“You're going to let her help you. You have an image problem. Namely, the world thinks you're an asshole. It would be one thing if you were, but you’re not. Let her clean things up. For what it's worth, she's right. If you want people to stop asking about Kayla, you need to set the narrative and then move on.”
I picked up a slinky from my drafting table and idly rolled it back and forth between my hands, shifting my shoulders to ease the tension in them. “I know. I just hate the whole story.”
Kayla Hanson was my former fiancée. The media thought I was hung up on her. I wasn't. I was well over her. I dumped her because it became clear all she wanted was my money. She also cheated on me. She viewed me as so many other executives, thinking all I wanted was arm candy. I didn’t give a damn about arm candy. I'd been stupid enough to think she cared.
“We'll have to see how it goes. Who hired her anyway?” I asked. “She's going to be a distraction around the office.”
Danny’s mouth fell open and then he burst out laughing. “Suzanne and I hired her. I don’t see why she’d be a distraction.”
I glared at him. “Are you blind? She’s fucking gorgeous.”
Danny arched a brow. “I’m not blind, and I can see she’s beautiful. I'm gay, so she’s no distraction for me. The engineers won’t even see her since they’re on the other end of the building. It's you, me, and Suzanne who will deal with her. That's it. Unless it's a problem for you, I don’t think it’s a problem,” he said with a wink.
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t about to admit she’d gotten to me, but I was fairly certain any straight man who wasn’t dead would have a hard time staying focused around her.
Danny returned my eye roll and then sobered. “She was the best candidate by far. A number of them were clearly applying because they wanted to get close to you. Aside from her, no one had the background, or the attitude, to stand up to you. Suzanne likes her, I like her, and she's got a fantastic resume. She's done PR consultations for a number of major corporations.”
“Fine. Let's give her month and see how it goes.”
Danny stood and cocked his head to one side. “You know. It’s nice to see you notice a woman.”
“Oh fuck off,” I muttered.
Danny flashed another grin and turned to leave.
Chapter 3
Sophia
Later that day, I reviewed an email I’d prepared to send to Lucas. I’d asked Danny for a first review, just to make sure I wasn’t pushing too hard. Danny had reminded me I needed to push. I’d outlined a list of recommended questions and limits I would set for an upcoming interview. I’d also added a prepared statement to release should any questions come up around his last interview when he stormed off the stage. This statement addressed the very topic Lucas wanted to avoid. Danny had given me some pointers on it, in the process illuminating something I hadn’t known—Lucas’s ex was a cheating gold digger. Despite the plain facts Danny offered, he’d shared Lucas specifically didn’t want to bad-mouth Kayla even though he easily could.
It was damning to realize how Lucas’s choice not to publicly comment had only set him up to look like the asshole when he wasn’t. It spoke volumes about him as a person that he’d held off on responding to her way of spinning the story.
My finger hovered over the send key for a moment before I clicked it decisively.
Within seconds, the intercom on my phone beeped. I glanced to the small screen on the phone to see Lucas’s name. My belly coiled with tension, and anxiety bloomed in my chest. Danny had warned me Lucas would be annoyed with my recommendations. Yet, I knew they were solid. I took a breath and clicked the speaker on.
“Yes, Lucas. How can I help you?”
“Come to my office. We need to talk now,” he said, his words quick and sharp.
“I’ll be right there.”
This was fine. This was precisely what I’d expected. For an executive who had chafed against the idea of a PR Consultant, I wouldn’t expect him to go along easily with my recommendations. My office was in a suite next door to the suite where Lucas and Danny’s offices were located.
I paused in front of his door and took a steadying breath. I hoped my body didn’t go haywire again. I’d spent any spare moment I had to think telling myself my initial physical reaction to him had been a fluke. I was certain I’d get accustomed to being around him and the intense desire I felt would fade. It had to.
“Come in,” he called.
I stepped through the door and glanced over. My pulse skittered wildly and my belly fluttered. It was an act of will, but I didn’t look away. It shouldn’t be legal for a man to look the way he did. He oozed masculinity and power. He was so handsome, he was almost beautiful. He had sculpted cheekbones and a straight nose. His jaw was strong with a dimple in the middle of his chin. The only soft part of his features was his lips—they were full and lush and made me wonder what it would feel like to kiss him. The contrast of his dark hair and his green eyes was so sensual, it almost hurt to look at him.
Okay. You need to get a grip. You cannot be thinking about kissing your boss. Especially your boss who doesn’t even want your position to exist.
