My breathing hitched as his aroma filled my nose. He even smelled like candy, a watermelon Jolly Rancher, and I could lick him all the way gone. In my attempt to bring my body and mind back to sanity, I simply said, “You may call me Elliot since we’re working together.” Pulling a long lock of my hair behind my ear, I continued, “And I wasn’t prepared for a compliment like that.” More like, I was not prepared for what the compliment would do to my body, but I stopped while I could still pull off professionalism.
His eyes became larger, locking onto my face when he countered, “Surely, you get compliments. You’re quite beautiful, and I hope you know this. Or is it because I’m in the public eye, and it’s known I’m committed to another man?” He winked at me, and I realized he wasn’t done. “But I guarantee I know a beautiful woman when I see one,” he said almost comically but in the playful way I’d started envisioning him. But the night we were together, he’d commanded and I’d obeyed.
“Ah, you want to catch me in yet another assumption, Arden.” A good assumption would have been that he’d freaking remember me by now. And like most thoughts rattling through my brain, I kept that locked under key. I started to tease because, of course, I never expected this attention from him since girls were not his cup of tea anymore.
“Okay, Ms. Arnold. Oh, I mean, Elliot. By the way, it’s quite an unusual name for a girl,” he added. With his gaze on me, I imagined Superman trying to unlock his powers to use X-ray vision on me. Or maybe this was my own fantasy.
The story of my name was one I shared with very few people. Hell, I didn’t talk about my family often because it was too hard. But for some reason, my mouth didn’t seem to freaking stop. “I’m a twin, and my parents were told they were having boys. My brother is Levi, and when I came out minus a penis, Dad wanted to change my name from Elliot to Elizabeth, but Mom didn’t want me to have such a popular name. They agreed to stick with Elliot, the name they chose for a boy. Though most everyone calls me Ell.”
Standing behind his desk, Arden laughed, slipping his hands in his pockets. “Well, I, for one, am glad you were not born with a penis. Elliot is too cute of a name. And by that, I mean, both the name and the person.”
What the hell was this man up to? What would his very protective partner do if he were around to witness this, coupled with the fact that his actual penis had been where my parents were told I’d have a penis. I didn’t want to find out.
And because I was apparently not memorable enough, it was time to put the brakes on this fruitless flirting. “Okay, Mr. Blakely, I can tell you’re playful and fun, but surely, we should get some work done. I don’t think your partner would appreciate this. He seems like both the jealous and the concise type, not wanting to waste business time on meaningless flirting.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say it was meaningless, and like I said, call me Arden.”
“Only if you stop flirting with me.” What was I saying? I had not felt this alive since the last time he word-fucked me and put everything on the table. Not to mention his behavior confused me, especially when he made the shocking penis comment. Isn’t he into penises? I thought. Which again was fine because I was too.
“I’m merely getting to know you.” His eyes swept over my entire body, taking in all of me from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes. I was not a skeleton. I had curves and a chest that boasted quite the art piece for most men to fixate on.
“Okay, what do you want to know?” Sure, I’d play his game. Why not?
“Your hair. It’s quite blonde. Is it natural?”
What an odd question. If he was hinting at what I thought he was, he’d already seen it firsthand. “Well, if you’re asking if the carpet matches the drapes, then that’s a secret I’ll take to my grave.” Holy hell, I was on a roll. I wanted to make him hurt. “Oh, shit, that was completely unprofessional.” I feigned like it was a slip of the tongue, but it wasn’t. How could he not remember me?
“I think that came out just fine.” He smiled. “Where did you go to school?” Okay, we were going to float past my fake embarrassing statement? Fine by me.
“You know this; you looked at my résumé,” I quipped.
“I know, but humor me, would you please?” His hands waved at me, telling me the floor was mine.
“Northwestern for my undergrad with an emphasis on both design and architecture. Then I was off to the University of Washington for my masters.”
His hands were steepled together, watching my every move. “What made you come back here from Seattle?”
