by Sandy Lynn
Sitting at her desk, she scrolled through her appointments. She’d made sure to ask Tina where she could get any possible prescriptions filled, including the one for birth control. Inside the pharmacy, she had stumbled and stuttered as people watched her. She had not been so embarrassed about getting a birth control prescription filled since she was seventeen. But there was something about the way the woman with purple eyes had looked at her. As though she knew what was going on in Stacy’s life.
Unfortunately, as with regular pills, she couldn’t start taking them until she got her period. The first Sunday after the first day of her period. And with all the stress she’d been under—and those encounters with Demetri—she didn’t see that happening anytime soon.
Stacy was jerked out of her thoughts when the phone beside her rang. Picking it up, she automatically answered “BSC, this is Stacy, how may we help you?” She was nervous, but hoped that her voice hid it.
“May I speak to Ms. Jones, please?”
“This is she,” she said wondering who could be calling her at work. Who had the number? Was it her doctor’s office? Was there something wrong with her? Did the tests come back with bad news? Had her asshole ex given her something, courtesy of his whore?
“Ms. Jones, it’s Marie from Mr. Edwards’s office. Would you hold for Mr. Edwards?”
Before she could accept or reject the idea, she heard the easy listening music that played as she was placed on hold.
“Great, my lawyer has someone else call me to put me on hold. He can’t even call me when he has a free moment himself.” Inside, Stacy knew she was really sulking because she didn’t want to admit how much she wanted to hear his voice. She was trying to ignore the sadness she’d felt because he hadn’t called her all weekend like she hoped he would.
“Or maybe he was trying to resist your charms,” Demetri said, startling her so badly she jumped. Looking up, she wondered, When did he enter the office? Do I need to put a bell around his neck?
Demetri continued, “Sadly, he seems to unable to help himself.”
“Why are you constantly sneaking up on me?” She wondered if her annoyance helped to hide just how happy she was to see him.
“I like catching you by surprise. I get to hear the most amazing things.”
Before she could respond, the secretary was on the line once again. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Jones. It seems Mr. Edwards has stepped out of the office. I’ll be sure to have him call you when he returns.” Stacy was dismissed as though she’d called the other woman rather than the other way around.
Hanging up the phone, she looked at the sexy werewolf in front of her. “Shouldn’t you let your office know before you disappear? It was quite rude of you to leave me on hold like that.”
He grinned. “I’ll be sure to make it up to you. You are, after all, a very important client.”
“I’m sure you say that to all your clients.”
“True. But usually I only mean I’ll take them to lunch.” The implications of what he was saying filled her body with heat. That only seemed to make his smile larger.
“And what—do I even want to know how you plan to make it up to me?”
“I’m not sure. I promise you’ll like it though. But before we get to pleasure...” He lingered on the last word as he took her hand in his own. “I must unfortunately discuss business with you.” He pulled her up from her chair and into his embrace.
Opening her mouth to ask him what he was doing, she received a kiss. His tongue plunged into her mouth once before he pulled back with a sigh.
“That’s what you call discussing business?” Stacy hoped she didn’t sound as dazed as she felt. If anything the time away from him had only increased his appeal. The complete opposite of what she’d prayed for. That was part of the reason she’d tried to get books telling her about the history of his pack.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Besides, what else did you expect when one of my pack’s allies calls me and tells me she met my new girlfriend?”
“I did not—I never said—” Damn, did he always have to make her blush? She took a deep breath and tried to ignore how incredible his hand felt resting on her hip. “I did not ever claim that I was your girlfriend. Nor did I know an ally of your pack worked at that bookstore.”
“Ah. Well, I’d love to know what you did say then, because she apologized and said you were very beautiful. She told me she hoped we were very happy together.”
“Look, I didn’t do anything but mention your name. I didn’t know what else to do. I went to the bookstore and they wouldn’t let me in the back. So I went back the next day and they still wouldn’t let me go to the real collection. I only mentioned that I might call you...”
He laughed. “You dropped my name rather than BSC. I guess I’m flattered.” He nuzzled her neck.
“No, I really was going to call you. I was hoping maybe you’d be able to come help me. But as soon as I mentioned your name, the woman practically shoved me into the back. How did she know I was talking about you?”
Demetri cleared his throat. “I don’t think—you know, you’d have gotten service the first day if you’d just admitted you were the new recruit here. I don’t think there’s a single person in our world who isn’t aware of BSC.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to just keep using my new position here to get what I want.”
“So you used me for that,” he teased. “Look, people will get to know you. It’s just going to take time. And until then, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You have to learn, and people will respect that you want to learn about us.”
“I—I panicked, okay?” Her head dropped. Straight onto his chest. “I really need to see my guru more than once a day. More like three or four times a day...”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it, Stacy. I was just teasing. I don’t mind that you used my name. I’m flattered, to be honest.” His arms wrapped around her and massaged her lower back slightly.
