by Liz Crowe
Once I’d recovered my composure I looked her over good and hard. She was all woman dressed in a man’s suit. For the life of me I couldn’t figure why the hell she would hide that perfect body in something so masculine.
I took a deep breath, sucking in all her goodness. “God, you smell nice.”
She leaned back and grinned. “Yes, well. Thank you.”
Just when I was going to ask her name, a pointy little fella in a suit matching hers entered. They must have had a two-for-one sale on the suits. I looked the man over from head to toe. Couldn’t be her husband. This man was a pipsqueak. She was taller by half a foot. She didn’t wear a ring, and I’m certain a woman like her dated men that looked like Ken dolls, not like Ken’s baby brother who hadn’t hit puberty yet.
“Aspen, Legal is here.” His voice was low, almost a whisper.
“Aspen? Like the place?” I grabbed her hand and she looked back at me. God, those eyes. I could drown in ‘em.
“Yes, like the place. Aspen Reynolds. It’s good to meet you, Mr. Jensen.” Man, she was pretty.
A tall woman in green scrubs entered. She held a clipboard. “Mr. Jensen. How are you?” My angel, who now had a name, backed up against the wall and out of the way. The pointy one whispered something in her ear. I was having trouble paying attention, my eyelids heavy again.
“Oh, I’ve been better.”
“What’s your pain level from 1 to 10?” she asked and scribbled down information on her clipboard while reading the machines next to my bed.
“‘Bout a six or seven.”
She nodded. “That’s really good. The doctor will be in shortly to discuss your surgery.”
As she exited, a man entered. He introduced himself as Dr. Nicholls and went over the specifics of my surgery. He said I was very lucky. Had the pipe entered at a different location, I’d be lying on a bed in the morgue right now, not in recovery. Based on my prognosis, he saw me being able to leave in a couple days.
When he finished, my gaze caught the gorgeous woman standing in the corner. She opened her mouth to speak, but I drifted off, not hearing what she’d said.
I awoke only when the nurse adjusted my bandage, checked my blood pressure, and asked me if I wanted to eat. I was starved, but too tired.
“Where’s the woman … Aspen?”
She smiled. “I forced her out, practically kicking and screaming, after visiting hours. She stayed the entire day, though. Fussed over you, demanded things from the Dean of Medicine, who by the way, hopped to it. She must care a lot about you.”
“I can’t imagine why. She just met me today.” I grinned, and her lips twisted into a knowing smile but she chose not to comment.
“Get some rest, Mr. Jensen. I’m certain your friend will be back first thing in the morning.”
My mind went blank and I fell asleep once more.
I smelled her before I saw her; a light vanilla scent in the air filled the space surrounding me as I came to. She held my hand with hers, pale and little compared to mine. Her phone was in her right hand and she scrolled through messages.
She hadn’t noticed I was awake, so I studied her. Golden hair, shiny and bright against her fair skin, and she sported another dark suit.
Her head turned and her gaze caught mine. A lovely smile broke across her face. “Mr. Jensen, you’re awake. How do you feel?” She removed her hand. It was strange how I missed it moments after she pulled it away.
“Better than yesterday.” I grabbed for the bed controls and the mechanism whirred to life, lifting my upper body to a reclined seated position. Again, I did a mental check, starting with my toes, up my legs and upper body. Everything seemed better than yesterday. Aside from the throbbing space and dull ache surrounding my left shoulder, I was happy to be feeling more like myself. The cobwebs of anesthesia from the surgery were all but gone.
The door opened and Aspen’s little friend strolled in alongside a different nurse, this time in blue scrubs. The nurse made quick work of checking my vitals, pain level, adjusted some nobs, pressed buttons, and then she was gone.
“Aspen, Legal is expecting to hear back from you today.” The small fella spoke so low I could barely catch what he said.
She nodded at him then turned to look at me. Her professional demeanor I was used to seeing each morning was back. Shoulders stiff, back ramrod straight, teetering on insanely high heels. I missed the soft-spoken angel who held my hand. “Mr. Jensen,” she started.
