by Lexy Timms
Mark set the bag down and leaned it against one of the chairs. “Sure. We’ve got some time.”
He didn’t sit down himself, though Erica did, leaning back in her chair and crossing one long leg over the other.
“How have you been?” Justin asked, looking up for a minute from the screen he was staring at. “New business going well?”
“It’s going pretty amazing,” Mark said. “You should check out the restaurant sometime, even if you don’t golf. We’ll give you a free dessert or something.”
Justin laughed. “I’ll do that, then. Been looking for a good place to take a date.”
“It’s a fantastic place to take a date,” Erica said. “We’ve got some really nice walking trails there, too, lit up at night. They make for a pretty romantic after-dinner stroll.”
“Definitely on my date night list then,” Justin said. The phone rang. “Excuse me.”
Mark didn’t stare at the woman who walked in almost as soon as Justin had turned away to take the call. At least, not much. He couldn’t be blamed. Anyone with eyes would have been staring at her. When he turned, he could see that Erica wasn’t an exception, though she looked away again before it would have been rude.
“Can I help you with something?” the tall blonde asked, giving him an attentive look.
“I’m actually just waiting to see my brother,” Mark said. “We’ve got a present for him, and Justin said he’s in with his lawyer right now.”
“Oh, Mark!” She smiled. “Mark Reid, right? Very nice to meet you. I’m Emelie Eriksson.”
She offered her hand, and Mark shook it. “The famous new PA. Nice to meet you, too. This is Erica, one of the pro instructors who works at the country club with me.”
He gestured to Erica, who stood to take Emelie’s hand as well. Emelie’s smile widened.
“Very nice to meet you as well,” she said, her hand lingering for a moment in Erica’s before she drew it back. “Though,” she added, looking at Mark again, “I’m not sure that I’m famous.”
“Oh, trust me,” Mark said. “You are. Alex was dead set against getting a new PA until you started here. He was completely convinced that no one could do it as well as Jamie.”
“He’s still convinced,” Emelie laughed. “At least once a week I’m reminded that I didn’t have something in as fast as she would have, or done quite the right way.”
Mark’s lips pursed into a frown. “He shouldn’t treat you like that.”
“Oh, no worries.” Emelie waved the concern away with a flip of her wrist. “I know it’s just the way he is. He’d have to do much worse than that to hurt my feelings. I hear all about you and Jamie.” She laughed, the sound floating across the room, and touched Mark’s arm. “It’s all good. I’ve have some great shoes to fill and I feel like I know you already.”
At his back, Mark could feel Erica still standing where she’d stood to greet Emelie, a tension radiating off her that hadn’t been there before. He glanced back at her, wondering if something was wrong, but there was nothing in her expression that seemed unhappy, and he thought maybe he’d imagined it.
“You teach golf lessons?” Emelie asked, looking past him at Erica.
“Yes,” Erica said, and there was definitely something tight in her voice that wasn’t there usually.
If Emelie noticed, she didn’t seem put off by it. “I’ve always wanted to learn to golf,” she said. “Maybe I ought to come down sometime and take a crack at it.”
“It’s a good sport,” Erica said, and the smile in her voice felt a little more natural as she moved into expounding on the qualities of golf. “Everyone I’ve taught really enjoyed the experience. They say, actually, that you can learn a lot about life from a game of golf.”
“Oh,” Emelie said, “I’m sure you can.”
Mark felt like he was missing something, but there wasn’t time to try to figure out what it was before Emelie was looking back at him.
“And what about you? Do you teach as well as play?”
“There’s no way I could teach, unless you’re just there for a laugh,” Mark chuckled. “I play, but not well enough to pass the knowledge onto someone else. Erica kicks my ass every time.” He grinned. “Although, she did teach me a few tips that helped me beat Alex fair and square last time he and I played together.”
Emelie laughed. It was a beautiful sound. “I’ll stick with Erica, then, if I’m looking for a teacher.”
