by Riker, Nikki
No one could fill his shoes, least of all, his playboy son.
Chapter Three
Kade
"So, you ready for the big day?" Lars took a sip of his coffee as he sat across from me. The little donut shop around the corner from the Williams' building was perfect for a quick breakfast.
"Yeah. No. Fuck if I know." I shoved half a donut in my mouth and tried to shove down the sick feeling that I had a fifty-fifty chance of fucking things up royally.
He laughed. "Dude, out of all of us fuckers, you're the one most cut out for this Corporate America bullshit that Dad pulled." He snatched the rest of my donut and inhaled it, choking on the powdered sugar coating.
I enjoyed his pain and leaned back, nursing my black coffee. "Are you telling me that you're still not working in the auto shop?"
"Working? Not a day in my life." He stretched and yawned loudly. "I'm here to figure some shit out, but I'm not happy about it, honestly. I'd rather stay buffing boards on the beach, but I guess the idea of that old cock-blocking lawyer selling off my shit and giving you guys the money from it finally got to me. I'm not letting that shit happen."
I smiled. "Of course not. You'd rather leave your beach hut and move here to be miserable just to make sure no one but you gets something that was supposed to be yours alone."
"Not sure what you said there with all of that fancy language, but I'm not giving you bitches my money."
"I said that." I broke the next donut in half, knowing the asshole would take it from my hands again if given a chance. Lars was the most controversial, bull-headed one of all of us. He would never hang up his surfboard and move to Seattle. He loved his California sunshine too much.
"Yeah, but you sounded like Dad saying it." He grabbed the other half of the donut from the table. "I'm looking for a place up here now, but more on the coastline. I can't live landlocked like you uppity fuckers."
I snorted. "Well, good luck man. I think Dad knew what he was doing when he picked out which businesses to give all of us. Have you been to your shop yet?"
"Nope, but it's on the list of depressing things to get done. It's wedged in between go to the dentist and get a vasectomy."
My eyes widened. "Get a what?"
"They cut your sac." He pointed down at his crotch and paled a little. "My girls want me to get clipped. I think it's a good idea. Then I can ride bareback, you know? I fucking hate a condom. Damn things squeeze the monster so bad."
A soft giggle resounded from the table beside us. I glanced over to find several women in their early twenties staring us down and laughing.
Embarrassment rose up my chest. "Fuck, Lars. Really?"
"Yeah, dude." He pressed his hands to the table and leaned toward me, ignoring the girls. His thick shoulders flexed, and I realized where I was in good shape, I needed to hit the gym a lot more often. Hopefully, after I got my feet fully wet with the new job, I could start delegating.
"Don't do that. You might want kids one day." I crossed my arms over my chest. The light grey suit I had picked out was a good fit and hid the powdered sugar fest really well too. My brother had on a bro-tank and shorts, looking like he'd just rolled out of bed, which he most likely had.
"Yeah, whatever. You get the point. Checking out this fucking dump is going to be the low point in my day." He tapped the table before moving out of the booth. "Let's go."
"Alright." I got up and grabbed my coffee. My words lodged in my throat as I turned to see my brother sitting with the group of girls. Obviously, he hadn't been ignoring them, but simply waiting on an opportunity to get me out of the donut shop.
"Later. Enjoy your first day." He nodded at me and winked. "It's like you're a virgin all over again. Speaking of virgins." He turned to face the girls as they giggled.
"Lord," I muttered and walked out. The mid-morning sunlight warmed my skin, and a smile spread across my cheeks. Lars was out of his fucking mind not wanting the opportunity Dad left of each of us.
What better did we have going on? Right. Nothing.
* * *
"Morning, Sir." A tall bellman opened the door as I walked toward my new building. Several other companies rented space from us, but all of the shared facilities and hired help were mine to manage.
