Mix'n Business With Pleasure

by Hadley Raydeen

  “Where is he?” Jaxon asked.

  “He is working on a new acquisition. He is in…New York, according to his itinerary.” She glanced at his schedule sitting on her desk.

  She stood and came around the desk to meet him. “If I leave now…I will be gone for a few weeks, like he said. I know Russell. Once he gets his mind stuck on something, you aren’t gonna change it. You do it and you don’t ask questions. He’s obviously hit a wall and needs help with this deal.”

  “We just started…us, Bevin. Damn it. Really?” Jaxon pouted and she had to admit he looked sexy doing it.

  She leaned over him in the chair and kissed his lips softly. She broke the kiss, and looked him in the eyes. She dropped a hand over his smooth hardness, obviously ready for her attention. She closed her fist and began stroking him. “I say we make good use of the time we have. You will call me every night from here on out and give me an update on progress. When Russell and I return, our new building will be ready to go.”

  He stood and pulled her toward him and cupped her chin with his hand. “Everything will be waiting for you when you come back, Bevin, including me. I promise that.” He leaned forward to kiss her. “Let me take you to dinner tonight.”

  “Will you fuck me senseless before or after dinner?”

  He smirked, pulling her closely. “Oh baby, I plan to fuck you before and after.”

  Chapter 21

  She looked down at Jax comfortably snoozing in her bed. She hated leaving him right now in the middle of a project and really when they were just establishing what they were to each other. But Russell didn’t leave her with much choice. When her boss ordered she catch the first thing flying out of town, she did as told.

  “Jax,” she whispered, leaning over him. She wanted to use the terms of endearment he so easily used with her. Honey, sweetheart, baby, he called her like it was second nature, but she wasn’t quite ready to give her heart over that deeply just yet. She leaned forward and took in the scent of him. Musky male. The smell of sex lingered in the air, mixed with the scent of her freshly showered body. She sat on the bed and hovered over him. “Jaxon, I have to leave. Wake up, please. I want to talk to you.” She shook him lightly.

  He stirred and rolled toward her. “I thought your flight was at noon?”

  “It’s nine o’clock right now. I need to get to the airport.”

  “Shit.” He ran a hand down his face. “You should have woken me up sooner. I need to get to the worksite.”

  “That is what I wanted to talk to you about. You’ll update me, right?” she asked.

  He sat up, slowly stretching. He focused on her with a serious expression on his face. “You know you will be the first to know if anything happens, babe. You can count on me,” he said, with a sarcastic tone.

  “Come on, Jaxon. I don’t doubt you. I just need to be kept in the loop. You have to understand this is a pretty big project I’m just leaving in the lurch here. Now I have to go work on another deal with Russell. I’m a bit stressed. I have a lot on my plate.”

  “I thought I helped you with that stress last night,” he smirked, rubbing the pad of his thumb over her lips.

  “You certainly helped a great deal with that.” She kissed his thumb before turning from him and getting up from the bed. “We can talk through all of… this,” she gestured between them, “once I get back. I promise. I need to get a move on. I don’t know how busy security is going to be at the airport.”

  “Well, give me a second to get dressed. I’ll drive you to the airport,” he said, throwing the covers to the side.

  “That is okay. I have a driver.” She dismissed his offer to drive.

  He slid from the bed walking around her room quickly gathering his clothes. She watched him hop into his pants and slide his white t-shirt over his head. He put on his shoes and gathered the rest of his things and turned to her. “Well then, I guess it’s time for me to leave.” His tone was a bit cold.

  “Jaxon—”

  “No. It’s fine. I’ll show myself out. Travel safe, Bevin.” He held a hand up in a half-hearted wave.

  “This is not how I wanted to say goodbye to you.” She took his hand and stared up at him. She didn’t know exactly what she saw in the gaze staring back at her, a mix of hurt and desire maybe. She stepped closer to him. “I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks, maybe longer.” She cleared her throat. “Please keep me up to date on what is going on. I would like to hear from you at least once a day, if at all possible. Russell will want an update and I would like to be able to know about the progress.”

