Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2)

by Baker, Janice

  I quickly put my clothes back on and grabbed my heels. One last look at him and I was dying to press a kiss to his cheek, to his lips, one last touch of my lips to his body. I knew I couldn’t do that, but I wished I could inhale his scent again. That scent right before we kissed. It was as if it were …I can’t think of what it was. His essence. Just thinking about it gave me a yearning to lower my mouth to his for a quick kiss. I grabbed the door handle before I could think of it again. Before I could feel the desire to kiss him again, to breathe in his…soul.

  I pulled the door open and quickly looked down the corridor both ways. No one in sight. I had my key card in hand and quickly left Matt’s room closing the door as quietly as I could behind me. Not an easy feat with hotel doors. I placed my key card in and quickly went into my room, glad that no one saw me leave Matt’s room to go to mine.

  It was 3 a.m., so at least I could go back to sleep. Well sort of. I felt this emptiness in my room laying here alone on my bed. I wanted to be held like that again by him. His strong arms had encircled me, held me close as if he really wanted me to be there. I scoffed at my own thoughts. A guy like that doesn’t think anyone he’s with is special. He’s just a snuggler. He’s just one of the few guys that enjoys cuddling.

  I slipped back into bed and fell asleep thinking about how wonderful Matt felt. How sex with him was fantastic, erotic and definitely would make it difficult for any man to fill his shoes.

  The sound of my alarm came way too quickly for my liking and I grabbed my phone and turned it off several times. Then my hotel room phone happened to ring out that second.

  “Hello,” I answered groggily and barely audible because my throat seemed not to be working. It could be from screaming in ecstasy all night.

  “Where’d you go? Is everything okay?” I heard Matt ask. The sound of his voice brought a smile to my face and tingles to my body.

  I toyed with the phone cord as I admitted the reason I left so soon, “I just thought it would be better this way, if I went ahead to my separate room.” My defenses kicked up and slight jealousy about how many women he beds all the time. “Not to mention I’m sure you like to kick a girl out after sex. You were probably just too tired to do it.”

  He paused and said nothing on the other end, confirming my suspicions. Finally, he told me, “I’m not like that, Vanessa. I would have liked to have spent more time with you.” He paused again. “Do you regret our night together?”

  My breath hitched that he wanted to spend more time together, but knew he also didn’t really respond what he usually does after he has sex with a woman. I wondered if he snuggled with everyone or just me. I realized he asked a question and answered, “No, of course not. But I’m pretty sure it was easier this way for both of us. Not to mention no one would see me walking out of your room at the time I left.”

  “What time did you leave?”

  “I think it was around three.”

  “Mmm. I…well, I” he took a deep breath and I knew he was finding the “after sex” talk difficult. I decided to make it easier for him.

  “It’s fine Matt. It’s what we both wanted — a really nice evening together that is now out of our system. Now we can work together without all that tension between us. Maybe your antics at the office will stop pissing me off so much.”

  He chuckled, “I doubt it.” I could almost see his smile through the phone. Now that it was out of both our systems, that smile wouldn’t be for me any longer. I felt a pang of sadness about that. I would no longer be on his radar and I would have to watch his eyes follow other women at the office.

  “I’ll see you downstairs for the breakfast meeting. I’m going to go ahead and pack so I can check out right after.”

  “Yeah…umm, alright. I…”

  “It’s okay, Matt. You don’t have to do the after sex speech you usually do. We both wanted this and we’ll be friends at the office.”

  I heard him grunt into the phone then he said, “yeah, friends.”

  I hung up the phone and sat there wishing I were still in his room, still in his strong arms. I replayed the entire night in my head again and when I started thinking about the incredible things he did to me last night, my body reacted the same way it had last night. I was instantly lusting for him. It would be difficult to be around him and not think about our night together, but I was going to have to try.

  I’m sure this stuff is easy for Matt, considering he beds women all the time. I thought of Kara and wondered how many times he had sex with her. I wondered if he held her close like he had with me. If he did the same things to her as he did with me. Thinking those thoughts made it easier for me to let go of thinking about him and I quickly went about my morning routine and packed my bags.

