by Layla Hagen
“I like that you’re so determined.”
I took pride in my projects, and for me, there was no greater compliment than when someone praised my work.
Will wrapped his arms around my shoulders, kissing my temple. He chuckled, and I thought I could stay in his arms forever. I played with his right hand and felt the calluses on his fingers. I knew his work could get rough sometimes. I could ask, but I didn’t think he liked to talk about it, so I just followed my instinct and kissed each pad.
Will stilled. “What are you doing?”
“Kissing,” I explained, without stopping. I lavished each finger with attention, and when I reached his thumb, Will... growled. There was no other way to explain that sound.
“Woman, if you don’t stop, we’ll get that citation.”
Well, damn if that didn’t sound like a good idea. But I stopped and laughed when I felt Will’s breath of relief against my cheek. We stayed for another hour, chatting about everything and nothing, and then we made our way back down. The closer we got to the bottom, the more crowded it became. Because everyone seemed to come down after sunset, the group waiting in line to retrieve their possessions from the lockers was rather large. I glanced at Will from time to time, and I could tell that he was making a concerted effort not to switch on the vigilante mode. I felt bad for asking it of him, but it had made me uncomfortable.
The ride back to my apartment was pure adrenaline. I enjoyed it even more than the lunch ride because the sun wasn’t burning anymore. Will walked me to my front door again.
“I loved the trail,” I commented.
“Me too. I wasn’t expecting so many people. I like it more when it’s not crowded, but I’d choose it over the ocean any day.”
“Yep, can definitely confirm you’re a mountain man and all.”
“What exactly are you implying? That I have no manners?”
Hmmm... the man had asked me not to push his buttons in public, but could I really pass up this opportunity?
“You had your hand up my dress during the wedding. If that ain’t lack of manners, I don’t know what is.”
“It was required. And better me than anyone else.” Will smiled smugly, and before I knew it, his mouth came down on mine. Holy shit, the man was kissing me good. He went all in, tongue and all until I was breathy and turned on.
I was in a daze when he pulled away, resting his cheek against mine.
“I have to go. I have an early start tomorrow,” he said.
I nodded, still dazed from the kiss as he left. Then, as I turned to unlock my door, I remembered how Will had kissed me against it last night... and realized he hadn’t even hinted at coming inside, and it wasn’t that late. Was the fact that a man didn’t want to come inside still general code for him not being that into you? Had today been disappointing for him? Except for that weird moment when I’d laid out my first rule, we’d had fun. I’d thought so at least. But now pushy, cocky Will Connor hadn’t made any sort of move to convince me to invite him inside. Even though he had kissed me as if he’d wanted to make my clothes disappear into a puff of smoke.
Chapter Twelve
Paige
Monday started off with a bang. I went to the same coffee shop in Venice Beach. I could see it becoming my go-to place for working. I intended to finish a few more pitches. I had a great feeling about the day, even wondered why people hated Mondays so much. Then I checked my inbox, and immediately wished I could move forward in time to five o’clock so I could have a cocktail without feeling guilty.
Ms. Lamonica,
We regretfully inform you that we won’t be able to support your project. It is not a good fit for our company, but we wish you the best in your endeavor.
Best,
Kennedy Fellows, on behalf of Christian Lackeroy
What the hell? I stared at my laptop, going through every phase of rage at the same time, it seemed. I was used to people changing their minds, of course. Some were too ashamed to turn me down during a meeting, so they sent an e-mail afterward. Others thought it might be good PR, but then crunched numbers and realized they couldn’t afford the donation. But Lackeroy had seemed genuinely interested.
I sank lower in my chair, pressing my palms against my temples, breathing in and out. Had he just been interested in getting in my pants? Was that it? I refused to believe it. I wasn’t some naive twenty-year-old; I’d done this job for close to eight years. I knew interest when I saw it, and Lackeroy had been ready to attach his name to the project. I’d banked on it, and was even going to use his company as an example in other pitches. Usually when there was one big donor on board, it was easier to nab the next ones. So, instead of letting it go, I called his number.
“Hello, Paige.” I’d expected him to get his secretary, so I was thrown upon hearing his voice.
“Christian. Hi! Thank you for taking my call. I’ll get straight to it. I received an e-mail from your secretary, saying you can’t support the project. Forgive me if I’m too frank, but you seemed completely on board during our meeting.”
“Your project is definitely interesting, but I expressed my concerns about the feasibility.”
“You wouldn’t actually be committing now, just expressing interest,” I explained, holding on to the hope that maybe it was a misunderstanding.
“I understand that. Tell you what. Why don’t we meet again and talk it through? Dinner?”
My shoulders slumped. I had a feeling I knew where this was going and tried to salvage the situation. “I’ll happily come by your office again.”
“Not my office. Somewhere more private.”
I gripped the phone tighter, breathing in and out. My blood was boiling, but I had to remain professional. “I don’t discuss business in my private time, Christian.”
“Oh, it wouldn’t all be business. We’d get to know each other better.”
“I believe I already turned down your dinner invitation once.”
“This is your chance to reconsider.”
