“Well, see, when I told you I’d handle getting you your ride—” Sienna said.
“You didn’t. Tell me, Sie, you did not call Lucas? Why would you do that? Did you not hear anything I said last night?”
“You needed to get to his house, and you didn’t want to ask Kevin for help.”
Moments later, Bailey came into the living room dressed in only a purple towel and pink fuzzy slippers. “Good morning,” she all but gritted, her expression as hard as marble.
Faith immediately hopped down from her perch and Lucas slowly stood up.
“Good morning, princess. Did you sleep well? I of course have had better nights.” Lucas sent her a small smile and received the slight narrowing of her eyes before she shifted them to her friend.
“I see you’ve met Faith.” A flicker of something he couldn’t quite place surfaced in her expression directed at her friend before she brought her rigid gaze back to him. “Sienna told me she called you, but I don’t need a ride. You can go now. Thanks for coming.”
Even with the blistering look she was giving him, she looked absolutely irresistible in that getup.
When he didn’t move, her glare was direct and candid. “Don’t you have a company to run, someone to push around?”
“I was expecting to see you at my place this morning, thought we could talk.” He wasn’t at all affected by her vicious bite, though his leveled demeanor seemed to add to her irritation.
“Uh, Bails, you do need a ride,” Sienna said, now standing beside her. “And sweetie, you need to put some clothes on.”
“Good heavens!” Bailey gasped and looked down at herself. Clutching the front of the towel, she ran out of the room.
“Yeah, she’s kind of worked up,” Sienna told Lucas.
“I can see that.”
“Lucas, you wouldn’t be in need of an assistant, would you? I’m looking for employment,” Faith said.
“Does that mean you’re not going back home?” Sienna asked her.
Faith’s head turned to him, and Lucas read the admiring gleam in her eyes as she said, “There are better prospects here than back home.”
His attention shifted to Bailey entering the room now wearing a hot-pink dress with thin shoulder straps and matching, very high heels with tiny multicolored flowers crisscrossing the deep arch of her feet. He liked how the severe instep exaggerated the shapeliness of her calves. Her hair was pulled up, twisted, and pinned back from her lovely face. She kept her appearance simple, yet always pulled together well.
“You look lovely.”
A slight flicker softened in her eyes before those glacial green orbs hardened back up. “Thanks.” Dry as a bone. She whipped her head over to Faith. “He has an assistant. A very efficient one,” she shot at her, apparently having heard their conversation from her bedroom. Lucas sensed an undercurrent of something going on between them.
“My assistant is irreplaceable, I’m afraid. However, I’ll make some calls around,” he said.
At that, Bailey snatched up her satchel and portfolio from the sofa, then turned to him, still scowling. “I guess I’m riding with you.” She swung open the door and stalked out.
Lucas turned to Sienna. “Good luck tonight.”
“Yeah right. I need to tell Bailey about all of this. You think she’s pissed? When she finds out what we did, you had better bob and weave, pretty boy.”
“Give me a couple of days. I first need to get back into her good graces. I don’t think now would be wise.” He glanced at the door that Bailey left wide open. “We’ll tell her together.” He turned to Faith. “It was nice meeting you.”
“It was very nice meeting you, too, Lucas.” Faith smiled, an overtly seductive smile.
Ignoring the gesture, as he closed the door behind him, he heard her asked Sienna, “What was that about?” Her head had bounced back and forth between them, having been left out of the exchange.
Thinking about all that Sienna would share with Faith, he headed to Bailey standing at his car, her arms tightly crossed at her chest, her features a turbulent storm. I better get ready.
Chapter Seventeen
Bailey was mutely humming along to Drake’s “Furthest Thing, Unedited” until Lucas decided to turn the volume down. The music had actually helped tame her foul mood.
She side-eyed him, then turned her head back to her window. Like many things about the man, it was interesting to her that Mr. CEO would be a fan of a hip-hop singer.