  He let go of her hand and stared at her. “But this is how you wanted to say goodbye? I already promised I would give you updates, and I will. After the nights we shared together, it seems to me this goodbye should be about more than work. I will miss you. The thought of you going has me… well, I know I don’t want you to go.” He took her hand again and looked at her. “Will you miss this at least?”

  “Of course I will, Jaxon. I’m not good at goodbyes. I’m trying to keep my mind off of it by talking about work.” She shook her head.

  “Well then, we will talk as often as we can during the day about work. But after a long day at the office when you are kicking off your heels and settling in with a glass of wine and we are talking on the phone, work will be the last thing on my mind when I’m listening to your sexy voice.” He leaned in closer. “I want to talk about all the delicious things I wish I could do to this body. How I miss you and wish you were back, so I can kiss on you and hold you.”

  He leaned in and took her lips in a slow kiss. A low moan escaped her and her body shuddered as he pressed the small of her back with his hand, bringing their bodies closer together. He broke the kiss before the heat picked up and she stared up into the stormy pools of blue eyes and she knew what she saw this time. The need and his desire for her. She knew it well because it mirrored her want of him. The thought of leaving him right now was too much for her, especially mixed with the stress of work. She wanted to crawl back in bed with him, and snuggle into his arms the same way he was making a place in her heart.

  “You better hurry back, Ms. Thomas. I will be waiting for you when you do,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I won’t be long. I promise. I will miss you, Jax.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. At that minute, they heard a beep outside.

  “Looks like your driver is here,” he said picking up her bags. “I will carry these down for you at least.” He turned and left the room before she could protest. She turned, looking at the bed they just shared. “Hmm,” she murmured. “Now that was a goodbye.”

  Chapter 22

  She checked her messages the night before she’d left. Russell had sent her a cryptic text telling her he was, in fact, in Austin, Texas, not in New York. Luckily, she was able to book a flight and used the card of the driver that had picked her up the night she’d left Jax at the restaurant to drive her to the airport.

  Jaxon stood before her kissing her and telling her goodbye. The driver did not get out of the vehicle. He stayed behind the wheel with the motor running. Jaxon placed her bag in the trunk. “This driver is a bit rude, don’t you think? He can’t help you with your bag?” Jax growled as he slammed the trunk.

  “Easy there, Tiger.” She ran a hand down his hard chest. “He sees I have this big strong man here with me. No need for his help.” She kissed his hard set jaw and she watched him ease a bit.

  “Well, he better get you to that airport safe and sound,” Jax warned.

  “He is a great driver. It’s fine.”

  Jax raised a brow. “Is this the joker that picked you up from the restaurant that night?”

  “Jaxon, I’m not getting into this right now. I have to get to Texas.” She kissed his lips trying to distract him.

  “Texas? What the hell happened to New York?”

  “You sure are moody today.” She ran fingertips over the shadow of hair growing across his hard set jaw.

  “Just don�
�t understand the change in plans.” He shook his head.

  “There was never a plan. I said I thought he was in New York. I didn’t know for sure,” she responded.

  She couldn’t quite read the expression on his face. He looked surprised, even angry maybe. But what would her business trip matter to him?

  “You are going to my home state,” he murmured.

  “Oh that’s right, Texas Longhorn. I almost forgot.”

  “Hook ‘em,” he said dryly. “What part are you going to?”

  “Austin,” she responded, sheepishly.

  He tensed. “My hometown, too… What acquisition is this with? What company?” he asked.

  “I’m not exactly sure. I know that we are working on a few and Russell didn’t say which this was.”

  “How can you be prepared if you don’t have the details?” he asked.

  The driver beeped the horn. She jolted. Jaxon narrowed his gaze. “This guy is about to get a piece of my mind.”

