Get your shit together, Lola!
My mind had quickly dived straight into the gutter. I gave my head a small shake, trying to clear it of all the ridiculous thoughts that were suddenly bombarding me.
I wonder if what they say about the size of a man’s hands is true?
Damn it, Lola!
I totally blamed Grayson for being so… so… damn yummy!
“Lola?”
My gaze jumped from his hands back to his eyes, my cheeks suddenly warm with embarrassment that he could possibly see the desire written all over my face.
“You okay?”
“Y-yeah. Yeah, I’m good. Sorry. Too much wine, I guess.” I pasted on a smile and balled my hands into fists in my lap to keep from fanning my face. Stupid sexy jerk with all his sexiness.
Grayson stood and extended one of those strong, manly hands at me as he said in a low rumble, “Let’s get you home, then.”
My lady parts might have actually quivered. Quivered! He had the most seductive voice when he talked all quietlike. He sounded so good I’d have gladly listened to him read the phone book, or the back of a shampoo bottle, or the label that came on the back of the cookie dough packages warning not to eat it raw.
Swallowing against the sudden dryness in my throat, I placed my hand in his and let him help me from my chair. Just as I knew it would, his large hand completely engulfed mine.
You can’t stand this guy, I reminded myself. He’s the devil. He’s a manipulator. He schemed to trap you into fake-dating him. You. Do. Not. Like. Him.
The silence that enveloped us as he led me through the restaurant and out onto the sidewalk had me feeling like a jittery mess. Not because it was awkward but because it wasn’t. The knowledge that I actually enjoyed being around Grayson sat like a lead weight in my belly. I was discombobulated by the warring feelings taking place inside me. I liked him, but I didn’t want to like him. He wasn’t a guy I could use and then disregard like a pair of worn-out shoes. He was nothing like the men I was usually drawn to. He was too powerful, too masculine, too… all-consuming.
He was dangerous to my mental well-being.
Not to mention the fact that he was my boss.
“I enjoyed tonight,” he murmured, pulling me from my unpleasant thoughts.
“Yeah, me too.” I allowed myself to look up at him and smile as he opened the back door of the waiting town car. I moved to step in but his grip on my hand tightened, halting me between his large body and the car door.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, glancing up to find him looking at something over my shoulder.
“Don’t look,” he warned as I went to turn my head. “There’s a photographer about twenty feet away.”
My back shot straight at his quiet words. “Are you serious?” I whispered, drawing his eyes back to mine. Something in their green depths flashed, an almost wickedness that heated me from the inside and set me on edge all at the same time.
A Cheshire grin stretched across his lips as he leaned in closer, releasing my hand in order to wrap his arm around my waist. “Looks like you’re going to need to put on a good show,” he said in a low rumble. “Hope you’re a good actress.”
Before I could question Grayson’s puzzling statement, his mouth crashed down on mine in an unexpected yet captivating kiss that stole all the air from my lungs. My lips parted on a surprised gasp, giving him the access he needed to slip his tongue inside. He tasted of wine, decadent chocolate, and tart raspberries from our dessert. The flavors exploded against my tongue and I moaned appreciatively.
With my body no longer under my control, my arms lifted to twine around his neck as my mouth dueled with his. It was, by far, the most delicious, enthralling kiss I’d ever experienced in my life. For the first time in more than ten years, I found myself melting into a man and allowing him complete control.
By the time he pulled back, I was so kiss-drunk that I probably would’ve given him anything he wanted. I stood in a stunned haze, my eyelids fluttering open as my tongue darted out and ran along my plump, sinfully bruised bottom lip.
“That was….” I breathed as he smiled down at me like the cat that got the canary. Then he spoke, effectively shattering the perfect moment into a million tiny pieces.
“That’ll surely make for an interesting piece in tomorrow’s edition.”
