Sweet As Sin

by Ana Jolene

  She wasn’t exactly sure, but Hutch seemed to be disappointed when he’d learned about their trip. She wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like they were going off to some exotic place on a vacation. They’d be going to London, England, once again for this year’s conference. Matthew would be making an appearance before thousands of people to speak about Gleam and how he’d been able to build it from the ground up. To many, he was a genius and a lot of other entrepreneurs wanted to learn from him. Maison attended it with him because it usually spanned a couple of days.

  But now that Hutch was around, she wasn’t sure how this time would pan out. Matthew had never given her an assistant before. She’d always been able to complete her tasks. Sometimes she’d make it right before deadlines, but at least she got things done.

  More recently, however, she was feeling more overwhelmed by her work. Matthew was still a great boss, but with Gleam doing so well, that meant there was more work for her and Matthew to do. So while she’d been shocked to hear that Hutch was going to work with her, she was actually quite glad that he was here. If only she wasn’t so nervous around him then maybe she could actually enjoy his company too.

  Behind her, the door opened and Matthew stepped out. He’d obviously intended to take his lunch but Maison shot to her feet and rushed over to him. “Sir, can I talk to you for a second?”

  “What is it?” Matthew asked.

  Maison glanced over her shoulder at Hutch, who was still at his desk, working. “It’s about Hutch.”

  Matthew peered at his son over her shoulder and then nodded. “Come inside.” As he closed the door behind them, Maison spun around. “What happened?” he asked. “Was he tardy again?”

  “Uh, no, actually. He’s been on time ever since then.” Wow. Maison was really impressed.

  Surprise flashed across Matthew’s features. “Well, that’s good to hear. What is it that you want to talk to me about then?”

  “It’s about our trip to London. We’re still going, right?”

  “Of course. I’ve been practicing my speech.”

  “Okay, but what are we going to do about Hutch?”

  By Matthew’s expression, she could tell that she hadn’t been the only one to forget about him. “Shit,” he muttered. “I didn’t think of that.”

  “Should we let him stay here?”

  Matthew brought his hand to his chin as he contemplated an answer. “No,” he finally said. “He’ll come with us.”

  Maison felt her stomach bottom out. “What?” Come with us? She hadn’t exactly been expecting that answer. “But-but—”

  “Oh, come on. It’ll be fine. Hutch is a good traveler and he can help you with anything you need done. I know you’re up to your head in work. That’s why I brought him here. Ask him to help you and maybe after this trip you can finally take a vacation.”

  But I don’t want to take a vacation, Maison thought. Matthew had always urged her to take time off but she never listened. She much preferred staying busy than moseying around doing nothing. But before she could say that, Matthew turned around and opened the door. “Wait!”

  But Matthew either didn’t hear her or he was purposely ignoring her. He moved briskly to the elevators, stopping only briefly to wave to someone before he was gone.

  Maison stood there, feeling the weight of Hutch’s gaze on her. Damn, hopefully he hadn’t heard all that.

  When she turned around, it was to find him already standing behind her. A look of concern marred his beautiful face. “Is everything okay?”

  Maison forced herself to nod. “Y-yes. Everything is fine.”

  Hutch didn’t seem to believe her. But it would be fine, she told herself. It had to be.

  She forced herself to look at him and realized that she had to crane her head way up. Damn, why did he have to be so damn tall? It made her feel so small, and in turn, it ratcheted up her anxiety even more.

  “S-so I asked your dad about the trip . . .”

  “Really? What did he say?”

  “He told me to bring you along.”

  Hutch blinked. “Really?”

  “Yes,” she breathed. Which meant that she would be spending more time with him. She really hoped her heart could take it. It was already pumping hard, trying to beat out of her chest!

  “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.”

  “Yes, well, I guess that means you’ll need to prepare. We’ll only be staying there for a couple of days. Is that okay with you?”

  “Of course.”

  Dammit, she’d hoped that maybe he didn’t want to go. But then she immediately felt bad for thinking that. What was so wrong with having him come along? It was like Matthew had said, he could help her and make things go a lot smoother.

  Nevertheless, anxiety had her in a stronghold and her distress continued to escalate as she thought about what traveling to London with him would be like.

  “Maison?” Hutch leaned into her and his spearmint and eucalyptus scent engulfed her. “Are you okay?”

  She blinked. “What? Oh yes. I’m fine.” She smiled at him but it came out forced. “I should get back to work. I have a lot of stuff still left to do before we leave.”

  “Don’t you want to have lunch?”

  Was he asking her to go out with him again or was this just a general question? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She still had to stick to her diet.

  “No. I’ll just eat at my desk if I get hungry.” Her stomach was too tied up in knots to eat now.

  Hutch nodded. “Okay, but don’t work yourself too hard. It’s still early in the day.”

  “Okay.” This time, her smile was genuine but it didn’t completely eliminate her fear. If she was going to make it through this trip, she had to be strong.

  She’d been so confident that everything was going to go great before Hutch was set to come with them. Why then was she so nervous now?

  It’s because you’re going to be with him.

  Maison did her best to shake it off. She was working with him now and as long as Hutch planned to work here, she’d have to learn how to deal with his presence. Besides, he wasn’t unpleasant. He was just the opposite in fact.