“No, it’s not fine. I shouldn’t have brought you into my problems. I just...” Shaking her head, she refused to admit she had wanted to see him. That she’d spent the weekend hoping he’d mysteriously gotten her cell number. That he would call her and ask if she wanted to do something. She couldn’t bring herself to call him Saturday night. It would’ve been too much like admitting they were dating.
Lifting her head, she cleared her throat. “You said you had business we need to discuss.” She pushed him away slightly.
“Party pooper.” Demetri straightened his tie. “It’s about your separation papers.”
“Good, did he sign them already? How soon can I be free?”
“He hasn’t signed them. He actually refuses to sign them. He called my office earlier and told me he wants to meet with you.”
“Why did he call your office?” He was right. Her party had been officially pooped on.
“I refused to give him your new address, telephone number or place of employment. So I simply listed my office as the point of contact.”
“I see.”
“I wanted to find out when—or if—you wanted to meet with him. I think he wants to negotiate.”
“Um, sure, I guess. I don’t have to meet him alone, do I?”
“Of course not. I’ll be there with you every minute.”
That thought did not comfort her. Not the way it should. Would she be able to handle being in a room with her ex and her lover?
“I was thinking one of the conference rooms here would be perfect.” Demetri didn’t have to add the rest of the statement for her to know what he was thinking. That way, if her ex got out of line, there would be plenty of people to fix it—and him.
“I don’t want him to know where I work. I don’t want him anywhere near here,” she protested. Nor did she want the temptation of being able to have him tortured. Or killed.
“He doesn’t have to know—”
“No. I’d—I’d be more comfortable having that particular meeting at your office. Please ask h
im to bring his lawyer.”
“As you wish. When would you like the meeting to happen?”
“As soon as possible. I want to get this over with as quickly as I can.”
Nodding, Demetri reached past her to grab the phone. Her body tingled where his arm brushed against her.
He dialed a number, then waited. “Marie,” he said after a pause. “What is my schedule for the rest of the week?” He was silent for a moment, nodding his head now and then. “Please contact Mr. Jones and let him know that the only time I have available is today at four. If he wishes to have a meeting with Ms. Jones, he will need to be in my office at that time. If he does not make it, I will take that as a sign from him that he has obtained a lawyer and I will see him in court. Thank you.” Demetri hung up the phone. “Does that work for you?” he whispered.
Stacy nodded, a lump in her throat.
“I guess the shoe is on the other foot now. I get to mediate for you. Let’s hope I’m even half as talented as you are at it.”
“Then I guess you should know I like French vanilla hot cocoa with two marshmallows.” She attempted to tease him, but was not sure her voice was steady enough to have the desired effect.
“You can be sure I’ll remember that.” His fingers worked at the top few buttons on her shirt. But since the action seemed so incredibly innocent when compared with what he could be doing, she didn’t protest. Her eyes closed in bliss when his lips found the spot on her shoulder, the edge of his bite mark. It felt incredibly erotic to feel his mouth pressed against her like that.
“Make sure you stop by your apartment,” he said against her skin. Change your clothes. Something very conservative, and no white shirts. I can see through them and you don’t want him seeing...” His tongue made a path from the bite to the hickey.
“That doesn’t give me much time.”
“No it doesn’t. So you should use what little time you have to your best advantage.” He pressed against her.
“You’re right. And I can’t do that with you here.” She softened her rejection by pressing her palm against his cheek. It felt prickly with a day or two’s worth of stubble. She wondered how it would feel rubbing against her thighs. Knowing this would be the last chance she had to be alone with Demetri before the meeting with her ex, Stacy gave in to her impulse.
Rising to her tiptoes, she kissed him, sucking his lower lip into her mouth and surprising him for a change. She let her emotions pour out of her and into that kiss. How much she’d missed seeing him over the weekend, and how much she wanted him at that moment. Pulling away she was pleased to see his dazed expression.
“I guess you should go, so I can get to work.”
“I really don’t want to.”
She didn’t want him to leave either. But she had to be an adult. And that meant pushing him away before they ‘christened’ her desk. “But you still need to.”
“I’ll see you later. Remember, conservative suit. Don’t forget the dark top and wear a skirt.”
Nodding, she waited until he was out of the door to sink down to her chair. Pulling out her cell phone, she pressed the number five and waited for it to connect her with her guru.
“Hello, Stacy. How are you feeling this morning? Did you have a relaxing weekend? Have you been practicing those breathing exercises I told you about?”
“I’ve tried Savon. But I need to schedule two appointments with you.”
“Two?” Her guru sounded confused.
“Both for this afternoon. One from about one-thirty until three, and another for after my meeting...”
“This is going to be a very important meeting then?”
“Yes. I have to be in a room with the man I’m trying to get divorced from,” she refused to call him her husband any longer, “and my lover.”
Stacy’s palm forcibly met her forehead. “Lawyer. I meant to say lawyer. Lawyer, not lover. Because if he were my lover that would be wrong. And well, I certainly would never...and if I did I’d hope I could be discreet enough that I didn’t just proclaim it to the world. Did I mention he’s my lawyer?”
“Sweetie...Let’s make that from one until three. And I’ll clear my afternoon.”
