Mr. Fantasy: (A standalone romance)

by Cambria Hebert

  Nora stepped into the elevator, and I strode forward, catching the door just before it slid closed. Our stares collided briefly, and satisfaction filled my chest when her eyes flared with recognition.

  Turning around, I motioned for my team to back off and take the next elevator.

  Two of the guys seemed worried, and when another employee tried to board the same car as us, Aaron put his arm out. “Take the next one, please.”

  I grinned in thanks, and he merely rolled his eyes.

  The elevator doors slid shut, leaving the two of us alone.

  “What floor?” I asked, glancing around at her.

  Her mouth fell open, and I realized it still made me want to kiss her.

  She didn’t answer, and the elevator continued to stand still, waiting for a command.

  “Not sure?” I asked and turned back to the panel of buttons. I hit the one for my floor because it was at the very top of the building and it would take the longest time to get there.

  Nora’s blue eyes followed me as I moved beside her, kicking out one foot and resting a shoulder against the wall.

  “Hey there.”

  Her stare roamed my face, but still she said nothing. Half smiling, I reached out and pushed her chin up with one finger.

  Eyes traveling down her body, then back up, I said, “Nice dress. But I prefer you in my shirt.”

  “What are you doing here?” Her blond brows twisted in puzzlement.

  I couldn’t look away from her. Everything inside me was utterly captivated by her presence. “Me?” I said, casual. “I own the place.”

  Her mouth dropped open again, then snapped closed. “You own what place?”

  “This place.” I smiled. “Ansoft.”

  Straightening, Nora turned to face me completely. A low laugh bubbled out of her. “You’re actually trying to tell me you own Ansoft Corporation right now?”

  Adjusting the open jacket I was wearing, gesturing to myself, I asked, “I don’t look like a CEO?”

  Her eyes dropped, running over my body and giving me a little satisfaction. Clearing her throat, she forced her stare back up. “You own a resort and an island… not Ansoft.”

  “I can’t own both?”

  Adamantly, her head shook. “No. No. Ansoft is owned by a young, twenty-something video game genius who…” Her voice trailed away, and her eyes turned round.

  Pressing my lips together, I waited for her to finish.

  She burst around me and hit the giant red button on the panel. The smooth-riding elevator ground to a sudden halt.

  “Did you miss me that much?” I teased.

  “You can’t possibly,” she said, gazing at me suspiciously.

  An earsplitting alarm rang out overhead, cut off abruptly by a loud buzzing.

  Startled, Nora’s hand shot out and grabbed a handful of my jacket, pulling herself so close she was almost against my chest. “What was that?”

  “Mr. Anders.” Aaron’s voice cut through the intercom. “Are you all right?”

  I stepped toward the panel on the wall, but Nora grabbed me back, refusing to let go of my jacket. With a sigh, I wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close. Lifting her off her feet, I took her with me to the panel. Once there, I let her go and hit a small button. “Everything’s fine. We, ah, accidentally hit the stop button.”

  “And what would you have me tell security?” Aaron asked, his voice bland.

  I grinned up at the ceiling.

  “Nothing. I’ll be in my office in a minute.” Releasing the button, I glanced down at the woman still clutching the front of my jacket. “You’re the one who stopped the elevator. Why are you scared?”

  Her cheeks flushed a rosy color, the same color they’d been the night I had her in my bed. Clearing her throat, Nora released my jacket and stepped back.

  “Anders,” she said to herself. Then, “Carter Anders.” Gasping, she spun to face me.

  I stuck out my hand. “Carter Anders, CEO of Ansoft, owner of a few tropical resorts, and resident of an island you spent the night on.”

  Nora looked between me and my hand. Instead of putting hers in mine like I wanted, she crossed her arms beneath her breasts and scowled. “Have you been stalking me again?”

  Was she scolding me right now?

  Shit, she was cute.

  “I’ve been keeping an eye on you.”

  “Stalking!” she accused.