  And that was why Maison had to watch herself. If she wasn’t careful with her heart, she just might end up falling in love with the guy.

  ELEVEN

  On the day they were set to leave, Maison couldn’t contain her nervousness. Usually she was excited for these trips; it was one of the perks of her job that she loved. However, this time she knew that the cause for her anxiety was Hutch.

  She’d met both him and Matthew at the airport and was surprised to see them in casual wear. While she’d seen Hutch in sweats before, she’d forgotten how good he’d looked in them.

  The sneakers on his feet were free of dirt and scratches and, for a moment, she wondered if he took care of them or if they were brand new. The gray sweatpants he wore hung lose over his thighs, but whenever he turned around, she was blessed with the sight of his great ass.

  “Dammit,” he muttered before he suddenly stopped before her. “I think I may have left my wallet in the cab.”

  “Better go quick before the taxi leaves,” Matthew said.

  On quick feet, Hutch sprinted back to the taxi, bending so that he could speak to the driver. Oh my. She’d nearly swooned out loud. Who said men were the only people who could appreciate a good booty? Maison watched on as Hutch opened the back passenger door and went to retrieve his wallet from inside.

  “Maison? Maison!” Matthew barked, pulling her out of her trance. “Are you sure you didn’t forget anything?” By his tone, that hadn’t been his first time calling her. Maison blushed furiously and glanced back at Hutch.

  “Uh, no. I think I’m good.”

  “Okay then, let’s go check our bags.”

  “Okay.” Bending to retrieve her bags, she turned to find Hutch running back towards them. “Did you get it?”

  He flashed her a smile under the brim of his baseball hat. “Got it
.”

  Good. That’d been close. The driver had nearly left.

  “Come on,” he said grabbing a hold of her bags. “Let’s go.”

  “It’s okay. I’ve got it.” She’d always been a light packer and two bags were more than enough for the couple of days they’d be there.

  “Maison, it’s okay. Let me help.”

  “Oh.” She immediately let go as his hands clasped over hers. “O-okay.”

  By the time they checked in and boarded the plane, some of her anxiety had disappeared. Despite her earlier nerves, Maison wasn’t a nervous flier so maybe she could finally relax during the eleven-hour flight. She felt a spike of unease when she realized that she was going to be spending those long hours sitting beside Hutch and Matthew!

  “Maison, are you feeling all right?” Matthew asked.

  “Huh? Oh yes, I’m fine. Why?”

  “I don’t know. You’re unusually silent today. Did you get enough sleep last night?”

  “Not really.” But she wasn’t going to admit that the cause of her worry was his son.

  “Well then give me your bag. I’ll put it away and you can get some rest.”

  “Thanks, but that’s not necessary. I can—Hey!”

  Matthew had taken a hold of her hand and was already walking towards Hutch. She hurried after him. “It’s okay. I’ve got it.”

  Matthew handed her bag to Hutch who then looked down at her. “Is everything okay?”

  Matthew answered for her. “Maison’s tired. Put her stuff away for her, will you?”

  “Oh, sure thing.” He flashed her a smile and Maison felt her insides turn to goo.

  Dammit! She felt perfectly fine. Matthew turned back to her and guided her to her seat. “Shh,” he said when she started to protest. “Hutch will handle it. Just sit down and rest.”

  As soon as her bottom hit the chair, she realized just how tired she was. Since she’d been nervous all night, she hadn’t gotten the sleep she needed. And with the busy days ahead of them, she’d better get some sleep while she could. “Okay, fine,” she muttered when Matthew sat down beside her. Why was he so concerned about her anyway? Usually he kept to himself and she was the one who was fussing over him.

  Whatever. Her eyelids grew heavy so she allowed her head to fall back against the headrest and let herself drift off into a peaceful slumber.

  * * *

  When Maison woke, it took her a moment to remember where she was. She was squished between two very handsome men. However, the one on her right held her interest the longest.

  Now a few hours into their flight, Maison was surprised to learn that she’d fallen asleep during takeoff. Now everyone else seemed to be enjoying the flight by either watching some movies or taking a nap. Hutch was one of them.

  She should probably feel guilty for watching him while he slept but this was the first time she could stare at him without interruption. Plus, she was no longer nervous.

  Despite the fact that Hutch still wore his baseball hat, she could still see his features nicely. She was immediately envious of his dark, thick lashes and his smooth, blemish-free skin. He also had the most delicious-looking lips she’d ever seen. Plump and perfectly formed, Hutch had the lips that many Hollywood celebrities paid a lot of money for. How was this male gifted with so much perfection? It was so unfair.

  What was it like to be physically superior to everyone else? She would obviously never know. Maison had never been blessed with a pretty face or a slim figure. And no matter how many times she went to the gym, she enjoyed chocolate too much for it to make any difference. She already knew Hutch Happa-Hewitt was simply out of her league. She was just having trouble accepting it.