"Morning." I smiled and walked in before taking in a deep breath. All of my life had been leading up to this moment. Hustling like a crazy person in my early twenties and late teens hadn't been for naught. I'd learned a million skills having to sell my way through a paycheck, and where this was a different world, it was still business.
"Check in at the desk unless you have a badge please." A dark-haired cop with an unimpressed look on her face barked out at me.
"No prob." I turned and walked to the desk.
The young guy in a security uniform looked up. "Morning, Sir. ID, please. Who ya here to see?"
"I'm here for my first day with Miles Private Jets." I pulled out my ID and handed it to the guy before glancing around. The foyer was breathtaking, the window of walls letting the city see in, and us out.
"Anyone in particular you're supposed to visit with? I need a name." He handed my ID back to me.
"I wasn't given a name."
"Who did you interview with then, Sir?" He leaned back as his kind expression started to fade. "You must know someone up there. Otherwise, I can't let you up."
"I'm Kade Miles. My father owned the company and left it to me. I guess let's call his secretary?"
The guy snorted and glanced over at the younger woman sitting beside him, typing away on a computer. "This guy thinks I'm falling for this. The new CEO of Miles Private Jets is just going to waltz in here with no badge or no one to greet him?" He snorted and turned back to me. "Come on, man. That's the best you got?"
"Kade?" A high-pitched voice called from behind me.
I turned to find a middle-aged woman with curly red hair and a great smile. Way too much makeup, but maybe she rocked it with a quirky personality. "That's me."
"It's so nice to meet you." Her smile lifted as her expression softened. "Your father was such a good, good man. He treated all of us so well, and I hope we can do right by you like we tried to do by him."
"I'm sure you will. You showed up in the nick of time." I glanced over my shoulder and narrowed my eyes to read the security guard's name before turning back to the woman. "Can you work with John here to get me a badge? I think he thinks I'm the pizza boy all dressed up as the CEO. He's not buying my story."
"What?" Her expression turned to stone as she moved around me. The poor kid didn't stand a chance.
She walked up to me and handed me a badge, introducing me with command in her voice to everyone we walked by. Badge or not, I was allowed in the building anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
She offered me a sympathetic smile as we got into the elevator. "Sorry about that. I'm Rachel, by the way. I was your father's secretary, and I'll be yours too."
"Awesome." I shook her hand and worked to still my racing heart. Why was I so nervous? Right. Measuring up to fill my father's footsteps was damn near impossible. Fuck me for having to try in his favorite company with his favorite people.
Why me, Dad? Shit.
His voice resounded in my ears from our long talks over the years. "You'll make me proud one day, Kade. You remind me so much of my little brother, Danny. He was strong and sensitive. He could have ruled the world, just like you can."
Uncle Danny had died too young, much like my father had as well.
"And here's your office." She moved out of the elevator and smiled. "You like it?"
The entire top floor of the building was decked out with windows all the way around. The furniture reminded me of wealth, and the bookshelves filled with books were perfect. All of it was perfect. It screamed home.
"I love it," I said losing my breath. Moving to a window, I dropped my briefcase and lifted my hands, pressing them to the glass. "I bet it's beautiful up here at night."
"It really is." She moved up beside me
. "You have a meeting in thirty minutes with the board, but I know Ron Dean wanted me to alert him when you got here. My office is one floor down on the executive wing if you need anything." She patted my upper back. "You okay with me sending him up?"
"Absolutely." I kept my eyes on the skyline, falling in love fast. A few moments passed without my notice.
A loud ding sounded, and I turned to see Ron walk out of the elevator. He smiled and extended his hand.
"Kade. It's so nice to finally get to meet you. I knew you when you were a little boy, but I'm not sure if you —"
I shook his hand and smiled. "You're the guy with the suckers."
"I do hang out with some shady people, but I'm not sure they're suckers." He chuckled loudly, his cheeks red and blue eyes wild with excitement.
"I meant lollipops. I remember Dad taking us to your office each time we came in here." I turned around slowly, taking it in. "What I don't remember was how beautiful this place is."
