When he slept, visions of Hailey invaded his dreams. He was beginning to think he could never get enough of her. She was like a drug, one he couldn’t bring himself to quit.
Even his brothers were beginning to notice.
Like now.
A wadded up piece of paper slapped him in the face, breaking him out of his daydream. He blinked and frowned across the desk at his brother, James. “What?”
“I was talking to you about Wilkinson. He’s pledged two million to the expansion.”
“Oh. Good.”
James gave a disbelieving laugh. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been distracted all week, and you’re never distracted.”
“What? Nothing.”
“Ah.” James leaned back, a knowing smirk creeping to his face. “It’s that woman you’ve been dating. Diane, right? You’re finally hitting it.”
Hell. Diane. He’d sort of forgotten about her these past few weeks, lost in the madness that Hailey had inspired. What did that say about their relationship?
In fact, considering Diane hadn’t bothered to dial him up either, what did it say about her feelings for him, period?
A low whistle sounded from James’s lips. “Good for you. Diane is hot. A little quiet for my taste, but definitely hot.”
Andrew opened his mouth to disabuse James of his notions, but then what was the point? The last thing he wanted his little brother to do was start wondering why he was so absentminded lately if it wasn’t due to Diane.
“Besides,” James grinned, “you could use a bit of loosening up.”
Andrew didn’t deny it, but he didn’t agree either. The last thing he needed was to be screwing around right now, with everything going on business-wise. But even though he’d had this same conversation with himself a million times, he couldn’t seem to stay away from Hailey.
As if she sensed him thinking about her, a soft knock sounded out and Hailey slipped inside. Her hair was in a messy topknot and she wore a black-and-white striped dress that ended at mid-thigh.
His heart clenched at the sight of her, and like Pavlov’s freaking dog, his cock instinctively hardened. Nothing like having a raging boner in front of his brother.
Well, at least it was preferable to Miranda. He suspected she was beginning to think he had a thing for her.
“Hailey.” James gave her an easy grin. “How’s corporate life treating you?”
She jokingly scrunched her nose at him, and Andrew’s gut twisted. He envied James’s effortless relationship with her. Wished for the same. But there was too much heat between them for that.
“I’m surviving,” she said dryly. Her gaze moved back and forth between the two of them. “I just wanted to see if you needed anything else before I took off for the weekend.”
Her last words were loaded with hidden meaning. She wanted to know if he intended to come to her tonight. There was only one thing that could keep him away.
“Nope, we’re good.” James glanced at his watch. “In fact, we need to leave soon if we’re going to make that dinner with Wilkinson. We’re looking at two hours minimum to get upstate.”
Andrew forced his eyes off Hailey’s sunny face. “What?”
“Dinner? To celebrate his pledge?” James gave a beleaguered sigh. “I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m talking to a wall.”
Oh damn. He hadn’t been listening. Andrew bit back a groan and met Hailey’s gaze, silently apologizing. The one thing that could keep him away from her was work, and much as he might wish otherwise, work was calling.
Hailey’s shoulders fell, the disappointment in her eyes turning him on while simultaneously making him feel like shit. He gripped the desk with both hands, combating the sudden urge to rise, cross the room, and pull her into his arms. Kiss her senseless like he’d been dreaming of all day.
This was crazy.
Every time Andrew saw her, his pulse raced and his body went into hyper-drive. Like he was on some sort of wild ride he didn’t understand, or know how to get off of.
Worse, one he didn’t want to get off of.
I should end this. It was the right thing to do and he knew it. End things now, end them clean, before either of them got in too deep. Before they got hurt.
Hailey gave him a smile and her eyes softened, making a silent promise.
She turned and he forced his body to relax.
Tomorrow.
He could end things tomorrow. Tonight he needed to focus on what really mattered. On growing his father’s empire.
“Ready?” James asked. “Miranda’s already called the driver. He should be downstairs waiting for us by now.”
Andrew forced his thoughts of Hailey from his mind.
He rose to his feet. “Yes.”
Chapter Nine
“Where’s loverboy?” Lily asked Hailey as she flitted into the tiny room that served as their kitchen.
“I don’t know.” Hailey shoveled a spoonful of soggy Cheerios into her mouth. “Home, I guess.”
“Huh.” After digging out a bowl and spoon, Lily snagged the box of cereal from where it sat on the two-seater table across from Hailey. “I figured he would’ve stayed over last night, since you two seem to be doing it like bunnies lately.”
Hailey scooped up a spoonful of milk and flung it at Lily. It slapped her in the face just as she sat down.
“Hey.” Glaring at her, Lily wiped her face. Then, with a careless shrug, she uncapped the milk jug sitting next to the cereal and poured some into her bowl. “I’m just telling the truth.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…I didn’t sleep well last night.”
Lily gave her a knowing look. “Two weeks of nonstop sex and now you miss him when he isn’t around, huh?”
Hailey sighed. “Yes.”
If only she could deny it, but it was true. The first week, Andrew had initiated a rendezvous every other night, but during the past five nights they’d silently fallen into a routine. She would go home after work, and a few hours later he’d join her. They’d spend half the night making love.
