That little comment had pretty much ensured I’d be having a meeting with HR in the very near future that I was not looking forward to, but at the same time, she’d managed to completely update my calendar — something no assistant I’d ever worked with had been able to do — draft three motions, reworked a handful of conference calls that I’d managed to accidentally double book while drowning between assistants, and was currently setting up the filing system so all archived cases would be strictly paperless. God knew just how much time that would free up in the future for anyone that needed to go back and reference old case material.
The woman was a force to be reckoned with but had a personality that would more than likely make grown men piss their pants. Christ knew there’d been a few times today she shot me a look that had me scrambling to cover my balls.
My intercom buzzed, causing me to cringe as I reached into my desk drawer for a bottle of ibuprofen. “Yeah?” I asked after pushing the button.
Devon’s voice came through the line crystal clear. “Yeah, there’s a dude out here claiming he’s related to you, and based on the fact he looks like he could be your clone, I’m guessing he’s not lying.”
I rolled my eyes, thinking that I didn’t have time for Rowan’s shit today when I hit the buzzer and answered, “Send him in.” Only to get a snarky, “What, are your legs broken?” in return.
I stood and walked from behind my desk, silently making a bet with myself that Devon wouldn’t last longer than a week before I strangled her, just as the sound of raucous laughter echoed through my closed office door seconds before it opened and Devon walked in followed by a man I was actually happy to see.
“I like your assistant, cuz. She’s sexy and doesn’t take any shit.”
I felt myself smile in spite of the headache pounding behind my eyeballs as I laughed and held my arms out, pulling my cousin Collin into a back-slapping hug. “What are you doing here, man?” I asked as I pulled back. “I thought you weren’t coming in for the wedding for another two weeks.”
“Change of plans.” Collin grinned. “The firm transferred me to the New York office. Looks like I’ll be living in the same zip code as the rest of you assholes, now.”
“Firm?” Devon asked from behind us. “Are you a lawyer too?”
“Nah, gorgeous,” Collin answered, shooting her a wink that made the women of Boston salivate. Devon wasn’t lying when she said he looked just like me. Hell, all of us Locklaine men were damn near spitting images of each other. Only real difference with Collin was that he was the only one with brown hair and eyes. “I’m an architect.”
“Cool,” she said with a nod.
I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet, sliding my credit card out of its slot. “Devon, would you mind running out and getting us some coffee? There’s a Starbucks just a block away.”
She let out a put out sigh. “I guess. But I’m getting myself something too. And you’re paying for it since my job title says administrative assistant, not personal bitch.”
“Damn,” Collin burst into laughter. “Where’d you find this one? She’s feisty.”
“She lives next door,” I answered, glowering at Devon. “And if she doesn’t watch it, she’ll find herself unemployed before she knows it.”
“Doubt it,” she grinned knowingly before turning to Collin. “Your cousin here is aiming to bump uglies with my roommate, and I’m the only one with the leverage to convince her he’s worth a round two.” She turned back to me. “And seeing as you should be getting a text within the next twenty minutes, thanking you for the cookie bouquet that you just had delivered, I think you’ll be keeping me around a little while longer.”
My forehead wrinkled in confusion. “But I didn’t—”
Devon’s eyes rolled skyward. “I know you didn’t, dumbass. I did. Having your company card on file comes in pretty handy. You’re welcome.”
Collin’s eyes bounced back and forth between us. “I thought women liked flowers. Isn’t there some sort of rule against sending women food?”
“She’s a florist,” Devon answered. “Plus she’s got a mad sweet tooth. Trust me, the cookies were the way to go.”
The woman truly was an evil genius. I was actually starting to think that maybe I hadn’t made a mistake. I already made headway with her father yesterday, and with Devon on my side, I’d have Delilah in my bed by the weekend.
“Hey,” I called out as she headed toward the door. “Hold on a minute, let me write our order down for you.”
“No need. I’m guessing since you both reek of testosterone you don’t take your coffee any way but black.”
“Sexy, doesn’t take shit, and gets a coffee order right on the first guess,” Collin spoke, a hint of awe in his voice. “I just might have to steal her away from you, Rich.”
“You can’t afford me,” Devon told him with a wink. “Besides, you’re hot and all, and under different circumstances, I’d have no problem climbing you like a tree, but I have a boyfriend so you’d just be stuck pining away for me. Believe me, this is better for everybody. Oh, and don’t text her back,” she informed me. “Make her sweat a little.”
She shut the door, leaving Collin with his mouth hanging open. “Dude,” he breathed a few seconds later. “I’m callin’ it now. I’m marrying that woman one day.”
I laughed and slapped him on the back as I lead us to my desk. I took a seat in my leather chair as Collin sat across from me. “I’m sure Brianna would just love that,” I said, speaking about the woman he’d been dating since high school. “How’s she taking the news of the move? I thought you said you’d never leave Boston.”
“Things change,” he answered ominously, placing an ankle on the opposite knee. The earlier humor in my cousin’s eyes quickly flickered out at the mention of Brianna.
“What happened?”