  I shrugged. She could call it what she wanted.

  She gasped, her mouth falling open.

  I reached out and pushed her chin up, then, not wanting to pull away, let my thumb trail the underside of her lower lip. “You better stop doing that.”

  Her eyes went out of focus, and I dropped my hand. Blinking, she came back to her senses. “This internship! That was you!”

  “I thought our night together erased your ex from your brain.”

  She pursed her lips and regarded me. “Maybe you should sleep with him, too. Maybe then he would forget about me.”

  I threw my head back and laughed. Our eyes collided and held, my laughter faded, and we were left standing in the enclosed space, alone, with electricity suddenly crackling the air.

  “He’s not nearly as pretty as you,” I whispered, still holding her gaze.

  Nora broke free from the tether between us first, leaning around me and hitting the button to make the elevator move once more. “I can’t accept this internship.”

  “You already did.”

  “Well, I changed my mind.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I didn’t earn it!” she burst out.

  Without looking, I reached behind me and hit the stop button again. The elevator lurched, and she stumbled into my chest.

  Her hands wrapped around my biceps, her head falling back to look up at me. “What are you doing?” She gasped.

  What, so she could stop the elevator, but when I did, it was shocking?

  Hmph.

  Overhead, the alarm went off again. Nora’s fingers flexed around my arms. Memories of the way she clutched at me that night as I was above her came roaring back.

  “Mr. Anders.” Aaron began again.

  My entire hand slammed on the intercom button. “If you buzz me one more time, Aaron, you’re fired!” I snapped.

  He didn’t reply.

  I turned my attention back to Nora. “Do you know how many interns we hire at Ansoft?”

  She pushed away from me, retreating to the other side of the small space. A strand of hair came loose from her ponytail and brushed against the side of her cheek.

  An indelicate sound ripped from her throat. “None. I knew this was too good to be true.” She glanced down at her feet. “Hired by a stalker,” she muttered.

  Stifling a laugh, I kept my voice authoritative. “That’s right, none. But I liked your portfolio. I think you’ll make a good fit here. And after I made some inquiries, I found you needed an internship—”

  “What were you doing making inquiries about me?” she reprimanded, giving me a squinty-eyed look.

  “I wanted to see you.”

  “Oh,” she said. The suspicion in her face was replaced with softness.

  Ah, there she was. There was my good girl.

  I’ve missed you.

  “You could have just asked for my number,” she shot out. I recalled she’d said the same thing back on the island.

  I half smiled. “Fantasies usually don’t have phones.”

  A few moments of silence stretched between us.

  “Did you really look at my portfolio?” She wondered, looking everywhere but at me.

  I nodded once. “You ever thought about doing graphics for video games?”

  “Not until Ansoft called…”

  “And now?”

  “And now I really want to be here, but I can’t because you’re stupid!”

  I blinked. “Are you whining and pouting right now?”

  She lifted her chin. “No.”

  “You’re reall
y not going to stay?”

  “What will people say?” she said, horrified.

  I bent so we were eye level. “Why?” I mock gasped. “Do you plan on trapping me in the elevator like this every day?”

  Horror dawned over her features, and she rushed to hit the button again. She kept her back turned, straightening her dress and smoothing a hand down the length of her ponytail.

  Once she was composed, she glanced around. “Don’t talk to me at work. People will think I slept with the boss to get my job.”

  Unable to help myself, I stepped up behind her and put my lips against her ear. “Didn’t you?”

  Gasping, Nora spun. I couldn’t help but notice the gooseflesh along her arms.

  “I did not sleep with you to get this job! I didn’t even know you were… you!” she insisted. “I didn’t even know you would be here when I accepted!”

  Behind her, the doors slid open, revealing the top floor. Across the way was a huge desk with two assistants wearing headsets stationed behind it.

  My security team stood close to the open doors, but they all kept their gazes averted.

  With a huff, Nora started out. Snaking an arm around her middle, I dragged her back into the car. She shrieked a little, and I shushed against her ear.