As a lover, Andrew was beyond compare. Her body had never been so sated before. Every night, his fingers worked their magic on her skin. And when he slipped inside her, it only got better and better each and every time. Each orgasm was more intense, each stroke of his body into hers deeper than before.
Now she craved his touch morning, noon, and night.
He was starting to get under her skin.
“Damn it,” she muttered.
Lily paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Uh-huh.” Lily scoffed. “You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
“No.”
Liar.
She sighed and used her spoon to swirl the few remaining Cheerios in her bowl. “Yes.”
Lily slurped up a spoonful of cereal. “He’s falling for you, too.”
Hailey laughed. “Yeah. Right.”
“He is,” Lily said matter-of-factly. “Every time I’ve seen him looking at you, it’s like he’s memorizing your face. And his eyes go all soft and dewy whenever you turn away.”
A little kernel of hope blossomed in Hailey’s chest. “Really?”
“Yup. He might not recognize it, but the man is gaga over you, girl.”
She shouldn’t let Lily’s words get to her. Andrew had told her flat-out what he wanted from her, and emotions weren’t part of that equation. But then she’d said the same thing.
Despite her best intentions, those feelings had crept in, had evolved into more than fondness and lust. She wanted more.
And maybe, with a little patience, he’d come around to wanting the same.
Her cell phone let out a soft buzz that indicated a text message, and she practically dove across the table to grab it.
“Jeez.” Lily scowled. “Desperate much?”
“Shut up.” Hailey stuck her tongue out at her roomie before scrolling to her text. Her stomach flopped when she saw it was fro
m Andrew.
It said, OMW.
Unreasonable panic set in. She shot her gaze toward Lily. “He’s on his way over.”
Rolling her eyes, Lily said, “Well what are you waiting for, then? Go take a shower. And wash your hair, ’cause it’s looking crazy right now.”
That was all the encouragement Hailey needed. She rose and raced toward the bathroom.
“Don’t forget the Pet-a-thon,” Lily called out behind her. “Prospect Park at noon. You’d better be there. You can always have wild, crazy sex later!”
“Yes, mom.” She hopped into the shower, lathering and conditioning her hair before shaving. Now that she’d admitted to herself she was falling for Andrew, there seemed no logical response but to jump in with both feet. Make him fall right back.
But he’s still so different from you. That hasn’t changed.
He was still focused on work. Driven to the point of obsession. Just like her dad.
Well, she’d just have to work on that. The carefree Andrew she remembered from childhood was in there, somewhere. She’d seen glimpses of him during their time together. She’d simply have to remind him that life wasn’t all about work. That sometimes, play was important.
You never convinced Dad.
As she scrubbed her body with soap, she forced that errant thought away. Andrew was different.
He had to be.
***
Andrew walked up the stairs to Hailey’s apartment, his stomach filled with dread. He’d debated with himself half the night, trying to find ways to negate what he knew to be true. He had to end things with Hailey before they turned into something more. Before they were no longer casual. It wasn’t right to lead her on, and no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, that was exactly what he was doing.
Hailey was a good woman. A sweet, vivacious woman who deserved better than stolen moments in the dark with a man who had nothing to offer her. And she sure as hell didn’t belong in his world. Corporate dinners, charity business events…those were a necessity for any woman he chose to partner with, and they would all stifle her.
There was simply no future for the two of them.
He only wished that knowing this to be true would make doing what had to be done easier. It didn’t. Some selfish part of him, a side he’d thought long gone, wasn’t ready to let her go.
Taking a fortifying breath, he knocked on Hailey’s door. The soft pad of footsteps sounded out along wooden floorboards, and a moment later the door opened. His pulse quickened at the sight of her.
She wore a pair of denim capris and a flowing white blouse, and she’d attempted to tame her hair with a colorful scarf tied into a knot at the nape of her neck. Her hazel eyes sparkled with life as she gave him a bright smile. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Andrew swallowed hard, trying to assuage the sudden sharp pang in his chest. Hailey’s beauty was breathtaking. It shone from the inside out, almost blinding him with its stunning intensity.
She leaned against the open door, her smile growing almost shy and hesitant.
“I missed you last night.”
His gut twisted at the pain her words caused. This was it. Time to tell her that this thing between them was over.
Except he hadn’t expected it to be so hard. So painful.
He opened his mouth.
“Me too.”
The words tumbled out without thought, and panic set in an instant later. But then her gaze grew soft, her body pliant, and he couldn’t bring himself to take them back.
She stepped forward, lacing her fingers into his and sliding her free hand up his chest. Her lips found his mouth, tongue stroking against his, and he melted into her.
For a long moment all his worries slipped away, nothing mattered but the press of their bodies together, the way their hearts pounded in unison. Something about her made him lose himself, made him forget all responsibility. He wanted inside her with a desperation that rocked him to his very core.
His arms closed around her, and just when he would’ve pushed her inside the apartment and slammed the door, she pulled away. Reluctance shadowed her gaze.
“We can’t,” she whispered. “Not yet. I promised Lily we’d go to her Pet-a-thon.”