Sonofabitch. I’d been played and hadn’t even put up a fight. His words pissed me off at the same time as they strengthened my resolve. There was no way I was going to allow myself to get stupid over some guy. Not again. Not ever. He was a pain in my ass, nothing more. And once my job was safe and Grayson’s reputation was cleared, I was determined to put this entire ridiculous debacle in my rearview mirror.
Or at least that’s what I told myself.
Unfortunately, my traitorous body didn’t seem to be on board.
Lola
THANKS TO THE NC-17-rated dreams I had after mine and Grayson’s sham of a date, I was a panting, sweaty, horny mess when my alarm sounded and jolted me awake. Three things that led to me being in an epically shitty mood.
Sexual frustration and I did not get along. Usually, whenever I was in the mood, I’d scroll through my contacts in search of one of the men I kept on my roster for when I needed to be wham-bam-thank-you-ma’amed, but for some ridiculous reason, none of those names held any appeal when I’d looked through them earlier that morning.
There was only one number I wanted to dial and I refused to allow myself to cave, no matter how insanely good-looking he was… or how amazing he smelled every time he came close to me, or how good he was at kissing.
Damn it! Now I’m thinking about kissing and sniffing him!
If this went on for much longer, I was afraid my poor neglected va-jay-jay was going to turn on me. And who knew what kind of trouble that hussy would cause if set loose.
By the time I made it to my office building, Starbucks in hand, I’d gone from aggravated to straight-up pissed right the hell off. And it was all his fault! Grayson Lockhart was a dick! A sexy, chiseled, walking wet dream dick!
I bet he has a really good-looking dick.
Stop it, Lola!
“Hoo-we! Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” Bob teased as I made my way past the security desk in the lobby. I wasn’t even in the mood for our typical morning banter.
“Push your luck and you’re going to have my size seven-and-a-half planted somewhere even Loretta won’t be willing to go,” I shot back, causing him to throw his head back and hoot with laughter.
“Only thing I’ve ever known to put that kinda sour expression on a woman’s face was a man. You finally meet your match, sweetheart?”
Bob clearly wants to die today. Shooting him a look that I hoped melted his skin, I clamped my lips between my teeth and proceeded toward my elevator bank, ignoring the raucous laughter that followed me.
I hit the Up button and let out a relieved sigh when one of the elevators dinged and the door instantly opened for me. I was hoping for a short ride to my floor and was almost home free, watching the doors close, when a hand suddenly appeared between them, halting their progress. And not just any hand — his hand. The hand I’d spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking of the night before. Had I been close enough, I probably would’ve jabbed the Door Close button a million times.
What did he do, run to catch up with me? The stalker.
“Well.” The jackass grinned smugly. “My morning just keeps getting better and better.”
“God hates me,” I muttered between clenched teeth, looking up at the ceiling as Grayson moved close, forced to step behind me as the onslaught of people he allowed to get on with us took up the confined space.
My back remained ramrod straight, my heart pounding against my breastbone as his warm breath tickled the small strip of exposed skin where my shoulder met my neck. He was close. So close. I imagined I could feel the heat radiating off his body, my skin prickling with awareness.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
I shot him a cutting look over my shoulder in warning and mouthed, “Stop it.”
He grinned cheekily, making me hate him even more because I really, really loved that smile.
I turned back around, doing my best to ignore his presence, hoping our little exchange didn’t garner any unwanted attention. To my astonishment, he moved even closer, so much so that I could feel his chest vibrate with a silent chuckle.
I shoved my elbow back, jabbing him in the solar plexus, and smiled at the sound of his muffled grunt of pain.
“That wasn’t very nice,” he whispered once again, only that time he placed the hand closest to the wall on my hip. I gasped as his fingers tensed in a gentle squeeze. Heat suffused my entire body at the simple yet intimate touch.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened to allow some of the people off at their floor.
“When someone compliments you, the normal response is to say ‘thank you.’”
I glanced back as the doors began to close once again and hissed, “There are no cameras around. What the hell are you doing?”
