by Jamie Wesley
Like she cared.
“I don’t have to,” she shot back. “You’re doing a pretty good job on your own.”
A quick, hard clap of hands had them swinging their heads around.
“Why don’t we take a break?” Pete asked in an overly jovial tone.
Fliss glanced around the table at Crescendo’s employees. The varying levels of curiosity, horror, and uncertainty she read in their expressions made it clear she and Alex had put on quite a show. She turned back to him. He sat there, stone-faced, obviously not interested in compromising.
“A break sounds great. Excuse me.” She pushed away from the table and exited the room without a backward glance. Before she wrung her co-owner’s neck.
So much for thinking their mutual enthusiasm for the Farrah Blake project meant their new partnership would be a skip down the yellow brick road.
***
Fliss looked up at the knock on her office door. “Come in.”
“Hey, I just stopped by to let you know you don’t have to stay here all night,” Pete said, stepping into the room. “Don’t let the old man think he can keep you chained to your desk.”
She chuckled. “Thanks for the words of wisdom. Does he know you call him old man?”
A horrified expression spread across his face. “No. Do you think I have a death wish?”
She joined him in companionable laughter, the stress that had taken up residence in her shoulders during the meeting finally melting away.
A shadow in the doorway caught her eye. She glanced over Pete’s shoulder and met Amanda’s stricken eyes. The other woman jumped back and hurried away. Hmm, interesting.
“I’m serious. Time to shut it down,” Pete said.
She shifted her gaze back to him and offered up a reassuring smile. “I will in a few minutes.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
Fliss waved good-bye and turned back to her computer, where she’d been watching old videos of Farrah’s interviews and performances on YouTube. When she wasn’t stewing over her argument with Alex, of course. Ooh, he made her mad. Still, one thing had become clear today. She wouldn’t quit. She loved acting, but she’d enjoyed stretching her mind in a different way.
A loud growl from her stomach reminded her that lunch was a distant memory. She stood and stared at the desk she’d wasted no time cluttering. She could clear the surface, true, but she was going to make a mess of it again tomorrow. She clasped her hands together in excitement, finding it hard to believe she actually had a desk to clutter. An office, too.
She looked around the austere space. It had been Keith’s, but he’d probably stepped foot in it twice. She made a mental note to bring in a few photos of her family and friends and a plant to liven up the place. Maybe some artwork.
Fliss stretched her arms above her head. Aside from her Farrah research, she’d done line edits on the script and shadowed Pete, Amanda, and Tim throughout the day to learn their roles and how everyone worked together. It had been a long day, but she’d ordered her nerves back into hiding and jumped right in, becoming more comfortable as the day had progressed. The team was still a little wary of her, especially Amanda, but they’d been helpful and answered her million questions. And actually considered and agreed with some of her ideas. Unlike Alex. Her grin faded away.
Why did he have to be so pigheaded? Where was the guy she’d hung out with six weeks ago? Was that man a figment of her overactive imagination? The camaraderie they’d shared that night had been unexpected but nice. Before the kiss anyway. Would they, could they ever get back there? At least be civil with each other and have a good work relationship? They’d make great partners if only he’d give it a legitimate shot. His experience. Her enthusiasm. Their differences could complement each other so well. How was she going to get him to take her seriously?
She sighed, picked up her purse, and exited her office. Quiet greeted her. No keyboards clicking or music playing. Looked like Amanda had left with Pete. Tim was gone, too. She checked her watch. Seven fifteen. No wonder everyone had cleared out. Fliss paused outside Alex’s office. Everyone except the boss. Light spilled from underneath his door. The tapping from his keyboard provided the only sound from inside.
She raised her fist but stopped before making contact with the door. Their intermittent conversations after the ill-fated meeting had been stilted at best, the tension in the office abating only when he’d left for a few hours to get his car air conditioner fixed.
But they couldn’t avoid each other forever. Not if their partnership was going to work. She knocked.
