“Who’s your friend?” he asks. The question is directed at Quinn but our eyes never break contact. “Cassey Emerson. Cassey, this is Kyler Knight. His father owns Knight Media.”Kyler sticks out his hand and I gingerly mimic his action. His hand is easily three times bigger than mine. It wraps around mine effortlessly, his slightly calloused fingers brushing up against my soft skin.
“Nice to meet you, Cassey.” His smile widens into a wolfish grin. “You too,” I squeak. He holds my hand a moment longer than what would be considered appropriate when meeting someone for the first time. The elevator chimes and I drop his hand like it’s burned me. Quinn grasps my elbow and leads me out onto our floor. Kyler’s eyes stay fixed on me until the elevator doors close.
“Wipe your mouth, Cass,” she whispers harshly. “You’re drooling and I’m pretty sure Kyler noticed.”
Kyler. Why does that name sound so familiar? Then it hits me like a freight train.
“Oh, God,” I breathe. My eyes go wide and I look at Quinn.
“What?” she asks. I swallow hard and fight the blush I can feel creeping up my neck into my cheeks.
“Quinn,” I sputter. “It’s him.”
Her eyebrows dip into a confused scowl, “It’s him who?” We step into my office and I shut the door quickly.
“It’s him, Quinn.”
“What are you talking about, Cass?” “Kyler. He’s the one I dreamt about this morning.”I bury my face in my hands to hide my mortification. I risk a peek through my fingers and see Quinn’s shoulders shaking with her quiet laughter. “Quinn,” I whine. “It’s not funny.” I slap her on the arm.
“You’re right,” she replies between laughs. “It’s not funny. It’s hilarious.” I throw my hands up in defeat and grab my little make up bag to start applying my make-up.
Quinn comes to stand next to me. “Are you sure it was him?” she asks seriously. All the laughter is gone from her face. “Yes. I said his name and told him to-” my mouth snaps shut before I divulge any more humiliating information about my naughty dream. Quinn smirks and I bite my lip to stifle the giggle I feel crawling up my throat.
“I don’t blame you. He’s a catch and I hear he’s certainly not lacking down south,” Quinn concedes. She grabs the eye shadow from my hands and spins me so that I’m facing her.
“I didn’t know you knew him,” I say quietly while she applies some color to my eyelids. “Not very well. I just know our parents are acquaintances. Kyler has a bit of a reputation and he’s a few years older than us so we never really hung out,” she states. My thoughts drift back to the redhead we saw pawing him earlier and my face twists into a scowl involuntarily.
“Was that his girlfriend down in the lobby?” I ask, trying to sound indifferent.
I fail miserably. I open my eyes to find Quinn studying me. “No,”she replies.“But they attend most of the social events together throughout the year. It’s no secret that they’re using each other for sex.” I don’t know why, but a sudden heaviness settles in my belly. Quinn checks her watch. “You better skedaddle. You’re going to be late,” she tells me.
“See you at lunch?” I ask on my way out. She nods and we head in opposite directions. I walk into the boardroom a minute before our meeting starts and almost fall out of my chair when Kyler walks in behind his father. Robert Knight is one of the nicest men I have ever met. He is a tall man, although not as tall as his son, and has a slight belly. His face is warm and inviting and even on a bad day, he is always smiling. Mia, our overly enthusiastic publishing intern who’s sitting next to me, battles to suppress her excitement when she spots Kyler and giggles in her seat. That’s when I notice that most of the women, married or not, are staring open mouthed. The room goes quiet.
“Good morning everyone,”Robert greets.There’s an incoherent mumble from the men in the room while the women continue to eye fuck Kyler. “This is my son, Kyler.” Robert continues, oblivious to those of us who look like panting dogs in heat. “From today, he will be working for Knight Media.”
He grins proudly at his son, who acknowledges us with a simple nod. “Right, then,” he pats Kyler on the back. “We’ll leave you kids to it.” He walks out and Kyler lingers a moment longer, locking his eyes with mine. His glare makes me shiver and I see his lip curl up in amusement. Shmuck. When he leaves, the women all sigh, chatting excitedly amongst themselves before our immediate boss, Kevin, takes charge.