I breathed in and out. Calm. Above all, I had to remain professional.
“My offer to come by your office still stands, but nothing else.”
“Well, Paige, I wish you all the best, then. I’m afraid we can’t cooperate. Have a nice day.”
“You too,” I said through gritted teeth, before disconnecting the call. I discovered that I was shaking with all the contained anger. I detested men like Lackeroy, who used their position to prey on others. I loved my job and believed in the project, but I refused to prostitute myself for it. I had a lot of other irons in the fire, and I was going to work on more pitches today. But half an hour later, I hadn’t made much progress. I was still too mad. I had to calm down if I wanted to get anything done today. A swim in the ocean would do me good, but I hadn’t brought a bikini with me, and in any case, I couldn’t leave my bag and laptop unsupervised for so long. So instead I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. Afterward, my mind was much clearer, and I finished two more pitches within an hour. The issue with Christian still bothered me, mostly because I’d been so gullible at our meeting. Why had I misread the situation? My thoughts flew to Will. Had I misread the situation with him too? I took a swig of my orange juice, refusing to waste any more time dissecting my date with Will. I wasn’t that girl anymore, who rehashed every detail, searching for a hidden meaning and doubting herself. I had no time for this. I had pitches to finish and was meeting my brother at the inn this evening. I hoped he was bringing my niece too, because I wanted to cuddle that girl.
***
Will
I knew I was in for an interrogation the second I arrived at Hailey’s house. Val was there too, and instead of berating me for being late, the girls were smiling coyly. Hailey was repainting her living room, and Val, Jace, and I had agreed to help. The two of them had already started.
“Girls, why didn’t you wait for me?”
“Thought we’d start on our own.”
They’d already made a mess
. Hailey had a speck of paint on her cheek, and Val had smeared it in her hair.
Just as I took the third roller, Jace arrived. We divided the room equally in four, even though I would much rather have done the job only with Jace. The girls tended to lose themselves in conversation and make little progress and a lot of mess.
As each of us concentrated on our respective walls, Hailey said, “How was your hike yesterday, Will?”
I’d known the question would come up from the moment I’d asked to borrow her leather jacket.
“Great. Was crowded, though.”
“Paige come to her senses, or does she still like you?” Val teased.
“Paige is a smart girl. Knows a catch when she sees one,” I volleyed back.
Val whistled. “Woot, brother, she’s got you wrapped around her little finger, doesn’t she?”
I straightened. “I’m a grown man—”
“Who almost elbowed everyone out of the way to make sure he caught the garter, after swearing up and down he wouldn’t do it,” Hailey supplied helpfully. She had a point. Paige made me a little nutty. But after she’d caught the bouquet, things clicked in my brain. I saw the herd of men hurrying on the dance floor, and my only thought had been, Hell no.
I wasn’t sure if it was our respective connections to our families or the fact that her sassy antics were addictive, but being around her was like breathing in deeply for the first time. Yesterday had been a lot of fun, even though reining in my inner vigilante, as she liked to say, hadn’t been easy. It went against my instincts—against who I was—but the last thing I wanted was to make her uncomfortable. I was excited to explore things with Paige and see where they could lead, even though I didn’t have a stellar record when it came to relationships.
I couldn’t say I’d had deep ties to anyone I’d dated. It wasn’t a conscious decision or something I could explain, but I’d never felt that strong bond that I thought was necessary for a long-term relationship. The few I did have were monogamous and based on mutual respect, but they didn’t lead anywhere. Maybe I wasn’t even capable of developing such a bond—some women I’d dated certainly expressed that thought.
“You thought bringing a date was so smart. Now you’re all....” Jace grinned, waving a hand as if he couldn’t find the right word.
“Jace, don’t haze him,” Val chided.
“But you’re doing it.”
“Yeah, we’re sisters. It’s our job. You’re supposed to have his back.”
“Even Val says it, man,” I said with a grin. But truthfully, I liked it when Jace gave me shit. I returned the favor as often as I could. Still, it never hurt to have an ally against my sisters.
“Besides, Jace, you’re one to talk,” Hailey said. “You were all over that blondie Pippa introduced you to.”
“What can I say? Pippa struck right this time. But Blondie was only in town for the wedding, so there goes our great love story.”
I listened carefully for the sound of the rollers moving. Jace and I seemed to be the only ones working. I half turned to my sisters to confirm my suspicion. Yeah, the girls were slacking.
“Girls, when are you going to learn to multitask? Either paint and gossip, or own up to the fact that your painting skills aren’t worth jack shit.”
Hailey and Val looked at each other, then attacked me at the same time. Paint flew in every direction. Jace watched and laughed.
When I left the house two hours later, I had smears of paint on my jeans and shirt. I’d had some on my face and arms too, but I washed them off. We’d finished the job, though. Hailey was content. I was glad to see my little sister finally living like a normal person. For a few years, she’d seemed to be in a race against time, working as a business consultant. To complete projects, to catch flights. I wouldn’t have minded if she’d been happy, but she hadn’t been. Not that Hailey would own up to it, but she’d smiled far less than usual, and her expression had been haunted when she talked about work at Friday dinners. But now she was here, with a new job, happy, and ready to plan interventions with Lori and Val. Or was it an ambush? I never knew. Sometimes I thought the girls had their own secret language. I’d come with my car instead of my bike, and as I climbed into it, I decided to drive to Paige’s inn. She’d mentioned during our hike that she’d be there this evening.
