by Lisa Hughey
Her hair was silky against his fingers. He treated her mouth like he was tasting a treasured dessert. Her fingers tightened on his knee. And all he could think about was her sliding that hand up his thigh and into the loose leg of his shorts.
His cock hardened even though the kiss was sweet more than sexy.
But the moment was fraught with an unexpected tension.
Wanting her to let him keep exploring, to open further, RJ allowed his eyes to drift closed.
Her other hand came up to grip his wrist, not stopping him but holding on as if she were as affected by the kiss as he was.
He felt like he was coming home.
The world had stopped spinning, everything held still, and the sense of rightness that descended over him was surprising, and slightly unsettling.
He was about to pull back when she let out this moan, soft, but clearly unscripted.
Her tank top gaped enticingly, the silky mint fabric revealing the shadowed valley between her gorgeous breasts.
He threaded his fingers through the soft hair at her nape and tugged her closer. They rose to their knees, their lips still fused together, while their embrace grew more frantic. The air sizzled with attraction. He’d never wanted someone the way he wanted her. Never wanted to break through the way he wanted to break through with her.
Instead, Sherry broke away from him.
Her hair had come out of the ponytail and tumbled around her face like a halo. Her lips were puffy from their kisses. And her chest heaved in time with his.
His erection brushed the hollow of her belly, and they both moaned.
“That was….”
“Amazing,” RJ said. “We should do it again.”
She froze. “A mistake.”
“Nothing that explosive, that good, is a mistake.”
Chapter 5
Her face felt brittle, her smile too tight. Because that slightly insecure man from a moment ago was gone. Back in place was the cocky, slightly obnoxious guy she’d hooked up with last year. “What are you talking about?”
She had a feeling she knew, but she wanted him to spell it out for her.
“You, me, a weekend camp hookup.” He grinned, his teeth blindingly white against his bronze skin, his overlong hair flopping over his forehead and his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief, as if he’d just pulled off the most glorious prank.
Sherry’s insides went cold.
Even in the humid morning sunlight, she shivered.
And there was his reason for apologizing. He wanted to get her into bed.
“It’s perfect. I’ll be busy during the day.” He ran his fingers down her forearm. “But at night we can pick up where we left off.”
“Where we left off.”
“Sure. There’s no worry about a misunderstanding or question about motives.”
Motives. As if having sex with her was some sort of crime.
RJ continued, unintentionally hammering at her psyche and her convictions. “We already know each other.”
Translation: He already knew he had no interest in her beyond a weekend hookup. And you know, maybe last year that would have worked. But not anymore.
“I don’t think we know each other as well as you think.”
Her heart hurt. Literally felt as if it were cracking in two. Which was dumb. He didn’t really know her. He just assumed she was out for whatever she could get. Maybe that had been true a year ago, but she’d changed. She was working on herself, loving herself. And hooking up with him would set her back…months.
“We have incredible chemistry.”
They did. But that wasn’t enough.
Her face was frozen in a grimace. She was trying to smile but it hurt. Everything hurt. And yeah, maybe she’d brought this upon herself, but she’d changed. She had.
“No one has to know.”
Another translation: He didn’t want anyone to know.
She didn’t say a word. Couldn’t.
And finally he seemed to be getting that she wasn’t thrilled about his suggestion. His brow crinkled.
Sherry got to her feet, her limbs stiff and awkward as if she’d aged a hundred years in the past minute. “Thanks for the offer, but—”
“Wait.” He jumped to his feet. “You’re seriously turning me down?”
“Apparently I am.” She wished she felt better. But the truth was she was as broken again as when she’d figured out that she was twenty-eight and just spent her entire life savings to bail herself out of trouble of her own making.
She’d come to understand that her actions had hurt more than just herself. Maybe she hadn’t tempted Jeffrey into adultery, but their relationship had hurt his wife and his daughters. When she put herself in their shoes, guilt had struck hard.
The situation with RJ was different. He didn’t have a wife or a girlfriend. So her newly established moral code wasn’t in jeopardy.
RJ reached for her and she danced away from his hands. If he touched her again, she might cave. And she wanted to have more self-worth than that.
She didn’t want to be a temporary fling.
Apparently that’s all she was ever good for. No forever for her, just someone to hide away and take out when convenient. She’d spent a year not being that girl and she wasn’t going to regress now.
She whirled around and fled down the path, not caring that she looked like she was running away. Because of course she was.
RJ stood in the clearing, stared down at the cheerful green-and-white striped towel she’d abandoned, and wondered what just happened. It seemed simple to him.
But he’d hurt her.
He frowned. He wasn’t sure how. They had a powerful attraction. He knew she was attracted to him. That was pretty clear. He knew all about her, knew her history. She was attracted to him. Not just to his money and position. He knew because she’d had sex with him last year when he’d been significantly lower on the corporate ladder. So what happened?
He was under no illusions about Sherry. If anything his increased standing as CEO should have made him more attractive but she hadn’t even hesitated to turn him down. So what the fuck?