I don’t hear a thing he says. Only when we’re dismissed, do I stop thinking about him. I spend the rest of my day locked up in my office, buried beneath piles of unsolicited manuscripts, in hopes of forgetting about Kyler.
No.Such.Luck.
~ Kyler ~
When my father asked me to start working for him I was hesitant, for no other reason than I like my current lifestyle. Work of any kind hasn’t been a priority, unless it’s the physical kind. With a woman. But something about my father’s request has me feeling uneasy. I can’t fight the nagging in my gut that something is wrong, that what my father is really doing is preparing me to take over from him. Funny thing is, he’s about ten years away from retirement and wouldn’t be leaving unless he has to. I push the concerns aside and start organizing my office. For whatever reason, my father needs me and I’m not about to let him down. Jessa can always join me for a ‘quick lunch’ in my office, once my chaise lounge set arrives. Oddly enough, it’s not her I picture being bent over my desk. No. It’s that brunette I met in the elevator, Quinn’s friend. What was her name again? Great, asshole. You can picture bending her over your desk but you can’t remember her name? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve wanted to do ungodly things to a woman whose name I don’t remember. I have a shameless history of one night stands to prove that.
Jessa is the only woman I’ve had a semi-consistent relationship with, if you
consider attending social events together and having meaningless but hot sex afterward, a relationship. My mother has it in her head that Jessa Price and I will someday get married, start a family and live happily ever after. I’m fairly certain Jessa has the same idea in her head. They’re both delusional. If I ever settle down, and that’s a very small possibility, it won’t be with someone like Jessa.
She’s all about status and social climbing and I have no doubt that she’ll cheat on me the minute she gets bored.
No, thanks. I would rather stick to my nameless one night stands than subject myself to a lifetime of misery. It would take a special woman to tame the animal in me and she is yet to be discovered. My mind unwillingly drifts back to Quinn’s friend. Why the fuck can’t I remember her name? Dammit. Maybe I should try and see her again? Shouldn’t be too difficult now that I’ll be working with her. It could just be two colleagues getting to know each other. Have you lost your damn mind? You’ve met the woman once and now you’re conjuring up excuses to see her again? Ridiculous. It makes me grin.
“What has you smiling like a fool?”
My head snaps up and my father walks into my office. “Nothing,” I shrug my shoulders. It’s obvious he doesn’t believe me but he doesn’t push it either. “You settling in okay?” he asks, looking around the large open space. The hardwood floors glisten as the morning sun shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the city with Lake Michigan on the horizon. “Yeah. The new furniture should be here by Wednesday,” I reply. I watch my father rub his face and for the first time I notice how tired he looks. “Is everything okay, Dad?”
He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he stares at the city skyline, getting lost in his thoughts.
“Dad?” His head whips up and he looks startled. What is going on with him lately? It’s as if he isn’t even here.
“What, son?” “I asked if everything’s okay.”He stares blankly at me, and it’s almost like looking in a mirror. Except the reflection staring back at me is an older version of myself.
He shakes his head as if to bring himself back to the present. “Yes, yes,” he replies over enthusia
stically. “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to make sure you’re ready for all this.” The double meaning of his words doesn’t escape me. He’s telling me something without actually saying the words. It bothers me.
“I’m ready, Dad,” I assure him, even if I’m not entirely sure of myself. My father has left a legacy, treating his employees like family and always doing what is right for the company, never at the detriment of someone else. I’m not even half the man he is and until this very moment, looking at his tired, drawn face, I have never questioned my life.
Sure, I may have a bit of a reputation as a philandering man whore, but at twenty-six years old and the world at my feet, I don’t see anything wrong with having fun. I guess now it’s time to grow up.
“You’re going make me proud.” He smiles at me like I’m the four year old kid who rode his bike without training wheels for the first time. With pride. I nod once, unable to find words. I feel the weight of his expectation resting on my broad shoulders. God, I hope I don’t let him down. He turns to leave but stops short to look back at me.
“Oh, I almost forgot, I want you to help Cassey get her presentation ready for the executives next week.” My brows furrow.