“We’ll comp you a lesson, if you decide that you want to learn.” Mark leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “One of the perks of being in Alex’s inner circle.”
“You keep giving away things for free,” Erica said, “and you’ll run us out of business.”
She didn’t sound like she was entirely teasing, and Mark turned his head enough to look at her again, eyebrows drawing together. What was she upset about?
“Oh, you don’t have to do anything like that. If I decide I want a lesson I can pay for it like everyone else,” Emelie said, obviously sensing the tension in the room. Her smile had grown a little less sure. It picked up again an instant later. “But it was very kind of you to offer.”
“Well, I’m not giving it to everyone in the building, but the people who help Alex directly every day deserve a little reward. He’s not an easy man to work with.”
Justin, still on the phone, looked like he was trying not to laugh at that. Emelie shook her head, though.
“He’s not such a bad guy,” she said. “A little intense maybe, but look where it’s gotten him. Obviously something in his strategy is working.”
“My strategy is working, too,” Mark said. “And I’m not all that intense about anything.”
“No?” Emelie asked, voice and smile teasing. “I think you look like the type who could be intense every now and then.”
“He doesn’t have to be intense to be good at what he does,” Erica said.
The smile Emelie turned on Erica was the same smile she had just given Mark, despite the slight edge to Erica’s tone. “You seem like the type to be kind of intense yourself,” she said, voice dropping a little lower on the word in a way that made Mark’s pants tighter.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Erica cross her arms over her chest, chin lifting.
“It’s not a bad thing,” Emelie said, “to have a commanding personality.”
All of the teasing had gone out of her voice, and she sounded earnest.
“I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. It wasn’t my intention.”
“No,” Erica said, her stance softening a little. “You didn’t really say anything wrong. Don’t mind me.”
“I should get back to work anyway.” Emelie smiled again at them both. “It was very nice to meet you, though.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Mark said, reaching out a hand to shake hers again. “Good luck with the rest of your day.”
“And you,” Emelie said. She turned and walked away, disappearing into her office.
Erica hadn’t said anything, and Mark looked over at her. “You okay?” he asked quietly so Justin wouldn’t hear.
“Just peachy,” she said, baring her teeth in a smile that didn’t look quite okay to Mark, but he didn’t push the subject.
“She seems like she can handle Alex, at least. That’s a big step toward success here,” he said.
“Oh, I bet she can,” Erica said. “I bet she can handle just about anyone she wants to.”
The door to Alex’s office opened before Mark could say anything about that, and the lawyer came out, giving them both a nod as he passed them on the way to the elevator. Mark shouldered the bag of clubs and walked in through the still-open door, Erica on his heels.
Alex looked up from his desk and smiled at them. “Hey, there. To what do I owe the visit?”
“We’ve got a present for you,” Mark side, sliding the bag off his shoulder and setting it down on the floor. “An investor appreciation gift.”
His
brother’s eyebrows lifted, and he stood, moving around from behind the desk to inspect the clubs. He ran his fingers over them, and looked up at Mark again.
“Thank you,” he said. “These are great.”
“Erica’s the one who picked them out,” Mark admitted. “She knows way more about golf clubs than I do.”
“Thank you, Erica,” Alex said, turning to look at her. “I really appreciate the gift.”
“You’re welcome,” Erica answered. “Thank you for everything that you contributed to the club. It wouldn’t exist without your generosity.”
At least she seemed in a better mood, Mark thought as they made a little more small-talk and then left. He still didn’t know what had set her off in the first place, except that it seemed to have something to do with Emelie. Maybe she was just uncomfortable around a woman that good-looking, although Mark didn’t think she had any reason to be. She was incredibly hot herself. Telling her didn’t seem like a good idea, though. Not when she’d turned down his dinner invitation. He didn’t want to give her the idea that he was trying to pursue her romantically after she’d shut him down. That was likely to end her employment as well as their friendship.
