Whatever She's Got

by Lyla Grace

  “Yes. Mom, she’s Chase’s sister,” I reply in explanation.

  “No, I mean. Well, I didn’t see that coming either.” Her poor choice of words has me stifling a laugh. “I have a meeting with an Oliva Matthews tomorrow at 9 a.m.”

  Okay, now I am at a loss. This would all be a lot less awkward if my mother would just leave, give Livie and me a second to regroup here. But I know my mother; that’s not going to happen. Not until she knows the full story or I agree to come home for the weekend. Either way, Livie definitely has some explaining to do.

  “Yes, that’s me.”

  “What do you have a meeting with my mother for?” I ask. My curiosity is piqued.

  “The proposal I have been working on the past few weeks….it was for an idea I had about a joint effort between Haven House and POSH. I tried several times reaching out to your Director of Marketing, and each time she basically hung up on me.”

  “Sounds about right,” I mutter under my breath. Skye West, probably the single most self-involved woman I have ever met. Of course she shot Livie down; anything philanthropic is beneath her and her bottom line. She also happens to be the single worst mistake of my life. I am not typically a one-night stand kind of guy, but that’s what you get when you mix a lot of alcohol, a dick that hadn’t seen any action besides from my left hand in quite some time, and a woman that way just way too eager to please.

  Holy hell if this whole thing didn’t just turn into a cluster fuck. This is the exact reason I try to be a good guy. I hate this unholy drama bullshit. And now, I am stuck in a bigger fucking mess than I have even seen Chase manage to land himself in.

  Livie gives me a questioning look before she continues. “So through some creative maneuvering, my friend Becca managed to get ahold of your assistant and she was so kind and scheduled the appointment for me. But all things considered, we should probably cancel.”

  “I see absolutely no reason to cancel. I will see you at noon tomorrow. We’ll have lunch and discuss your proposal and this weekend.” Livie begins to speak, but my mother stops her before she can. “I am not taking no for an answer. Now, I have to go, I have a meeting I am running late for. Landon, will you please walk me out?” She turns to Livie. “I look forward to tomorrow, Livie. It was so nice to meet you.”

  I walk my mother to the door, where she stops and turns to me. Her hand touches my cheek. “It’s so good to see you happy again.” Before I can respond, she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and hurries out the door.

  I make my way back into the living room, where Livie is sitting on the couch. Her head is back, and she is staring at the ceiling. “You okay?” I ask as I take a seat next to her.

  “Really, Landon? Am I okay? I just met your mother while I was NAKED! How do you think I am? And don’t even get me started on who your mother is. Gwyneth Sutton, for God’s sake. How could you not have ever mentioned that? How could I have not realized that?” The more she talks, the more high pitched her voice is getting. God, she is cute when she’s mad.

  I toss my head back and laugh. “I would have, had I had any inclination that she was going to walk in on us just was I was about to--” She swats my arm.

  “This is not funny. Not only did I meet your mother while I was naked, I also have a business meeting with her tomorrow. Can this get any worse?”

  I clear my throat. “I can pretty much guarantee that it will once you get to POSH tomorrow and run into Skye.” I guess it’s confession time here. I don’t want her to be blindsided for a third time this week--at least, not because of me.

  “Yeah, what was that? You had a weird….Oh my God, you slept with her.” I watch as she visibly shudders at the thought. “You slept with that vile woman? Are you kidding me?”

  “Desperate times call for desperate measures?” I joke.

  It was her turn to laugh. “Landon, you are the last person on this planet that would ever be desperate for someone to have sex with them.”

  “Okay, more like a long night and way too much alcohol. Believe me, I regret it more than I can express.” And I did.

  It was actually the night before I left for Mexico with Chase. My mother had a fashion show in town and asked me to join her since my father was out on business. I agreed, being the good son that I am. Skye was there; we were talking business and drinking. Next thing I knew, her hands were all over me. I am a decent guy, but a guy nonetheless. And, like I said, it had been a while. So, I let her share a cab with me and one thing led to another. By the time we pulled up in front of her place, my dick was at full attention, and she was willing to do whatever I wanted to soothe that ache.