  “No no, he is right. I let him know what time I had to be at the airport and I’m pushing it already as it is.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I promise to call as soon as I’m settled. I’ll miss you.”

  He smiled at her and she couldn’t help but notice the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. His reaction to her leaving and being in Austin was strange, but she didn’t want to press it right now. She hadn’t the time to dig further. It would have to wait.

  She opened the door and climbed in the back seat. He leaned in and stole one more kiss. “Have a safe flight, beautiful. Break a leg with the business deal.”

  “Isn’t that a stage term?” She laughed.

  “Hell, you know what I mean. Knock ‘em dead or whatever. I hope it goes well.” He winked at her.

  “Thank you. Goodbye, Jaxon.”

  “Goodbye, sweetness. Hey, you get her to the airport safely since you couldn’t see your way to get out of the car and help with her bag,” he said to the driver.

  “Jaxon!” she gasped.

  The driver eyed him quickly through the rearview mirror, but didn’t turn around. “I’m sorry about that, miss,” he said, ignoring Jaxon. “Had a call come through when you came outside.”

  Jaxon narrowed his gaze, but didn’t say anything else. He tried to speak, but Bevin cut him off. “I really have to go, Jaxon. I promise to call you as soon as I get settled.” She shooed him out of the vehicle and and he backed away, mouth agape. She reached out and closed the door once he was out of reach. “Okay, Charles. I’m ready,” she said to the driver.

  Charles quickly backed out of her drive and she waved at Jaxon as the car pulled off. Jaxon didn’t return the wave. He stared at Charles. “Oh my God. Get over it,” she mumbled as they drove off.

  “What was that, ma’am?” Charles asked, looking at Jaxon through the rearview mirror.

  “He is doing the whole macho thing. It’s so not needed,” Bevin responded, pulling out her cell phone.

  “Is that the guy you were talking about from the other week? Forgive me if I’m being too forward,” the driver asked.

  “No, please don’t apologize. You listened to my whining that night. Yes, it’s the same guy.” She offered a small smile when she noticed him smiling at her through the rearview mirror.

  “I suppose things worked out between the two of you the way you were talking and smooching just now.”

  She blushed. “We talked it out.”

  “Well, that is good, Miss Bevin. I’d rather see a pretty girl smiling than frowning.”

  “Trust me, I’d rather be smiling,” she mumbled.

  “I’m glad you used the card I gave you. Didn’t know if I’d hear from you again,” he said.

  “I told you I would. I just happened to need this ride today, last minute, and you were the first person I thought to call.”

  “I appreciate the business. Where are you headed this trip?” Charles pulled onto the interstate toward the airport.

  “I’m headed to Austin for the next few weeks. My company has a business deal we are trying to close and my boss asked me to come down to help out.”

  “Oh Austin. Is that so?” She noticed his brow cock a bit in the rearview. “That is my neck of the woods.” He grinned at her briefly before refocusing on the road.

  “Really? Austin seems popular today. That is where the guy I was just talking to is from.”

  “No kidding. Is that so? Longhorn guy?” he asked conversational, but it seemed a little too good to be true.

  “No, just from that area. He went to school up here in Connecticut. Why do you ask?”

  “Just making conversation, Miss Bevin. Hell, there are any number of colleges he could have gone to. Just assumed he was a fan or he went there is all.”

  “He didn’t seem to be a big fan of yours,” she said, changing the subject slightly.

  “And I apologize for that. I don’t want to make any enemies. I’ve had enough of that in my day.”

  “He seemed to know you when we pulled away.”

  “You think?”

  “You didn’t really turn around to look at him when he was talking.”

  “Didn’t mean any disrespect.”

  “Hmm.” She pulled out her phone to see if she had any texts. She wanted to understand why the strange exchange between the two men. Charles didn’t seem to be offering up any details. He wouldn’t even admit he knew who Jaxon was. But it seemed a little too strange. And why was everyone from freaking Austin, Texas all of a sudden?