  The breakfast goodbye was really just a formality of some sorts. Most attendees felt the need to skip it so it wasn’t very crowded. I grabbed a cup of steaming hot coffee and took a seat at an open table.

  “Vanessa, how was your evening last night?” I heard a familiar voice asked. I glanced up to see Evelyn smiling at me. Her friendly smile put me on edge as if she knew what I really did last night. She didn’t because there was no way for her to know I slept with my co-worker last night, going against the very policy she helped me create.

  I swallowed and glanced away trying my best not to look guilty, although I felt my cheeks burn red at the thought of what I did last night. “I…stayed in. I was a little tired I guess from all the seminars.” I glanced back at her and asked, “How was your evening?”

  “It was fun. You should get out more often. We went to several bars and casinos. You can’t work so hard without having a little fun, right?”

  She had no idea what I did last night. I released the air out of my lungs and nodded my head in agreement.

  Then Evelyn sat down next to me and leaned in. “Can I ask you something?” That same nervousness returned as I wondered if she knew somehow. I nodded my head wanting her to get whatever she was going to ask me out. I almost blurted that I spent the evening with Matt, but she actually shocked me with the question she asked. “Your co-worker, Matt. Is he…is he seeing anyone?”

  My face fell and I quickly grabbed my cup of coffee and took a sip from it, hoping to dissipate any look of guilt that might be on my face. She touched my arm as she added, “I’m sorry. That must have been a bit forward. Ever since Ron and I split up, I just wanted some sort of excitement in my life. I just….” She trailed off and looked away. “I’m so sorry,” she said nervously.

  Although jealousy was my first reaction, I quickly realized that even though she was my mentor she was also my friend. A friend who just went through a divorce and needing to feel wanted and desired, which was pretty close to what I was feeling also since Charles and I were no longer together. Had that been the real reason I had sex with Matt?

  Evelyn started to stand and I felt bad for her, knowing exactly how she must feel. I grabbed her arm and politely said, “No, Evelyn. I understand, really I do.” I cleared my throat knowing that last night was the only night I would have with Matt. Not only that, but I couldn’t appear as if I were wanting him also. “I…from my understanding, I don’t think Matt is seeing anyone.” I swallowed back the jealous feelings that were welling up and took another drink from my coffee.

  I realized quickly that had been a mistake. I now opened the door to some sort of camaraderie that Evelyn felt she had with me now on a different level other than work. She started talking about Matt and how “hot” he is. How his body and mouth turned her on completely. She continued on for quite some time and as she did, my stomach rolled with jealousy. I tried to keep that and my anger at bay, smiling politely as a good friend would do.

  “That Matt is something else. His eyes. Wow. They seem to just undress you!” She giggled like a school girl. “How on earth do you work with him and not get turned on by him?” She nudged me and I smiled. “It’s a very good thing you put that policy in place or you would have to fix heartaches all over th
e company, I’m sure,” she jested.

  I nodded and let out an “Uhh, huh.”

  “Oh God, speak of the devil himself. And he looks freshly fucked. Some men just have that look. I wonder who the lucky woman was.”

  I glanced up and realized his eyes were fixated on me and I quickly glanced away, darting my eyes back to Evelyn, who was still gawking at Matt. When I looked back at Matt, his eyes were on Evelyn. At least now I knew where I stood. Jealousy swept over me, making my heart race and my face flush with anger. I grabbed my coffee and took a sip, glancing up to see his fantastic body standing at our table.

  “Ladies,” he greeted us both. I nodded, not looking at him.

  “Matt. How was your night last night? We missed you at the club. I thought you were going to meet us all out.”

  “Sorry about that. I saw a friend I needed to speak with.” I felt his eyes on me, burning into me, willing me to look up and when I did, my thoughts were confirmed. I pressed my lips together not wanting to give anything away to Evelyn. I glanced at her and she was still staring him over like a piece of meat. I reached forward, not saying a word as I slid my fingers up and down the handle of my coffee mug.

