“No, I insist. I don’t think it needs updating, but I could always use a professional opinion.” He leads us into the elevators, scanning a key card at the reader before pushing the button for the penthouse floor.
“You’ll have to excuse me for the security up here, but the doors do open directly into my living room. It wouldn’t do to have guests pop in on me wearing my boxer shorts and watching a football game some random Sunday evening, now would it?” He laughs and glances over at me as we begin to move upwards one last time. I flash a small smile, acting as if I wasn’t just picturing him half naked and sprawled across his couch.
“That would be unfortunate. I…” I am cut off by the doors opening into a huge apartment that takes up the entire top floor of the hotel. Everything is open, all the way to the windows that make up the wall. It looks out over the city with the most breathtaking view I’ve ever seen. The space is decorated immaculately, but that isn’t what catches my attention. I walk straight over to the windows, my heels clicking against the marble floor. I’m marveling at the city beyond and completely forgetting whatever it was I was about to say.
“So, Alison, what do you think?” he says, walking up behind me as he slides his hands in his pockets. The deep tenor of his voice echoes in the open space. “It’s the best view in the city, and it’s all mine.” I almost forgot where I was for a brief moment before he spoke.
“I have to admit, I’m jealous. My apartment overlooks a scenic alleyway from the fourth floor. My favorite part of the view is the stray cats fighting over the rat carcasses, but I’m also a little bit biased there since I grew up with a cat for a pet.” I grin, hoping I convey the joke in the tone of my voice.
He doesn’t respond. I look over at him and am once again overcome with another wave desire to kiss him. I bet he knows exactly how to handle a woman’s body. How to make me fall apart and scream his name. He looks at me as if he has the same thought running through his brain. He takes a step closer to me as his eyes drop to my mouth.
“It’s gorgeous,” my breath hitches in my throat as I quickly turn my attention back toward the windows. I am certain I am not going to be able to look at him without doing something stupid. I can feel him moving behind me, and I can’t take it any longer. I turn around to pull him to me, but he’s walking away, towards the bar.
“What can I get you to drink?” He’s removed his suit coat and tie and unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt. I can see the tan skin of his neck and the small thatch of dark hair peeking out. I lick my lips, dragging my bottom one through my teeth as I picture myself slowly unbuttoning his shirt even further.
The sound of ice hitting the glass snaps me back to reality as he sets it on the counter in front of him. I glance up from the glass to his face and start to speak when he interrupts me.
“Don’t tell me it’s too early to drink again, Alison. It’s after noon, and you made me work through lunch. Just loosen up and have a drink with me. I promise to be a gentleman. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but we can afford to take a minute to relax and toast to all of the amazing work you’re going to do for my hotel chain.”
He reaches out and grabs another of the short glasses in front of him, dropping a pair of ice cubes in it and topping them off with the same whiskey he was drinking before passing it over to me. I take the glass, glancing down at it and back up to him before I agree.
“Alright, one drink. That’s it, and then I need to get started on these sketches. I have some ideas for your hotel I’d like to capture while they’re fresh in my mind.”
“One drink isn’t going to give you amnesia.” He laughs and raises his glass, waiting for me to do the same. I raise mine to his before tipping it back and nearly choking on the burn of the strong liquid. I clear my throat, swallowing and coughing as I try to play off the fact that I might be dying.
“Maybe, maybe not. I’m a lightweight, Mr. Crawford,” I say between coughs, looking back down at my glass as if it’s going to help me out.
“Enough with the Mr. Crawford bullshit. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been calling you Alison since you walked into my office back there. I think it’s pretty safe for you to call me Vincent. I can promise you I’m not going to fire you for using my first name. In fact, I insist you don’t call me Mr. Crawford again for the rest of the time we work together. You can call me Vincent, maybe bastard if the mood hits, but not Mr. Crawford.”
He takes another long drag of the whiskey, chuckling as he sees the look of shock on my face. “The only time I allow a woman to call me Mr. Crawford is if she’s on her kne—”
“Okay, Vincent, our meeting is concluded,” I say, interrupting him before he finishes that statement. I take another long swallow of the whiskey, not noticing the burn as much this time now that my throat is already numb.
I walk closer to him and place the glass back on the bar as I meet his eye line. “I’ll reserve the other names for after we know each other a little better.”
Fuck, a little whiskey and I sound like I’m coming on to him. It half sounded like a pickup line, like I have plans to “get to know” him better in the future. A smile spreads across his face, and I can tell he’s about to say something stupid. I throw up my hand to interrupt him.
“I only meant that I was going to be working with you for a long time to get all of these hotels done. Nothing more.” Shit, this whiskey has gone straight to my head. I could kick myself for blowing off his lunch offer earlier.
He laughs outright, and I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks. It is the opposite of the reaction I was hoping for. The last thing I need is to encourage his behavior.
“Oh, I hope we do get to know each other better, Alison. I hope to prove I’m not half as bad as you think I am, or that I’m much worse. I’ll leave that up to you to figure out.” He refills his glass, adding a little more to mine before handing it over to me again. “So here’s to a beautiful working relationship. Cheers.”
