One Wild Kiss

by Jessica Lemmon

  He’d passed away over a month ago and had been cremated per his wishes. According to his family, funeral plans were “forthcoming.” Joe, as it turned out, had arranged those plans before he passed away. He’d selected a group of friends and family to attend an intimate but luxe party at a resort in Lake Tahoe. He’d covered the expenses for guest rooms and had prearranged an itinerary and catering. The lush surprise was so...him.

  The last time she’d seen Joe had been around Christmas. It had broken her heart to see him so frail, and it’d broken his heart for her to see him that way, too. Don’t you dare come back here, Addi, he’d told her. I don’t want you to remember me like this.

  She’d swallowed tears she’d promised not to shed while sitting next to him. They’d drifted apart—and hadn’t hung out in years—but he’d meant a lot to her. Losing someone was hard. Losing someone she’d known and cared for as long as she’d known and cared for Joe had seemed insurmountable.

  It wouldn’t surprise her if that visit had been what turned up the volume on her crush on Bran. She’d mentioned her boss to Joe at the time, if only to change the subject. Joe had encouraged her to “go for it.” But he had lived a big, brave life thanks to a family that was drowning in money and eagerly showered it on him. She’d reasoned it was easier to be brave when there was a few billion in the bank.

  Receiving the invitation to his life celebration had brought the grief of that December day back in an instant. Addi was a private person. She reserved messy emotions for when she was alone. If Bran’s attention hadn’t been so welcome, she might’ve been embarrassed about carrying on like that at work.

  She shut her eyes against the memory of how great Bran had smelled sitting so close. Like mountain pine and citrus—

  That’s enough.

  Operation Get Over Him was a new endeavor, but an important one. Focusing on her independence would fortify her job, which would keep her housed and well-fed, as well as heal her heart.

  The upcoming trip to Lake Tahoe would bring closure to another wound in her past—she hadn’t seen Joe’s parents since she stopped working for Hart Media, and as a result royally pissed off her own parents. While a resolution with her parents was too much to count on, maybe the Harts would surprise her.

  After a quick call to the inn where Joe’s life celebration was being held, she learned that her room had been reserved, the cost covered. Travel was easy since the lake was a four-hour drive away. A trip even her questionably reliable car could handle.

  Onward.

  Satisfied that at least her personal life was moving forward, she jotted the trip into her planner. The only thing left to do was schedule her time out of the office and a temp to fill her chair for a few days.

  A long weekend celebration was a perfect sendoff for Joe, and the perfect time to bury her crush on Brannon Knox.

  Out of sight, out of mind and all that.

  Four

  In a traffic-clogged lane on the freeway, Addison worried her lip with her teeth as she watched a trail of smoke snake out from under the hood of her hatchback. She was no mechanic, but she guessed that smoke coming from any part of her car was bad.

  She was twenty minutes into her trip with several hours to go. She just needed a little bit of luck. She shut off the air-conditioning, hoping that taking the AC out of the equation would encourage her antique car to complete its journey as far as the next exit, but her beloved rust bucket jerked forward one final time before wheezing and, ultimately, stalling.

  Lady Luck had given her the finger.

  Honks sounded in the air, along with a few choice swear words from her fellow commuters. Like she decided to break down? She was tempted to shout back at them. Something to the effect of, “Oh, you know, just taking a breather here in the far right lane!” Instead she bit her tongue, grateful that she’d managed to steer onto the shoulder at least partially.

  Her entire morning had been frustrating.

  She’d forgotten to halt her mail and discovered this morning that the post office’s website was down. So she’d physically driven to the post office and waited in line and then filled out one of those stupid forms. As a result, her planned departure from River Grove at 10:00 a.m. had been delayed two hours.

  And now this.

  Well. She was going to have to call for help.

  Her parents weren’t an option and hadn’t been for some time. Discussion of a broken-down car would lead them to remind her how if she’d stayed “at Joe’s family’s company,” she’d not only have reliable transportation but also would have funded her retirement by now. She guessed they still held her responsible for the fracture in their relationship with the Harts, but Addi refused to take the blame. She’d worked hard to get where she was in life. Her parents might not give her credit for thriving without their money or connections, but she was proud of herself.

  She typed tow trucks Silicon Valley into her phone. Approximately six million options popped up on the screen. How was she supposed to know who was reliable? Who wouldn’t overcharge her? Who would be the fastest?

  She debated for the count of three drivers who sped past and flipped her off before calling the most logical person. If there was a silver lining for this crappy day, it was that her car had chosen to croak ten miles from ThomKnox headquarters.

  “Mr. Brannon Knox’s office, may I help you?” answered the temp currently stationed at Addi’s desk.

  “Hi, this is Addison Abrams, Brannon’s executive assistant. Is he available?”

  “One moment.”

  A brief pause later, Bran’s silky voice was caressing her ear canal. “Couldn’t stay away, I see.”

  “My car broke down. I was hoping you could recommend a towing company.” She rattled off the nearest exit and then had to repeat herself when some jerk swerved around her, horn blaring.

  “What the hell was that? Are you okay?”