He shrugged, trying to appear uncaring but unable to hide the pain in his expression. “Long story short, I proposed and she said she wanted to see other people. We broke up, I accepted the job here. You want the longer version that’s going to require a fuck load of alcohol.”
I sat back in my chair. “Shit, I’m sorry. I know how long you two were together.”
“Yeah, well, maybe she wasn’t all wrong,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “I mean, we’re all each other’s known since we were fifteen. We were together for more than half our lives. Neither of us really experienced what it was like to be apart. Eventually you have to start to wonder if it was because you really loved the person or if you were just too comfortable to shake things up.”
“You really believe that?” I asked, catching something in his voice that made me doubt he really meant what he’d just said.
“Fuck no!” he answered with a sarcastic laugh. “I proposed for Christ’s sake. I wanted to marry the woman! That was all the bullshit she spewed when she ended it. I just keep telling myself that if I continue to repeat it, maybe I’ll start to agree.”
“That working out for you so far?”
One corner of his mouth tipped up in a grin. “Not really. But I think your hot little assistant might just be the one to cure what’s ailing me. She really have a boyfriend?”
It was my turn to shrug. “Far as I know. And she’s not the cure, man. That woman would chew you up and spit you out.”
His grin turned salacious. “I bet I’d enjoy the hell out of it too.”
I laughed. “Well, I don’t have much in the way of furniture, but you’re more than welcome to crash with me until you get your own place.”
“Furniture isn’t a problem. Got some stuff in storage that I sent ahead in advance. You think Rowan and Griffin would be willing to help me move it in?”
“Sweet talk their women and I’m sure they’ll talk our worthless relatives into it,” I offered. “In the meantime, I’ll help you move a bed in tonight so you have somewhere to sleep until then.”
Devon eventually showed back up with a tray of coffees and Collin hung ar
ound to talk a little while longer, claiming he wanted time to catch up even though his eyes stayed glued to Devon’s ass as much as possible.
Just as he left, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and grinned at the screen.
Delilah: Thx for the cookies. That was sweet.
As instructed, I didn’t reply.
Maybe Devon would last longer than the week after all.
THE COOKIE BOUQUET ON Monday wasn’t the only present I’d received over the course of the week. I got chocolates and a chew toy for Shady — that one almost pushed me over the edge. If you had listened closely when I opened the box to find a squeaky bone inside, you’d have been able to hear my ovaries explode.
Each gift was more thoughtful than the last, and each one made it harder and harder to keep things platonic. But what was really starting to get to me was the lack of response to each of my texts, thanking him for the thoughtful gifts.
What was so hard about typing two freaking words? You’re welcome. That’s all he had to say in return! But did he do it? No! He’d send me something sweet, I’d say thank you, then… crickets. What the hell was that?
And it didn’t help matters that I hadn’t seen him once in the past three days. Sure, I could hear him moving around his bedroom from my side of the wall, but I hadn’t actually seen him.
“I mean, what kind of person doesn’t reply to a text, huh? Let alone three of them!” I ranted, pacing the length of the couch Devon was sitting on while she flipped through the pages of a magazine. I’d been stewing ever since she walked through the door after work. I prodded her for information almost daily, trying to figure out what game he was playing at, but all she could give me was a shrug and a vague, “I don’t know, Del. Your guess is as good as mine.”
Devon dropped her magazine with a frustrated huff when I paced past her for the millionth time. “For the love of God, Delilah. Just go over there and confront the guy already! You’re driving me crazy with all the pacing, and you’re freaking poor Shady out.”
I looked over to the doggy bed just as he lifted his head at the sound of his name. His beady eyes took us in for all of two seconds before he gave a tiny puppy woof, flopped is head back down, and resumed his napping. Lazy bastard.
“What are you talking about? He isn’t even paying attention to us.”
She blew out a breath. “Fine, what I meant to say is you’re driving me crazy! I tried putting it politely, but you forced my hand. So there, you happy now? I’m tired of hearing about how he hasn’t replied to all three of your messages, like it’s a crime or something. If you want to know why he isn’t texting back, the only person who can answer that is Richard. And — spoiler alert! — he lives right on the other side of the wall! So why not just go ask him? Del, babe, you know I’d take a bullet for you in a non-fatal, fleshy part of my body, but it’s tough love time. Sac up, take your ass over there, and demand some answers.”
I paused in my pacing and stared down at my best friend. “I don’t think you can tell a girl to sac up, Dev.”
Her magazine dropped to the floor beside the couch as she stood and placed her hands on my shoulders, giving me a little shake. “Then pull up your big girl panties and handle your business. You’re a tough bitch. You don’t take no shit from no man. You march yourself over there and demand answers, damn it! Don’t take no for an answer! Be the ball! Do the Dew!”
Her motivational speech, while totally off base, worked wonders to pump me up. “Yeah,” I nodded, then repeated more adamantly. “Yeah! I’m going over there!”
“Yes!” She held up her hand, which I promptly high-fived.
“I’ll be all, what the hell, man!”
“That’s right!”
“King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” I shouted triumphantly.
“We’re getting off point, but I see what you’re going for so…” She spun me around by my shoulders and gave my ass a smack. “Go show him who’s boss!”