“Here’s to getting the job done right.” I grab my glass again and lift it to him. It is the closest I am going to get to saying the word “relationship” regarding Vincent Crawford, and whatever happens, I am dedicated to making sure this gets done right, both for my sake and for the design firm. I owe Madeline that much for having faith in me. I just hope I can come out of all of this in one piece.
Chapter 8
Vincent
I watch Alison’s delicate neck as she swallows the rest of the whiskey before she sets the tumbler back down on the bar.
“You don’t need to be so in control, Alison. I promise I’m not trying to set you up for failure.” I can see her shoulders drop.
“I’m sorry I’ve been…jumpy today. I’m not sure what’s gotten into me but I thi—”
“It’s because you’re attracted to me.” I watch as shock settles over her face.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, it’s beca—”
“No, I heard you. That is not why!” Her face is bright red, and she places her hands firmly on her hips.
I set my glass on the bar top and reach for hers to do the same. “Alison,” I say, stepping towards her. “I’m attracted to you. I have been since the second I laid eyes on you at the airport. You’re stunning.” I reach up and brush a small wisp of hair that has loosened from her bun. Her eyes, big and bright, look up at me as I tower over her.
“I—I…” She’s scrambling for words as her eyes drop from mine to my lips. I reach out, slipping my hand behind her neck as I pull her lips to mine. They’re soft and supple, with a hint of whiskey lingering.
Her arms stay rigid at her sides, but I don’t relent. I place my other hand on the other side of her face, cradling her cheek as I begin to move my mouth over hers. Slowly, she starts to come undone. Her hands reach up against my chest and fist my shirt as our tongues dance together. A soft whimper escapes her as I lightly bite her lower lip before dragging my tongue across it, followed by another kiss. I suck her tongue back into my mouth
, caressing it with my own, but as quickly as it started, she’s pushing me back.
“No, no, this can’t happen. I’m…I work for you. This is unprofessional.” Her chest heaves with her words.
“It was just a kiss, Alison. We’re two adults that are attracted to one another; there’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore that.” I place my finger under her chin and lift it. I lean down again, slower this time as I gauge her reaction.
She grabs the back of my neck, crashing my lips to hers as her firm tits press against my chest. I reach down and pull her skirt up to her waist, grabbing her thighs and lifting her until she wraps them around me, grabbing her ass in the process.
I back us against the bar as I deepen the kiss. I want to consume her, to own her. Our breathing is loud and labored as we both devour one another. I set her on the bar, reaching between her milky thighs to feel the wet triangle of lace at the apex. The sound of glasses clinking against each other snaps her back to reality.
“Oh my god. Oh my god.” She buries her hands in her face as she pushes me away again. “This was a mistake. I can’t do this.”
She pulls her skirt down and straightens her shirt before reaching for her bag and iPad to leave.
“Alison, wait.” She turns back to face me.
“I’m not asking for anything from you. I know you just got out of a relationship and I’m not exactly the kind of guy to offer one, but it’s okay to enjoy each other, in whatever capacity that may be.”
She gives me a curt nod before turning on her heel and leaving.
The sun is sinking below the horizon as I watch it from one of the chairs near the bank of windows on the west side of the apartment. This is one of my favorite places to sit at the end of the day, especially these summer nights when the sun sets at an hour I’m not in the office or attending a dinner.
But tonight, I am not paying attention to the colors that play across the sky. I am thinking about the events of the day, the way Alison jumped almost every time I approached her, the way her soft, pouty lips felt against mine. At one point, I ran my hand up her arm while I was kissing her, and she is the softest woman I’ve ever felt.
I think I’m starting to realize there is far more to my fascination with Alison than the novelty of her. It isn’t just that she is beautiful. If I wanted a beautiful girl on my arm, I could have called one of a few dozen numbers in my phone. The truth is, I haven’t stopped thinking about Alison since I met her weeks ago in Dallas. The attraction was instantly there, but the fascination, the obsession kept growing.
It also isn’t that Alison is whip-smart either. I didn’t get this far in life by surrounding myself with stupid people, even if I joke with Nate about the women I tend to date; I pride myself on being able to see potential in people. One of the first things I did once I established my business was to create an internship program for bright, young minds. I wanted to nurture that in the younger generations.
After Alison had left, I did my research, as far back as I could find. I found out who her father was, learning that he owns his own law firm back in the small city she’d grown up in and that her mother is president of the local junior league. Her younger sister is a student at the University of Chicago, the same school that Alison and their father had attended. Both girls were legacies of the school. It would have been easy to think that she was nothing more than a girl who’d had her way in life paved for her before she even started.
However, she’d been top of her class, graduating with a 4.0 in dual degrees of art and interior design. She’d earned a full scholarship, based on merit alone. It was impressive, even on paper. In person, I immediately knew it was earned. She might not have come from the same background I did, but she had worked her way to where she was, whether her family had been there as a safety net for her or not.
