We had reached his office by this time. He opened the door and motioned for me to precede him. He shut the door behind him.
“Maybe we need to renegotiate the terms of your contract.”
I pushed both hands back through my hair as I stared at him. “You know, I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure that could be considered sexual harassment.”
Whitt’s expression sobered. “That’s not my intent. You know that.”
Our discussion halted for a few moments as Mrs. Knowles knocked on the door and rolled in a cart containing what appeared to be a huge assortment of sandwiches, vegetables, and fruit, along with bottled water. “Here you go, gentlemen. I’ll leave you two to your business discussions. Ring me on the house phone when you want me to remove it.”
Whitt smiled graciously. “Thank you so much.”
After the door shut, I paced the room for a moment. I liked this man. I wanted to see where a relationship could go with him, but I also had concerns. Maybe it was time to get some of that out in the open.
“I’m worried, Whitt. You pay me a huge amount of money for what I do. I don’t want you to think I’m pursuing a physical relationship with you because of your money and what you can do for me.”
“I don’t think that.”
“Other people will.”
“Screw other people. Look, you called me your friend. Do you have any idea how few people I’ve been able to count on as friends during my life? So yeah, I want to take that further, see where it goes.”
“What do you mean…take it further?”
“Friends go out. I want to take you out.”
“Where?” I was a bit suspicious, cautious. Hell, I don’t know. Scared to death, maybe?
“Let’s get out from around here, go someplace where we can relax and be ourselves. Maybe have a little fun.”
“There is no way I am going to be able to talk you out of this, is there?”
“None at all. I always get my way.”
* * *
Whitt
I worried the rest of the afternoon that I might be putting too much pressure on Reece. There had been something in his eyes, though, when I’d fallen. A level of genuine concern I hadn’t seen from another human being in years. I wanted to tap into that, explore it, and dig deeper into what it felt like.
As we ate lunch, I deliberately steered our conversation away from the date and back onto a topic that had been bothering me, even if I had let the kiss overshadow it.
“Tell me something. When I fell off this morning, your whole attitude toward my neighbor shifted. Why is that?”
Reece set his water bottle back on the table and blew out a breath. “Did you notice anything unusual right before you fell?”
I thought back. “A flash of light, something quick that half-blinded me so I lost my concentration. Actually, I think it might have affected Bondage too.”
“Sherry took out her cell phone as you two were approaching that line. It caught the sunlight and reflected right in your eyes.”
I shook my head, not sure what he was getting at. “So, she took her phone out and sunlight hit it the wrong way. What of it?”
Reece frowned. “I know she’s your neighbor, but Whitt, I think she did it on purpose. I don’t think it was an accident.”
“Sherry?” I recoiled from the idea. “Why? She would have no motive, especially since it could have been a potential risk to the horse she sold you.”
Reece shook his head. “I know. Maybe I’m imagining things. She has been nothing other than friendly and helpful.”
“It’s not like anything serious happened. Didn’t you tell me when we first started this that falling off was part of learning to ride? Well, now I’ve experienced it and can move on.”
Reece didn’t look entirely satisfied, but he nodded. “No problem. I think I would prefer it, though, if she didn’t visit quite so much during your lessons. I want you to be able to concentrate without distractions. I need to get back to the barn. We’re still riding this afternoon, right?”
I gave him a thumbs-up as my cell phone rang. For the next two hours I was putting out fires and tracking some new leads. My assistant called to tell me he had finally gotten the recycling figures in that Maitland wanted. Thank heaven. That was one hurdle out of the way.
Now I had to figure out how to get Reece Wilder to let down his guard. I had always thought I was the one who would be in that position, but Reece appeared even more reluctant than me. The only concern I had overshadowing a relationship with him was keeping it quiet and out of the press until I could get Quinn Maitland to sign on the dotted line.
I had to make that happen before it came time to go foxhunting. Not that I was trying to get out of it, but if I didn’t get a chance to make love to Reece until after that contract was a done deal, I was going to go stark raving mad.
Reece didn’t know it yet, but I was determined to get more than a few kisses from him tonight. I grabbed my phone again to call my assistant.
“Will, I’m going to need a limo and driver tonight. I have a date.”
“A date?”
“God, please don’t say it as though I’ve just informed you the world is coming to an end. I do occasionally date, you know.”
“Very occasionally. Like maybe once since I’ve worked for you.”
“Call the limo service in Maysburg. See if Fred’s available.”
Will laughed as he agreed and hung up.
Had I become that isolated and focused on work? Will was never wrong, so I had to accept the possibility that I had indeed holed myself up in my house and tuned out the rest of the world. So much was different.
Thanks to Jack’s suggestion, I had met Reece. I now had several new people and animals in my life. That was good. I felt more relaxed and it had actually increased my ability to focus when that was what was required.
The focus tonight would be Reece. I needed to find out what made him tick and why he was so reluctant to let this attraction between the two of us grow. It seemed to me there was a lot more to it than worrying about whether I might think he wanted me only for my wealth. Anyone could see the way Reece treated other people, the way he treated animals, and know that was the furthest thought from his mind.