“Darlin’, you can call me Hank. So what’s with this legal mumbo jumbo?” I gestured to her little friend.
“Mr. Jensen, my name is Oliver and I’m Ms. Reynolds assistant at AIR Bright Enterprises.” Her assistant. Not her boyfriend or husband. The relief I felt surprised me. “Our attorneys are here to ensure you’re on the mend and discuss the legal ramifications of yesterday’s accident and your injury. The accident happened on company property and the crane had worn hinges.”
I nodded, following along.
”Your company is not at fault and neither is the company we rented the crane from. It truly has been deemed a random accident. But since it happened on company property and you were injured, it’s our responsibility to ensure your needs are met.”
“I’m not following. Accidents happen. A lot in my line of work. Construction is a dirty and sometimes dangerous job. Yesterday, well, looks like it was both. Tell your fancy lawyers I’m good. I’ll be outta here and back on the job in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
“Mr. Jensen … ” Aspen put her hand on my forearm. Her touch was electric, the little hairs on my forearm stood at attention just to be near her. “We’re going to take care of you. My company will pay all hospital expenses and ensure you’re cared for through the healing process.”
I was about to set her straight but she spoke fast.
“I am prepared to pay for your pain and suffering. If you want to contact your lawyers, we’ll make sure you are comfortable financially.” She licked her lips, and I was more interested in sucking on that lip than listening to any more of her bullshit. This girl needed to be taught a few things about good manners.
“Darlin’, let’s get a couple things straight. I don’t need any lawyers and my medical bills will be covered by my insurance. I’ve been taking care of myself for thirty-four years, don’t plan on stopping now. You can call your liars — er, lawyers — off. I’m not suing anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Her being so worried about her legal team made me wonder if that’s the real reason she was here. Maybe she just wanted to be sure I didn’t sue.
She took a deep breath. “Mr. Jensen … ”
“Hank.”
She sighed and blew a puff of air over the layer of hair falling in her face. Even the little things she did stole my breath.
“Hank, you are entitled to financial assistance through this process. You saved my life. I’ll do anything to make sure you get well.”
The pure need to help shone deep within her eyes as she stared me down. They were a color you couldn’t find in a box of crayons. Those clear blue and gray eyes made me believe that I would submit to anything she asked and do whatever she wanted just so that I could continue to look at them. Didn’t matter why she was here, just that she was. I planned on taking advantage of it.
“Okay, then I know what I want.” I was tired from the surgery and needed to rest, but I’d spent weeks watching this woman in her body-hugging clothes and fuck-me shoes. I didn’t know when I’d get the chance to be this close to her again.
“Everyone has a price,” her lips turned into a hard line and her shoulders sagged.
My demand came without hesitation. “I want a date with you.”
“A date? You want a date?” Her shock was just as pretty as her smile. Made me wonder what her face would look like screaming my name in pleasure.
“Okay, two dates.” I gave her my best sexy look. It was my patented “tell me how you’d like your eggs cooked after a night of knockin’ the boots”
charm. It never failed.
“You can’t be serious. I’m a very wealthy woman and—”
“Aspen,” the pipsqueak piped in warning.
She held up a firm hand to cut him off. That was hot. She was a fireball when she wanted to be. I liked it. Too much if I was honest with myself. The ol’ dipstick stirred. I clasped my hands over my friend to prevent any public embarrassment.
“Look, Darlin’, I don’t give two shits about your change purse. Now, are you going to give me what I want or not?”
She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Fine. We’ll go out. When you’ve recovered. Where are you staying?”
“I share a place with a few of my guys over in the Bronx.” Two horrified expressions, one beautiful, one pinched, stared back at me. “What?”
“You’re not staying there.” she said with a harsh tone. “Oliver … ”
“I’m on it!” He flipped his phone to his ear and started barking out orders. Reminded me of an ankle-biter that you just couldn’t shake.
“I need Mr. Jensen’s belongings packed up and moved to … hold that thought. Aspen, to where? The Four Seasons?”
She shook her head. “My place.”
“Aspen?”