* * * * * *
Over two hours after her first meeting of the day with Savon, Stacy did not feel calm. Or centered, or relaxed, or any of the other things she should be feeling. And she was running late.
She’d rushed into her apartment and changed, heeding Demetri’s advice. She pulled on black thigh high hose and a black skirt that came to her knees before putting her boots on. Then, walking back over to her closet, she pulled out a crimson blouse that she thought would look perfect. Unfortunately, while it was dark enough to cover her hickey, it wasn’t conservative enough. She could still see the edges of the mark, and more of it when she leaned over.
She went through about five tops before settling on a navy blue silk shirt that luckily could be buttoned all the way to her neck. She put on a nice, decorative necklace before folding down the collar.
The only downside to that particular top was part of the bite on her shoulder was visible. It was, however, the only thing visible, and with only ten minutes to make the twenty-minute drive to Demetri’s office, Stacy decided a shawl would just have to suffice. She sighed. Not even the weather could cooperate with her and allow her to wear a jacket without looking too suspicious. Damn heat wave.
When she arrived at the office, she was only a few minutes late. She wanted to smirk when she saw Thomas sitting in the lobby, clearly being forced to wait. She was slightly surprised to see he was alone, but didn’t have time to ponder it. As soon as Marie saw her, Stacy was ushered back to Demetri’s office before her ex could say a single word to her.
“Very nice,” Demetri complimented her. “Now, shall we go to the conference room and get this over with?”
“Please.”
He pressed a button on his phone. “Marie, please show Mr. Jones to conference room two.”
“Right away, sir.”
Demetri stood up and walked around his desk. Holding out his hand, he helped Stacy stand up and placed his palm against her lower back.
“You really do look quite tempting.”
“I’m almost completely covered up,” she told him shocked.
“The better to unwrap you, my dear.” He winked at her. The second his office door was opened, he stopped touching her in any way. He seemed to lose all humor and appeared to be all business.
Thomas was sitting on one side of a rather large conference table when they entered the room.
A true gentleman, Demetri held a chair out for her on the opposite side of the table. “I believe I asked you to bring your lawyer, Mr. Jones,” he stated as he sat down.
“Stacy, I want to work things out with you. This paperwork is ridiculous. I mean, really, a divorce? After...” He paused long enough for her to wonder if he even remembered how long they had been married. “After so many years?”
“Please refrain from speaking that way to my client,” Demetri said. Unlike when they were alone or at BSC, he didn’t growl. But she could still hear it under the forced civility.
“Shut up. This is between me and my wife. Listen, it never bothered you before when—”
“Please do not speak to my lawyer that way,” she interrupted him. “I have complete respect for him.” When she pointed to the pitcher of water positioned beside Demetri, he immediately poured her a glass.
As always, Thomas ignored that she’d spoken at all. “What’s going on? You’ve changed so much. Your hair, your clothes...What happened to your shoulder?”
Stacy had begun to take a sip of the cool liquid when he asked the last question. She quickly placed her hand in front of her mouth to keep from spraying everyone and everything with the water.
Coughing, she saw a curious look on Demetri’s face as the men in the room seemed intent on waiting for her answer. “Bad puppy,” she told them before quickly lifting her glass again.
The look on Demetri’s face was priceless, for the entire half of a second it was allowed to show. Thomas, however, still looked confused.
“You got a puppy? When? And those marks look like they were made by a full sized dog...”
“Not that it’s any business of yours, but a friend of mine has a...dog. Well, he still thinks he’s a puppy. We were playing and he got a little rough. Now, back to the matter at hand.”
“Yes, that would be wise,” Demetri was clearly not amused at her calling him a bad puppy. But she liked the nickname. She’d have to start using it. That brought a smile to her face and helped her relax slightly.
“I told you stay the hell out of this. This is between me and my wife. Stacy, do we really have to have this jerk in here while we talk?”
“Unfortunately, I’ve been told you have to be in here while discussing the separation papers. Otherwise, the jerk would be out of this room and my lawyer and I could get some work done.”
Thomas stared at her. “What has gotten into you?”
“What are you talking about?” She started to take another sip of her water, but thought better about it.
“This isn’t you.”
“Yes, actually, I think it is. This is me without you talking down to me for expressing interests you don’t agree with. This is me without anyone to tell me I’m being ridiculous. This is me figuring out what I want for myself. And I think I like it. I know I certainly do love not having to bury my head in the sand because I can’t admit to myself that you are some jerk who doesn’t deserve me.”
Thomas stared at her with his mouth open.
Straightening in her chair, she squared her shoulders and pressed onward. “And if you refuse to sign the divorce papers...” What could she bluff with? She was just as guilty as he was of having an extramarital affair.
Thankfully Demetri picked up where she left off. “We have pictures of you and your mistress. You really should learn to be more discreet in your affairs.”
Stacy watched as Demetri opened a folder he had placed in front of him. She only barely glimpsed the pictures as her lawyer slid them over to Thomas, and for that she was grateful. She may not want him any longer, but that didn’t mean his blatant affair didn’t still sting.