Why did the woman known for her affinity for CEOs run any time things got the slightest bit personal with him?
Her behavior was confusing. The puzzle of Sherry Washington bothered him as he watched her run away from their flirty interaction. The flamboyant, mercenary woman he’d known before had morphed into someone softer, more vulnerable, which was a word he’d never thought to apply to Sherry Washington.
That nagging ache that had haunted him last night returned. He knew her. Knew her MO, how she approached life and men. Knew that if they hooked up, that he’d know exactly where he stood. He didn’t have to wonder because of her history. Maybe he could still convince her to put aside whatever was holding her back and take a chance on him.
His chubby reminded him that while she’d left, his body still hadn’t gotten the message. Guess it was the lake for him.
The cold water would shrink his dick and maybe give him some perspective, clear his big head.
He flipped his wrist, noted the time on his watch. Still early. Check-in for the retreat wasn’t until noon.
RJ took a dip in the lake, and then he worked all morning. He contacted the company accountant on Sherry’s behalf, and thought about confiding in her, but decided to wait until everything had cleared through the company system.
A few hours later, RJ walked into the welcome tent where checkered flag pennants dangled from the metal support structure. A banner with the Ramos CAR logo and a giant Welcome Back to Camp Firefly Falls hung over the registration table with the tagline Let the games begin.
He’d chosen a competitive racing theme, MACH 1—which stood for Multi-Adventure Challenge—for the retreat. His love of competitive racing evident in the small touches. The first day and a half were going to be a mix of team-building exercises and round table discussions about how to improve the efficiency of the various departments.<
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Sherry sat behind the folding table with a checklist on a clipboard and a pen. She was back to her standard appearance, like a coat of armor—perfectly made up, sparkling eye shadow, thick brown eyelashes, and lips that glistened with a high gloss. She wore a polo shirt with khaki shorts, Adidas tennis shoes, and little white anklet socks that made him want to kiss his way from her delicate ankles to the tops of her toned, tanned thighs.
He needed to apologize, and he strode toward her with purpose.
Before he could get to her, Zin shot in front of him. “What are you doing?”
“What’s it to you?”
Jesus, they sounded like they were teenagers again. He loved his sister but sometimes her flair for drama made him want to run in the other direction. “Wait, back up. Sorry.”
She frowned at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I saw you looking at her,” Zin said.
“There’s no law against looking at a woman.”
“I don’t like it.”
RJ was slightly amused. “You don’t have to like it.”
“Don’t be taken in by her wiles,” she hissed.
“Wiles?” He laughed. “Where are we, in Victorian England?” But as he took in the expression on Zin’s face, he realized she’d hate to learn that they had hooked up last summer. He and Sherry had managed to keep that on the down low.
He, because at the time it might have jeopardized the potential merger between Ramos Classic Auto Restoration and her boss’s company, London Automotive. He’d always assumed she’d kept quiet because she’d been doing her boss—her older, married boss.
“She’s up to something.”
“She’s working, Zin.”
“I still don’t trust her.” She squinted her eyes, staring out at the lake.
“I don’t know why.”
“I really wish she wasn’t here. I don’t want her upsetting Penny.”
“Penny?” Now he was confused. “What does Penny have to do with our corporate retreat?”
Zin blinked, hesitated. “Jeffrey London was a complete dick to Penny last year. It was awful.”
“Sherry is not her ex-boss.”
“I know that. But I still don’t want anything upsetting Penny or Diego.”
“What do you care? They’re together. They’re happy.”
“She’s trouble.”
He didn’t disagree.
But she was trouble of the best kind. He’d spent the morning going over their interaction. He still needed to apologize, but he’d also tried to figure out why she’d rejected him. So that he could try again to convince her his idea was a good one.
He’d tensed, unbelievably invested in the idea.
“You’ve got to relax a little.” Zin prodded him.
“I’ll relax after this weekend.”
“You and me both,” she muttered. “I’ve got to confirm some…stuff with Heather.”
RJ put a hand on Zin’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course.” She shrugged out of his grip. “It’s just some adjustments to the menu.”
“Okay, good.” RJ relaxed. “By the way, where are the meeting agendas?”
She waved a hand. “Michael is bringing them.”
“You aren’t going to set them out?”
“Chill, RJ. It will get done.” And she hightailed it out of the tent.
He had no idea why his sister was so stressed but with her occupied with Heather Tully, RJ sauntered toward Sherry. He had an apology to deliver before his employees arrived.
“Hey.”
“Hello,” she said stiffly.
“I need to apologize.”
Her gaze slid away, toward the front of the tent—he could practically see her wish to escape. “No apology necessary.” But she’d yet to actually look him in the eye.
“Sherry.” Her startled gaze shot to his. Had he never called her by her name? “I’m sorry.”
Her luscious mouth firmed. And she nodded shortly.
He seemed to be saying that a lot around her. Another anomaly as he didn’t usually apologize, because he usually had nothing to apologize for.