That’s her name! “Who’s Cassey?” I ask, going for nonchalance. Her face pops into my head. “She’s the Publishing Assistant, and if she pulls off her presentation half as well as I think she will, she has a very bright future here,” he pauses. “Just don’t sleep with her.”
I laugh, waiting for my father to laugh with me. When he doesn’t, I realize that he’s being serious. “What makes you think I’ll sleep with her?” I ask, incredulous.
“Because I know you, Ky. You can’t resist a beautiful woman,” my father sighs. “I’m just warning you.” His assumption isn’t entirely wrong, but it still irritates me nonetheless.
“Thanks for the warning, Dad, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m aware of the ‘no fraternizing’ rule amongst colleagues.”
“Good,” he says over his shoulder as he leaves my office, leaving me alone. I fight the urge to go find her and see exactly what my father is warning me away from. I got a good glimpse of her in the elevator and she’s by no means ugly. Her gray pencil skirt hugged her curves, showing off a small waist and wide hips. I caught sight of the white lace bra she had on under her white button down blouse. It made me hard.
And then when I saw her again in the boardroom, I couldn’t resist the pull I felt towards her green eyes. They screamed innocence, and purity, two things that have never been so alluring to me before. I don’t particularly have an inclination to go for ‘good girls’ but I’ve never been afraid to bend or even break the rules, especially if they’re mine.
But now I’m intrigued. My father never warns me against women, not even when I got ‘involved’ with Jessa.
I’ll just have to find out for myself.
Chapter 2
~ Cassey ~
I breathe a sigh of relief when I put the last manuscript of the day down on my desk. When I switch off my office light, I see that everyone else has gone home already. Glancing at my watch, it reads 7:00pm. I didn’t even realize it was so late. My phone starts ringing in my purse and I start digging for it when the elevator opens. I step in, find my phone, Quinn’s name flashing on the screen, and answer.
“Hi Quinny. Are you still in the office?” Music and shouting comes from the background before Quinn’s voice breaks through the noise.
“I’m at the bar. Hurry your cute little ass and come join us,” she half shouts. “Okay, I’ve just left. I’ll see you in ten,” I reply, grinning, before the line goes dead. The elevator chimes again and opens when it reaches the lobby. I throw my phone back in my purse and look up, feeling my feet slow on their own accord when I spot Kyler and the redhead standing to one side. Quinn said her name is Jessa. I watch in fascination as she slides her hands up his arms, remembering the image of his muscles my mind conjured up in my dream. Kyler’s hands grip Jessa’s waist and he pushes her away from his body, earning him a frown, which quickly morphs into a scowl. He says something to her, leaning into her ear, and seconds later she’s storming off. My feet pick up speed and I shuffle across the marble floors quickly, hoping Kyler doesn’t see me watching them. I make it outside, stepping onto the busy sidewalk unnoticed and turn in the direction of the bar where I’m meeting Quinn. Taking in the sounds and the smell of the city, I breathe in the energy pulsating around me. I can’t help but compare the life I have now to the life I ran away from, this little slice of the city a sharp contrast to the trailer park I grew up in back in Georgia. I wish I could say I miss it, that I miss my parents and the so-called friends I left behind. But after five years, I hardly think about them. The only time I look back is to remind myself how far I’ve come. I’m so absorbed in the unwelcome thoughts about my ghosts that I lose track of time and soon find myself outside ‘The Iron Maiden’, the bar we frequent during the week. It’s an upmarket bar that is known as the ‘watering hole’ for the young, wealthy working class in the city. I walk in, scanning the crowd until I spot Quinn’s blonde hair. Weaving my way through the throng of people, I finally make it to our usual table.
“Cassey!” Quinn’s excited squeal catches almost everyone’s attention, resulting in a chorus of ‘Cassey’s!’ from Jarred and his friends. She pulls me into a hug and I realize that she is already well on her way to being tipsy.
“Hi Quinny,” I greet, returning her smile. Jarred looks at me, wrapping his arm around Quinn’s waist.
“Hey Cass. How’s it going?” he asks. I haven’t known him long, but I like him, especially because he’s always treated Quinn like a princess.
“Hi Jarred. It’s all good, thanks. You guys been here long?” I eye Quinn up and down, noting how she’s leaning into Jarred for support. Okay, she’s obviously a little past tipsy.