Her irritation with him didn’t stop her from appreciating his powerful build. Her nostrils pleasantly soaked up his familiar masculine scent, that blend of a light woodsy fragrance with a hint of an airy fresh citrus she’d come to love, and had been covered in his distinct, delicious bouquet the night before. She’d purposely climbed in bed to savor his scent as she slept dreamily into the morning before reluctantly showering him off.
His hair fell in dark, damp waves, shaping around his ears, and curled loosely at the back of his neck. He wore his black loafers from the night before with no socks, a stone-gray-colored T-shirt that hugged the sinewy sculpture of his chest and biceps, and his muscular thighs were encased in a pair of medium blue denims.
Why does he have to be so damn gorgeous?
“Are you attending the art event this evening?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“Yes,” she answered with her focus kept out her window. “I need to find something to wear. I didn’t realize until today that the attire is evening wear. I’ll likely raid Sienna’s closet. How I am with shoes, she’s mad about clothes.”
He nodded. “What’s up with your friend Faith? You—”
Bailey whipped her head around, facing him. “Why? What exactly are you asking? Whether or not she’s available?” Her temper spiked back up. “I saw you two, the way you were looking at her.”
His head jerked over. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I?” She uncrossed her legs and angled in her seat toward him. “You find her attractive?”
“Do I find her attractive? Yes. That goes for Sienna and the weather girl on D.C.’s five o’clock news. What’s your point?” He briefly met her rigid stare, then brought his eyes back to the road.
“Typical. It’s how you all are. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. At least you’re honest about it.” Annoyed, her head turned back to her window with arms crossed tight at her chest.
“What is that supposed to mean? I asked about her because I sensed tension between you two, mainly you with her,” he pointed out.
Her head swung back to him. “So you assumed I’m the one with the problem?” He sighed deep as if grappling for patience, which only fueled her vexation.
“Bailey, you’re upset about your car, obviously still irritated with me about last night, and likely Sienna for calling me.”
“Sienna shouldn’t have called you,” she bit out.
“I’ll have my mechanic take a look at your car. You can take the Porsche.”
She shook her head. “No way.”
“Then take the Bentley or this one. It doesn’t matter.”
A sharp turn took them down the winding road to his home and onto his property. He quickly tapped in the security code to open the gates and rolled through as garage door three slowly came up.
“No, Lucas, I’m not driving your Ferrari or any of the others.” She looked down at his hand shifting gears as he pulled in and brought the car to a stop. “I can’t drive a manual vehicle anyway.”
They got out of the car and headed for the door that led into the mudroom of the house.
“I’ll buy you a car.”
Entering the kitchen, Bailey took out her camera and began looking over the finished work. “You’re not buying me a car.” She bent down for a closer look at the floors and trim work, checked the cabinets, appliances, inspected the marble, snapping pictures as she went, and then left the kitchen to check out the great room.
The three sofas and flat screen were due
to arrive soon, but the walls were painted a rich taupe as she’d instructed. The large area rug, tables, and armchairs along with the other accessories were in place. Sienna’s artwork hung on the wall, and the fireplace’s new black glass surround was completed. She walked over to the French doors and stepped outside to inspect the new outdoor furniture.
“You keep running from me.”
His voiced startled her, and she jumped slightly at the feel of his massive body close at her back. Strong, capable hands rested on her bare shoulders. Then he ran his palms lightly up and down her arms. I have dreamed of running my hands over your body, touching, kissing you. Her mind replayed his words from the night before, and with it, those warm feelings of being wrapped in his comforting arms came rushing forth.
She stepped away, breaking the contact to avoid getting pulled back under his spell, and went over to the pool house. A few minutes later, she returned and saw that he hadn’t budged from where she’d left him.
“I need to take a look at the patio furniture on your private sundeck.” Hastily, she moved past him back into the house and up the stairs with him close behind her.
Entering his bedroom, she glanced over at the rumpled sheets on his bed on her way out the French doors, taking in a much needed breath to relax.
“Why are you so afraid?”
