by Audra Cole
Landon chuckled. “Hey, I offered to send a car. You could have me pinned down in my bed right now.”
A delicious thrill ran over my body at the seductive velvet smooth suggestion and the images it conjured.
“I’ll shoot straight with you, Candace. It’s not anything you couldn’t find on Google anyways. A few years ago, I went through a nasty divorce. It got blasted around the internet, mostly because my ever-so-lovely ex-wife decided to drop some bombshells right as I was taking my company public.”
“I’m sorry.” It was an all-too-familiar tale in my circles. In LA, everything lived and died on social media. Gossip, scandals, and secrets were the lifeblood that kept the city moving.
“We were college sweethearts. She made her choices. I made mine. Since then, sure, I’ve had fun and enjoyed being single for the first time in my adult life, but no, I’m not a bar-hopping asshole, trying to get with a different piece of ass every night of the week.”
An overwhelming sense of relief flooded through my veins. I didn’t know why it mattered so much, but I was reassured by the fact that I wasn’t just another entry in his little black book.
“Do you like living in Seattle?” I asked, deflecting off the question that was really lingering in the back of my mind. If he wasn’t a 31 flavors kind of man, then what did that make me? An exception? Or did he truly have interest beyond the steamy session in the coat closet?
“I was born and raised in Washington. I grew up in Spokane so I’m used to the weather. Sure, it’s nice to hop down to LA or Mexico and soak up the sun, but at the end of the day, Seattle is home. What about you? You miss Arizona?”
“Yes and no. More that I miss the simple life. Things move too fast here sometimes. I miss the desert air and the wide open spaces with nothing but cactus and red sand. But hey, palm trees are and ocean views are pretty hard to beat.”
Landon chuckled. “I’m partial to evergreens myself.”
I smiled and wondered what it would be like to have this kind of wandering conversation under the sheets, nestled together, listening to the sound of his heartbeat under my ear. I knew it was a long shot, but there was something about Landon that was exciting enough to set my heart racing, while still having the comfortable ease of a favorite t-shirt.
It was enough to make me wonder if it was time to be on the other side of the matchmaking table.
Chapter Nine
Monday morning came all too fast and I realized during my morning commute that it was the first time I wasn’t looking forward to diving into work in several months. Call it a sickness, but I actually liked Monday mornings after a weekend away. Especially following a big event. Normally, I would be buzzing to get to work and pour over the data and feedback and to connect with the clients who’d attended the mingle. Instead, I was dragging my feet and dreading walking into my office and watching the emails fill my inbox to bursting.
It hit me halfway to work, the real reason for my melancholy: Landon was back in Seattle.
We hadn’t seen each other since Friday night, but there had been a few long phone calls and dozens of text messages. I’d been getting closer and closer to agreeing to meet up again on Saturday but changed my mind at the last minute. Chickened out was more like it. Now, it was too late. He’d be back to his office, busy with work, and I’d be lost in my own.
Somewhere deep in the back of my mind, I decided that it was probably for the best.
Landon was nothing but pure distraction and I needed all the focus I could muster if I had a prayer of finding a new path to the cushy corner office in the Seattle office. There was no hope of signing Landon on as a client, but over the weekend, I’d decided that I could find an even bigger fish, scout him, and land him on my own.
Preferably someone with a decently sized bank account and an even bigger beer gut. Since, apparently, I couldn’t be trusted around hot men at the moment.
After arriving at headquarters I immediately tugged my tablet from my purse and started scanning through the list of possibilities as I wandered to my office. The lights turned on automatically as I stepped over the threshold and I glanced up. There, on the middle of my desk, was a bright orange box. “What’s this?” I wondered aloud. I dropped my purse on my chair and picked up the card sitting on top of the box.
Candace.
My heart kicked up into a frantic beat as I pulled the card free of the envelope.
I’m of the mindset that a dozen roses are kind of overrated. What are your thoughts?