“Oh, I came home for my twin brother and Andrew. I have known him since Northwestern. My brother is literally a part of me, and I need him in my life. Plus, I love it here. Loved Seattle but what can I say? This is my home.”
“Fucking love Seattle too. I go out there a couple of times a year for business. Maybe you can accompany us next time.”
“I hardly think that’s appropriate,” I retorted, yet I wanted to say, only if we share a hotel room like last time.
“For business, Ms. Arnold. Get your mind out of the gutter,” he teased, and my face heated. I could only imagine I looked like a strawberry. “I love making your cute body blush, Elliot.”
This had to stop, now. I couldn’t think with his manner of what I’d normally guess was some weird type of seduction. But nothing could come of this; after all, he was taken, and as much as I craved him, this was a line I would never cross. “Okay, enough with the personal q and a. We need to get to work.” I avoided his little smirk. “Give me a sec to set the designs up on my laptop so I can guide you through the virtual tour.”
“Sure, Elliot, business it is,” Arden replied, now changing strictly to a professional manner, which surprised me. He gave up so easily. I would never have guessed he was into guys by the way he flirted and how he fucked me into submission that one wonderful night in Savannah, Georgia.
7
Daimen
My chair was turned around, and I was observing the beauty of the Chicago skyline. I rarely took the time to experience the outward world. But since watching Arden sleeping peacefully last night, I tossed and turned with his ultimatum. Sure, I’d do anything for my guy, but I was afraid, and fear was a fickle fucker. The idea of allowing another person in our life who could wreak the type of havoc Lana left in her wake caused my heart to race as though it would explode from my chest.
The fear of abandonment was due solely from the memories of my childhood. The insecurity of never knowing when my mother’s hands would slap me or my siblings had me holding on tight to those who I chose as my family. I would always be waiting for the other shoe to drop, asking the one question—who will leave me next?
On top of that, our new architect was shaping up to be my new nemesis. After just twenty minutes in the same room with her, I was already sweating our next meeting.
But my mind traveled down the path of hurt; the course of my life that had me in such a deep depression, I’d barely left my room for months. The moment, the pinpoint of it all, happened in this office.
“You’re such an asshole!” I roared. “Why can’t you let this be? We have something good.”
Spencer, one of my business partners and the other man I called my best friend, didn’t let the desk between us serve as a barrier. He darted around it and pulled me up by the collar. In the background, I heard Lana crying while I saw Arden behind Spence, pulling him off me.
He might have let go, but it didn’t stop him from getting in my face. “You have Lana and Arden. Arden has Lana and you. Lana has all three of us. I get the leftovers. I want more. I want to be the only one who matters to Lana.”
He had a point. I never saw it from his view, but it didn’t matter because I’d fallen in love with her. Like most things that were loved beyond words, it would be hard to part from, and I was not letting her go without a fight.
“Fine, Spence, let’s sit down and discuss this. Figure out a way to make it work for all four of us. I’m not sure what, but
I love her. You’re my best friend, Spence, so you being a part of this, our future, means a lot to me.” And I might not love Spence in a physical way, but fuck—he was so important to me—all three were.
Spence turned to Arden. “You had to fuck this up. Everything was fine when we shared Lana, but now, there’s too much to take.” He twisted toward me. “So if you want to blame someone, blame your other lover.” After that, Lana gave me the ultimatum—Arden or her. I chose my man, and she’d disappeared from my life.
There were days the hurt still hit me like salt in an open wound. I didn’t love her anymore, and Spence really was only my partner in business—I couldn’t even call him a friend. Before my mind could dwell on anything more concerning Lana and Spence, a knock on my door pulled me from that painful memory. Elliot was now at my office.
Arden was not wrong. She was stunning, and yesterday, she rocked her tight red dress with tall fuck me black heels. I stood quickly, almost too eagerly, to greet her. Why the hell was she affecting me like this? And from the beginning?