He spoke from behind her again. Bailey made some notes in her pad, snapped a few pictures, and then closed her eyes while taking another refueling breath before turning to him standing in the doorway.
Just then, her cell phone chimed a text message. Pulling the phone from her satchel, it was a text from Kevin that read:
Let’s talk, dollface.
Kevin using the pet name he’d given her meant he was no longer upset with her. It brought a smile to her face. Her head came up to see Lucas’s eyes shift from the phone in her hand to her face, giving off a wary look.
“Is Kevin the reason you keep pushing me away?” he asked with his gaze pinned on her cell phone. “I’m not seeing Sandra, so you can lay that excuse to rest. Your concern for your job may be some of it, but there’s another reason why you won’t let me in.”
“Kevin and I are friends.” She put her phone back in her satchel, stepped back inside, and he closed the door.
Lucas brought her chin up and lightly ran the pad of his thumb across her lips. “From the looks of it yesterday, there was much more between you two than mere friends. Was that text from your friend?”
Looking up at him, Bailey nodded and swallowed to soothe the dryness in her throat. Just being close to him gave her warm tingles all over. If he only knew the impact his mere presence had on her.
“Like I told you, we dated for a short time. We remain close ... as friends.” He dropped his hand and stepped back, his warm gaze now replaced with a severe scowl and his features sealed tight.
“Friends, you say. You accuse me when it’s you who should be admitting truths.”
“Admitting truths? Like what exactly?”
Without another word, he went into his closet.
“I do care for Kevin, but not in the way that I believe you’re implying.” Did he think she would have allowed him to put his mouth and fingers on her most intimate parts if she was involved with another man? What type of woman did he think she was? More importantly, what type of woman was he used to?
She went over and stood within the doorframe of the closet where he was inside taking a pair of gray silk socks out of a drawer. He then moved over to his tie rack and hit a button that slowly revolved the rack until he stopped it to select the one he wanted. “I’ll admit, Kevin wants more than friendship, but—”
“But you keep him at arm’s length, pull him in when the need suits you, and then string him along when you tire of him.” He laid out his dotted gray tie across the black marble island next to his silk socks. “I’m becoming very familiar with your technique,” he uttered with a fleeting look at her over his shoulder.
“How dare you!” she snapped, and he turned around, stabbing her with a harsh look.
“I’m not into games, Bailey. Go play with Kevin.” He turned away, then pivoted back. “You know what I think?”
Bailey bit her bottom lip to keep the angry tears stinging the back of her eyes at bay. “It’s abundantly clear what you think of me.” His dark brows rose subtly at that.
“This has nothing to do with my prior involvement with Sandra. That’s merely the setup here in this game of yours with me. I think some chump screwed you over, and now men like Kevin and me are being hit with the shrapnel. The moment you start to feel something, you clam up. Cold-hearted Bailey Walters, she’ll do it to them before they do it to her. I guess Kevin is comfortable with your leash.”
“Don’t you speak to me that way! We’re done here.” With jaws clenched tight to hold on to her restraint, she stated with a professional evenness, “Mr. Marx, your renovations are complete. The remaining items should arrive next week. Your assistant will be contacted at that time. I’ll call an Uber and wait outside.” She stalked off with the hurt and pain of his words spearing her chest. He rushed in front of her and blocked her path at the bedroom door. She kept her eyes downcast, holding on tight to her emotions while swallowing repeatedly to cure the sharp ache in her throat. “Move out of my way, Mr. Marx.”
“Did I hit a sore spot?” His audacious attempt to touch her cheek, which was scorching from the heated depth of her anger, was slapped away. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Get out of my way!” she yelled and tried to shove his muscular body to no avail. It was like trying to move a train. “Move, damn you!”
“Not until you admit it. Tell me I’m right, and then I’ll let you leave. And trust me, I won’t bother you again.”
