Opening Up

by Lauren Dane

  “Why shouldn’t we? I’m not indispensable as a sales rep. I’m using my skills in ways that benefit this company and expanding our client base.” Then she turned to Jay. She’d tossed him a sweet deal with the offer to split her accounts between him and Shawn.

  Jay loved money and he loved power. Those accounts would give him more of both. And he loved Colman. He might think her vagina clouded her thinking on most things, but that offer of those accounts was what she planned to use to crowbar her brother onto her side.

  Shawn had recommended she come up with a few different ways to be compensated in her new position, so she’d gathered the financial information, and as she did it, she’d realized what a huge thing he’d done for her. She probably wouldn’t have included it at first, thinking to make her point verbally in her presentation. But Fee never would have taken her word for it, and without the data, others wouldn’t be so eager to come down on her side and risk her uncle’s grumpy wrath.

  “I’ve e-mailed everyone copies of three different approaches to compensation for this new position and I’m happy to talk about each one. I’ve included pros and cons of each as well.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Fee bitched. “Your father isn’t here, so we can’t vote on anything anyway.”

  He wasn’t. Yet another disappointment in years’ worth of them. She’d reminded him of this meeting several times and not once had he said he’d be gone.

  “I’m not asking you to vote today. Naturally I expect you all want time to read the material and make a decision. I’m available if you want to speak about this more.”

  Fee grabbed his things and rushed from the room without saying good-bye. Jay stood. “I’ll look at everything. I’m not convinced adding more things won’t actually hurt Colman.”

  “That’s fair. We’ll talk when you’re ready.”

  He nodded and then spoke again. “This is excellent work.” Jay then left, along with everyone else but Shawn and Julie.

  Shawn gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. “You did good, Penny-Lope.”

  She rolled her eyes at his use of her nickname. So many people mispronounced her name when she was a kid, her mother finally gave up and allowed the use of PJ instead of Penelope. But Penny-Lope had stuck with Shawn.

  “You saved my butt with the suggestion about the compensation comparison.”

  He winked. “Nice work tossing half your accounts to Jay. He’s greedy enough that it’ll be a factor for him. Not that I’m complaining about my half of those clients. I need a new car. My transmission is making noises again.”

  “Colman has three full-time mechanics. All in a garage about two miles from here. Why are you driving a car with a dodgy transmission?” Julie shook her head at their brother.

  “Okay, so to be more accurate, I want a new car.”

  Laughing, the siblings headed out to their own offices and jobs.

  Audra leaned across the table. “What is the story with tall, dark, and pierced?”

  “Asa?” As if anyone else was on her mind these days.

  “Yes.”

  “Months now he’s looked at my tits and he’s looked at my ass. In that way, you know how they do. I know what it looks like when someone is imagining me naked. He does it all the time. Flirts with me like crazy, but he holds back. I thought it was that he had a girlfriend, but now I’m not sure. I don’t think he’d go as far as he does with his flirting if he was seeing someone. Maybe he just doesn’t dig me that way and I’m too stupid to see it.”

  “Please. Have you looked at yourself lately? You’re adorable. And gorgeous and sexy. Maybe it’s the business thing? Like you two work together at times, so maybe it’s that. If it is, just change his mind. Flash your boobs. Makes them forget what they were going to say.” Audra raised a glass.

  “Well, here’s the thing. Twisted Steel calls me regularly now. I’m their go-to person. That’s great and it makes me happy to know this thing is working out. But I want him. Oh man, do I want him. At the same time, it’s hard enough to be taken seriously. If I go hooking up with Asa, how’s that going to look? What if people think I banged my way into a job instead of earning it?”

  “A round of shots first and then we’ll continue to discuss this.” Audra tried to get their server’s attention, but it was crazy busy so in the end, PJ headed to the bar to get them herself.

  Of course as she stood there, several of her friends already at the bar passed her back a shot, and then another, so by the time she made it back to the table they’d been joined by half a dozen more people.

  “I might have already gotten started.” PJ grinned at Audra.

  “I’ll say you got started.” Audra took two quick shots. “That’s better. No wonder you look relaxed.”

  “Whatever. Stress is bad for you.”

  “We need music.” Audra stood, rooting through her bag for change.

  “We do. I need your change,” PJ told everyone at the table.

  The jukebox was one of her favorite things about the place. The selection was fantastic, with every type of music imaginable.

  She was happy. It was a good day, even without the shots and music that made her dance as she and Audra sang along.

  That’s when she realized the prickle on the back of her neck was someone watching her. She turned and halted as she caught sight of none other than Asa.

  Well.

  “So that happened,” she said to Audra without taking her gaze from Asa.

  “Go break off a piece of that. My god. And then you have to tell me every last really dirty detail at brunch on Sunday.”

  PJ faced her friend. “Such confidence! You don’t think you’ll be seeing me until Sunday?”

  “He’s currently looking at you like he wants to eat you up with a spoon. You’re pretty and relentless when you want something. He wants what you have in your pants.”

  “He looks like he does. Yes. But he’s wily.”