  “Apparently it’s frowned upon to have car trouble on the 80.”

  “You realize you could wait an hour or two for a tow truck to arrive, and that’s optimistic.”

  She grunted. “That sounds about right for today.”

  “I’ll pick you up myself.”

  He’d...what?

  “Oh, no. I didn’t mean for—”

  “Addison.” Those three sternly spoken syllables locked her throat. “Sit tight. I’m coming for you.”

  * * *

  Congratulations! You’ve just unlocked another Brannon Knox fantasy badge.

  Her car’s hood was up, Bran’s upper half hidden under it. His suit jacket was tossed over the front seat of his shiny red sports car, which he’d parked in front of her car and off to the side. A tow truck was on its way, but he’d insisted on having a look himself. Before this moment, she would’ve bet her life savings that Bran didn’t have a clue about cars. Why would he? He was a billionaire. Everything was probably done for him.

  But no, of course he knew enough to climb on in and make another of her sexual fantasies about him bloom to life. He pulled this wire and that, checked a dipstick here and twisted a cap there. All while she admired the ropey muscles of his forearms and the way his white shirt stuck to the muscles of his back thanks to a damp pool of sweat.

  He cranked something or another, grunting with exertion while she silently lectured her lady parts. Him attempting to resuscitate a vehicle was hands down the sexiest thing she’d ever seen him do. There was no desk hiding his long legs, encased in charcoal trousers and leading up to a spectacular ass. She’d always admired Bran’s backside, and now she could do it without worry of being caught.

  She wrenched her eyes from his amazing physique to watch those hands twisting and tightening. The longer hair on top of his head fell over his forehead, sweat trickled down his face as he grimaced with effort. Her gaze wandered south of its own accord as she pictured him exerting himself elsewhere, sam
e sweat, same hair on his forehead, only he’d be over top of her. Or beneath her.

  Oh, yes.

  “Well.” He emerged from under the hood and she jerked her attention from his butt. “Your radiator’s shot. Probably more than the radiator, but that part I know for sure.” There was an oil streak on his face and his hair was more rumpled than usual.

  Sexxxxy.

  The meager progress she’d made getting over him had suffered a major setback thanks to this circumstance. Heaven help her.

  He dropped the hood with a bang and wiped his hands on what looked like an expensive pocket square. It was paisley—silk, she’d bet. Not to mention the shirt that stretched over his ample chest, covering three-quarters of those capable arms, was ruined as well.

  “Your wardrobe is shot. You’ll have to take it out of my paycheck.”

  He grinned and she nearly swooned on the side of the freeway. “Sounds like me. Help out a damsel in distress and then dock her pay. What kind of a guy would I be if I let you fend for yourself?”

  “A practical one?”

  Her reward was his husky laugh that made her ankles tremble. Interestingly enough, no one had yelled at her since Brannon arrived. It was as if they understood they were in the presence of power.

  “Come on, I’ll give you a ride to the office.”

  She retrieved her purse from her front seat while he transferred her luggage to the trunk of his incredibly shiny car.

  “Is this new?” she asked as she sank into the butter-soft leather passenger seat. She could swear she’d never seen this car before.

  “Very new. She’s one day old. Had her delivered last night.” He settled in the driver’s seat, picked his moment and smoothly pulled into traffic. “I haven’t been able to drive her anywhere but work, but I’m itching to take her out.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  He put his foot on the gas and the engine growled, sending tingles through her feet and up her legs.

  “You were headed to Tahoe, right?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “For a reunion.”

  He wasn’t technically wrong, so she nodded. “How long do you think it’ll take for my car to be repaired?”

  “Hard to say. Depends on whether the mechanic has the parts he needs, and if he has five cars in front of yours or fifty.”

  Her shoulders sagged. That piece of crap car was her only means of transportation. And if repairing it cost more than the vehicle’s worth—a probability—she’d have to go through the hassle of buying a new one.

  “Why are you driving a car in that bad a shape, anyway? Tell me it’s not because I don’t pay you enough.”

  “No! Oh my gosh. Not at all.” He took very good care of her in the money department. “It’s... I keep it for sentimental reasons.”

  “Really?” His dubious expression said what he didn’t. How could she be sentimental over such an ugly hunk of metal?

  “That car was the first big purchase I made with my own money.” She’d hunted countless dealerships and sifted through online classifieds. She’d taken care of the transaction herself. It’d been scary at first, but then enthralling. That was the day she knew that she didn’t have to be scooped under her parents’ wings to make it in life. That she was capable of surviving on her own.

  Though she’d sort of been scooped up under Bran’s wing today. It was past time to reclaim that plucky woman who had ventured off on her own. To be as independent as she’d once been.

  “I remember my first car,” he said wistfully.

  “Was it a Maserati?”

  “Maybe.” He flashed her a quick smile and she had to laugh. “When do you need to arrive in Tahoe?”

  “My reservations are for tonight.”

  “You should take a jet. You’d be there before you know it.”

  Sure. She’d just charter a jet.

  “I don’t fly. But thank you.”