Bailey brought her eyes up to his, hating that he witnessed the angry tears he’d provoked. “You’re partially right. Does that make you happy?” she gritted. With her eyes fixed on his, first in anger, then with a steadily increasing anguish, she told him, “My ex cheated on me with my then best friend, Faith. I forgave her, and in time, I allowed myself to trust yet another man, who ... yes, you guessed it, cheated on me, yet again.” She blinked and hastily swept away the tear from her cheek that managed to escape. “But there’s one thing you didn’t get right, Mr. Marx. As afraid as I was to do so, I was falling for you, falling fast and hard, so hard that I cannot stop thinking about you. Oh, I tried damn hard, trust me. But you’re in my head, my dreams,” she admitted. “A man like you, I figured would be my downfall once again. It scares the hell out of me. That’s the main reason why I pulled back, afraid that you would also hurt me.” A heavy-hearted sigh left her. “I guess I can’t seem to dodge that bullet.”
She pushed and shoved him to get him to move. There wasn’t even a ghost of a sway in his stance from the laborious effort. Giving up on it, she headed for the French doors, intending to leave by way of the stairs on his private terrace. Again, he blocked her path and stared at her with a look of astonishment blanketing his features over what she’d said. “Get out of my way!” she hissed angrily.
“Bailey—”
“Don’t.” She shook her head with full-on tears now, crying softly, unable to hold back. “Please, just let me leave.”
“No.” He took hold of her by her waist and tugged her to him.
She tried to shove his hands away, slapped and pushed at his chest as he walked backward until the backs of his legs hit the bed. He pinned her flailing arms at her side, the feeling likely short of being trapped in a straitjacket.
“I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“I want to leave! Lucas, let go of me!” Her voice raised several octaves as she struggled in his grip.
“Don’t go. I’m sorry. I’m not used to these feelings I have for you. I find myself in a constant state of insecurity.” Her fight eased up a bit. “I’m not usually like this.”
“Rude and obnoxious?” she huffed.
“Okay, I deserved that. I’m po
ssessive and even known to be selfish, I’ll admit, but jealous over your relationship with your ex ... it’s a new beast for me to tame.” Her eyelids fluttered in reaction to his self-deprecation. “I’d like us to start over.” Tentatively, he released her, and she swiped angrily at her eyes with the heels of her hands. He brought her chin up with the side of his index finger. “Please look at me.” A flicker, and her watery eyes met his. “You think we could do that? Start over?”
“No ... I don’t know.” Upset, Bailey shook her head. “I can’t get hurt again, Lucas, not by you.”
His thumb wiped away the wetness from her cheeks, and then large hands cupped her face. “That’s the last thing I would want to come out of this.” Drawing her close, his cheek lightly brushed at her temple, and he said quietly, “I fell hard for you the moment I saw you talking to your car.”
Bailey reared back with eyes wide. “You saw me? When? How?”
“At the café. I was sitting in my limo when you drove up in a cloud of exhaust.” A tender kiss was placed on the side of her neck followed by a peck on the bridge of her nose.
“That was you?” He gave her a wink. “I’ve had that car since senior year of high school.”
“I can tell.” A chuckle, then his expression grew serious as he ran the pad of his thumb across her lips. “There’s something about you, Bailey Walters. I’d like to explore this, you and me, if you’re willing to give us a chance.”
“I am concerned about my job. Sandra sees you two getting back together.”
The back of his fingers gently caressed her cheek. “With or without you in my life, that will never happen.”
Bailey wanted to trust his words, trust that he would not mar her heart. “I want to understand my feelings for you, too. I’ve never met anyone like you before. You can be a bit overwhelming.”
“Me? Nah.” He grinned a wolfish grin, drew her closer, and stroked her back in slow caressing circles. “Given the way you opened yourself to me last night as I tasted you, I would say you can handle anything I dish out.” His eyelids grew heavy, desire coloring his voice. “I want to finish what we started in the car.” As his hands searched and found the side zipper of her dress, lowering it slowly, he kissed her along her collarbone, one side to the other.
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