"Well, it's been through quite a few remodels, honestly, and I'm thinking the candy was more important to you back then."
"Agreed." I stopped turning and focused on him. "You'll be in the board meeting with me?"
"Right beside you. Let's go over a few things, and we'll head that way. Good?"
"Wonderful." I walked over and sat down in the brown, plush leather chair that had been my fathers. "Something about this place makes me miss my old man more than the funeral home did."
Ron sat down in the empty chair across from me. "It's because that place wasn't home to him. This place was."
He was right. I loved it already.
Chapter Four
Skylar
"It's going to be fine. Just be yourself and try not to bitch at the new guy yet." I leaned toward the bathroom mirror at work. The executive quarterly board meeting was about to start, but I needed a pep talk. Badly.
My chest and neck were flushed, which pissed me off. I rubbed at my skin and let out an agitated breath, only making the matter worse.
"Ugh. Fuck." I buttoned the top button of my silky blue shirt and walked toward the exit. I could get through the meeting, and maybe Kade would be too busy to talk for the remainder of the day. If not, I'd make up some bullshit about needing to finish working on his file before we met.
I was his public relations director. Being too busy to chat was part of my job description.
"Skylar. You look nice today." Jerry moved up beside me in the hall and offered a semi-sexy grin. Poor guy. He didn't stand a chance. "That a new haircut? I love it."
"I washed my hair?" I smiled and took a sharp right turn, ducking into the boardroom. The place was all too familiar, but without Geo at the front, things felt off. He'd been like a father to me for the three years I'd been at the firm. I knew he had five boys that he'd adopted, but that was the extent of it. Like the man knew how to separate his personal life from his business.
He could be a family to the guys at home, but he was our family when at the office.
"Skylar. Morning, dear." Ron turned and walked toward me, his expression warm and kind.
"Hi, Ron." I stopped in front of him, not giving him the quick hug I normally did. The board wasn't the place for a show of affection. That was the best way to start rumors.
"So, I got Kade up to speed. I figure maybe you can meet with him after this?"
Damn. "Yeah, that should work. Let's get this over with and then I'll introduce myself and check in with him." I smiled and moved to take my seat. Nerves tore up my stomach, and I'd be lucky if I wasn't running for the restroom. What was it about this guy that had me tripping over myself? I hadn't even met him.
I scanned the room slowly as Ron walked up front and got started. Kade was seated in Geo's chair, his face tilted toward Ron as the older man welcomed us and talked about the winds of change. I couldn't make out much, but his light grey suit had my nose turning up.
Light grey? Who dressed him? His mother? Black. He needed to be in black. Not dark blue or pinstripe, but black. It was a board meeting. I groaned internally and turned to look at the other members seated around the table. I got smiles, nods and a few waves from all of the guys dressed in BLACK.
"And with that, let me introduce you to Geo's son, and our new CEO, Kade Miles." Ron sounded proud of the guy already, but Ron was that kind of man. Always lifting others up and giving chances and ten dollar bills to strangers.
I turned my attention back to the front as Kade stood up, buttoned his jacket and moved to stand in front of the group. My breath caught in my chest. Grey suit and all, the man was the hottest thing I'd seen in ages.
Nope. Forever.
He started to speak, but the words were lost on me as I tried not to drool. Why the hell didn't he go into modeling? I knew people. He could be making seven figures in no time.
"Skylar?" Ron called out.
I blinked a few times as the room chuckled softly. I was the kid on the board, so everyone was respectful but very parent-like. "Sorry. Got lost in my thoughts about the new commercial we're working on. I shouldn't have watched it forty times before seven this morning."
Another round of laughter.
Ron winked. "We're introducing ourselves to Kade. You're up."