So he didn’t say anything about it as they headed back to the car and then back to the club, talking about nothing important instead and watching Erica’s profile as she drove. By the time they got back to Little Lake, she looked much less unhappy than she had at the office, and Mark decided to let the whole thing go as a fluke.
“Afternoon,” Christine said from her place at the front desk as they walked in.
“Hey, Christine.” Mark smiled at her, crossing the room to lean an elbow against the desk and ask her how she was doing. “Every going good here?”
“It’s all great.” She smiled back and told him she was great, and gave him a couple messages that she’d taken while he’d been out. It was good to see her looking better. As he’d predicted when he offered to hire her, she was doing an excellent job despite her lack of work experience, picking up quickly on the tasks involved. Jamie had hugged him so tightly he could hardly breathe when she found out that he was giving Christine a job. She’d been convinced it would help her sister feel better, that being useful and needed would give her another reason to stick around. So far, it looked like Jamie had been right, and Mark was glad. Christine wasn’t quite the sister that Jamie was, but she was getting there.
“Glad to hear it,” he said. “Though I think you’re always great.”
She blushed, and looked down at her computer screen. “You don’t have to flatter me for me to get work done,” she said, but she didn’t sound unhappy about it.
“No,” Mark agreed, “I don’t. But just because I don’t have to doesn’t mean I can’t attempt to make one of my best employees smile.”
“Get out of here,” she said, laughing. “Go flirt with someone else. One of your best employees has actual work to get done.”
Grinning, Mark pushed off the desk and headed back toward his own office, but not before catching Erica’s narrow-eyed stare.
Chapter 15
“Thank goodness that’s over,” Alex said as he came through the door, crossing the room to wrap an arm around Jamie and pull her in close, kissing her hard.
Jamie, after an instant of startled stillness, wrapped her arms around his neck and arched up close, opening to let his tongue plunder her mouth. Desire raced through her like fire, and when they broke apart she was breathing a little harder. “Wow,” she said, smiling up at him. “What was that for?”
“It’s a good day,” Alex said, swatting her on the ass as he stepped past her to fill up a glass of water and take a long drink. “The DNA test came back, and I’m not the father of Lacey Riker’s son. We’re finally done with that nonsense.”
Relief washed through Jamie, leaving her nearly weak in knees that were already a little unsteady from Alex’s assault.
“That’s great,” she said, wrapping her arms around her husband and leaning her head against his chest. “I’m so glad it’s over and done with.”
Alex’s arm slid around her waist, holding her close. “So am I,” he said. “And I’m glad I followed your advice. You were right; it was the best way to get rid of her.”
“I’d say I told you so,” Jamie said, “but I’m not that kind of person.”
He laughed, and tipped her chin up for another kiss, long and slow. “You can tell me ‘I told you so’ all you want, Mrs. Reid,” he growled when they’d pulled back, “as long as you give the baby monitor to the nanny tonight.”
Jamie shivered with pleasant anticipation. Two weeks ago, she would have been resistant to the idea of someone else keeping an eye on Lilliana and Benton overnight, but she trusted Briana, and the temptation of a night with Alex all to herself was too much to pass up. They hadn’t had nearly enough of those recently.
“I think I can promise that.”
“Good,” Alex said, stealing a final, too-brief kiss. “Then I’ll enjoy watching you squirm while you wait.” He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear, and nipped at the curve of it. “I’m going to fuck you so good you’re going to forget your own name.”
And then he was gone, halfway across the kitchen to open the fridge and see what they had for dinner. Jamie leaned against the counter, her legs too weak to hold her up properly, and thought night couldn’t come fast enough.
“You know,” Alex said, like he hadn’t just turned her insides to jelly. “When Zander hired Miss Eriksson I thought I was going to be disappointed, but she’s actually doing very well.”
The words were like a bucket of cold water over her head. Jamie straightened up, jaw tight. “You like her, then?”