“Do what I say, Ollie.” Her tone was that of a woman in charge. One that was used to that position. Downright comfortable in it. It was sexy as hell. Though once I got a hold of her in a more private setting, I’d like nothing more than to show her how good I was at taking charge.
My loud laugh stopped the staring match that occurred between the prince and the princess. “Not for nothin’, but I go where I want to go. I sleep where I want to sleep. You have no right to demand anything.” The entire conversation was ridiculous. People with too much money seemed to think they owned the world and everyone in it.
My angel’s eyes turned harsh. “Look, Hank, you want to get well, right? I want to get you well. The best way for me to ensure that you’re going to heal and not sue me for damages is to have you close by.” Her intent was confirmed. Everything was always about money. “The project was going to run for another eight weeks, right?”
I nodded.
“So, you’ll stay at my place for the next eight weeks. I will have a nurse at your beck and call, a physical therapist scheduled to suit your medical needs, and in the interim,” she took a deep breath, “I’ll have peace of mind knowing that I’ve done everything I could. You saved my life. I need to pay back that debt. If you won’t accept my money, please accept my offer to help.” Okay, maybe she did care about more than her wallet.
The woman drove a hard bargain and was a damn good negotiator.
“Alright, Angel.” A beautiful blush covered her cheeks and crept down her neck. I wondered where else she blushes. I was going to have a damn good time finding out. Before long, this woman was going to be wrapped around my little finger. I’d prefer her wrapped around my dick but that could take a little time. She was wound tighter than a drum. Always in control.
I wanted to see my pretty angel lose it. “I’ll agree to stay with you until I feel well enough to move about and go back to the job site.”
Her smile was brighter than a shiny new penny and it made me happy to have put it there. “Good. Thank you, Hank. You won’t regret it.”
I was emotionally and physically drained. After I said my goodbyes to Hank, I spoke with Legal about his prognosis. The firm was not happy with the terms we agreed upon. They were going to draw together something more official tomorrow. They didn’t believe it was possible for a human being to be so altruistic. Hell, I wasn’t so sure I believed it either.
According to them, Hank was going to come off his drugs and realize how much I was worth and attempt to clean house. The accident occurred on my property, falling under the company’s liability insurance. Technically Hank could take me for a pretty penny if he wanted to. And I’d pay for the sole purpose of repaying him for the gift of my life.
Hank. The man was infuriating. If he would have just taken a settlement we’d all feel better. He could go back home a rich man and I could go back to … back to what? Models? Actors? More pretty faces than I could stomach? Everyone wrapped in plastic.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved my job. Building my empire was a dream and I’d accomplished it. I was at the top of my game, with more money than I’d ever need in my lifetime.
Then there was Hank. He had a ranch in Texas, a white Ford pickup truck, and a small construction firm that scored my project by bidding tens of thousands under what my team would have paid. A man that seemed perfectly comfortable in his own skin. Oh, and what scrumptious looking skin it was.
Seeing all that bare male flesh got my blood thrumming and my knees weak. It had been ages since I’d had such a virile man around. The men I’d dated were always high society. Ivy League, big in business and lousy in bed. My pleasure was of little concern as long as they got off. Hank looked like a man who knew how to please a woman.
I slumped down into the comfort of my puffy couch. The penthouse was quiet; all the staff besides my chef Gustav had left for the evening.
Again my thoughts were brought back to Hank. He wanted to date me. It reeked of a bad afterschool special on Lifetime television. The story as old as time. It hadn’t changed much since Shakespeare wrote his version in Romeo and Juliet. Doomed from the start.
It wasn’t possible that we had much in common. I could see our first date now. He’d be in jeans, work boots, and a white T-shirt that stretched across that broad chest, outlining every thick ripple of muscle.
My hand slowly traveled down my abdomen, past my shirt, and over my slacks as I fantasized. Hank’s ass would fill his jeans like a second skin. My hand reached its target between my legs, cupping and pressing down against the needy flesh. A gasp escaped as I leaned back on the couch and imagined it was Hank’s hand touching me, twirling his large fingers around my clit. He’d whisper in my ear, tell me how much he wanted to fuck me.