  “Well, whoever she was, I hope it was a good discussion considering what you missed at the club.” I glanced over at her and she flipped her hair, licked her lips and winked at him. My God the woman turned into a giggling school girl around him. My eyes flicked over to Matt to see his eyes flicker back and forth between us.

  “I’m sure I missed a good time last night. Vanessa, did you ever wind up coming out of your room?”

  I swallowed, knowing he was trying to make sure it didn’t look like we were ever together. “No, I decided to keep it low-key last night.”

  “Vanessa, you really need to get out more and have some fun. All work can make you a very irritable person,” she teased.

  “Yeah Vanessa, we wouldn’t want you to be a mean HR lady,” Matt joked with Evelyn who stood up at the same time walking over to Matt. She gently pulled on his arm.

  “I’m sure a guy like you needs to eat a huge breakfast in the morning. I’m starving too.” She tugged on his arm and they walked over to the buffet.

  Feeling jealous, sick and annoyed, I turned my attention back to my cup of coffee. Finally glancing up, I began to see some familiar faces from the seminars. Lucky for me a couple of other attendees stopped by to make small talk to keep my mind off my mentor flirting with the guy I just slept with. And that’s all he is going to be to me and I need to keep that in mind. One night and it’s done with.

  Matt and Evelyn returned to the table and joined the rest of us. We were discussing how we could apply some of the material we learned here to our jobs. Not that Matt or Evelyn contributed to the conversation at all. Evelyn sat very close to Matt, across the table from me, since Reginald and his friends had taken the seats surrounding me.

  I tried my best not to glance up, but I continually heard Evelyn’s silly giggle at anything Matt said. Her hand constantly reaching under the table, it wasn’t too hard to imagine what she was doing as I watched him jerk forward several times. As I glanced at him he had a very uncomfortable look on his face. He pressed his lips together as if to tell me he was not enjoying what she was doing to him. Somehow that thought made me laugh a little and I was actually enjoying him being taunted by Evelyn instead of feeling threatened like before.

  The breakfast speaker finished his speech and everyone started to stand and say their goodbyes. Evelyn was glued to Matt’s side as he approached me.

  “Are you all ready to head over to the airport?” he asked in a gruff and annoyed voice.

  I nodded and was just about to respond when Evelyn chimed in, “My flight leaves soon too. Do you mind if I share a cab ride over with you both?”

  I had to smile as I watched Matt try to protest and I couldn’t resist making him suffer just a little longer. “Of course we don’t mind. That would be fine, Evelyn. We’ll meet you in the lobby in a half hour?”

  Evelyn smiled brightly and squeezed Matt’s arm and gazed at him with a smile. “Wonderful. I’ll go get my things.” I watched her walk away. She had a sway to her hips that I hadn’t noticed before.

  Matt’s expression was serious as he snapped at me, “Really? Did you not see how uncomfortable she was making me?” His brows were pulled together as he gestured with his thumb at where Evelyn stood.

  “Oh come on. Poor baby. You didn’t enjoy being fondled throughout breakfast?” I gave him a teasing pout, knowing he probably loved it. I see women hang on him all the time, why would Evelyn be any different?

  He shook his head briefly. “No, but it seems like you enjoyed me being tortured.”

  I practically laughed as I snickered, “Oh please. You were getting hit on throughout breakfast. You loved it and you know it.”

  His mouth dropped open as he threw his arms out wide and his eyes pretty much did the same. “I didn’t in the least. Besides, I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable or jealous.”

  It was my turn to pop my mouth open. “Jealous! Why would I be jealous?”

  He gave me a curious look as he leaned in, lowering his voice, “Well, you know, because of last night.”

  I looked away briefly and swallowed. Although I loved his attention on me, I needed to make sure that we remember our agreement. “Last night was the only night, remember? We agreed on that.” I forced a smile to make light of our entire agreement and started walking.