“She’s adequate,” Alex said, pulling out the pot pie Murry had left in the fridge and starting the oven. “There are things that I think she could do better; you do them better. But overall she’s an asset to the company. And Zander is very happy with her.”
It eased Jamie a little bit to hear that Alex wasn’t singing Miss Eriksson’s praises, but it didn’t stop the worry entirely. “I met her when I dropped those papers off at your office the other day,” she said.
“Did you?” Alex looked up at her. “What did you think?”
“She was nice,” Jamie said. “She was very attractive. Very.”
Alex was back at her side in an instant, wrapping her up in his arms. “You’re jealous?” he asked, like it wasn’t really a question. He already knew the answer.
Jamie nodded against his shoulder. “She’s crazy pretty. And you do have a thing for secretaries.”
“Only one secretary. Don’t be jealous,” Alex said. His fingers tipped her chin up so that he could meet her eyes. “First, because there’s absolutely nothing she has that you don’t. You’re gorgeous. And you’re a killer PA. No one can do what you do. Everyone that ever tries to measure up to you is going to fail.”
Jamie held tight to the words, and to Alex. She’d felt less than sexy since the twins were born, despite having taken up her exercise routine again after Briana started working for them. Her mother’s visit hadn’t helped things. It felt good to hear Alex say that she was gorgeous.
“And secondly,” Alex said, still meeting her eyes, “even if I didn’t already have the perfect wife, she’s completely off the option list.”
Jamie’s eyebrows drew together. “What’s that mean?”
Alex laughed. “It means, baby, that even if I was interested in her—and why would I be when I’ve got you—she’s not even remotely interested in me. Or Zander. Or anyone who isn’t a woman.”
“What?” Jamie stared at him. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Alex said. “Zander was heartbroken when he found out.”
“Poor Zander,” Jamie said, but she burst out laughing, ridiculously relieved. “I bet he was really hoping he’d get a repeat of our love story.”
“I’ll bet he was,” Alex agreed. “Sadly, he chose the wrong woman to attempt to recr
eate it with.”
The oven dinged, and Alex stepped away to slid the pot pie in to heat. “Are the twins in the nursery with Briana?”
“Outside. They should be back in soon, though.”
“Or we could go out and get them,” Alex said. He didn’t wait for Jamie’s answer, just headed in the direction of the back door, and Jamie followed. Briana, a small, dark-haired young woman with a perpetually sunny smile, was sitting in the grass on a blanket, the twins beside her. Alex crossed the yard in a few long strides and swept a giggling Benton up into his arms. “Good afternoon, you,” he said as he lifted him. “Having fun?”
Benton, of course, didn’t have much to say, but he squealed happily, and Alex laughed.
“Guess that’s a yes.” He handed Benton over to Jamie, and picked up Lilliana the same way, greeting her with, “Hey there, little girl. Daddy missed you.”
Lilliana made a valiant and failed attempt to grab Alex’s nose in her chubby fist, and Jamie laughed.
“I think she missed you, too.” She looked down at the girl still sitting cross-legged on the blanket. “How are you, Briana?”
“Doing great, Mrs. Reid. They were having quite the time out here.”
“Good,” Jamie said. “Why don’t you come in and join us for dinner? There’s enough pot pie to go around.”
Briana gathered up the blanket, toys inside it, and followed Jamie and Alex toward the house. Alex was bouncing Lilliana as he walked, looking down at her with complete adoration on his handsome face, and Jamie wasn’t sure she’d ever been so in love with him as she was in that moment.
“You’ve got a great daddy,” she told Benton in a whisper. “He loves you both so much. And so do I.” She felt overflowing with it, like she was filling up with golden light until she might burst with it, her heart was so full.
How had she ever gotten so lucky?
***
Jamie could still feel the grip of Alex’s hands on her hips the next morning, a pleasant ache that kept pulling her thoughts back to the way he’d felt moving inside her. She wet her lips with her tongue, and decided they’d be letting Briana watch the baby monitor at night a little more often.