Lucas waved a hand toward the chair across from him at the table. I slipped into it and smoothed my hands over my skirt.
“Why did you already prepare a statement about me walking out of my last interview? I haven’t even agreed to discuss my former fiancé,” he started out, his tone snappy.
“I understand, Lucas. Suzanne and Danny told me we needed to address this and change the subject.”
“You don't answer to them,” he barked.
I crossed and uncrossed my legs, willing my pulse to slow. “I understand I don’t answer to them. It was made very clear to me that this job hinged on my ability to stand up to you. If you do not address the issue yourself, it will linger. That is exactly what has happened in your case. From what I understand, you ended your engagement with Ms. Hanson over six months ago now. Your refusal…”
He cut me off. “This is exactly why I didn’t want a PR consultant. I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks,” he said, each word enunciated clearly, his voice fairly vibrating.
I took a breath, willing myself to stay calm, and continued, “I understand, but let me finish. Your refusal to speak about it publicly has allowed her to set the narrative. She's framed you as a heartless jerk. Your attitude hasn't helped. I have yet to meet anyone in a position comparable to yours who relishes the media attention given to their private lives. It comes with the territory, so you must deal with it. You have valid projects that people want to be associated with and want to invest in. We need to shift the image away from the negative asshole who dumped his fiancée. We don't have to lie, but we can change the perception. In fact, I believe one statement from you apologizing for swearing at the reporter and clarifying the rest should be enough for the interest to wane.”
It was a small miracle I managed to sound coherent. It was solely due to the fact that I was speaking the simple truth.
Lucas stared back at me. I might have only met him today, but it was quite obvious he was furious. His expression was controlled, his eyes narrow and his lips in a tight line.
After a beat, he spun away to stare out the windows. I was fairly certain I heard him swear under his breath. Another moment passed before he turned back.
I didn’t realize I’d unconsciously uncrossed and then crossed my legs again until I saw his eyes flick down. Oh dear. My skirt was just fitted enough, it was highly likely I’d unintentionally flashed him. His eyes flicked up to mine again, his gaze darkening. I didn’t know how to interpret what I saw there, but my body sure had an opinion. Heat unfurled in a wave through me, and my sex clenched. Oh my God. All he had to do was look at me, and I got wet. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to ease the ache building there.
His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath. He kept his gaze locked to mine. “I'm a rational man, but I don't want to give my ex any more attenti
on in the media.”
Ignoring my body’s willful response to him, I swallowed and forced myself to speak. “I understand. I do, but let's take control and then the story goes away,” I said, my words coming out raspy.
Lucas stared at me, his eyes locked to mine. The air around us felt heavy, almost electric. I willed my pulse to slow and the wild need coursing through my veins to settle. No such luck. My mind didn't seem quite capable of overriding my body's response to him.
After a loaded moment, he nodded. “Fine. We can release a written statement,” he said, his mouth twisting slightly.
My heart clenched. As irritated and cranky as he seemed about this topic, after what I’d learned from Danny, I knew he wasn’t the asshole here.
Before I realized I was about to speak, words came out of my mouth. “Danny explained what happened. I know you won't publicly discuss it, and I respect you for that. I can only imagine how frustrating it’s been for you.”
Lucas kept staring at me. Damn. I wished he had more trouble with direct eye contact. I lifted my chin slightly and held his gaze. After a beat, he leaned back, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
“It is what it is. I'm more annoyed about the attention paid to it.”
I nodded and resisted the urge to shift my legs again. “So, are you okay with us releasing that statement then? And the apology for swearing at the interviewer and walking off?” I asked.
He spun in his chair to look out the windows again, and I wondered if I'd gone too far. He spun back quickly and nodded. “I don’t have to like it, but I’ll go along with it.”
He stood abruptly, rounding the corner of the table. I didn’t see how it was physically possible, but my pulse jumped another notch. My body was like an engine revving anytime I was near him. His presence was like a heavy foot on the pedal, sending a surge of fuel through my body and hurtling me forward at a speed I could hardly tolerate. I stood because it appeared he was escorting me out of the office.
His stride was long, so I hurried to catch up. He suddenly stopped and turned back. I barreled into him. Colliding with him was like running into a wall of granite. My nipples tightened and my sex clenched. I stared up at him, barely able to breathe.
Chapter 4
Lucas
I stared down at Sophia. Her breasts were pressed against my chest. I could feel the taut points of her nipples through her shirt. I scanned her face. I couldn't have looked away if I tried. I knew I should step back, but I didn't want to. Distantly, I tried to recall if any woman had ever had this effect on me. I didn't think so. She made me crazy.
