by Leah Brooke
Lust darkened their eyes whenever either one of them came around her. Steve’s held heat and anticipation while Nick’s held cool, glittering intent.
By the time Friday came around, she’d become convinced they were doing their best to drive her out of her mind.
Gathering some of her notes to organize over the weekend, Julianna stuffed them into her bag and had just started out when someone knocked on her office door. Butterflies took flight in her stomach until she remembered that Nick and Steve never knocked. Taking a calming breath, she opened the door, surprised to see Les Wilson standing there, looking angry as hell.
He stepped forward, obviously expecting her to step back, momentarily disconcerted when she stood her ground. With a glare, he stepped back again, pointing a finger in her face.
“My guys are working nights and weekends to get this hotel done in time, and we don’t have time for your fucking incompetence.”
Julianna blinked at the attack, but knocked his hand away. “What the hell are you talking about? And don’t stick your finger in my face ever again unless you want me to break it off for you.”
With his hands on his hips, he clenched his jaw, his face turning red and a vein popping out on his forehead. “Come with me.”
Dropping her bag on the chair beside the door, she followed him out of her office, closing the door behind her. Her long strides easily kept up with the contractor as they crossed the lobby and went into the elevator.
Punching the button for the penthouse, he turned to her before the doors even closed. He lifted his finger, but at her raised brow, dropped his hand again.
“I should have just let them paint and gotten your ass in trouble. I can’t believe Mr. Morietti and Mr. Vanguard would hire somebody like you to decorate this hotel.”
Used to the insult, Julianna smiled coldly. “Do you mean a woman who can kick your ass without breaking a sweat? Now stop acting like an ass and tell me what the hell you’re talking about.”
If possible, he turned redder and looked as if he was about to explode. “The fucking paint! That’s what I’m talking about. Did you even check it?”
Gritting her teeth, she glared at him, trying to hold on to her own temper long enough to find out what the problem was. “Of course I checked it. The penthouse is being painted ‘cream soufflé’. It came in yesterday. Right color. Right amount.”
The elevator stopped at the top floor, and Les rushed out, pulling her behind him until she slapped her other hand on his arm to break his hold.
“You touch me once more and I’ll shove your damned arm up your ass.”
He opened his mouth as though to say something and snapped it closed again and gestured toward about a half-dozen open paint cans on the floor and grabbed her arm again.
“Look at this fucking color. I’m going to be way off schedule if I have to have the painters repaint this. I don’t care that you don’t like me or that you’re sleeping with the boss. You are not going to get me fired from this job. You got that?”
Julianna jerked her arm free and pushed at him, her impatience growing. Satisfied that she’d knocked him back several feet, she bent and eyed the open cans of paint, her stomach knotting. “Somebody’s messed with this.” Dabbing her finger into the can, she examined it, rubbing it against her thumb and forefinger. “Somebody added red to this since yesterday.”
Looking up, she could see several of the painters standing around, shuffling their feet as they looked back and forth between her and Les.
She studied the wall behind them and inwardly winced at the orangey color. Wiping her fingers on a drop cloth, she gritted her teeth. “Who had access to this?”
Les sneered at her. “Everybody. Don’t try to blame this on someone else. You ordered the wrong color and didn’t check it. Now we’ll be behind.”
His too-hostile tone made her realize she’d almost knocked him to the ground in front of his men.
Perhaps now he wouldn’t put his hands on her again.
Damn, this job was far too important to allow this kind of friction.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll go get more paint right now. I’ll even stop and change clothes to help you. The painting has to be done on time no matter what.” Walking away, she headed back toward the elevator, grateful when the doors closed. Dropping her head against the back wall, she wondered how the hell something like that could have happened. She’d checked the paint when it came in to make sure the right color had come and had even opened one of the cans.
Had she been thinking about Nick and Steve and not paid attention?
Everything about this job had to be perfect. She couldn’t afford mistakes like this.
This only confirmed what she’d suspected. Getting involved with them any further would be a mistake, a mistake she couldn’t afford on too many levels.
* * * *
She returned a little over an hour later with fresh paint and rollers and brushes for herself, and dressed in paint-splattered denim overalls, and immediately got to work.
Within seconds, the other men started opening cans and started helping.
She could practically feel the hostility coming off of Les as he came to stand beside her. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but you’d better get out of here before Mr. Morietti finds you here painting. I don’t want to get in trouble with your boyfriend.”
Julianna kept painting, not even sparing him a glance. “For someone who can’t stand me, you seem awfully interested in my sex life.”
Les snorted, his eyes raking over her, softening slightly with amusement. “Just surprised that someone like Mr. Morietti would go for someone like you. No offense, but you don’t exactly seem like the sophisticated type to me.” His smile widened. “But you sure as hell know how to paint. I take it you’ve done this before.”
Accepting the implied apology, Julianna grinned. “I put myself through design school doing odd jobs. You’d be amazed at some of the stuff I can do.”