Tonight, I wanted to break some of his barriers and let some of mine go too.
12
Reece
I wasn’t sure exactly how to dress for dinner with Whitt and wasn’t entirely convinced that this was a date instead of two friends going out to dinner. I finally decided to compromise, wearing a freshly ironed, untucked pink dress shirt with form-fitting jeans and my well-worn Blundstones. It gave me a feeling of déjà vu to come down the stairs again to find Whitt waiting for me.
Dressed in khakis, a dress shirt, and loafers, he looked a hell of a lot more relaxed than the first time we had gone out to dinner. Then he had been determined to impress Maitland. Now, it was just the two of us.
“Ready?” He quirked a brow as though fully aware that I had been checking him out.
“Absolutely.”
“I got it, Fred,” Whitt said and waved the driver away to open the door for me himself. Wow. I wasn’t sure anyone had ever done that before. Whitt slid in next to me.
“Where are we going?” I asked as Fred put the car in gear and we rolled along the drive.
“There’s an Inn in Warrenville I’ve wanted to try, but there never seemed to be the right occasion to do so.”
“And this is?”
Whitt’s gaze was searching. “I believe it is.”
The drive took us about a half hour through the winding, country roads. Whitt pulled a bottle of wine and two glasses from the small bar. “Would you like some?”
I wasn’t much of a wine drinker, but the novelty of sipping wine while riding in a limousine was simply too unusual to resist. This might be an everyday occurrence for Whitt, but not me.
“Sure.”
He poured a glass and handed it to me before
pouring one for himself. “How about a toast…to friendships.”
We tapped glasses and sipped our drinks. “This is a first for me,” I admitted.
Whitt leaned back against the leather upholstery. “What is?”
“Sipping wine while riding in the back of a limo.”
His mouth quirked in a lopsided grin. “That surprises me. I would have figured you had men beating down your door wanting to go out with you.”
“I’ve had my share of boyfriends over the years, that’s true, but nothing serious. In fact, most of them were more like extended hookups.”
Whitt laughed. “What?”
I shrugged. “No promises on either side, but the sex was good enough we stayed together for a while.” I sipped the wine again. “What about you?”
Whitt frowned slightly. I felt as though I had stepped across some barrier he kept firmly in place. Now the question was whether he would let me pass or shut me down.
“I haven’t had many relationships.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t make friends easily, and I guess that transfers over to relationships in general.”
“What about family?” I might be opening a door on my own life that I didn’t want to, but surely Whitt had someone.
“We get along better than we used to. They’ve had a tough time adjusting to what I am.” He said it casually, but behind his tone I sensed a well of hurt he still hadn’t completely resolved. I got that.
I set my wine glass aside and touched the back of his hand. “They rejected you because you’re gay?”
He didn’t move his hand from beneath mine.
“That might be part of it, but I think it has more to do with my success.” When I gave him another incredulous look, Whitt clarified. “Look, we all want to think our parents are these perfect, infallible people, but they’re as human as the rest of us. My dad was counting on his eldest son to go into the family business, get married, and produce more little Daileys who would carry on with the hardware store in our hometown. Instead, he got me.”
“Whoa. I don’t see anything wrong with you that you should say it like that.”
Whitt laughed, turning his hand over to grasp mine. “I don’t see anything wrong. I was simply looking at it from my father’s perspective.”
“So, a billionaire banker son is a disappointment?”
“More like a point of envy or resentment. He followed in his father’s footsteps and took on the family business, but my interest in finance I got from him. So instead of toeing the line, I went after what I was interested in—personally and professionally. That’s what I think he resented. I did what he hadn’t dared to.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s his partner.” He released my hand to absently rub his chin.
“Right or wrong?” I couldn’t help the snark in my tone.
“They’re human.”
I shook my head. “You are way more understanding than me.”
“What about your family?”
I had opened the door on this. “Divorced. Mom’s remarried and living in California. My dad was a horse trainer, but he never made it out of handling third-rate Thoroughbreds at small tracks along the East Coast. Lately, he hasn’t even done that. Most of his time is spent with his best friend—Jack Daniels.”
“As in the booze.”
“Yep.”
“That would explain why you don’t drink much.” Whitt set his glass down. “Looks like we’ve arrived.”
The restaurant, Harrison’s, occupied what had once been the main house on an old Virginia horse farm. We were shown into a more informal dining area off the bar. The lighting was intimate as was the corner booth we were given. It was beginning to look like a well-planned seduction on Whitt’s part.
I was beginning to think he wouldn’t have to work hard to succeed.
The food was delicious, expertly prepared and presented, and a far cry from the quick sandwich I often grabbed if I went out to eat. Mrs. Knowles left behind some wonderful meals for us, but they were usually designed to be reheated. The dishes coming out of the kitchen at Harrison’s were pure art.
“Tell me about Satin,” Whitt said as the dinner plates were cleared in preparation for dessert and coffee.