“Yeah?” he called out.
She turned the knob and stepped inside. “Hey.”
His eyes flickered up from his computer. “Hey back. What are you still doing here?”
“Working.” She lifted a shoulder. “Well, when I wasn’t looking over my shoulder waiting for you to come and kick me out.”
“Fliss…” His brows knit together in clear exasperation.
She just stared at him.
He sighed and settled back in his chair. Deep lines bracketed his mouth, betraying his strain. “About this morning. I’ve been thinking. I’m sorry I was a little…”
“Hardheaded? Unyielding?” Two of the kinder words she’d called him during the day.
His eyes flashed, but then he tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Fine. I deserved that. I shouldn’t have talked to you that way. This project is important to me, and I want everything to be perfect.” He looked away. “I need everything to be perfect.”
Although his voice quieted on the last sentence, Fliss heard the emphasis on need. What was that about?
Before she could ask, he continued. “I’m used to making all the decisions around here. Those decisions have paid off tenfold over the years. I know what I’m doing. Still, I didn’t have to be so…rude.”
Wow. Alex relenting? She’d never thought she’d see the day. But this was the second time today he’d shown her a softer side. Did he actually experience emotions like lowly humans did? She inched closer to his desk. “So have you adjusted yet?”
His eyes narrowed. “Fliss…”
She chuckled. “You’re so easy.”
“You live to torture me, don’t you?” A grin, striking in its effortlessness, accompanied the question.
This time, her laughter came more freely. “Maybe.”
His smile spread, softening his features. God, he was handsome. So lethal it should be outlawed. “Maybe as in definitely?”
If she were delusional, she’d swear he was flirting with her.
“Maybe. A woman never reveals all her secrets.” What was she doing responding in kind?
“What secrets are you hiding?”
None, except for the fact that she was enjoying their flirting a little too much. It felt a little too natural. A little too right. “I’m not telling.”
He studied her. “So where does that leave us?”
An excellent question she didn’t have the answer to or want to think about too much. She shrugged. “We live to see another day?”
“Agreed.”
Neither broke eye contact. The vibe crackled between them like a live wire. Just like it had that night right after their mouths touched for the first time. Making her remember. Crave.
Alex looked away first and glanced at his watch. “Let’s call it a day.”
“Good idea,” she said, hoping he didn’t notice the unsteady note in her voice.
He rose, and she followed him out of the room. They didn’t speak as he turned off the lights, locked the front door, and escorted her to her car. The beep beep of her car remote finally broke the silence. Her hand landed on the door handle, but she didn’t pull on it.
“Why don’t we hang out at my place?” The request tumbled out before she could stop it.
“What?” His shock reverberated through the air.
She was just as surprised as he was that she’d asked. But she couldn’t, wouldn’t deny she’d sai
d it. She faced the hard truths. No matter what. She’d made that promise to herself when she’d admitted that her marriage was irretrievably broken. Her heart pounding at triple its normal rate, she wheeled around and lifted her eyes to his. “You heard me. Why not?”
“Because we—”
“Mix like oil and water,” she finished for him.
“Exactly.” He intently studied her, clearly trying to understand her rationale. Trying to understand her. And not succeeding if the deep vee in his forehead was any indication.
She wasn’t sure she understood her request, either. All she knew was she didn’t want to be alone. She’d been alone so much since her marriage had crumbled. The night they’d hung out, she’d laughed and truly relaxed for the first time in forever. Their conversation in his office tonight reminded her how good it felt to connect and laugh with someone.
She shrugged and decided to again go with the truth. “Because you were there for me when I needed someone. Because I felt better that night than I had in a long time. Because you apologized tonight. I want to thank you, and the only way I can think of to do that is to offer up some good home cooking.”