With the tension broken, the conversation flowed freely for several minutes until they all settled into a companionable silence, the only noise coming from a nearby radio.
She used the physical exertion to get rid of some of the anger that raged inside her.
Anger that someone had messed with the paint and threatened her deadlines.
Anger that she’d been transparent enough that everyone knew she cavorted with the bosses.
Anger at herself for being so weak that she couldn’t help herself.
Thoughts of Nick and Steve kept intruding, making her grateful that she didn’t have to put much thought into what she did now.
Something about them made it impossible for her to resist them. She wasn’t a child. She was a grown woman, mature enough to handle having an affair with them while she decorated their hotel. She could separate business from pleasure.
She’d never been the clingy type and would certainly be able to walk away when it ended.
She’d searched too long and gone through too much to back away now, not when they might be able to give her some of the answers she’d searched for all these years. She may never have a chance to feel this way again, and she intended to take full advantage of it.
The combination of gentleness, raw sex appeal, and strength both Nick and Steve displayed made her feel more feminine, more desired, than she’d ever felt before.
How could any woman in her right mind walk away from that?
But, she had to be realistic.
Men like Nick and Steve would never want to have more than just an affair with someone like her.
She knew she was pretty enough, in her own way, but she didn’t have the sophistication to be with men like them in public. She was too awkward, too clumsy.
She’d learned long ago that she lacked something other women possessed, a femininity that other women seemed to take for granted.
Because she’d come to terms with it, she could go into this affair with
Finishing the wall she painted, she looked around, startled to see that the work was almost done.
Les looked up from where he collected tools and met her gaze with new respect. “You kinda zone out when you’re working, don’t you?”
Shrugging, Julianna smiled through the pain as her shoulders protested the movement. “Guess I’ve got a lot on my mind. Thanks for staying.”
One of the painters approached with a smile and gestured toward her roller and tray. “Just leave that. We’ll take care of it and get the rest. Thanks for your help. I can’t believe you got that entire wall done.” He glanced at Les. “Sorry about getting so upset about the paint. After we painted the wall and you told us it was wrong, I guess I flipped a little.”
Les nodded and waited until the other man walked away before turning to her. “I guess I’m sorry, too. But are you sure you checked that paint?”
“Positive.” Julianna wiped her hands on a cloth and tossed it to land on the drop cloth. “Someone added red to it, but it’s my responsibility to make sure everything goes smoothly. If you see anything that looks wrong to you, I’d appreciate if you’d let me know.”
Les looked doubtful but nodded anyway. “Sure, I’ll let you know. Thanks again for staying. Looks like it’ll all be done tonight.”
Irritated that he obviously didn’t believe her, and sore from using muscles she hadn’t used in years, she gathered her things and shot him a cool smile. “So you should have no trouble staying on schedule. Good night.”
She’d just gotten into the car when she heard her cell phone ring. With a curse, she rummaged through her bag for it and managed to answer on the fifth ring.
“Hello?”
“Julianna, thank God. I’ve been worried sick about you. I’ve been trying to call you for hours.”
Relieved to hear Kelsey’s voice, Julianna smiled as she locked the doors and stuck the key in the ignition. She explained briefly what had happened with the paint. “So I helped them a little. The music was playing, and I guess I didn’t hear the phone.”
“Wait a minute. Someone really tampered with the paint?”
Julianna grimaced. “I know it sounds crazy, but, damn it, Kelsey, I checked that paint when it came in. I know it was right.”
“It was Ken, wasn’t it?”
Julianna sighed. “I don’t want to believe he would stoop to something so low, but he’s the only one who makes sense. I’m sure he thinks if I mess up, Nick and Steve will fire me and Avante’s will get the contract. But it could completely ruin his career to do something like this. Why would he chance it? How could he get in and get close enough? No, it has to be somebody else.”
“I wouldn’t put anything past him. You’re the one that kept Avante’s on top, and now that you’re gone, Ken won’t be able to handle it.”
Amused at her best friend’s fierce loyalty, Julianna laughed softly. “There are other designers there, Kelsey.”
“Yeah, but none of them in your league. I would have loved being a fly on the wall when Mr. Morietti and Mr. Vanguard told Ken you got the job. How’s everything going with your potential lovers? I can’t believe you’re actually thinking about sleeping with both of them. I always knew you were brave, but if you’re even thinking about taking on two men at once, you’ve got more courage than I could ever have.”
Julianna laughed softly, and quickly changed the subject. “Gabriel isn’t exactly what I’d call a cream puff, Kelsey, and you’ve got him practically panting for you.”
“Bullshit.”
Julianna winced at the beeping of her phone. “Kelsey, I have to go. My battery’s dying. Oh, hell, the car won’t start. I’ll catch a cab and talk to you tomorrow.”
“Julianna, damn it. Let me—”
“I’m fine, Kelsey. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Julianna hung up and, with a sigh, scrambled out of the car, her movements sluggish. Wincing again as she slung her big bag over her shoulder, she walked to the curb and raised her arm to hail a cab.