I fiddled with my dessert spoon. “What do you want to know?”
“How did you end up with her?”
“She was a cull from a racing stable. Unimpressive speed, bloodlines not spectacular enough to make a broodmare, so they were cutting their losses.”
“Did you realize when you bought her what you were getting?”
I would have liked to say yes. Certainly, it would make me seem like some sort of horse whisperer, but that wasn’t the case. “I was looking for a horse for a client. She had the build and seemed to have the right kind of temperament. He didn’t like her.”
“This wouldn’t be the same guy your friend calls ‘Jerky’, would it?”
“Actually, yes.” His perception was amazing. “I think that might have been the beginning of the end. Once Jordy realized exactly what he had snubbed his nose at, he tried to buy her from me.”
Whitt grinned. “And you wouldn’t sell, or was the price you asked too rich for him?”
“I wouldn’t sell. I had seen what happened to my dad when he didn’t stand his ground about a horse he believed in. Satin is my chance to prove something. Good horses don’t come along often for guys like me.”
Whitt’s silvery gaze narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t have the money to buy my way into a good horse. I’ve had to make Satin into what she is. What I hope she’ll show everyone at the Maysburg show.”
Whitt leaned toward me and covered my hand with his. “Can I tell you something and not make you mad?”
“That usually precedes a remark someone knows will piss off the other person.”
Whitt sighed. “The day I got fitted for the custom-made stuff, I asked the clerk if they had your measurements and told them to get you everything you needed.”
I sat back, stunned. It was an amazing gift. I could never have afforded all of that—hell, any of that.
Whitt’s mouth quirked at one side. Dangerously appealing.
“Are you pissed?”
“Speechless.”
“It’s supposed to arrive in two days. I don’t want to send any of it back.”
I was incredibly touched—to the point my throat was a bit tight. “You won’t have to. I-I don’t quite know how to say thanks.”
Our gazes held. Whitt smiled slow and easy. “You just did.”
Dessert was a mixture of truffles and two glasses of dessert wine. The chocolate melted in my mouth and the wine added a bit more glow to an evening that had been amazing. As we left, Whitt’s hand touched the back of my waist. Hot as Hades, it sizzled every nerve ending. Amazingly, it also felt right, as though we had always been this comfortable together.
Fred greeted us with a smile, holding the door as we slid into the back. Whitt pressed the button to raise the privacy screen. I raised my brows and he grinned.
“I can open it again if it makes you nervous.”
There was a question there. How did I want to answer it? At the moment, my body said yes a whole lot louder than my mind urged caution.
“Leave it closed.”
He reached for my hand as the car began to move, twining our fingers together. “I enjoyed this evening, Reece. I hope you did too.”
“It was fantastic. I’ve heard about Harrison’s before but had never eaten there.”
His thumb stroked across the back of my hand. “Then we should do it again.”
He turned toward me, his free hand cupping the back of my neck. “I want to kiss you again too. I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon.”
Our hands rested on my thigh, his wrist so close to my groin I nearly groaned. “Me too,” I managed in a strangled voice. Whitt leaned in and touched his lips to the corner of my jaw.
“So, do you want
to do more than think about it?”
The aroma of his aftershave filled my nostrils, and the heat of his body seared my side. My cock ached.
“Yes.”
There it was. His mouth moving on mine, hungry and hard, demanding a response I was more than willing to give. As my heart pounded in my chest, Whitt’s hand slid from my neck to my pecs, gently rubbing and squeezing. He had my full attention, every single part of me. The kiss lasted forever. When his tongue teased my lips, I opened for him with a groan.
His mouth softened from demanding to pure, sweet seduction, and I was lost. I turned into his embrace, loosening my grip on his hand to wrap an arm around his waist. His hand moved restlessly on my thigh, making my breath catch.
“You want me to touch you?” he asked against my lips.
“Fuck. Yes.”
He returned to kissing me, rubbing over my erection. The friction of the material was maddening, even more maddening was how much I wanted his hand wrapped around me, skin to skin.
“Lie back.” Whitt pushed against my shoulders. I opened my thighs to make room for him, welcoming his hard body stretched on top of me. Like this, our cocks pressed together. Whitt’s eyes closed with a blissful expression. As he leaned in for another kiss, his hips rotated so we rubbed together again.
“Fuck,” he whispered. “You feel incredible.”
I pushed my hips closer to his, increasing the pressure. His hands found mine, lacing our fingers together again. It would be so easy to get lost in this man, in feeling his muscular body thrusting and sliding along mine. Desperate to touch him, I let one of his hands go so I could slide it around his neck and into his thick hair.
I wanted him with an intensity I couldn’t remember ever feeling before, but not in the back of a car, even if it was a limousine. The first time we made love needed to be special, unique.
“Whitt,” I murmured. “We should stop.”
He groaned against my lips. “We should have my hand inside your pants.”
Dr. Perfect: A Contemporary Romance Bundle Page 44