She was busy with the clipboard, checking off notes and handing him a wristband in Ralleye Green, the same color as the official Ramos CAR logo.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” This was probably the worst place and time for an apology, but her response had been weighing on him all morning. RJ wanted to reach for her. To touch her. If they were skin to skin it might relieve this low level of anxiety, this feeling that he was letting something important slip away.
“Don’t worry about it.”
But he could tell she wasn’t really over it. It would help if he understood why she was upset. And he felt like he was missing out on something special. They were missing out. He’d respect her wishes, but he couldn’t help but ask one more time….
“I just think that we have something worth exploring.” For the weekend at least.
“For a weekend.” As if she had read his mind. “You aren’t interested in anything but a fling.”
That was true, and yet…voicing aloud the things tumbling around in his brain was a bad idea.
“Well, if you reconsider, I’m here.”
“So I’m supposed to be what…your dirty little secret?”
When she put it like that, it sounded bad. That wasn’t what he’d meant. He just didn’t want her to catch any flak from the Tullys.
And he remembered Zin’s disapproval. She had glared at Sherry, not him. RJ really didn’t get why she blamed Sherry for last year’s debacle with Jeffrey London, but it was clear his sister didn’t have any sympathy for Sherry.
He wouldn’t expose Sherry to his sister’s irrational hatred. “I wouldn’t put it exactly that way but—”
She snorted. And before he could clarify, Michael Tully stepped into the tent and gestured to RJ. He needed to get into his CEO zone. This retreat was important. The most important weekend of his career so far. “Excuse me. I’ve got to confirm some details with Michael. Make sure everything is on track for today,” RJ said.
Michael strode over to RJ. “Nice to see you.”
RJ shook the other man’s hand. Michael had given up a lucrative practice in the city to run a summer camp for adults. RJ totally didn’t get it.
“We’ve got a small problem.” Michael handed RJ a limp piece of paper.
“What?”
“Someone apparently spilled soda on the box with the meeting agendas.” Michael frowned. “None of the employees have confessed to the accident.”
It should have been a minor thing, but RJ wanted everything to be perfect. “Damn.”
“Don’t worry. We’re going to print new ones and get them done before your employees arrive,” Michael said. “But I need the document. A flash drive will do it. Or a connection to your laptop.”
“Zin should have it.”
“I just saw her leave camp with Heather. They were headed to the florist.”
The florist? Jeez. They didn’t need flowers…they needed actionable plans to implement to take Ramos CAR to the next level.
RJ glanced at his watch. His employees would be arriving in less than an hour. Shit. They needed to check in and stow their bags in their cabins, but he’d wanted the agendas handed out with the wristbands and room keys.
He should have had backups with him. But Zin had given him the hard copies at the office.
“What about on your laptop?” Michael asked.
“I don’t have any docs on my laptop.” And Zin had left hers at the office. She’d argued that she could use RJ’s if she needed to access the company files. There had to be a way to get to the files. But of course he wasn’t exactly sure where she kept the original documents. They might be in his Dropbox account.
RJ dialed Zin and listened to her phone ring. No answer. He opened his laptop and booted up. But the connection was spotty.
“We need to go up to
the lodge,” Michael said regretfully. “Part of coming to camp is disconnecting from the distractions of business and regular life. So the lodge has the only solid connection. Come on, you can get online there.” Michael started to lead RJ away from the tent. “You any good at typing?”
“It’s going to take all the time we’ve got.”
“You need help?” Sherry asked from behind him. Great. Nothing like having his first glitch exposed by a woman who wanted nothing to do with him. So much for impressing everyone.
RJ ran his fingers through his hair. He tilted his head back and blew out a breath. “Small snafu with my meeting agendas. We need to type up new ones in the next forty-five minutes.”
“I can type them up for you.”
RJ dropped his hands. “You’d do that?”
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
He could only adapt and overcome quickly with help. Which was one of the hardest lessons he’d had to learn as CEO. To delegate.
“Sure.” Her face had softened. “I’m happy to—” as if she realized who she was talking to, and what he’d done to hurt her, she took a small step back “—do my job.”
Michael patted Sherry on the shoulder. “That would be great. I’m mostly hunt and peck.”
“Thanks for doing this,” RJ said grudgingly. He hated to rely on Sherry for help.
He was supposed to be in charge. To handle the problems as they arose. Give him a supply chain issue or a collections problem or a disagreement between employees and he’d have a solution in a few hours, instead he’d been taken down by a can of soda and some limp paper.
Chapter 6
Sherry sat at the cluttered desk in the office at the main lodge, and after RJ keyed in his password, someone’s birthday based on the digits, she transcribed the ruined agenda.
She should have kept her mouth shut. But she’d seen that glimpse of uncertainty again. He covered it up fast, but she knew from their earlier conversation that he wanted a win this weekend.
And fool that she was, she wanted to soothe that worry within him.
He’d hurt her feelings and she still wanted to ease his burdens. That was stupid. Foolish. Her mama always said, Look out for yourself, no one else is going to do it. So she was well aware that everyone looked out for number one.