“Ms. Arnold, good to see you again. Come in.” I kept it professional. Sure, I could do this. Professional was my middle name. Even with Arden, our affection was kept at a minimum in our workspace.
Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, walking to the chair opposite my desk. “Oh, please call me Elliot since we’re going to be working close with one another.”
It was time to set the record straight after yesterday’s little session where she got her way with changing the designs. I leaned back in my chair, unable to take my eyes off the bright orange little dress that had my attention today. But, her beauty aside, I’d be calling the shots with this one. “Okay, Elliot, let me be clear with you and my expectations. You’re my employee, and I’ll expect the respect that goes along with it. I’m very uncomfortable spending the money we’re expected to shell out for this project, so I expect daily meetings with you.”
Her posture stiffened. Narrowing her eyes at me, she countered, “First, Mr. Torano, I’m not your employee. You hired me for a job, but that doesn’t make me your slave.” She leaned forward, punctuating her words. “I can move on, no problem. You need me more than I need you.” Her eyes squarely met mine. “And you’re in this predicament because you underbid for subpar work. I’ll show you respect, but I expect the same in return. You want standing meetings daily—fine—but I won’t be beckoned whenever you want me.”
I knew myself well enough to understand the signs of uncontrolled anger. Feeling my nostrils flare, I jutted my jaw and pitched my tone high. “You signed a contract, Ms. Arnold.”
She stood, and that was when her striking figure really hit me. Maybe it was the same anger I knew was in myself that made her sexier than I remembered. With her matching my own tone, she too thundered at me, “I’m not sure you’ve had many people stand up to you, Mr. Torano, but I’m not going to be intimidated by your hot and cold demeanor. I’d be doing you a disservice. I may be a female, but I’m just as dominant as you are. Either tell me you’d like me to continue, or I’ll void our contract—you know the one that gives me forty-eight hours to decide compatibility. It would be nice to know before I move into the offices you’re providing me.”
What the fuck? I pondered. I’d never allowed that in any of my contracts. She must’ve insisted to add that. Now, I was pissed. No one told me about the forty-eight hour clause. My lawyers would be getting an earful concerning this shit.
“Ms. Arnold, I respect all my employees, and I’m offended by the accusation that I don’t—” She cut me off, fucking cut me off, and no one fucking cuts me off.
“By freaking coming in here and demanding it before it’s given? It makes me wonder, Mr. Torano.”
“Okay, so you’re assertive and harsh, just like I am. Maybe two alphas are a hard thing to take.” I conceded because losing her for this project was the last thing we could afford.
She straightened her dress, and her tight expression faded a little with a small smirk. “I may be an alpha, but I certainly have a type A personality. I feel they’re completely different. I couldn’t get in the position I’m in without it. So, is this little pissing contest over? Are we ready to talk financials now that I have design covered with Mr. Blakely?” I nodded my fucking head when she continued to speak even though I’d wanted to say so much more. “Wonderful. I’ve asked Andrew to join us. As my assistant and resident engineer, he works closely with the budget. I don’t feel he needs to be in every meeting, but to get us on the same page, I’d like him here initially.”
I’d never had someone put me in my place as quick as her words had. She got the fucking upper hand on me. This was the first time, and it fucking felt like a blow to the gut. But I tried to play it cool—not letting her know she’d gotten so far below my skin, I could barely think. “Okay, Ms. Arnold, I’ll call for him.” My hand was on the intercom to buzz Scarlet when Elliot grabbed it and removed it.
With a little wink, she jested, “No need to beckon him, Mr. Torano.” She looked at her watch. “I find when I ask my employees, out of mutual respect, they’re here, and I don’t have to micromanage them.” Just then, Scarlet buzzed through the intercom to let me know Andrew was waiting for us. Elliot sure was a confident whirlwind, and she was messing with my resolve.
In another thought that clouded my head as we waited for Andrew, I realized this lady would be the death of me. Was she really the female version of me? Was I that insufferable? Did I want to ask Arden? Probably not because I might get an answer I didn’t want.