“No,” he chuckles, pulling Quinn onto his lap. “But Quinn was thirsty.” She smiles at him and his eyes twinkle with the perfect combination of love and adoration. I just wish she wouldn’t be so stubborn and admit that she feels more for him too.
“You like me tipsy,” she quips playfully. “I’m easier to manhandle that way.” Jarred’s eyes dart to mine and I hold back a grin when he blushes. I’ve heard them going at it too many times for him to be modest all of a sudden. He clears his throat, a soft smile caressing his lips as he looks up at Quinn from his bar stool.
“I think you need to slow down, baby, before you tell Cass all our dirty little secrets.” Quinn giggles but doesn’t say anything to argue, which is strange because she hardly ever backs down for any man, not even her father. “So, Cass,” Jarred looks at me again.
“What would you like to drink?”
“A Screaming Orgasm,” Quinn answers for me. My cheeks flush and she bursts into a hysterical fit of laughter. I just hope she stays tight-lipped about my lack of those in the last year. Unfortunately, that hope is shot to hell when Quinn opens her mouth again. “We need to get Cass laid.” Her tone is serious with an air of finality, as if I have no say in the matter.
“Quinn,” I grind through my teeth. “We already spoke about this. I’m not interested in a one night stand.”
Her response is an eye roll and I can feel a lecture coming. Fortunately, Jarred being the gentleman he is, deposits Quinn into his bar stool and disappears into the crowd, stopping at the bar to order me a drink. “Cass, you need to learn to let go a little and have some fun. Maybe one night of hot, crazy bunny sex is just what you need.”
Quinn’s suggestion triggers a flashback of images, all of which include a very naked Kyler hovering above me, sliding in and out unbearably slowly until I’m crazy with lust. That stupid dream has really fucked with my head, good and proper.
“But I’ve never done that. Ever. What if it goes wrong and I end up an emotional wreck?”I throw back. Quinn places her empty Martini glass on the table a little too forcefully.
“That is why you don’t get emotions involved. I
t’s just sex, no strings attached,” she replies. Could I ever do that? Have one night of sex and not get attached? I don’t know. I feel like a hussy just considering it.
“You could always get Kyler to make your hot, steamy dream a reality,” she adds, mischief written all over her porcelain-like features.
“Are you ever going to let me live that down?” I hiss, giving her a pointed look. “No,” she grins. “Because he just walked through the door and he’s walking towards our table.”
Oh. Crap.
“Good evening, ladies.” His deep voice meets my ears and I fight the urge to shiver. I squeeze my eyes shut. He’s standing next to me. I can feel it, the warmth radiating from his muscular form.
I open my eyes and slowly turn my gaze to him, plastering on a fake smile.
“Good evening, Mr. Knight,” I greet sweetly. He’s about to say something when Jarred arrives back at our table with some drinks in hand. “One ‘Screaming Orgasm’,” Jarred announces, placing my cocktail in front of me. Kyler lifts an eyebrow, his mouth pulling up at the side, and I duck my head to hide my blush. Jarred has impeccable timing. Bless his heart, I think to myself. Quinn giggles and Jarred looks at her quizzically, placing her Martini on the table alongside his whiskey. He looks up and finds Kyler staring at me. “Uh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were expecting company, Cass,” Jarred says. Kyler turns to face Jarred and sticks his hand out.
“Kyler Knight,” he greets. “Forgive me. I hope I’m not intruding. I saw Cassey and Quinn and decided to come say hello.” Jarred shakes his hand, puffing out his chest a little more.
“Jarred Blake. It’s nice to meet you,” he replies, somewhat stiffly. “Join us for a drink.” I shift in my seat at Jarred’s request. I can almost smell the testosterone bouncing between the two of them. It’s ridiculous.
“Thank you,” Kyler replies. “But I have a date.” Oh, thank God. “Well, it was nice seeing you Mr. Knight,” I intercede a little too eagerly. “Better not keep your date waiting.” I chance a look at Kyler’s face. Did he just frown? If he did, it’s no longer there. In fact, he has no expression whatsoever.
Destined To Fall Page 2