  In my drunken state, it seemed like a good idea. Skye was all about her career. No harm in having a little fun one night. But as soon as I slipped out of her, I regretted ever slipping in. When the alcohol wore off, I knew I had done something stupid, something I wished I could take back. But I couldn’t. So, instead, I bolted before she woke up and pretty much haven’t been back to my mother’s office since.

  “Aw, poor baby,” she coos as she backs me against the door.

  “I am; I really, really am.”

  “I bet.” Her hands slide under my shirt, finger nails grazing my skin. “Let me make it better.”

  “Livie,” I groan.

  “Yeah?” Her eyelids flutter open, looking at me. And in that moment she has me hook, line, and sinker. I knew I was falling for her, but hell, I’ve already fallen. I am head over heels in love with this woman. But damn it all to hell, it’s the last thing I can say to her.

  “Maybe we should take this to the bedroom…just to be safe.”

  “I’ve got a better idea. Let’s hit the showers, Stud.” She grabs me by my belt and tugs me behind her.

  Chapter 15

  Livie

  “Are you sure I look okay?” I ask Landon, for what must be the twentieth time since we left his condo.

  You would think I would be reveling in the freedom. It was first time I had been outside since Will showed up at my apartment. But I wasn’t. I was nervous as hell. I was about to have a meeting with Gwyneth Sutton, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of POSH magazine. As if the prospect of that wasn’t intimidating enough on its own, she is also Landon’s mother. For good measure, let’s throw in the fact that our first meeting I just happened to be naked, under her son on his kitchen counter. Yep, no reason I should be nervous at all here. I can still hear Becca’s laughter last night when I told her. She actually snorted, she was laughing so hard. Apparently, I am the only one who doesn’t find this amusing.

  I smooth my black slacks one last time before we enter the building. He grabs my hand and tugs me into him, cool and comfortable in his jeans and black t-shirt. “Livie, your proposal is amazing. I know my mom; she’s going to love the idea.” He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “And she’s going to love you.”

  I really hoped he was right, especially about that last part. Landon has done wonders for my insecurities. But let’s be honest. A lifetime of being talked down to isn’t going to go away in the short time that we’ve been together. I have a lot of work to do. I am a therapist’s dream…a complete and utter continual work in progress. I just hope I can keep it together so Mrs. Sutton doesn’t see right through me. So she doesn’t see the truth of exactly what I have been telling Landon--that he’s just too damn good for me.

  “Come on; don’t want you to be late.” I know he’s teasing, but my heart instantly starts to race. I already had one hell of a first impression. I’d like the second to go a little better.

  “Hey, Landon,” the woman at the desk says. The nameplate says Callie. She must be who I spoke to on the phone. She’s a pretty girl, probably in her mid-twenties, long blonde hair. The familiarity in her voice makes me wonder if Landon’s ever slept with her.

  “Hey Callie, is my mom in?” Landon asks.

  “She’s just finishing up a meeting. Go on in and wait for her. Can I get you anything?” she asks.

  “Livie?” My mind is
still focused on Landon and his sexual partners. Shit, I am acting like a jealous girlfriend. Hell, I am a jealous girlfriend.

  “Hmmm?” I say.

  “Do you want something to drink?” he asks.

  “Oh, no, I’m good,” I reply absently.

  He winks at Callie before placing his hand on my lower back and leading me into his mom’s office. The office is expansive, elegantly decorated, and the view is out of this world, but the only view that I can focus on? The tall, leggy redhead seated on the couch, looking over a file. The wicked smile on her face when she lays eyes on Landon tells me exactly who she is…Skye. God, she is beautiful. I instantly straighten and stand a bit taller next to Landon. If there is one thing I am good at, it’s putting a game face on. I know her type; she’s going to try to intimidate me, cause a scene…the look on her face is dripping with contempt. It’s easy to see that she wanted more than the one night he gave her. I don’t blame her, but no way in hell am I going to let her try sink her claws into him now.