8
Arden
I strolled out to the shared reception area Scarlet manned and watched Andrew walk into the meeting with Daimen and Elliot. “So did you do what I asked you to do?”
“I sure did.” Scarlet snickered. “You’re right; she’s just like Daimen and didn’t take any shit from him. It was hilarious. Now, you better promise me you’ll protect me if he ever finds out you put this mute function on his line in order to eavesdrop.”
I leaned down and kissed Scarlet on the forehead. She’d been with us since the beginning of our business venture, when Spencer Alders was still involved at the main office building with us. Scarlet was the reason our company survived early on. We rewarded her handsomely for her loyalty, and we’d always take care of her as we would a sister.
Coming from foster care to work for us when she was only eighteen, she was a broken child. As our success grew, so did the desire to take care of her in a purely platonic sisterly way. For her yearly bonus, we were gifting her one of the condos once the construction was completed along with the annual payment for property taxes. She’d been given five percent of the company. Being protective of who she dated, we encouraged her to share little of her wealth with any new suitors. We all adored and loved her in a way that still mattered.
“Scarlet, I promise, but, hell, if you got fired tomorrow, you’re taken care of, my dear.”
“But I’d be lost without you two daily,” she joked back. But we couldn’t run this business without her. Sure, many thought she was just our secretary, but she was so much more.
Still listening in on the banter between Elliot and Daimen, I replied, “But you have to admit, this prank is fun.”
Her wicked smile said it all. “I know, it really is.”
We listened a bit longer as Daimen’s words were stern and her rebuttals were stronger. “Let me get in there to make sure they don’t kill each other.”
Grabbing for my hand, she lowered her tone to almost a whisper. “Hey, Arden, let me ask you, her engineer, Andrew, is he …?”
“Sorry, sweetheart, he’s gay,” I replied, understanding what she was implying with her question.
“How is it that you know? And why are all the best ones gay?” With her pouty lips, she tossed her pen across her desk like a two-year-old primed to throw a tantrum.
Taking a deep breath, I replied, “Well, I saw how he stared at both me and Daimen. And you know Daimen—well, he’s very prett
y.”
“Say it’s not so, Arden.” Her voice registered sarcasm by the way it dipped an octave or two.
“I’m not your traditional gay man, but for some reason, after all these years of being with Daimen, I just know.” I leaned down and kissed her again. “Listen, Scar, you’ll find someone who’ll learn how amazing you are, I promise. And he better be amazing to you, or I’ll kick his ass.” I winked her way as I walked to Daimen’s office, ready to break up World War III.
“Thanks, big brother,” she teased. We seldom joked in the office like that, especially in front of Daimen. “Oh, and Arden, good luck with them. You’ll need it.”
She was right—I’d surely need it. Entering Daimen’s office before he could answer, I flung the door open while I proclaimed, “I just want to make sure you all were getting along well.” I gloated while Daimen scolded me silently, as Andrew and Elliot turned my way. “I won’t stay. Financials make me want to gouge my eyes out. I’d much rather spend the money than have to account for it.”
“I have noticed,” Daimen replied, making one of the few personal remarks he ever had, concerning both our professional and personal relationship. “I think we’re doing all right.”
My man, sexy as fuck, could also be the world’s biggest jackass. “Okay, then, have a productive meeting.” I winked at Daimen, and I was surprised when he returned a tight smile my way. Then I looked Elliot’s way and winked at her too. Glancing back at Daimen, I saw venom seep out from his eyes, but I only gave him my happy-go-lucky smile and left the room.
Closing the door behind me, I stifled a laugh but had also wanted to say see, I told you, you found your match. But Daimen was ready to spit bullets my way as it was. Walking past Scarlet, I said, “Okay, well, they seemed cozy.” I smirked, knowing the man I loved more than anything on this earth had finally found his equal in this very feisty woman.
Foundations: The Power of Three Love Series Page 4