“Her what?” She might as well have been speaking another language.
“Pet-a-thon.” A cute little blush tainted her cheeks. “It’s a pet adoption event going on over at Prospect Park, and she needs some help with the dogs.”
He groaned. “Are you serious?”
She gave him a playful swat on the shoulder. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
Was she kidding? “Handling a bunch of smelly dogs is not my idea of fun.”
“I can make it fun.” The teasing look she gave him told him she was probably right. “Besides, it’s for a good cause.”
Andrew hesitated. He should talk to her about what was going on between them. Now. Why postpone the inevitable?
But then Hailey leaned in close to whisper. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while once we get back.”
He couldn’t do it. Not yet.
Just one more day.
Yeah, it was a dick thing to do. But he couldn’t bring himself to pull away from her.
“Okay,” he said, only part-reluctantly. “Let’s go.”
Half an hour later they were in the park, and the pet thing hadn’t turned out as horrible as Andrew had thought it’d be. They stood in a clearing full of dogs, all species and ages. Most of them were led on leashes by volunteers. Vendors were set up all around them, peddling hot dogs, ice cream, and other frozen treats. Little kids walked by eating cotton candy and holding colorful balloons in their hands. The place sort of resembled a festival.
All in all, things could have been worse.
“He’s not going to bite you.” Hailey’s voice sounded out right beside him, her tone one of amusement.
He gazed at the English Bulldog seated by his feet. The dog panted up at him, ribbons of saliva oozing from its mouth. “It’s not the teeth that I’m worried about.”
“What, are you scared he’s going to ruin your shoes?” she teased.
“I simply don’t relish the thought of smelling like dog drool all day.”
Rolling her eyes, she dropped to her haunches. The dog attached to her leash, a spunky Golden Retriever, grinned at her as she scratched beneath its chin. “You can shower at my place later if you’re so worried about it.”
The thought of doing that very thing, only with her in there joining him, made his mouth go dry. Her bathroom was tiny. The two of them would surely be a tight fit. But where there was a will, there was a way.
Hailey’s curious gaze turned up to him. “Why are you acting like you don’t like dogs, anyway? You used to have one. Thor, right?”
So many years had passed since he’d last heard that name. His heart gave a curious twist at the recollection of the pet he’d loved as a kid. “Yes, Thor.”
“He was such a cutie. What happened to him?”
Andrew swallowed at the unexpected burst of sorrow that constricted his stomach. “My father got rid of him before we left Florida.”
“Oh.” Something sad shadowed in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. He was more trouble than he was worth.” But even though he repeated his father’s own words, unexpected anger rose at the memory of dropping Thor off at the local pound. Of turning back to see his trusting, unsuspecting face as they’d walked out the door. Thor had been a mutt, lacking the expensive pedigree his father wanted, but he’d been theirs.
And then, like their mother, he was gone.
“Oh my god, Andrew. Look.” Hailey hopped to her feet and raced across the clearing.
Perplexed, Andrew started after her. The Bulldog dug his heels in and Andrew stalled, turning to coax it forward. He ended up having to drag the thing several feet.
“Move your fat, lazy ass,” he muttered to it.
Giving him a slobbery grin, it obeyed.
&n
bsp; He headed toward Hailey, who stopped halfway across the field, right in front of a thin, older lady with artificially orange hair. They exchanged some words, and Hailey handed the Golden Retriever off to the woman. The woman gave her another leash in return, and said a few more words before turning and walk away.
Hailey turned to face him just as he caught up with her. She gave him an ear-to-ear smile and motioned toward the dog on her leash. “Look, Andrew. Can you believe it?”
A fluffy white dog stared up at him, with random patches of black on its long, curly fur. Its paws were a little too big for its body, giving it away as a pup. The dog stared up at him, inquisitively cocking its head to the side. One floppy black ear fell to cover part of its eye.
“What?” He frowned, still trying to figure out what she wanted to show him, when it struck him.
The dog looked like a younger, slightly lighter version of Thor.
“Isn’t it crazy?” she murmured, excitement coloring her voice. “Just when we were talking about him…”
Andrew stared down at the puppy, unanticipated memories weaving through his mind. The first time he’d met Thor…he and his brothers playing with their beloved pet…accompanying him to the vet. Their mother’s joyful laugh as she bent to pet the dog and he covered her face in slobbery kisses.
His chest tightened. Blinking hard, he squatted in front of the puppy. It gave a short whine and sat, its mouth opening into an approximation of a smile.
“Hey bud,” he murmured, reaching out to stroke its fluffy coat. Even the soft texture of its fur reminded him of Thor.
The dog arched into his touch, then dropped to the ground and presented its belly, asking for a rub.
Hailey let out a delighted laugh and sat down beside the dog. “He likes you.”
Andrew smiled despite himself. “Yeah.”
She studied his face, her hazel eyes too knowing. “You like him, too.”
He didn’t bother trying to refute it.
“You should keep him.”
Rocking back onto his heels, he snatched his arm away. “What?”
Wild Girls Rule Page 11