  “Well, Landon Sutton, it’s been a while. And who do we have here?” She stands up from the couch, her skirt unprofessionally short and her shirt even more unprofessionally revealing.

  “Skye, this is Livie, Outreach Director for Haven House--and my girlfriend,” Landon says as he introduces us. You can see the visible sting when she hears the word “girlfriend.” “Actually, I believe you have spoken a few times.”

  “Yes, I recall. So, Livie, I turn you down and you decide to sleep your way into a meeting? Really, Landon, I thought you were smarter than that,” Skye exclaims.

  Damn, those claws came out quick. She must really have a thing for him. Well, guess what, sweetheart--so do I. And this is one war I intend on winning.

  I link my arm through Landon’s. I can feel him tense, but before he can speak, I interject. “Actually, Skye, Landon and I have known each other for years. It just so happens that we reconnected in Mexico a few months back. Right after poor Landon had an awful one-night stand with some woman,” I say. “But trust me, I managed to erase all of the horrible memories she left him. If you know what I mean,” I say with a wink.

  Skye’s chest heaves up and down, a response ready and waiting on her tongue, until she realizes that if Landon had fessed up to me, there was nothing she had left to hold over me. She is powerless. So, instead, she turns on her heel and heads out the door.

  “So nice to meet you,” I call after her.

  Landon shakes his head slowly, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Well played,” he commends.

  “Did I ever mention I don’t play well with others?”

  “Baby, you play just right with me, which is all that counts,” he smiles as his lips brush mine.

  “Am I interrupting?” Gwen asks as she enters her office. “Because I can come back.”

  “Hi, Mom,” Landon says as he kisses her cheek.

  “Any idea why Skye was all huffy?” she asks.

  She must have run into her on her way out of the office. “Not a clue,” Landon lies.

  Gwen flits around her office checking some emails and messages as she chats with us. “Is there a reason you’re here, Son? Moral support, perhaps? Or are you afraid I’m going to pull out naked pictures of you in the tub with your brother?”

  “D is the only one who has anything to be embarrassed about in those photos,” he says proudly.

  Gwen shakes her head as she heads over to Landon. She places her hand on his back and guides him toward the door. “Why don’t you leave Livie and me alone for a while so we can discuss things? I’m sure you can busy yourself with something.”

  “Are you kicking me out?” Landon feigns mock hurt, his hand on his chest.

  “As a matter of fact….” Gwen gives him a slight shove out the door. “I’ll let you know when we’re finished.” She shuts the door behind him, takes a seat on the couch, and pats the empty space next to her.

  I study her for a moment as I take my seat. She looks like a million bucks, dressed to the nines, her hair done just right. But something in her face tells me that there is way more to her than that, than just being one of the most influential people in the fashion industry. Her eyes are kind, she has motherly down to a T, and despite our awkward first meeting, her smile makes me feel welcome and at home. Gwen Sutton, for all intents and purposes, is the kind of mother that every kid dreams of – beautiful, smart, and attentive. Not that I would really know what one of those looks like first hand, but if I had to guess, Gwen is about as close as you could get.

  “First things first--please stop calling me Mrs. Sutton. Call me Gwen. Second, before we go any further, tell me about yourself,” she says.

  “Um, okay. What do you want to know?” I question.

  “Well, everything, of course,” she answers.

  Well, that narrows it down. Before I know it, I am spilling my guts to the woman. She is so easy to talk to. She is caring and empathetic--either that, or she is just trying to dig up some dirt on me to get me away from her son. Whichever way this goes, I find myself telling her things I probably shouldn’t--things about my past, even about Will.

  “It’s why Haven House is so important to me. I was so lucky to have Chase and even Landon helping me, but a lot of women don’t. They need someone to help them get out, make a fresh start. And I love being able to help them do that. I think together we could make a huge difference in their lives, those that have already left, and give hope to those who are still too afraid to,” I explain.