Grateful that she lived in a city where taxis were abundant, she breathed a sigh of relief when one stopped almost immediately. Getting in, she slumped against the seat and gave her address, trying not to cringe at the smell.
“Sure thing, ma’am.”
Sitting back, she closed her eyes, wondering what would make Ken so desperate that he would take such a chance. He had several designers there that could do the work he couldn’t.
No, it couldn’t be Ken.
It had to be someone who wanted to delay the opening of the Crescendo.
Nick and Steve couldn’t have gotten where they were without making enemies, and perhaps this kind of thing happened often in the hotel business.
She didn’t know whether to be angry that they hadn’t warned her or embarrassed that she hadn’t anticipated it.
Hell.
She opened her eyes, sitting up with a start. “This isn’t the way to my apartment.”
The taxi driver hit the gas, sending her flying back against the seat, and then sideways when he went around a corner. The fact that he didn’t speak scared her more than she’d like to admit.
She screamed, beating against the clear partition, even though, in the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn’t do any good. “Hey, you son of a bitch, let me out of here!”
Other than a flash of amusement in his eyes as they met hers in the rearview mirror, he didn’t react at all. He drove through the dark streets of Philadelphia fast, his tires squealing at each corner.
Forcing herself to remain calm wasn’t easy, but she sure didn’t plan to give this guy a chance to hurt her. Recognizing where they were heading, Julianna grabbed her door handle. She had to jump. He would have to slow down soon. She knew a lot of traffic lights waited ahead, and even at this time of night, the streets would be busy.
The man driving, though, appeared to know exactly where he was going and turned off, heading down a number of alleyways.
She held on for dear life as he drove, bouncing around on the seat but never letting go of the door handle, knowing she wouldn’t have long to act when she finally got her chance.
Most of the streetlights were out in the alley he drove down now, making it darker and darker as they approached what appeared to be a deserted warehouse. A tall wooden fence bordered both sides, making it impossible to see what was on the other side. Even worse, she didn’t see any breaks in it or gates.
Thankful for her strong legs, she searched frantically for a way to escape once she jumped out of the cab.
To her horror, they approached a large overhead door. As they got closer, it started to open, the low light coming from inside allowing her to see another man dressed in dark clothing push the door aside.
Oh, God, there were two of them!
As the taxi turned toward the large opening, the headlights shone briefly on what she’d been searching for.
A gate.
She knew this would be her last chance of escaping before they got her into the building. Fighting her panic, she pulled the handle, ready to jump out.
Nothing happened.
She pulled it again and again, only to have it come off in her hand.
Terrified, she twisted her body and started kicking out the side window, not knowing if the sobs she heard in her head came out or not. All she cared about was escaping.
Thoughts of Nick and Steve went through her mind as she frantically kicked at the glass until it broke.
“Stop that, damn it!” A string of angry curses followed as the man opened the partition and reached over the seat, trying to grab her.
She avoided his hands, pushing the remaining pieces of glass out with her bag before sliding it over her head and shoulder. She had to hold on as the taxi moved from side to side in the narrow alley, hitting a dumpster on her side as she crawled through the window, knocking her off balance.
Using her arms to brace herself, she slid through the window, sitting on the opening and holding on to the roof of the car.
Hardly believing that this could be happening to her, she held on for dear life, standing on the seat and holding on to the sign on the roof of the car.
She looked up in time to see the startled expression of the man inside the building as he started running toward them.
The man driving the taxi cursed inventively as he swerved. “Get her!”
The taxi screeched to a stop, skidding and sideswiping the fence on her side, sending her flying forward onto the hood of the car.
She bounced and rolled several times before she could get her legs under her and scrambled to her feet, the bright headlights nearly blinding her.
“Hey, what’s going on out there?”
She didn’t see who yelled, but started toward the gate, running as fast as her shaky legs would carry her. Sparing a glance at the taxi driver as he opened the door and started after her, she wanted to cry in relief when she realized that he limped.
She could hear the driver of the taxi cursing as he ran after her, yelling at the other man, who closed in on her. She heard his breathing, could actually feel him as he continued to close the distance between them.
Almost there.
Twenty feet. Ten feet.
With a sob as she reached the tall, wooden gate, she grabbed the handle and pulled with all her might, hitting the man behind her in the stomach with her elbow as she did.
Crying out when he grabbed her shirt, she spun and kicked at him wildly, relieved when he grunted and loosened his hold enough for her to kick him in the groin.
He cursed and fell to the ground, still reaching out for her.
She looked up as the other man approached and, with another cry, spun and took off through the gate. She ran down the sidewalk, racing around the few people that were on the street at this hour. Glancing behind her to make sure her assailants weren’t there, she ducked into a doorway.
Pressing herself back against the door and trying to make herself as small as possible, she struggled to control her breathing, cringing as the people who passed her stared. Afraid they would give her away, she peered out in time to see the two men standing on the sidewalk, their heads whipping back and forth as they searched the street.
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