With blood pumping in my veins, an illogical sense of righteousness coursing through me, I yanked the front door open and stomped down the hall the few feet it took to reach Richard’s door, lifting my clenched fist to bang on the glossy wood.
The moment the knob turned, I started in, “What the hell ma—” only to have my adrenaline peeter out when the door finally opened all the way. “—oh, wow. Hi. Wow. Hello. You’re not Richard.”
“No I’m not,” the man answered, a hint of an accent in his words and a smug grin that looked an awful lot like Richard’s on his face as he crossed his arms over his chest. “But for someone as cute as you, I’d be willing to give the name change a try.” The muscles tugging at the sleeves of his t-shirt caused the remaining dregs of my indignation to fizzle out, leaving me a stuttering, flustered mess — my go-to reaction when confronted by a gorgeous member of the opposite sex.
“Uh… well… I’m not…” I leaned in to look at the gold-plated number on the door, thinking, in my haste, I somehow went to the wrong apartment. Yep, I had the right apartment. I just had the wrong guy. “Well,” I laughed nervously, letting out my signature snort as I pushed my glasses up my nose. “This is a little awkward.” I wrung my hands in front of me and shifted from foot to foot. “Um… is he home?
“Rich!” The guy shouted, not taking his eyes off of me. “Your playdate’s here.”
My forehead creased in a heavy frown as I said, “I’m not his playdate.”
“You’re Delilah, right?”
My mouth fell open in shock. “How did you…?”
His grin got even bigger as he answered, “He said you were cute and a little quirky. Gotta say, he was right.”
“Who is it?” I heard Richard ask just as he appeared behind the strange man standing in front of me. “Oh, hey cutie!” he said with a bright smile the moment he laid eyes on me.”
Shit, he called me cutie. The impressive mad I’d been building on for the past three days quickly began to deteriorate as my brain screamed, Abort! Abort! You’re no match for his ninja hotness! Sweet baby Jesus, why did he have to be so damned handsome?
“I’ll just leave you to it,” the nameless man who’d answered the door said as he moved past me and down the hall. “I’ve got to go get some stuff from storage anyway. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, cuz.” He called over his shoulder as he jabbed the down button to call the elevator. I watched in bewilderment as the doors opened and he stepped out of sight, sensing that there was some sort of inside joke at my expense that I wasn’t privy to.
When I turned back to look at Richard, I finally noticed he didn’t look at all surprised to see me. “Who was that?”
“My cousin. He just moved here from Boston and is staying with me for a while.” He stepped back, making room for me to enter as he asked, “You want to come in?”
“Uh… sure,” I answered, having momentarily forgotten my reason for showing up on his doorstep in the first place. As soon as the door closed behind me, I noticed the place was still pretty empty.
“You still don’t have any furniture,” I said, stating the obvious like a winner.
Richard’s voice rang through the barren space as he moved toward the kitchen. “Collin has all his stuff from his old place in storage. My brother and cousin are coming over this weekend to help us move it all in here. You want a glass of wine?” he asked, drawing my attention to where he stood at the bar separating the living room from the kitchen, a bottle of red wine in his hand.
“Yeah, sure. Thanks.”
“So what brings you by?” he asked as he pulled two glasses from a cabinet and began working the cork from the bottle.
That was when I remembered why I was there in the first place. “Why haven’t you replied to any of my text messages?” I demanded, my hands propped on my hips.
Was that a smirk I saw curling the corners of his mouth?
“What do you mean?” he asked, far too casually.
“I’ve texted you three days in a row to thank you for the presents you
’ve sent. You haven’t replied to a single one.” I felt my indignation slowly bubble up once again, just when I needed it. “That’s rude.”
He placed the wine bottle down on the granite countertop and rested his palms on either side of it, leaning his weight on his arms as he studied me. He hadn’t changed completely out of his work suit, still in a pair of black slacks and a white button down shirt, but it was still a very effective look for him. “I apologize for coming off rude,” he said in a low, even voice that made my insides quiver.
Trying to ignore the heat suddenly infusing my veins, I asked, “But not sorry for ignoring text messages?”
He looked thoughtful for a few seconds before finally replying. “Can’t say I’m sorry for that, no.”
I sputtered out a perplexed breath. “Well that’s… I can’t even… why the hell not?”
His grin died at the same time his eyes darkened. “Because it got you here.” He pushed off the counter and began making his way around the bar into the living room. His gait could only be described as a prowl, his face downright predatory.
“W-what are you doing?” I stuttered as I took two steps back. My brain screamed at me to run away while my body pleaded to lunge at him and wrap my arms and legs around his muscular frame.
“Do you have any fucking clue how hard it is going to bed every night, knowing you’re right on the other side of that goddamned wall, but I can’t touch you?” he asked, his voice a growl as he grew closer.
Dampness flooded my panties as my heart banged against my ribs. I wanted him, but he wasn’t good for me… was he? “I…”
“You gave me another taste of you the other night and pulled it away… again,” he accused, now standing so close I could feel his breath on my skin, smell the spiciness of his cologne, feel the heat radiating off his body. It was sensory overload at its very best.
Opposites Attract (The Locklaine Boys Book 2) Page 11