  Biting her lip, Maison fantasized about what it would be like to be Hutch’s girlfriend. If only she could find the courage to walk up to him and pull him into her arms. Maybe if she was feeling a little bolder, she’d run her hands over his arms and chest, feeling every bit of golden skin beneath her fingertips. She’d wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him ruthlessly. No more holding back, no more fearing what might come. She was just going to enjoy him and let herself go.

  Once he was breathing heavily, she’d climb his body and wrap her legs around his waist, squeezing tightly until her core clenched. She’d kiss him until he was panting for her, begging. And then maybe she’d start by taking off his clothes.

  As each delicious muscle was revealed, she’d lick a path to his lips. And once again, she’d take her time kissing that beautiful mouth of his.

  Tongues would be involved, of course. How could they not be? Especially when she made her way down his body and started to undo his pants.

  Maison let out a moan.

  Oh God, she realized with a start. She was getting turned on! And Hutch was right beside her! Hopefully he hadn’t heard her.

  She chanced a peek at him from the corner of her eye and was relieved to find that he was still fast asleep. Phew! That’d been a close one! But she’d have to hit the pause button on the sexy scene playing out in her mind. She didn’t want to risk accidentally waking Hutch up. Or worse, his father!

  Once they landed, she’d just have to fix the problem in her hotel room.

  Pronto.

  The eleven-hour flight went by pretty smoothly. Turned out, Maison was a pretty good flier. She seemed completely at ease, except for the one time when he’d just woken up and she was looking at him funny.

  He wasn’t exactly sure but he got the feeling that she’d been watching him while he’d slept and that made him really happy. Maybe now she was starting to notice him.

  They quickly retrieved their bags and were about to grab a taxi to their hotel when Maison came up to him. “Thanks, but I can carry my own bags.” She moved to take the bags from him but Hutch pulled away.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got it.” He’d been surprised to see that she’d packed light. Most women he knew would’ve taken their entire wardrobe with them. But he really shouldn’t be surprised. Maison wasn’t a fussy girl and he really liked that about her. She’d always been ready and willing to use what was available.

  “No, really. It’s fine. I can—”

  “Maison, just let him,” Matthew drawled. “It’s only a bag.”

  “Precisely. Which is why I can carry it myself.” She reached for it again, but instead of pulling away this time, Hutch grabbed a hold of her hand.

  He felt like an electric shock went through him. Maison must’ve felt it too because she gasped audibly. “Sorry,” he said when he let go. “But don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.”

  “The taxi is here,” Matthew announced and moved to greet the driver. He turned back to them. “Where’s the hotel again?”

  As she rattled off the address, Hutch took that opportunity to put their bags in the trunk.

  Sliding into the back seat with her, Maison glanced over at him. “Thanks,” she said with a smile.

  He grinned back. “No problem.” One day, she’d get used to having him around.

  * * *

  When they get to the hotel, Hutch had to take a moment to process everything. While he knew they were going to be attending a big conference, he didn’t think it was going to be this big.

  The lobby was packed with men in business suits. For a moment, he wondered if there was something else going on until some people caught sight of his father and rushed over to them.

  “Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Hewitt!” one of them called. “Can I get a picture?”

  A picture? Hutch balked at the man. What the hell? Had they mistaken his father for a celebrity?

  But then he remembered, in the business world, Matthew Hewitt was a legendary name. He just didn’t think his father would have actual fans.

  “Move quickly!” Maison urged as she took Matthew’s arm and steered him away from the fawning fans. To his surprise, she also grabbed his arm. “Let’s move!”

  Hutch had no choice but to follow. “Wait, the bags—”

  “It’s fine,” a young man
called out. “I’ve got them.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  They quickly moved to the front desk, but then Maison suddenly froze. “What is it?” his father asked.

  “Maison, are you all right?” he asked.

  “Oh my God,” she breathed. Pain was etched onto her features.

  He immediately grabbed onto her. “Maison! What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t believe it!”

  “What is it?” Matthew demanded.

  She turned to him. “The rooms! I forgot to get another one for you!”

  “What?”

  Maison dropped her head in her hands. “I can’t believe I forgot.”

  He and his father looked at each other. Why was she so upset about this? “Maison, it’s fine.” Matthew began soothing her. “Maybe they have another one available.”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t need one close by. It didn’t even need to be on the same floor. As long as it was someplace in the hotel, he’d be fine.

  Maison looked up as Matthew went to the front desk and spoke with the man there.

  “I’m sorry, sir. Because of the conference, all rooms have been booked.”

  “Oh no!” Maison wailed. She turned to him. “I’m so sorry!”

  He put his hands on her shoulders. “Maison, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  “Of course I have to! It was my responsibility to book everything! I can’t believe I forgot to check the hotel.”

  “It’s fine. You’ve had a lot on your plate.”

  His father returned to his side and shook his head. “They said there’s nothing left.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll find another hotel nearby or something.”

  “What? No!”

  “Shh, Maison. It’ll be fine.” Matthew turned to him. “And that won’t be necessary. You can just room with me.”

  Hutch couldn’t hide his horror at the idea. “What? I’m not staying with you!”

  “Well, you’re not sleeping with Maison.”

  He stiffened. Dammit, now that that thought was in his head it would be all he thought about. He glanced down at Maison to find her turning red. Was she thinking about it too now?