Got these instead. Hoped they would make you smile.
Call me when you get off work. I’ll be waiting to hear that sexy voice.
-Landon
Smiling like an idiot, I put the card aside—after reading it twice more—and then lifted the lid on the box. Inside, nestled in layers of pink and green tissue paper were a dozen miniature cacti and succulents in tiny terracotta pots. A flutter of excitement swirled in my stomach and I shook my head slowly. “Damn it, Landon.”
He was getting under my skin, soaking into my system, and judging by the star-struck way I stared down at the little plants, it was too late to plan an exit strategy. I was already in too deep.
“What are you all smiley about?”
I jolted up so fast my chair skidded back from my desk. “Shit, Georgia, don’t freaking scare me like that!”
Georgia eyed me suspiciously before glancing down at my desk. Her eyes sparked with amusement and a wide smile spread across her face. “My, my, my, what do we have here?”
“Nothing.” I grabbed the box protectively.
Georgia grinned. “Safe to say things didn’t end at the coat closet? Or is this more of a thank you gift?”
I opened my mouth to shoot back a tart reply, but slammed it shut as a willowy blonde swept through the door. “Good morning!” she said in a sing-song voice.
I snatched the gift box and tucked in into one of my desk drawers. “Hey, Vee,” I said, pushing my hair out of my face.
“You two recovered from Friday night’s excitement?” she asked casually.
My cheeks warmed and I quickly ducked my chin to consult my desk calendar. “Um, yeah, sure. You?”
Veronica slid onto the couch opposite my desk and propped her feet up on the armrest. Her dainty feet were clad in a pair of five-inch stilettos that bobbed up and down as she tapped her toes in the air, likely grooving to a Taylor Swift song stuck inside her head. She looked over and flashed me a devious smile. “I had a good weekend. Did you see the Italian bartender?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I noticed.”
Veronica smiled. “Well, Candy Cane, let me tell you, you were missing out! He had an ass like a couple of cantaloupes.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“Candace was distracted,” Georgia supplied, giving me another sideways smile.
Veronica remained blissfully unaware and continued, “Well, we went out for a drink after the party shut down and one thing led to another…”
“Aha. A little fruit salad, huh?” Georgia teased.
I glanced up at her. “Is that some new sex game?”
“I think it should be,” Georgia answered.
Veronica giggled. “Call it whatever you want. It was the hottest sex of my life!”
Georgia smacked playfully at Veronica’s leg. “Good for you, Vee!”
“Thanks.” She pushed up, swinging her feet back to the floor. “I’m seeing him again this Friday.”
“Lucky girl.” I smiled. “Perfect ass and he can make you endless cosmos. What else could a girl ask for?”
“Exactly!” Veronica pushed up and went back to the door. “Oh, by the way, Candace, Leticia wants you to stop by her office at nine thirty. Does that work for you? Karl Woorle is with her.”
“Karl?” That could only mean one thing…
Panic welled up as my eyes flew to the nearest clock. Twenty minutes. Shit!
“Is that all right?” Veronica as
ked, one eyebrow raised.
“Um, yeah, yeah. That’s fine. Thanks, Vee. Tell her I’ll be there.”
Veronica gave me one more curious glance but then slipped from my office, and I heard her wander back down the hallway, humming as she went.
I exhaled and raked my fingers through my hair.
“You’ll be fine, Candace,” Georgia said, cutting into my frantic thoughts. “Just tell Leticia you need more time to secure the deal. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”
I nodded but couldn’t have felt less convinced. “Thanks.”
Georgia nodded and then breezed from the office.
When she was gone, I glanced back at the clock. Along the way, my eyes snagged on the glossy greeting card that had come attached to the gift box from Landon. I picked up the card and flipped it over, reading the words again. A dreamy smile spread across my lips and I indulged in the shiver of leftover sensations I’d stored away following our steamy night together. The way he’d made me feel was there, simmering right under the surface, accessible at any time. A fact that was maddening and delicious all at once.