  She places the packet I prepared onto the mahogany coffee table without even having looked at it. “You sold me.”

  “But, I haven’t even…” I began.

  “Made your pitch yet?” she asks. I nod. “But that’s where you’re wrong. You sold me your story, your dedication. All the other details can be worked out. I even have a few ideas of my own.”

  “That’s great; I would love to hear them.”

  “Now that we have business out of the way, let’s walk,” she suggests.

  She takes me on a tour of the building, showing me all the ins and outs of the magazine business. As the tour progresses, our conversation drifts from business to personal. She tells me stories about when Landon was a child. Gwen even agrees that Landon is very uptight…her words, not mine. But then she says something that I don’t quite know how to respond to. She thanks me. “I haven’t seen Landon this happy in a long time,” she finishes. “And it’s obvious that you are what is making him so happy.”

  “The feeling is mutual,” I reply.

  When we arrive at her office, Skye is standing just outside the door, eyes filled with contempt. If looks could kill, I would be dead.

  “Oh, Skye--there you are. I want to introduce you to Livie, Landon’s girlfriend,” Gwen says.

  “We met earlier. Nice to see you again,” I reply, my tone so sugary sweet it gives me a cavity.

  Skye forces a smile to pacify Gwen. “Gwen, we have a staff meeting in ten. Shall I begin without you?”

  “No, no, no. I just need to return Livie to Landon’s capable hands. I’ll only be a moment,” Gwen states as we enter her office.

  I wave to Skye as I close the office door behind Gwen and me. Landon is seated comfortably on the couch with his phone in hand.

  Gwen rushes to her desk to grab some files. “I hate to do this, but I completely forgot I have a staff meeting. I am going to have to skip lunch. I have it all set up on the roof. You two go enjoy, and hopefully I will see you on Friday.” She quickly kisses each of our cheeks and rushes out the door.

  Gwen Sutton is not the kind of woman who just forgets a staff meeting. Something is off, but I don’t give it much thought. Not after the morning I just had.

  “So?” Landon inquires as he wraps his arms around my waist.

  “She loved it!” I exclaim. “We are going to be starting our first project in a week or so.”

  “And?” he presses.

  “And…I’m pretty sure she loved me, too,”
I say.

  “Told you so,” he laughs. “Are you ready for some lunch?” I nod and we head to the rooftop where Gwen has been so kind to set up lunch for us. Except that this isn’t just any lunch.

  An elegant table is set for two, with a spread of food that is easily more than enough to feed Landon and the rest of the Knights team. Off to the side, there is a luxurious hammock for two, overlooking the gorgeous city view. It is a perfect set-up, a perfect afternoon.

  “Did you have any part in this?” I ask Landon suspiciously.

  He picks up a cream-colored envelope off the table. The elegance of the handwriting lends itself to Gwen before we even read it. She has done this for us, to make up for interrupting our afternoon.

  My way of saying I’m sorry for intruding yesterday. Surveillance is cut and no one will disturb you…I promise. Enjoy the afternoon. XOXO Mom

  “Surveillance is cut, huh?” I say as I move closer to Landon.

  “That’s what it says.” His hand gently caresses my face.

  “Your mom must really think you need to get laid,” I tease.

  “It has been a while,” he says as he makes a puppy-dog face.

  “You look ridiculous.”

  “You know you want me.”

  I turn away from him and make my way over to the food table. The spread contains everything from toasted ravioli to vegetables to chips and French onion dip. By no means am I complaining; this is my dream meal--definitely not something I would have thought Gwen would consider a meal. I take a bite of toasted ravioli, and my mouth waters from the deliciousness. I really am in heaven.

  “They’re my favorites,” Landon explains as though he can read my mind. He picks up a miniature burger off the table and lifts it to my lips. “This one especially. Taste it,” he encourages. I take a bite and as I do, a moan escapes my mouth.

  “Oh my God, that’s amazing,” I say as I take yet another bite.

  “She refuses to tell me where she gets them from. It’s like she holds the information over my head so I am forced to come visit her,” he says.