  “What are you doing?” she whisper-yelled.

  “This is my floor, not yours.”

  “Oh.” Her body went slack against mine, and awareness flowed through me.

  Mindful of watchful eyes, I forced myself to let her go. Stepping around her, I hit the floor she needed on the panel before glancing her way once more. “Be sure to get a badge from HR so you don’t have to dig for your ID every morning.”

  “Right.” She agreed.

  I didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t step out of the car either. Instead, I stood there staring.

  “What?” she hissed. “Don’t talk to me!”

  Smirking, I stepped farther into the elevator, and the doors started to close behind me. “Aaron,” I called, and his arm came in to keep the doors open.

  Nora’s eyes ripped away from Aaron to gaze up at me as I moved closer. She backed up until her back hit the wall. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  Without a word, I reached up, grasped the band holding her hair back, and slid it out in one fluid motion.

  “Hey!” She gasped, affronted. Her hand shot out to snatch the hairband from my grasp, but I tucked it into my front pocket before she could steal it back.

  Using both hands, I spread her hair over her shoulders, trailing my fingers through the strands. “I prefer it down.”

  The second I stepped out of the elevator, Aaron pulled his arm back, and the doors began to close. “Have a good first day,” I called, watching her through the shrinking doorway.

  “Don’t talk to me!” she hissed.

  I was still laughing when the doors closed completely. This was going to be fun.

  Nora

  “He’s here,” I said the second Val answered the call.

  My best friend didn’t miss a beat. “Nor, this is going too far. I think you seriously need to consider a restraining order.”

  Stumbling over the pavement, I gripped the phone tighter as though it would somehow make it easier to walk. “He’s not dangerous,” I mumbled, righting myself. I was a little offended she would say something like that about him.

  Beyond flustered would be an apt explanation of my feelings. I’d hardly slept at all last night, which was totally disappointing, considering the amazing bed in my new place. I could barely enjoy the first day at my new job because, literally, everything was overshadowed by Carter stepping into the elevator.

  Learning the guy from my fantasy one-night stand was now my boss.

  “Are you serious right now?” Val exclaimed. “He manhandled you the last time he was in our apartment. If I hadn’t threatened to call the cops, he would have hurt you.”

  She’s talking about Alan. Not Carter. Realizing that made me feel a little less affronted on his behalf.

  Just the mention of Alan made my stomach clench. I was glad to be away from him.

  “Not Alan.” Tucking the phone closer to my lips, I whispered. “Him.”

  Valerie paused. I could practically hear her brain catching up. Her gasp was like a lightbulb illuminating above her head. “No!”

  Up ahead, a door opened onto the sidewalk, and a woman stepped out, carrying a big cup of iced coffee. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten breakfast.

  Or dinner last night.

  Veering right, I caught the door as it was closing and stepped into the small coffee shop, taking a place in line.

  “You mean to tell me that Mr. Fantasy is in Miami right now? You saw him?” Val pressed.

  “He isn’t just here,” I said. “He’s my boss.”

  Valerie shrieked so loud I pulled the phone away from my head and made a face. The man in front of me turned around to stare, and I gave him an apologetic grin.

  “She’s very dramatic,” I whispered, motioning to the phone.

  Flashing a bright-white smile, the man laughed and turned back around.

  “Nora!” Val hollered in my ear. “Focus!” Pulling the phone in close again, I listened. “What do you mean he’s your boss? He’s a graphic designer? At Ansoft? I thought the dude owned an island and some resorts.”

  I made a sound and moved ahead with the line. “Apparently, he owns a lot more than we realized…”

  She gasped again. “No way!”

  A sound of agreement erupted from my throat. “I’m kinda freaking out.”

  I could hear Valerie’s fingers flying over the keyboard that must be in front of her. Then seconds later, she yelled again.

  The guy in front of me glanced around.

  “I’m so sorry,” I mouthed.

