. “You caved for a piece of ass.” He took a towel and snapped it at him.
“It’s not like that,” Derek shot back. “It’s a legitimate opportunity to get the story out my way,” he said, uncomfortable because he knew damn well his friend was right. He’d caved for Cassie … who was a hell of a lot more than a piece of ass.
“So she was the interviewer?” Lucas pushed, with Kade looking on.
“Just who is this woman?” he asked.
Both men knew Derek’s history. They’d been frat brothers, drinking buddies, and knew the whole ugly story of how the rich bitch had treated him. They also knew her name, as well as the fact that Derek had made a play for Storms Consolidated.
He drew a deep breath. “Cassie Storms. From Take a Byte,” he said, and waited for the backlash.
“You let her sucker you again?” Kade asked.
“Don’t be an asshole,” Derek muttered. “I’m not the same kid I was. And frankly she’s not who I thought she was either.”
Kade finished his shoes and rose to his full height. “We’re just looking out for you. You hate doing interviews and now you’re agreeing, and with someone who may not have your best interest at heart.”
“I know what I’m doing. And I expect you two to be friendly when she’s in the office.”
“I reserve the right to judge her for myself,” Kade insisted.
Lucas glanced at Derek. “You heard the man. Besides, you’d do the same thing for us.”
“Did you ever think I can handle myself? I’m getting something out of this too. Information about Storms. The more I know, the better chance I have of talking them into a sale. Through back-door methods, of course.”
Kade picked up his bag. “I hope you know what the hell you’re doing.”
“I do.”
“Doesn’t hurt that she’s a hot piece of ass,” Lucas added again. For good measure.
“Don’t fucking talk about her that way,” Derek warned his friend.
“Yep.” Lucas turned to Kade and grinned. “In over his head and we get a front-row seat.”
Derek ignore them in part because they were being assholes. And in part because he knew they were right.
* * *
Sunday arrived with snow in the air. It was forecasted to come down later today, but Cassie was still determined to meet Derek to look at apartments. Amanda had offered to join her and offer her opinion on each place, but Cassie had declined.
As much as she needed to find a place to live, the desire to see Derek again was equally strong, and she wanted time alone with him. She dressed in a cashmere sweater, a pair of tight jeans, and boots and threw on her puffy down jacket. Ready to go, she grabbed her bag and keys, when a knock sounded at her door.
“Coming!” she called, planning to get rid of whichever family member it might be as soon as possible. She had a train to catch.
She opened the door to find Spencer standing on the front porch, wearing a camel coat and a too eager look in his eyes. His dark hair had a dusting of snow, which didn’t bode well for her day.
“Hi, sis.” He pushed past her and walked inside.
“Whatever happened to calling first?” she muttered, loud enough for him to hear. “I can’t talk. I’m on my way out,” she said, in case her jacket wasn’t enough of a clue.
He shrugged off his own coat and tossed it over a chair near the entry. “That’s fine. I wanted to look around and see where I’ll be living. What I need to buy and change around.”
“It doesn’t bother you at all that I was here first? And I have to find a place to go thanks to you?” she asked.
Although she was always aware she was living on her parents’ property, she’d decorated the guesthouse just the way she wanted it. She loved so much about the place, from the small study she’d made that overlooked the garden in the summer and the snow banks in the winter to the homey kitchen she’d created for herself to cook in.
“It’s my turn, Cass,” he said, breaking into her thoughts. “Fair is fair.”
Her blood pressure rose at his presumptuousness. “Well, you can come back when I’m home. I don’t need you going through my things while I’m out.”
“Fine.” He picked up his coat. “I’ll come by again. Any idea when you’ll be moving out?”
She gritted her teeth. “When I find a place to rent and can arrange for movers. Relax and wait your turn.” She had to unlock her jaw in order to speak. “Have you gone over any plans for the company? Subscription base is down and—”
“I’ll deal with it. It’s my job to worry about the company. You can focus on your tech magazine.”
She felt his words like a pat on the head, and her anger grew. Apparently her brother was yet another man in her life who had no problem discarding her when she was no longer needed or useful.
Just like Jeremy, who she really hated thinking about. The bastard started working at Storms Consolidated the same year she had, after graduation. He’d been attentive, if on the pushy side, but he’d wined and dined her, and she’d fallen for him. They’d had the same journalistic interest and goals, or so she’d thought. She’d been willing to work her way up the ladder.
His interest in her had waned when sh
e refused to talk to her father about advancing his position within the company. He’d flat out asked her what good she was to him if she wouldn’t use her connections to get him a promotion. After all, he’d added, it was for her benefit too. For their future. Yeah. Right.
“Did you get more obnoxious while you were away?” she asked her sibling, heading for the door in order to make her point. They were finished.
“Don’t be mad at me. Dad was never going to pick his daughter to run the company. This was a natural, expected change. You should accept it and move on.”
If he didn’t hold the ultimate say over her job, she might haul off and smack him. Instead she hustled him toward the door and slammed it shut behind him, shaking in the wake of his short visit.
He’d always been a jerk, and his time abroad hadn’t made him more of an adult or a decent human being. Nor had her father’s handing him the company without him having to earn the position helped. Her father enabled his behavior, and clearly that would never change.
Nostalgia for her grandfather swelled inside her. God, she missed him. But thinking of him reminded her of the reasons she was sticking around and not finding a regular job with another company. He’d delivered newspapers when he was young and created his own multimedia company as an adult. A self-made man who she admired not just for his business ethics but for the way he treated his family, as well.
Sadly her father had not learned anything from him. But Cassie had. She blew out a long breath and tried to release the stress her brother had brought with him before she headed to the city to find a new place to live.
A little while later, she exited a taxi at the address Derek had given her. The high-rise was located in the upper sixties, a nice neighborhood and not too far from where Storms Consolidated did business. She knew the rent would be high, but her grandfather had set up a trust fund for her that bypassed her father. And though she tried not to rely on anything but her own income, she didn’t feel bad dipping into the money to accommodate her forced move.
A security guard sat at the entrance. She gave him her name, and he sent her up to the twenty-first floor, to apartment 2103.
Going Down Hard Page 4