I recognized the car she’d filed that police report for in front of the gate, and parked right behind her. Then I headed straight into the yard, but came to a halt when I saw Paige wasn’t alone. She was with a guy. They were pointing at the facade, talking with their heads together.
Their ease with each other made my insides churn. They were obviously familiar. Paige noticed me and strode over, and the dude followed.
“Well, I have to leave now, but call me if you need anything. We’re on for dinner tomorrow, right?” he told her.
“Sure,” Paige answered him.
Dinner? Call me if you need me? Had I completely misread the situation with her? Damn, I liked her. A lot. Was he a friend?
“Hi, Paige,” I said when they were close enough. I was proud that I sounded relaxed, though if the guy was an ex, I’d lose my cool fast.
“Hey, Will. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Remembered you said you’d be here. Thought I’d drop by.”
The guy put a hand on the small of her back. Paige smiled up at him. Dude was getting all her smiles, it seemed.
“Will, this is Declan, my brother.”
I’d have felt like an idiot if I weren’t so busy being relieved. Declan and I shook hands, and then he left.
Paige ran her hands through her hair, looking me straight in the eyes as if trying to gauge something. “I’m going to get myself a drink,” she said. “I still have some wine. Do you want a glass?”
I nodded, following her into the house. So the brother issue was cleared up, but something was still off. By the way she walked—more like stomped—and the slight sag in her shoulders, I surmised that she was upset about something. We went to the kitchen, and I took the wineglass she handed me. She was avoiding my eyes.
“Paige, what’s wrong? You’re acting strange.”
She wasn’t her usual self: laid-back, fun, sassy. She hadn’t even pushed one button. She drummed her fingers on her own glass, then took a swig. I’d questioned enough people to know what the hesitation meant: whatever was wrong had to do with me.
“Did I do something to make you mad?”
She took another swig, then finally said, “I don’t know what you being here means.”
My mind went blank. “You don’t know... what? You were there with me on that mountain yesterday, right? We had fun, we connected. Why does it surprise you that I’d stop by?”
Paige looked at her glass, then back up at me. She jutted her chin forward, and I saw that some of that fire I loved was back.
“Because when you dropped me off yesterday, you didn’t seem too... into me. You didn’t even ask to come inside.”
I tried very hard to rein in my smile, but I failed.
“You’re upset that I didn’t come inside?”
“Don’t make fun of me,” she muttered. She seemed vulnerable, and every instinct in me wanted to right whatever was wrong. I put the glass on the counter behind her, then placed my palms on the sides of her face, tilting her head slightly up. I needed to communicate more clearly with her. It wasn’t one of my strengths, but I was going to give it my best shot.
“I didn’t trust myself to be alone with you. I want you so badly that I lose control when I’m around you, and I don’t want to rush things with you.”
“Oooh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
I took the glass out of her hands, putting it on the counter too. I wanted nothing between us for the way I planned to kiss her. She looked up at me as if she was begging to be kissed, and I moved in on her, hooking an arm around her waist to bring her closer, taking her mouth like she belonged to me. Paige moaned against me, which made me explore
even deeper.
“You’re tense,” I muttered when I moved on to pepper kisses on her cheek.
“Not the best day.”
“Want to tell me what happened?”
She sighed, kissing my jaw. “The general manager jerk pulled out of the deal.”
I smiled. “That means you won’t see him again?”
Paige poked my ribs. “Can you at least pretend not to be so happy?”
“Sorry, I can’t.”
“It’s bad form to rejoice at my misery,” she informed me.
“Can’t help it. Why did he back off?”
“Because I didn’t go out with him.”
I straightened up, looking her straight in the eyes. “What?”
“Yep. His secretary brushed me off via e-mail, then I called, and he was oh-so-willing to discuss this again, over dinner. Get this, when I told him that I don’t discuss business in my private time, he actually told me that it wouldn’t be just business. Turned him down again, and he said the deal was dead.” She spoke quickly, as if wanting to get it off her chest.
“That bastard,” I said through gritted teeth. I tried to rein in my anger, because that wasn’t what she needed. “I’m sorry. Does that kind of thing happen often?”
“Used to happen more often. Now I’m better at sniffing them out, but from time to time I’m blindsided.”
“Thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me.” I was proud of how she’d handled the situation. I wished she didn’t have to handle anything, but nothing I could do about that. What I could do, though, was to take her mind off it.
I kissed her again, and Paige responded with so much passion that my dick started to twitch. I wasn’t content with kissing just her mouth. I explored her neck too, kissing just below her ear, licking that spot. She rewarded me with a delicious moan.
“So... now that you know I’m very much into you, you’re going back to push-the-buttons Paige?”
“Hey, I don’t push just anyone’s buttons.”