  They both continued to watch him and he watched PJ right back. Walt, the server, walked by and PJ stopped him, arranging to have shots sent to Asa’s table. She waved at Asa and then turned to go back to her table with her friends.

  “Why are you headed over here instead of jumping on his peen?” Audra asked.

  Asa’d had his chance to catch all the softballs she’d pitched his way over the last five months. She wanted him, yes she did. But that hadn’t worked.

  Maybe he liked to do the coming over.

  Or not, but she wasn’t going over there. He knew she was into him, but she had some pride, for goodness sake.

  “He knows I want to jump on his peen. He needs to work for it. But nothing says I can’t be as alluring as I possibly can to help that along.”

  Audra nodded. “All right then! By the way, you look seriously hot. He can’t miss that part.”

  She didn’t sit. The booth was full anyway, so she stood with Audra near the windows, just next to the table. Trixie Whitley’s “Undress Your Name” came on and PJ swayed a little.

  “This song is sex on a stick.”

  Asa couldn’t take his attention from PJ. When she’d seen him first a few minutes before, he figured she’d come over and say hello. He could flirt with her and jerk off when he got home, thinking about what he should have done instead of saying good night.

  But she waved and went back to her friends. And then she’d sent over drinks, which were currently warming his system and eroding his decision-making skills. He’d be making bad choices in no time.

  Thing was, she wasn’t looking over. Or paying any attention their way. Her group seemed lively enough. More men than women, and certainly he wasn’t the only man in the bar looking at PJ right then.

  None of them mattered though. She seemed to throw off some sort of pheromone that pushed his every damned button.

  She’d changed her hair. Again.

  It was still blond, but this time it had streaks of blue shot through it. He bet she twisted it up into one of those bun things she like
d. So you’d see mainly blond but a flash of color. Unique, like her.

  Who was that guy leaning so close to her? Asa couldn’t see his face as the other guy bent to speak to PJ.

  “Who is that guy on PJ?”

  Duke, who appeared annoyed to pull himself away from the voluptuous brunette halfway in his lap, peered across the room. “Isn’t that Craig Salazar? He does transmissions, I think. Yeah, up in Lake City. He appears to be pretty enchanted by Penelope’s breasts. Can’t blame him.”

  There it was. If he continued to sit there with his friends, she’d leave with Craig and he’d have survived another day not giving in and fucking her.

  Question was, could he? For months he’d been circling her. Knowing he should leave it alone but always finding himself unable to do it. Could he sit there after he’d tasted her? Neither of them had mentioned that kiss at Twisted Steel, but he certainly hadn’t forgotten it. Could he really let another man take her from that bar? To have what Asa could if he just made a move?

  With PJ, though, it wouldn’t be just a move. He knew that right to his toes. What he felt about her, he knew it would be more.

  Which brought him right back to the question. Was it enough to let her leave with another man?

  Asa shot Duke a look and got up. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Finally.” Duke tipped his chin in good luck before Asa headed over to where she stood.

  She leaned against one of the scarred and carved-up wooden posts lining the long room. Smiling.

  A great smile. Full of pretty, perfect white teeth. A dimple peeked to the right of her mouth. Her mouth. Christ. The memory of that kiss slammed into him.

  But those big blue eyes widened and then went half-mast when she finally noted him approaching. And that smile she’d been wearing with her friends changed into something else entirely just for him.

  And then she shifted to brush her hair back over her shoulder and he was gone.

  She waited. And he liked that too.

  The problem was that the place was jam-packed and it took him longer than he wanted to get to her.

  Once there he didn’t bother scowling or paying any mind at all to the other dudes around her trying to catch her eye. He had her focus and that was all he needed.

  The weight of his attention stole her breath. She knew Craig was talking, but her brain didn’t care one bit about anything but the way Asa prowled toward her. He towered above most of the patrons in the bar as he actually sort of rippled at the shoulders and across his chest as he moved.

  People scampered out of the way as he passed through, his features showing irritation each time a knot in the crowd slowed him up.

  His hair was down that night. Close shaved at the sides, the bulk of it would fall down over his eyes and then he’d shove a hand through it. A simple thing really, but when he did it, it was sexy times a million.

  So utterly badass and male.

  She’d seen him on his knees the week before when she’d stopped in to Twisted Steel for a job. PJ had come around the corner and nearly run into him.

  He’d looked up at her and it hadn’t mattered that she was standing. Even on his knees Asa was in charge.

  There’d been a flash of hunger in his expression. Just for a breath or two as she’d stood, stunned into stillness. Staring at him.

  He’d let it go then, the same way he had over and over for five months, and she’d wanted to punch him in the throat but managed to raise her brow at him and keep on her way.

  They’d had that damned kiss the month before and then nothing!

  Only now he wasn’t hiding the hunger in his gaze. And he wasn’t walking away. The difference in his approach told her that.

  A delicious thrill raced through her as he came to a halt just inches from touching her. Close enough the heat of him was a caress. PJ was pretty sure she gulped, but it couldn’t be helped.

  “Penelope Jean, you’re looking lovely this evening.”

  A shiver at the low tones in his greeting.

  “Thank you very much, Asa. You’re looking ridiculously gorgeous, as usual. Really, you’re sort of a menace.”