  “You don’t fly?” One judgmental eyebrow climbed his forehead.

  “No. I don’t fly. I like the wheels touching the road at all times during my commute.” Feeling more and more like a problem he had to solve, she asked, “Can you drop me at a car rental place? There has to be one nearby.”

  She’d arrive later than she wanted—way later—but at least she’d be there.

  “Why don’t I take you?”

  “What? No. I mean, no, thank you,” she added, not wanting to sound ungrateful. “I wouldn’t dream of putting you out.”

  “Did I not say I needed to take this car on a road trip? This is the perfect excuse for me to spend some time with her.” He stroked the dashboard and gave the car a gentle pat. Then he slid Addi a wink and she melted into the interior.

  “B-but you’ll have to drive back. Won’t you be tired?”

  “I’ll grab a room. Wouldn’t hurt to have a night away. Maybe you can take a break from your family and grab a drink or dinner with me. It’ll be fun.”

  Fun? She might die if she spent four-plus hours in the car with a winking, eyebrow-raising Brannon who had a smudge of oil on his cheek.

  He slid over three lanes of traffic with barely any effort, ignoring a blaring car horn when he did. Pedal to the floor, he whipped around a truck and opened up the engine.

  “Gotta love turbo,” he said over the feral growl. “Give me ten minutes to change and pack and we’ll be on our way.” He slanted her a look, seeking permission. “Okay?”

  “What about the office...”

  “I’m a big boy. I can take off work to deliver my valuable assistant safely to Lake Tahoe. Unless you don’t want to hang out with me.” His tone was more of a dare than a question. “Am I skeevy? Is that it?”

  “That’s not it. Stop making fun of me!” She nudged his arm and felt the hard muscle there as he shifted gears. Touching him casually wasn’t her norm. He felt like a solid wall. A very warm, solid wall. Whew. Was it hot in here? She fiddled with the vent and aimed the AC at her face.

  “You’re very hard to treat. I practically had to beg to take you out for coffee on Monday morning. Now you’re going to make me beg to let me drive you to Tahoe when the very thing you need and want most is travel to Tahoe?”

  Oh trust me, that’s not what I want most.

  But she couldn’t refuse him. This sexy billionaire with a healthy dash of confidence was her undoing.

  “Say thank you, Addi.”

  “Thank you, Addi,” she said with an eye roll.

  “That’s more like it.” He adjusted the vent in front of her. “Better?”

  The best. Watching his fingers press the temperature control nearly gave her an orgasm. She really needed to get out more.

  “A-as long as you’re sure I’m not interrupting any of your plans.”

  “Nah,” he said as he weaved around a line of cars and angled for an exit. “I don’t have any plans tonight.”

  Five

  Nothing that can’t be canceled, Bran amended.

  His date with Tammie was tonight—something he’d remembered, oh, about thirty seconds ago. She’d forgive him. Probably.

  Addi crossed her legs primly, one calf sliding over the other, one sexy wedge heel stacked on the other. In the tight confines of his new car, those legs looked a mile long. Long enough to make his breaths shorten and his mind wander. Was it any wonder she’d wiggled into his fantasies?

  He’d gone back and forth deciding if she had a boyfriend, but this situation had given him the definitive no he’d suspected. If Ad was dating someone, she’d have called him, not Bran. And no decent guy would let her drive that rattletrap of a car, either. Unless she’d started dating the barista. Who knew what Ken would allow her to do? Bran wrinkled his nose.

  Leaving Addison standing alone in the middle of the highway was not an option. She could be hit by an oncoming truck, or hit on by the
tow truck driver. Anything could happen to a beautiful woman in the center of the freeway. He understood that she liked to rely on herself, a quality he respected. He had no problem with a strong woman. But she had to know when to let someone take care of her. Today he’d had the time, the means and the inclination to pick her up. He’d have done it for anyone.

  But driving her to Tahoe? That wasn’t something he’d have done for just anyone.

  That was something he’d offered to do for Addi. And why is that?

  Why didn’t he arrange a rental car for her instead? Why didn’t he talk her into taking the corporate jet? Why did he insist on delivering her personally to safety?

  Because we’re friends.

  Because she’s a valuable employee.

  Because I want her to know she can count on me.

  Damn.

  He’d never thought of himself as having a white knight complex, but that last reason was a touch more honest than the other two. When he’d offered to drive her to Lake Tahoe, her shoulders had dropped from their position under her ears. Setting her at ease was enough, even if they never closed the chasm between them.

  The offer of dinner tonight was as casual as the coffee the other day, he further defended. But it wouldn’t stay that way if he kept eyeing her legs.

  He was fairly certain he’d felt an answering sexual awareness the moment they settled into the bucket seats of his car. Despite her saying she wasn’t interested in him, he’d felt that bolt of lightning when she’d touched him. He had a hard time believing that zap only went one way.

  Regardless. He wasn’t pursuing her. The two things he’d focus on during this road trip were not Addi’s legs. That would be safe travels and the new girl in his life: his Misano Red Audi RS 7 Sportback.

  There.

  Now that he’d justified that half to death...