When I reached the end of the scrawled words, an idea popped into my head so fast that I nearly gasped out loud.
There, at the bottom of the card, was Landon’s signature. Apparently, he’d picked out the gift in person as the card and signature was in his own handwriting—or, at least what I imagined was his handwriting.
I glanced between the card and the unsigned stack of papers that made up the client contract. I’d printed it out on the off chance I could finagle Landon into signing it at the Valentine’s Day event. The idea grew more urgent as my eyes bounced between the clock on the wall, the signature on the card, and the blank line on the contract. It would be wrong, but what choice did I have? If I wanted the Seattle office I had to sign Landon as a client…
“I’m not interested in being your client, Candace. I want to be your darkest desire.”
My eyes fluttered closed as Landon’s sultry words echoed through my mind.
No Landon. No big fish.
No time.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I had the pen in hand and was tracing the signature onto the contract. I sat back, staring at the forgery. It was wrong … oh, so wrong … but it would have to work.
Chapter Ten
Having a conscience really sucks. As soon as I left Leticia’s office, the pit in my stomach morphed from a guilty lump to a raging stress ulcer. By the time I reached the elevator bank, I was on the verge of spinning on my Louboutins and marching back to confess the whole thing was a lie.
Veronica intercepted me before I could do anything rash. She stepped off the elevator as it arrived and flashed a wide smile. “I just heard the news! Congratulations, Candace!”
She wrapped me in an enthusiastic embrace and I did my damnedest to play along, but to anyone else, I probably looked like a wet noodle flailing in the bubbly blonde’s arms.
“Thanks, Vee.”
“I can’t believe you signed Landon Jeffers. Then again, you’re the best! That’s why you’re going to be top boss bitch in Seattle!” Veronica beamed.
“Well, I haven’t signed the contract yet,” I said with a dismissive flap of my hand.
In truth, it was only a formality. Leticia and Karl had all but popped a bottle of champagne as they declared me the Managing Partner of the Seattle branch of Matched Consulting. Although I wasn’t sure how they were planning to fit all that on a business card.
“Don’t be so modest, Candy Cane. You kicked ass! You earned this!” Veronica hugged me again and then scurried off to her desk.
I waved as she departed, but felt even shittier as I stepped onto the empty elevator and took it back to my own floor. Once in my office, I locked the door, pulled the shades, and flopped down on my chaise. What the hell did I just do?
Eventually, someone would find out that Landon hadn’t actually agreed to be a client. And when—not if—that happened, not only would my partnership be retracted, but I’d be lucky to keep my job. Hell, I’d be lucky to get demoted to the customer service floor and spend ten-hour shifts on the phone, processing complaints and repetitive questions.
Delightful.
Unless…
I bolted upright. There was one easy solution to this problem. All I had to do was get Landon to actually agree to be a client. Then no one would find out that I’d lied. Or about that unfortunate forgery incident. Not my shining moment…
Infused with new purpose—or maybe new levels of desperation?—I hurried to my desk and grabbed my phone. I dialed Landon’s Seattle office and maneuvered through the phone chain to get to his personal assistant; a chirpy woman who said absolutely approximately twelve times in our thirty-second conversation.
When Landon finally came on the line, I’d relaxed too much and wasn’t prepared to hear the velvet smooth timbre of his sexy voice. “Hey, pretty girl. Having a Monday?”
My heart raced triple time and I found myself with a dreamy smile on my face, even as my stomach churned and twisted. “A little bit. What about you?”
“I find that I’m missing the California sun. It’s forty-three and raining today.”
My eyes slipped closed, imagining him on the top floor of a glittering skyscraper, staring out at the drizzly city spread below his feet. He’d be wearing a dove grey suit, cut to highlight those broad shoulders and narrowed waist. He’d slip one hand in his pocket, hiking the jacket up enough to showcase his perfect ass…
I snapped my eyes open again and hurried to shove aside the vivid daydream.