He stared down at her with dark, unfathomable eyes. She ordered herself to remain still. What was he thinking? Was he going to tell her the moment in his office meant nothing? That she wasn’t worth his time, something she’d heard in varying terms her whole life from the people closest to her? Pain sliced through her at the thought.
The seconds ticked away. As impossible as it seemed, her heart rate sped up. Unable to stand the quiet any longer, she blurted out, “We can have dinner. Relax. Are you in?”
Silence again descended, the only sound coming courtesy of the cars zooming down the street.
“Alex? Are you in?”
CHAPTER FIVE
“I’m in.”
Although Alex made damn sure his face didn’t give him away, inside he cursed like the sailor he’d never been. He’d opened his mouth to let Fliss down gently but firmly, but she’d been staring up at him with those gorgeous eyes. Uncertain. Braced for him to say no and run off like he’d done six weeks ago. Because he still felt guilty for the way he’d handled that situation, he’d caved.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. Or even mostly true. Her reminder of the night they’d hung out had struck a chord with him. That night had been easy. Fun. More fun than he’d had in a long time. In so long he’d nearly forgotten the definition of the word.
If his mind wandered one more time to how the night had ended, well, it shouldn’t. Hanging out was all she’d asked to do. That’s all he wanted to do. Eat and talk. Besides, at least for now, they had one topic, their business, in common. It would be fine.
Alex squared his shoulders, pleased that his logical side had reappeared. Then a smile bloomed across her face. His heart betrayed him by stuttering, making him feel like a teenage boy who’d unexpectedly managed to catch the attention of his crush.
“Yeah?” she asked softly.
His heart clutched again. He admired her willingness to show her vulnerability, something he always refused to do. Doing so had always meant inviting in pain and being powerless, something he couldn’t allow if he wanted to succeed in life.
“Yeah,” he answered.
Her smile stretched wider. His gaze zeroed in on her mouth. He wanted to suck on her bottom lip until she begged for more. He lifted his eyes and registered the happiness in her expression. His heart skipped another beat. At that moment, nothing existed but the two of them. Then she wrapped her arms around him, her scent, heady and sweet, sending a jolt of pure desire through him.
“Great. I’ll see you in a bit.” Just as quickly as Fliss had touched him, she released him and hopped in her Mercedes.
He stood there, watching the car’s taillights fade away, his nerves still jonesing for another hit of Fliss. The completely illogical attraction he’d been so sure would fade in time was holding on like a third-string football player.
Why? He had a business to build into the best, most acclaimed film production company in Hollywood. He didn’t have time for a relationship. Certainly not with Fliss. His best friend’s ex-wife. Hell, he wasn’t sure she even liked him. He was pretty sure she didn’t. Though if she didn’t, why would she invite him to dinner?
Damn it, he was tired of going around in circles, which only happened to him when he got caught up in the Fliss vortex. What the hell had he agreed to?
Alex scrubbed a hand across his face. Too late to wonder about that now. What was done was done. A mantra he repeated to himself as he drove through the congested L.A. streets. And a few more times as he followed her car through the gate of her exclusive community and parked his car next to hers in her driveway.
“Wow,” she said when he met up with her at the front door. “You came. I wasn’t sure you would, so I called up Vegas and asked what the betting line was on you bailing.”
Alex chuckled as he stared down at the woman who never seemed to stay down for long. “What were the odds?”
“Two to one that you wouldn’t show.”
“Did you take the bet?”
Fliss tapped him on the chest. “Duh. Easiest money ever. I know you. You always do and say what you mean.” Her nose wrinkled. “Even when you shouldn’t.”
He didn’t know whether to laugh or frown. “Thanks. I think.”
“You’re welcome.” She sent him another grin that made his hardened heart think about softening.
He followed her inside the house she’d moved into after separating from Keith. She’d claimed she didn’t want any reminders of her former life. He didn’t blame her. He liked this place better anyway. Keith had always preferred the ostentatious, which certainly described their former home to a T. This two-story, Spanish-style residence with its stucco exterior and red tile roof, tucked into the Hollywood Hills, was still impressive but homier and smaller.