  We entered into the elevator and as soon as the doors shut, he surprised the hell out of me by pressing me up against the mirrored wall. His mouth pressed hard against mine and I couldn’t help but open mine so I could taste him again. His hand grabbed my waist and started to slide up to my breast, squeezing firmly. The elevator stopped at a floor and Matt pulled away quickly as if unaffected by what he just did. I was breathing heavy and trying so hard to catch my breath. He leaned against the side of the elevator, placing both hands on the rail as if he were standing there the entire time. Two people entered the elevator and nodded to both Matt and me. I pressed a fake smile as I tried to regain some composure.

  Why did he just do that? Was he trying to tell me he wants me and not Evelyn? That couldn’t be the reason. It was probably some macho crap Matt likes to do. Maybe he was just revved up from Evelyn touching him all through breakfast. That had to be it.

  Chapter 15

  Matt

  The ride to the airport was the toughest thing ever. Vanessa seemed to get a kick out of Evelyn pawing at me. I think she even gave me a sideways glance on the way there with a smirk. Evelyn had her hands all over me, squeezing my arm and finally my thigh. Normally, I’d get turned on or even just take her into the airport bathroom just to relieve both of us.

  However, my night with Vanessa was…intense. She was fantastic in bed and I couldn’t get over it. I actually had hoped that she was horrible in bed or that she would protest just so I wouldn’t want her any more. Nope. That wasn’t the case at all. And then she left in the middle of the night. I wanted to wake up to her and definitely enjoy her sweet taste again. Just remembering her scent made me hard. Too bad Evelyn thought that was from her groping me.

  The night that Vanessa met up with Bob and then left together threw me into a jealous fit. After calling her hotel room and her hanging up on me, I ran into Evelyn. I kept remembering that she told me she needed to talk to me, telling me she had all kinds of pull with Buchanan. I started to wonder if she was fucking him. I knew he wasn’t faithful to his wife from when he visited me in Atlanta. While I don’t agree at all with cheating, I also know it’s not my business — especially when it came to my boss. Discretion was key in this industry.

  Then Amanda and Sasha came out of the bar looking for me, wanting me to go hit the bars and casinos with them. So I did. I tried to get Evelyn to go, but I have a feeling she was a bit jealous of the two other women. I felt bad, but at the same time I was a bit relieved. There was something about the way Evel
yn was trying to sway me that made my gut tell me something was off. I couldn’t figure it out, but thought it had to do with her being Vanessa’s mentor or something.

  We arrived at the airport and I helped the ladies get their bags to the curb and paid the driver. Both ladies thanked me and Vanessa started walking inside toward our gate, leaving me to follow behind with Evelyn. I was thankful she lived in San Diego and her flight would be an entirely different concourse.

  She stopped me before we started heading our separate ways. I was pissed off that Vanessa continued walking off without me. Evelyn’s hand was on my arm, squeezing with that massaging intention. The type that lets you know she’s really into you.

  “Matt, I wanted to talk to you about your job. I can get you higher in corporate if you really want.”

  I realized I didn’t want to know how she would go about doing that and decided to let her down nicely just in case she really did have some pull. I didn’t want to offend her. “Thank you, I appreciate that, but I’m really enjoying learning the ropes where I’m at right now; however, if that changes, I’ll give you a call.”

  She smiled and tilted her head. “You do that,” she said as she handed me her business card. I took the card and our fingers touched. She lingered longingly and squeezed my fingertips before letting go.

  I couldn’t get away from her fast enough and practically ran to the security checkpoint. I looked at the long line searching for Vanessa and found her way ahead of me. I watched her glance back at me, smirking. I held up my hands and mouthed “Thanks!” She shrugged her shoulder giving me the cutest smile.

  One night my ass.

  There’s no way I’ll be able to keep my hands off her if she likes to tease me like this.

  I made sure to bump us up to First Class again. I could tell she loved it last time and I was sure as shit going to make sure we sat together on the way back.

  When we arrived back to our airport, I offered her a ride back since I knew she took a cab to the airport to save on parking fees. Vanessa and I strolled out to my girl. When I stopped in front of her and pushed my key fob, Vanessa’s mouth dropped open. Yeah. I get that a lot from women. They love a nice car and my Porsche was a beaut.