"Of course." I sat up a little straighter in my chair and smoothed my black pencil skirt down as I locked eyes with the sex-god at the front of the room. "I'm Skylar Hayes. I'm the PR Director for the company, and I'll be working directly with you to make sure you're prepared for the media. I'll help keep your public image clean and well respected."
Kade smiled and nodded. "Good. I look forward to working with you. Feel blessed today. I'm the good kid from the group."
More laughter.
I forced a smile, doubting the shit out of his claim. He didn't look like the good kid. He looked like the one that I'd be pulling out of orgies in his office.
Kade picked back up on his intro speech after everyone took a turn around the table. "Anyway. My father was my hero. I was telling Ron that I miss him more here than I did the day of the funeral."
My heart constricted in my chest. I was still pissed at myself for not going to the funeral, but it was too hard. Probably something I would regret for the rest of my life, but what's done was done.
"Much like my dad, I have an open-door policy. I know I'm not him, but I'm going to try hard to fill his shoes in a way that would not only make him proud but honor you all too." He reached up as if he wanted to run his fingers through his short brown hair, but dropped his hand. Bad habit? "So come by anytime, and if I mess up, feel free to tell me. It'll help me learn faster, which is of course, my goal."
A few more words and the meeting ended.
I stood with conflicted feelings racing through me. I liked the guy already and couldn't stand him all at the same time. The suit still had me wanting to scowl, but maybe he'd been a used car salesman in his former life? I wasn't sure.
"Skylar." I turned at the sound of my name. Kade extended his hand. "Nice to meet you. Ron tells me that you're going to be very important to my success here. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better."
"Nothing to know, Sir." I shook his hand and steeled myself. "I'm the one that needs to know you better, but that'll happen with time, I'm sure."
"I like the sound of that." His lip lifted in a cocky grin. And there was the real Kade Miles.
"Awesome." I pulled my hand back and ignored my body growing hot and wet. The fucker was beyond sexy and smelled like heaven. Breathing in deeply was my next move, but I held back — barely. There was nothing like a good smelling man to get me purring. "Let's start with your wardrobe."
"My suit?" He glanced down, and his confidence slipped a little, but not nearly enough. Obviously, captain playboy had been easily praised his whole life for his looks. I had too, but it hadn't gone to my head. This guy though? He was cheering on the sidelines in a cheerleader outfit for himself.
"Yes. Gray is mousy and not at all the image of a CEO. Wear black
." I gave him a shitty smile and turned to walk out. "I'll be by with more tips after I investigate who you are to the public right now."
"I'm a nobody." He called after me.
"You won't be after the press conference I'm setting up for Friday." I let the conversation die between us as I walked off.
I had my work cut out for me. I wasn't sure what was going to be more difficult, working alongside him and not eventually swooning or molding him into the next Geo Miles. Part of me wanted to quit before the going got tough, but I knew myself way too well.
A challenge was fuel for the fire. Now to somehow keep the lusty parts from burning.
Yeah right.
Chapter Five
Kade
My first day at Miles Private Jets was paperwork and shaking more hands than I thought possible. I crashed that night and dreamt of the sexy PR Director who seemed to think I would look better with a mop in my hand. It was rather comical.
The sun broke through my bedroom early the next morning, waking me up from a hot dream. My body ached, and a light sheen of sweat covered my skin.
"Such a naughty girl, aren't you?" I whispered into the emptiness around me. With my eyes still shut tight, I ran my hand down my stomach and gripped the tip of my cock. A groan rose out of me as my hips lifted, pressing my swollen shaft through my tight fingers. I wanted the pretty brown-haired, green-eyed vixen who was sure to make my life miserable.
Not for a love affair. For a long fuck.
Visions moved along the back of my eyelid, and I gave myself over to them.
"You like what you see?" Skylar glanced back and smiled as I ran my hand down her wet back. The shower sprayed water all over us both, but nothing could take my attention off her. Not the warm mist or the hot and relaxing beads of water. The sexy body half-bent over in front of me had me transfixed.