By tacit agreement, they made their way deeper into the home, drawn by the mouthwatering scents coming from the kitchen. Fliss took the pins out of her hair, dropping them on the end table in the hall, allowing the strands to fall in a dark cascade down her back. She stepped out of her heels. “Yes,” she moaned, flexing her feet on the terra cotta floor.
Alex froze, the noise sending a shiver down his spine.
Was that the sound she made when she was about to come? Holding on to his control by the thinnest of margins, he continued down the hall after her. He’d never been so happy to step into a kitchen in his life, because if his only choices were either paying attention to granite countertops or staring at Fliss’s perfect ass, then countertops needed to win. Because sanity was important.
The kitchen was a chef’s paradise, even to his non-discerning, non-cooking self. Miles of granite counter space. Gleaming, stainless steel high-tech appliances. Top-of-the-line pots and pans and utensils. The woman standing in its center commanded it all.
“Alexander,” Fliss’s chef, Roberta, called out. She rounded the center island and drew him into a tight hug. Alex returned the gesture and breathed in the scent of vanilla that always seemed to cling to her. Unlike Fliss, she’d always liked him.
He stepped back and studied the woman who served as a mother hen to Fliss. Round cheeks, smooth, caramel skin, curvy figure, short dark hair cut into a stylish bob. Although she was old enough to be Fliss’s mother, she could easily pass as her older sister. “I’ve told you a million times to call me Alex.”
She sniffed. “As I’ve told you a million times, I don’t believe in nicknames. So undignified.” She kissed him on the cheek and went back to her second home—the stove. She lifted the lid on a pot, releasing the twin tantalizing smells of spices and shrimp. Her famous étouffée. She looked at him curiously. “What brings you by?”
They hadn’t seen each other since Fliss and Keith had split up. So yeah, his being here was strange.
Alex exchanged a brief glance with Fliss, then stepped behind Roberta to look over her shoulder at the sim
mering dish. “Fliss invited me. I couldn’t turn down your amazing home cooking.”
Roberta preened before shooing him away. “Don’t try that smooth talk on me. Go wash your hands. Good thing you’re here. At least I know somebody will eat my food.” She sent a pointed glance Fliss’s way.
Fliss joined him at the sink and turned on the faucet. “Roberta, I eat everything you cook.”
That response was met with a derisive sniff. “If eating two bites counts as eating, then I guess.”
“I eat more than two bites.” Fliss pumped some liquid soap into her palm and stuck her hands under the running water.
“You need some meat on those skinny bones.”
Fliss threw her hands in the air, clearly unconcerned that she was flinging water everywhere. “I eat until I get full and then I stop. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Alex took her place at the sink and quickly washed his hands. “Fliss is right. She eats.” He turned off the water, and like the dumbass he obviously was, he scanned her figure. The shirt and pants were ordinary, but they skimmed every delectable curve. Her body was absolute perfection. His palms itched with the urge to caress her smooth skin. Completely unacceptable. Where was his control? His convictions? He curled his hands into fists at his sides. Right where they’d always been. He turned his attention to Roberta. “I’ve seen her pack it away like it was her last meal on more than one occasion.”
“Thanks, Alex,” Fliss answered, sarcasm dripping, while she grabbed a towel and dried her hands.
“Besides, you know she’s not as grateful as I am,” he added with a grin.
“I am going to kill you.”
“Oh, leave the boy alone. He was joking,” Roberta said.
“Hmmph.” Fliss sat at the kitchen table, snapped open a napkin, and settled it in her lap.
Alex wiped his hands dry, took the bowls Roberta scooped the food into, and joined Fliss at the table. “Are you going to eat with us?” he asked the chef.
Roberta shook her head. “No, I have a date tonight, and now that you’re here, I don’t have to worry about Felicity being alone.”