That cheeky smile returned and I felt it low in my belly. “I’m paying you a compliment. Say ‘Thank you, Gray.’”
The glare on my face was a contradiction to the warm, happy whoosh in my stomach.
“Thank you, Gray,” I ground out for no other reason than to put an end to our interlude before someone caught on… or at least that’s what I told myself.
“You’re welcome,” he answered cheerfully before standing tall and looking straight ahead.
The elevator stopped three more times, allowing people off at one floor after another until there was no one left but Grayson and me. Despite all the available space, he didn’t move away, and when I attempted to step to the side in order to create room between us, his fingers, still firmly on my hip, tightened their grip and he grabbed my other hip with his available hand, effectively holding me in place.
His nose brushed the delicate skin behind my ear, and I had to close my eyes against the onslaught of warring emotions and hormones raging through me. “Wh-what are you doing?” I stuttered, swallowing thickly to ease my suddenly dry throat.
“You smell amazing.” His words weren’t soft whispers; instead they came out in a sort of growl. “What perfume are you wearing?”
Goose bumps broke out across my skin. My head screamed, Abort! Abort!, while my body wanted nothing more than to turn around, tackle Grayson to the floor of the elevator, and have its wicked way with him.
“I-I—” I cleared my throat, an unfamiliar sense of being flustered suddenly taking hold of me. It was all the more reason not to like this man. I wasn’t the type of woman to fluster easily. I was a strong, independent, career-minded woman. Men had no power over me unless I allowed it… or so had been the case before the exasperating Grayson Lockhart waltzed into my life and turned it on its head. “I’m not wearing any… perfume, that is.”
The sound that rumbled from his chest was a cross between a hum and a moan… and I loved that sound. Damn it all to Hell! “Christ, that’s all you, then?”
“I… guess so?” I ended on a high-pitched inflection, turning what should’ve been a statement into a question. I just didn’t know how to handle this enigmatic man. I felt out of my depth, out of my league… hell, out of the damn ballpark. It was not something I was used to.
“Well, I approve,” he grunted.
Some of my bearings thankfully returned in that moment and I was able to reply bitingly. “Oh, I’m so pleased you approve. Now I can die a happy woman. Grayson Lockhart likes how I smell. My goal in life has been fulfilled.”
His fingertips skimmed up and down, coming to a stop on my waist, and I swear to God, I could feel his touch through my dress as if I were wearing nothing at all. “You know, your smart mouth might just be the very thing I like about you most.”
Spinning around to face him for the first time since we stepped on the elevator, I leveled him with my most intense glare, all the while my body acutely aware of the fact that the move had caused me to lose the touch of his hands. It was not happy with me.
“You know this goes beyond sexual harassment, right? This entire conversation doesn’t even border on indecent — it sailed right over that line and has now entered lawsuit territory.” Not that I’d ever consider filing a complaint, not when I secretly loved his attention as much as I did. I wasn’t delusional; even though part of me couldn’t stand him, I could admit to myself that there was another part of me that was wild for him — but there was no way in hell I’d ever admit that out loud. My dichotomous emotions were going to drive me to insanity.
“I might be concerned if I wasn’t certain you enjoyed it just as much as I did,” he replied, leaving me speechless as the doors once again slid open. “I believe this is your stop, Ms. Abbatelli.”
My mouth dropped open at the outrageousness of his statement. I was momentarily stunned, only coming to my senses when Grayson moved to hold the closing doors open. It was in that moment I realized Grayson hadn’t bothered to hit the button for his floor. He’d planned this whole thing. He wanted the chance to discombobulate me. He seemed to get off on my reactions. The stupid, sexy jerk. He’d played me like a violin. Oh, he’s good.
With a harrumph, I spun on my heels and flounced out of the elevator insolently, telling myself that the sensual laughter that followed after me had no effect. I was a big fat liar.
“Have a wonderful day, Lola. I know I will,” he called to me.