  “Are you telling me that Mr. Island is Carter Anders… the Carter Anders, CEO of Ansoft?”

  “Guess he comes up on Google,” I murmured.

  “Holy shit, Nora! You sure can pick them.”

  “I didn’t pick him…”

  Valerie sucked in a breath. “There’s no way this is a coincidence.”

  “I didn’t say that either,” I replied, dubious. I was very aware of the people in this café with me. I couldn’t exactly go around blurting out my personal business with Carter freaking Anders just a block down the street from the building he owned.

  “He gave you that internship on purpose?” Valerie concluded. “How did he know…?”

  “Excuse me, miss? What would you like?” The guy in front of me turned from his place in front of the cashier and gestured for me to order.

  “What?” I asked, still completely flustered.

  “It’s on me this morning.”

  His words made me look at him, really look. He was good-looking. Dressed in a suit and clearly on his way to an office. His brown hair was back off his forehead, and it was cut close around his ears.

  “Oh,” I said, realizing both he and the cashier were waiting for me to order. “You don’t have to do that. I can get mine after you.”

  “You’re holding up the line.” He gestured behind me.

  Glancing around, I saw the several people waiting.

  “I’ll have an iced coffee. Leave room for me to add some cream.”

  The cashier hit the screen in front of her and spit out a total.

  “Hold on, Val,” I said, cutting off my friend midsentence. Putting the phone down on the counter, I fumbled in my bag to pull out some cash.

  “I said it’s on me.” The guy beside me reminded me, reaching out to lay a hand on my arm.

  I jolted, my hand flying out of my bag, along with half its contents. A sound of distress burst from me as I quickly scooped up the lip-gloss, cash, and credit card that scattered all over the counter.

  “I’m such a mess this morning.” I apologized.

  “Got it all?” the man beside me asked, humor in his tone.

  I nodded, and
he wrapped a hand above my elbow and tugged me off to the side. “Coffee will be down here.”

  He let go of my arm, and I finished fastening my bag, making sure everything was stuffed inside.

  “I’m so embarrassed.” I groaned. “I’ll never be able to come in here again.”

  The guy chuckled. “Half the people in this place are still zombies because they haven’t had their coffee yet. No one even noticed.”

  “You think?” I asked hopefully.

  His eyes settled on mine, and he smiled again. “Coffee’s up.” Reaching toward the counter, he picked up my iced coffee and held it out to me.

  “Thank you,” I said sincerely.

  Taking the cup over to a nearby bar, I set it down, popped off the lid, and added a few splashes of cream to the brew. After stirring it all in with my straw and putting the lid on, I turned to leave, nearly colliding with him.

  “Oh,” I gasped out. “You’re still here.”

  “Hope that’s okay.”

  “Of course,” I said, sipping some coffee.

  “Good?” he asked, watching me.

  I nodded.

  His hand settled near the base of my spine, guiding me through the growing line and back outside on the sidewalk.

  “Nora!” Valerie yelled from a distance, and I remembered we’d been on the phone. Quickly pulling it up again, I spoke into it. “I’m sorry, Val. I was ordering a coffee.”

  “I need details!” she insisted.

  The man who bought my coffee fell into step beside me, making me glance out of the corner of my eye.

  Clearing my throat, I spoke to Val. “I’ll call you tonight after work.”

  “You can’t make me wait all day—” Valerie began to protest, but I cut off the call and stuffed the cell into my bag.

  “Busy morning?” the guy asked.

  First Alan, then Carter… and now this guy. Were all men this nosy? Good Lord.

  I nodded. “Yes. I just started a summer internship, and—”

  “You’re new in town?”

  “Only been here a couple days.” I confirmed.

  Nodding, he said, “That explains why I haven’t seen you before.”

  Releasing the straw from between my teeth (I chew straws; it’s a bad habit), I asked, “You work around here, too?”

  “Just up the street.”

  “Well, thank you so much for the coffee. I’ll be sure to drink the whole thing so your money doesn’t go to waste.”