What am I doing?
“Maybe I should come for a visit. What do you think?” he asked, a smile in his voice.
“Actually, I was thinking maybe I’d come up your way…” I said, one-hundred percent on the fly.
“Oh yeah?” Landon replied, sounding sincerely surprised. “Wait, is this a trick so you can get a ride on my helicopter?”
Oh, I’d like to ride on something…
I winced. “Actually, uh, no. Like I said, we’re opening a new office in the area. I haven’t been up there in a while, so I thought it might be fun to spend the weekend getting a lay of the land. Seeing the sights.”
“Aha.” He was still smiling. I could hear it. Maybe even wider than before. He somehow knew I was bullshitting him. “So, this would be a business trip, then?”
Shit. None of this is making sense. “Well, uh, not officially, I suppose.”
“Good. That means I can put you on my private jet and not raise any eyebrows.”
“Well, I—”
“Consider me your travel agent or tour guide,” Landon said with an intoxicating chuckle.
“Okay. Yes, that would be nice.”
“Friday work for you?”
“Um, yeah. Friday is fine. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll email you the details to your work email address. The one from your card?”
I nodded. “Sure. That would be great.”
“Consider it done.”
I dragged in a deep breath as I silently reminded myself that I’d already fucked up the deal once. I couldn’t let that pattern repeat. I couldn’t let myself get swept up in him.
“Oh, and Landon, thank you for the gift. That was incredibly thoughtful of you.”
“Baby, I’m just getting started.”
My lips parted at the sexy drawl to his voice and before I could collect myself, he disconnected the call. Next thing I knew, my email chirped with a confirmation email for directions to the airfield where his private plane would meet me on Friday night.
“Well, shit.”
Chapter Eleven
The week raced by—mostly because I kept myself buried in work to avoid panic-attack inducing thoughts about the upcoming weekend—and Friday night came all too quickly. After work, I passed on happy hour with the girls, and went home to pack an overnight bag. Landon and I hadn’t spoken much since Monday, a few text messages, but neither
he nor I had brought up the other logistical details of the weekend. I booked a room at a waterfront hotel, but there was a small part of me that didn’t want to have to use it.
One of the last things I packed was a manila envelope that contained the application and questionnaire for Matched Consultant clients. I was determined to get it filled out and ready to drop on Leticia’s desk first thing Monday morning. Which meant that the small part of me that wanted to spend the weekend in Landon’s bed, wasn’t allowed to speak.
My grip on the plan slipped as soon as I arrived at the small airfield. Before I even got the car in park, Landon come sauntering out the front doors of the small office. Wrapped in a dark blue suit that fit so well it hurt, wearing a pair of aviator shades, and a wide grin. His hair was perfectly tousled and when he slipped the shades from his eyes, my heart slammed into my chest so hard that a small gasp escaped my lips. He came to the car, opened the driver’s door, and reached in to offer me his hand.
With fumbling motions, I unbuckled and then took his hand. It was warm and strong and instantly had my mind wandering back to the way his long fingers felt on the skin of my inner thighs. Shit!
“Hey, pretty girl, glad you made it.”
I stepped from the car and he held onto my hand a moment longer than necessary before releasing me. “I wasn’t expecting an escort.”
He chuckled and pocketed his hands. “I had a free evening.”
Something told me that a man like Landon rarely had a free evening.
I peeked past him to one of the runways where a gleaming plane sat waiting. “Is that us?”
He looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Yeah. Not quite a helicopter, but I think you’ll find this a little more comfortable.” He leaned in closer. “Has a king-size bed in the back. In case you need to … unwind.”
Shivers skittered down my neck as his breath grazed my skin. “No need.” I leaned back into my driver’s seat—well aware that his eyes were likely glued to my ass—and grabbed my giant Starbucks cup from the cupholder. I turned and held it up like a trophy. “I’ll be good to go till midnight.”