  The predatory smile he gave her was full of stuff that was going to make her sweaty. She hoped. Hell, she was sweaty already!

  “Thanks for the drinks.”

  “Of course.” If he walked away again she might actually tackle him and demand he tell her why he tortured her so much.

  Instead he took one more step, bending to speak into her ear. “Have you had dinner?”

  She shook her head. “You going to remedy that?”

  He held out a hand and she took it.

  CHAPTER

  Seven

  Asa paused once they’d reached the sidewalk. “I don’t know the neighborhood very well. This place is between Duke’s house and Twisted Steel, and I’ve only come in a few times. Any ideas?”

  “The Italian joint across the street is really good. Family run and owned. Thai two blocks that way, also really good, and if you’re vegetarian or vegan they’ve got a lot of options.” She went ahead and took a risk. “They both deliver. My house is just a few blocks away.”

  “I like that option.”

  “I should probably let you hold off making that decision for certain until we get to the end of the block just up here.” PJ pointed.

  He snorted when they did and faced a rather daunting uphill walk. She’d gotten used to it, but sometimes she had to admit she thought twice about the last few drinks at the end of a night at the Ditch because facing this walk while really tipsy wasn’t any fun.

  “This just means I can have a little extra helping of whatever we decide on for dinner. I guess you’re less likely to get mugged if criminals have to make this walk.” He started up the hill and she took up at his side.

  “Another benefit. I love this neighborhood. Just a short walk and there are bars and restaurants. Most of the time Audra and I walk together. Usually with her boyfriend. They live across the street from me.”

  When they got halfway she spoke again. “One more up and then two over.”

  “No wonder your ass looks as good as it does. This is a great workout.”

  Flattered, she smiled. “Thanks.”

  Asa wasn’t sure what he had expected, but the duplex she led him to wasn’t it. “I’m on the top floor.” They climbed more stairs—and he watched her ass some more—until she unlocked her front door at last.

  He might have needed a Sherpa to get there, but her apartment was big and would be bright during the daylight hours. Because of the slope being so steep and the apartment being on the top floor, the windows and the slider to her deck all faced Shilshole Bay and Bainbridge Island.

  “Menus are in that little holder next to the fridge. I’ll be right back.”

  He pulled out an Italian menu and one for an Indian place and then went to look around. Not extravagant. The furniture was nice, but nothing someone making a good wage couldn’t afford. The neighborhood was good, yes, but not trendy, so he bet her rent was decent. What he didn’t know was why she hadn’t just bought a place. She came from money, so he’d assumed she had a nice house somewhere.

  Like he’d assumed that after the first job or two she did for them she’d wander away bored.

  But not only had she continued to do great work, it was timely and handled professionally. He knew she’d hooked up with other shops and was freelancing for them as well.

  His assumptions had been pretty unfair, and he had to admit he wanted to get to know her better—and not just what parts of her body she liked to have licked.

  She came back in, this time shoeless. “Sorry, those boots need to be resoled. I shouldn’t have worn them today. Did you decide?”

  He handed her the menus. “Choose.”

  She drew in a breath and then looked down. “They make the naan fresh. And the samosas are excellent. I have beer that’ll go with it. Shall I order then? Do you have any preferences?”

  If she had been
just five years older, he’d feel so much better about the way his cock seemed to want to bust through his zipper when she’d simply obeyed. Ordering women around was fine—and sometimes it was scorching hot.

  But there was something deeper between him and PJ. Normally, though he expected exclusivity when he was sleeping with someone, he didn’t get bound up when things ended. But he had a deeper attachment to her already. One he was still wary of.

  Too late for second-guessing. He was there in her apartment and they both knew why.

  “Surprise me. I’m not vegetarian.”

  She called in the order and opened her fridge. “Want a beer out on the deck? It’s a nice view and it’s pretty warm for late May.”

  He nodded and followed her out, where she settled on an outdoor couch of sorts. He took the beer she handed his way when he sat beside her.

  “Thanks.”

  They drank in silence for a while as late evening settled in around them.

  “How long have you lived here?”

  “Three years now. I came over to hang out with Audra and saw the ‘For Rent’ sign, and that was that. I’ve lived in a giant house, and in a tiny studio, shared apartments, but this is the first place that’s felt like home.”

  “Home is good. Important. I feel that way about Seattle in general. I didn’t grow up here.”

  “The accent sort of gives it away.”

  He laughed. “You can take the boy out of Texas, but the accent seems to live on. I grew up in Houston. And then in the army I lived in Iraq, and as fucked up as my old neighborhood was, believe me, living in a place where every day people tried to kill me was worse. And after I got out I landed here with an uncle. I hadn’t planned to stay, just work awhile, get an idea of what I was going to do, but it was like I just relaxed. I loved the rain and the gray and the green.”

  He hadn’t meant to share all that.

  PJ nodded. “I get to travel a lot. It’s one of my favorite things. But every time the plane approaches SeaTac I’m so happy.”

  Neither spoke for a while. Her perfume rose and he leaned close to breathe her in where shoulder met neck. She tipped her head back, giving him access.