I am shaken out of my thoughts by the sound of my phone ringing. I glance at the screen, laughing to myself when I see my best friend’s name pop up on the caller ID. I need a friendly ear to talk out what is running through my mind before I get so lost in my thoughts, I run off to go surfing in South Africa. I pick up the phone without a second thought and don’t wait for a greeting to start the conversation.
“Alright, buddy. I know you’ve been waiting all day to take a shot at me about this morning. I’m surprised you didn’t call before now.”
I can hear the loud, clear laugh on the other end of the line. His laugh is unapologetic; it brings back memories of the two of us growing up together, doing all the stupid things that teenage boys do between the times we were buried in books and getting ready for college entrance exams.
“I decided you needed time to get through with Alison and then process whatever the hell seems to be going on in your head right now. And before you say a word, yes, I noticed—the entire lobby noticed. And don’t say it’s just her looks because you were staring at her something fierce, man. I can’t blame you there. She’s gorgeous, but she’s a pistol. You’re going to have your hands full, and I’m going to enjoy watching every minute of it I can.” I drag my hand over my face in exasperation before speaking again.
“Fuck me, man. She is…something else. I’m ninety-nine percent sure she hates me with every fiber of her being.”
Nate laughs even harder now. I would be laughing at Nate if he were in the same boat; he was in the same boat just over two years ago, actually. Back when he’d met Elise, she’d hated him and for good reason. In fact, she despised him so much she made it her vendetta to see that man suffer. I’m pretty sure she would have castrated him if she could have gotten away with it. Now, I couldn’t imagine him with anyone else.
A brief wave of embarrassment washes over me as I picture what I must have looked like today, following her around the lobby like a puppy. I’m completely screwed.
“I hope you enjoy watching me get shot down because I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m about the most disgusting man on the face of the planet.”
“Nah, she’s just not used to your particular brand of charm yet, bro. I’m sure you’ll convince her like you do every other woman.”
“Did you see the way she looked at me? It was like I was something vile stuck on the bottom of her shoe. Besides, she’s got a job to do. I should leave her alone and let her focus. And we both know I’m not looking for anything serious; she just happens to tickle my fancy at the moment.” I drum my fingers on the wooden arm of the chair, debating if I should tell him about the events that transpired just a few hours earlier.
“Right, and that’s why you’ve canceled all your appointments next week to go with her to New York? You can try to convince yourself you wanted to go out there and go skydiving or whatever else it is you’re telling everyone you’re skipping out to do, but you’re not going to be able to convince me that you have any motives other than being out there with Alison.”
I begin to reply, but I can’t lie to Nate, even if I am trying to lie to myself; he knows me too well. I take a deep breath, letting it out in a long exhale without saying a word. In the end, I decide not to tell him about the kiss. Something insides me feels like it would be betraying her trust and I don’t want anyone else meddling in things.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Go on and tell everyone else whatever it is you need to but be honest with yourself. It’s good to see someone who makes you try. I was getting tired of models and actresses who don’t know how to spell Chicago, much less find it on a map.” The amusement in his voice would be irritating if he weren’t right.
A small chuckle escapes my lips. “Well, I think we both know she won’t have a problem with your litmus test. That being said, I’m pretty sure she can manage well enough in just about any situation. However, if being able to spell the name of the city where we live is your only requirement, then you overshot the mark with Elise. She’s vastly smarter than you!”
“Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure Elise is smarter than all of us put together. That’s why I snatched her up. I figured out she was the whole p
ackage and decided I didn’t want anyone else to get ahold of her before I could. Maybe you could take some lessons on that front.”
“Ha! Might I remind you that Elise proposed to you because you were dragging ass!” That is one story I’ll never let him forget or live down. He is lucky he found a determined woman who loved him that much.
“Yeah, yeah, well, I already had the ring, so potato, potato. Even if Alison thinks you’re a useless and an arrogant asshole, at least you know she’s not interested in you for your money, right?”
I rub my fingers across my eyes, letting out a soft groan. “I mean, she’s not particularly interested in me at all other than as an employer, and I ought to keep it that way, but fuck me, she is one helluva woman.”
“Keep telling yourself that. I’ll remind you what you said later, when the time comes. See you tomorrow.” The other end of the line goes dead, and I turn my attention back to the skyline.
The sun has sunk below the horizon, and the lights of the city are flickering to life. I love this view but my mind is a little torn tonight. In a few days’ time, she and I are set to fly out on the company jet to New York, the first of several locations we are going to together.
I keep telling myself that it is going to be strictly business. I simply want to oversee the progress at each of the hotels and make sure that Alison has whatever she needs to get her work done. I am going to let her get to business without too much interruption, but if an opportunity arises to get to know her better, I won’t miss it for the world. Then again…maybe she wants a strong, confident man to give her some direction.
That thought immediately has me rigid in my suit pants. I move to adjust my rock-hard cock. I let my head fall back and imagine her on her knees in front of me.
“Mr. Crawford, is there anything I can do to please you?” I can hear the words tumbling from her full red lips. That pink tip of her tongue darting out to wet them before she wraps them around the head of my dick.
Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 49