I chanced one last scowl over my shoulder at him before flipping my hair and turning back around… and running smack into a glass wall.
Lola
THE THROBBING IN my nose was only outshone by the throbbing between my legs, thanks to Grayson, the asshole.
Daphne and Sophia were already hovering around my desk when I stomped to it and slammed my beloved red Kate Spade bag down on the top. I was dangerously close to full-on tantrum mode. Despite my physical attraction, Gray seemed to bring out the worst in me.
“Morning, sunshine.” Sophia gave me a saucy grin. Daphne did a half-assed job of trying to cover her giggle with a cough. I stared daggers at the both of them before dropping down into my chair and rubbing at the sore bridge of my abused nose.
“Oh no,” Daphne started, her tone full of sympathy. “Did you run into the glass again?”
I seriously hated my life at that moment. That was twice now I’d tried to make some dramatic exit from Grayson only to humiliate and injure myself at the same time. “This entire place is a death trap,” I grumbled. “I’m lucky I haven’t concussed myself yet.”
“You’re like those birds from the Windex commercials,” Sophia added unhelpfully.
I frowned at my so-called friend. “Thanks.”
She smiled cheerfully and dropped a newspaper on my desk. “If it’s any consolation, you looked hot last night.”
“What?” I asked, snatching up the copy of the Seattle Times and thumbing through.
“Try the Entertainment section,” Daphne offered.
The thin pages rustled loudly as I whipped through them. When I finally landed on the photo that had caught my girlfriends’ attention, I froze. Okay, yeah. Sophia might have been right. I was rocking that dress, but that wasn’t what I was focused on. No, what held my rapt attention was the fact that the photo was of Grayson and me wrapped in a tight clinch, making out like two horny teenagers next to his car on a public sidewalk.
“Damn it!” I hissed.
“That’s quite a show you put on for the cameras,” Daph teased, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
“Jesus, how the hell did this make it into the papers so fast?”
“Well the headline says it all, don’t you think?”
I looked from the photo to the black, bold letters printed above it:
THINGS HEAT UP BETWEEN LOCAL CELEBRITY LOLA ABBATELLI AND ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST
ELIGIBLE BACHELORS.
“Gossip sites are already starting to speculate how long this has been going on,” Sophia told me. “There are even a few reports saying you two have been hooking up for a while and are secretly planning to run off to Vegas and elope soon.”
My head shot up at that announcement, and I noticed my friend looked way too amused by the news.
“This isn’t funny,” I demanded, but truth be told, if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d probably be having just as much fun at Sophia’s expense as she was at mine.
“Au contraire, this is hilarious. The rumor mill is already running rampant. Seems the folks in PR and our lovely Sam are beside themselves with glee. They’re absolutely thrilled at the thought of the publicity this relationship could bring to our show.”
My eyebrows dipped together, my head starting to ache as my brain worked feverishly to keep up with just how epically my life was crumbling before me. “It’s not a relationship,” I insisted.
“Sure looks like one to me,” Daphne chimed in. “I mean, look at that kiss.” She yanked the paper from my grasp and waved the photo in front of me. “No one is that good an actress. You look like you’re trying to eat his face and he looks like he’s two seconds from ripping that dress off and taking you against that car. You can’t fake heat like that, babe.”
“Yes, you can,” I lied. “You can totally fake it, because that’s exactly what I was doing.” My brain shouted Bullshit! as I said the words. I mentally flipped it the middle finger. From the looks on my friends’ faces, they didn’t believe that anymore than I did.
Clenching my eyes closed, I lifted my hands and began rubbing at my temples to try and stave off my oncoming headache. I needed a do-over of the past few days. I needed this all to be a nightmare.
I was praying for some sort of reprieve when my cell phone began ringing from inside my purse. I pulled it out and released a pained groan at the sight of the name on the screen. I must have really done something big to piss Karma off, because not only weren’t my prayers answered, but things only seemed to be getting worse.
Seducing Lola Page 9