I undid the button and zipper of my pants and slipped my hand under the lace panties. Cool fingers slid against the slick folds. I was surprisingly wet. Hank would remove my pants and dip his face down toward my center, licking and kissing my thighs, growling as he shredded my panties between his large hands.
My fingers pressed and swirled around the hard bundle of nerves at the apex of my pleasure as I imagined it. Dream Hank would spread me wide open. He’d hold my ass just where he wanted and lick me with one long swipe of his tongue, dipping into my sex over and over until I was screaming out in ecstasy.
The pressure built at my core, throbbed and tingled as I lifted my hips up and pressed deep inside with two fingers mimicking what I thought Hank would do. Several deep strokes, hips reaching high, I ended the torture with a few furious circles around my swollen clit.
“Hank!” I cried into the empty room, my orgasm ripping through me fast and furious.
I rubbed out the vestiges of my pleasure as Dream Hank fizzled and disappeared. Jesus, I hadn’t come that hard in a long time. Too long. So long that I was using a man who was all wrong for me as fodder for my masturbatory fantasies. Pathetic.
In the kitchen, I washed my hands, still dazed from my orgasm, my mind still focused on Dream Hank.
The door to my penthouse slammed and a jangling ruckus could be heard from the entryway. I made it back into the living room when I heard Oliver yelling.
“Sit! Damn you mangy mutt, don’t you know basic commands!” Oliver’s shrill voice pierced and echoed through the walls of my home.
A blur of yellow barreled through the living room, knocking over a small table. Nails clicked and clacked against the hardwood floors, then a giant dog jumped, pushing me onto the couch. I shrieked, covering my face and chest as it hopped from couch to my lap to the floor and back. A long pink tongue hung out of its mouth then slurped at my face, leaving a wet trail of saliva along the surface. I tilted my head against my shoulder, wiping the disgusting slime off.
“Holy Jesus.
What the hell, Ollie! Get this dog off me!”
“Oh my, God. Shoo dog, shoo! Get down.” He pulled at the dog’s collar and slapped a hook onto it, restraining him by his side.
“I’m sorry, Pen. You said to move all of Hank’s stuff to your place. This … ” he pointed to the yellow lab, “is part of his stuff. According to the gentleman who gave me the dog, his name is Butch.”
“Butch.” The dog turned around in a circle when he heard his name. Tentatively, I reached out and petted the dog. He happily panted and pushed against my palm. I pulled my hand away and a wad of hair was left in its wake. Dogs. They were dirty, they shed, and they made messes as large as they were. This dog was enormous, just like its master. What a nightmare.
“You have got to be kidding me.” I closed my eyes and tried to will the dog to disappear. I cracked open one eye. No such luck. He was still there. “Okay, fine. Hire a dog watcher or something. For now, bring him in the kitchen and give him some water. He’s probably thirsty. Have Chef Gustav make him a steak.” Oliver looked at me like I was a psycho. “Please, just deal with it. I’m going to take a long, hot bath. Tomorrow I’m going to stop by the hospital in the morning. Reschedule any conflicting appointments.”
“Okay, you rest. You’ve been through a lot the past couple days. And Pen … ”
I stopped at the head of the stairs, turning to look back at my most trusted friend. “Yes?”
“I’m so thankful you’re okay. I owe the cowboy a lot. You’re still here because of him.” His voice was weak and thick with emotion.
“I’m fine. Please, just take care of his dog.” I swung a wave behind me as I treaded to the haven that was a huge jetted tub nestled in the master bathroom. “Good night.”
A hot bath was exactly what the doctor ordered. Candles twinkled along the curved edge of the tub, filling the room with the scent of sugary vanilla. Water sloshed over the side as I settled into the steamy water.
Heaven.
Ten minutes passed when the door creaked open and Oliver walked in. He had a bottle of wine in one hand, two glasses in the other. He sat the bottle and glasses down on the tiled edge. He pulled the vanity chair over to the tub, removed his blazer and tie, then folded up each sleeve of his dress shirt. He slumped into the chair, picked up the wine and poured hefty glasses of the garnet liquid.