  No texts from Jaxon, but there was one from Russell asking about her flight arrangements.

  She quickly responded back her expected arrival time, and slipped the phone back in her purse. She looked up and her gaze collided with Charles. She regarded him with a slight smile. “Shouldn’t you be watching the road?”

  “Yes, of course, ma’am.”

  Charles hadn’t made her feel uncomfortable the last time she was in his vehicle, but looking back on that night, she was a bit preoccupied with her thoughts of Jaxon. It wasn’t that she really felt uncomfortable now, but she was still wondering about the strange exchange between the two men, and the crazy coincidence they were from the same neck of the woods.

  “Charles, can I ask you something?”

  “Yes, sure you can,” he responded.

  “The night you picked me up at the jazz club; that night I was a ridiculous mess over Jaxon,” she said waving off the events of the night with a hand.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “How did you know to pick me up?”

  He cleared his throat and waited a beat. “I didn’t know to pick you up, ma’am. I was there dropping off a client. I saw you coming out and the car service I work for said someone else was looking for a ride in the area. I took the fare.”

  “Who were you dropping off?”

  “Oh, I can’t say that, ma’am. My clients are private. I wouldn’t tell anyone I was driving you to the airport this morning.”

  “Why the ma’am stuff all of a sudden? You are fine to call me Bevin.”

  “Well, you seemed irritated with me. I don’t want to exacerbate the situation.”

  “I’m not irritated, just a bit curious. You seem like you were familiar with Jaxon. Like he recognized you almost. Have you see him before?”

  Her question went unanswered as Charles pulled into the Bradley International Airport drop off. This time he hopped out of the car and retrieved her bag from the back . He then came around and opened the door for her. “Don’t want to make the same mistake twice, by not helping with the bag. But then again, your guard dog is not here to bark at me.” He laughed.

  She smiled, still quite aware that he avoided her question like the plague. She wasn’t going to press the issue, not now. She had to run for this flight. She took the handle of her rolling suitcase from him. “Thank you, Charles.”

  “Absolutely, Miss… Bevin.” He smiled when she held up her hand at the formal title. “You have a safe flight now. Call me if you nee
d a ride home.”

  She thanked him again and headed into the airport. She had a plane to catch.

  Chapter 23

  He wasted no time at all stopping by Gregory Lester Sheldon’s office right after the car taking Bevin to the airport pulled around the corner and out of sight. He knew exactly who this Charles driver was and he couldn’t believe his eyes. He tore the door to the shiny office almost full off the hinges as he entered the space for the investment firm. The receptionist ripped the headset off her head and stood as he made his way down the hall without even asking to see the man. He was in no mood for conversation and he sure as hell wasn’t asking for permission to see the slimy son-of-a-bitch, otherwise known as his stepfather. He has some explaining to do and that would start today. It was bad enough he was trying to use him to get to Bevin and Russell and their firm. The only reason he had agreed was because Greg said he’d trust Jaxon to handle it his way and now he was going behind his back.

  The older man looked up from his computer when Jaxon stormed in. “Son, what a pleasant surprise.”

  Jaxon whipped his head to the right and caught sight of his mother at the window. Since she had married Gregory, she’d been better off. She wore all the finer things and wanted for nothing, but she always looked beyond sad. Gregory was like a cancer to them all. The only reason he went into business with the man was to keep tabs on his mother and make sure the business that accounted for their wealth was on the up and up. Plus, Gregory threatened to pull the rug out from under him, his mother and his siblings every chance he got. He wouldn’t allow that to happen. He’d build his business and get her away from this man if it was the last thing he did.

  “Mom,” he said feeling his anger soften. He did not want to have this conversation in front of her. There was too much going on though with Robert lurking in the picture and now Charles. Gregory had a ton of explaining to do. He glared over her shoulder at the man as his mother pulled him in for an embrace.