I'd read her email and gotten furious, demanding she come meet with me immediately. In the hours since I'd seen her this morning, I’d somehow convinced myself my physical reaction to her was just a fluke. Then, she walked into my office again. The second she walked through the door, my cock had stiffened.
The freckles on her nose added a dash of endearing to her. Her full, lush lips, her wide eyes with her auburn lashes nearly brushing against her cheeks, and her stunning hair—a blend of red and gold. She had me by the balls, and she didn’t even realize it. She took a breath, the effect of it pressing her breasts against my chest. Fuck. I knew she could feel my cock because it was hard at the apex of her thighs. She fit against me perfectly.
Before I was aware, I was moving, not a single thought passing through my mind. I slid a hand down her spine, cupping her bottom, her bottom that so beautifully filled out her skirt. A soft, little sound came from the back of her throat, galvanizing me. We were standing right beside the door. I spun her quickly, pressing her against it and doing exactly what my body wanted me to do.
I fit my mouth over hers, and damn if she didn't gasp the moment our lips collided. Perfect, fucking perfect. I swept my tongue in her mouth, and she moaned. She tasted sweet, and she was soft all over. I pressed her into the door, holding back the urge to grind my hips into the cradle of hers.
Physically, she called to me in a way no woman ever had. I didn't do this kind of thing. Apparently, she was the exception. I tangled a hand in her hair, flattened my other palm against the door and devoured her mouth. Her tongue tangled sensually with mine. I poured all of the pent-up need that had built inside of the few hours since I'd seen her this morning. Our kiss went wild—hot, wet and deep. All the while, little gasps and throaty sounds came from her, making me crazy.
I tore my lips free only because I needed to taste more of her. Blazing a wet trail of kisses down her neck, I cupped one of her breasts, brushing my thumb back and forth across the taut nipple pressing against the fabric. On a gasp, she murmured my name. Her voice was husky and sent another jolt of need through me, my cock hardening even further. I dragged my tongue along the side of her neck, dipping down into the valley between her breasts. She murmured my name again on the heels of a low moan, this time nudging me out of the haze of need.
I managed to lift my head and meet her eyes. They were wild and dark, her lips were swollen and damp, and I'd mussed her hair. I wanted to see her naked with her hair in a tangle on the pillows. This was fucking insane. I knew I should step back, but I couldn't bring myself to, not just yet.
“What are you doing?” she muttered, her breath coming in short pants.
My thumb was still caressing her nipple. I stared at her, considering her question. The bald facts were I was kissing her and considering locking the door so I could bend her over my desk and bury myself inside of her. Sanity knocked on the door in my mind. I took a breath and latched onto a thread of control, giving myself a mental shake.
“Kissing you,” I said, stating the rather obvious fact.
A small laugh escaped. I loved seeing her rattled like this. She was so professional and put together, it made me hard just to think about knocking down her proper boundaries.
“I know,” she finally replied. “I'm not so sure this is a good idea.”
I knew it wasn't a good idea. I'd never had this problem of wanting to fuck someone who worked for me. I’d never even considered it could be a problem. I contemplated the options. I wasn't willing to step back, and I thought perhaps we just needed to get this out of our systems and then it would go away.
“Maybe it's not, but I also don't think it's a good idea for us to work so closely without getting this out of our systems.”
She gasped. “Excuse me. Are you suggesting we let this go further?” she asked, her eyes wide.
I was so out of my mind with lust lashing at me that I nodded. In that moment, I couldn’t think past it. Not with her delectable curves pressed against me and her scent winding around me.
“Sure. Why not? I don't actually have a policy here against interoffice relationships. I figure people are adults. They can work it out.”
Are you fucking out of your mind? You finally hire a PR consultant and now you're planning to fuck her?
I mentally shrugged at my snide internal comments. The need roaring through me overrode every other sane thought. I was quickly talking myself into this.
Sophia's eyes widened further, and she shook her head slightly. “This is crazy. It's easy for you to say when you're my boss.”
“You're an independent contractor. I'm not your boss.”
I was nothing if not rational.
A little laugh escaped from her with a huff, her breasts pressing against me again. I couldn't help another pass of my thumb across her nipple. I felt a roll of satisfaction when her hips arched reflexively into mine.
“Maybe, but you're still the one I answer to,” she said softly. “This is my first day here. Don't mess this up for me right away.”
I could see the worry flickering in the depths of her eyes. I forced myself to step back, untangling my fingers from her hair, reluctantly releasing the delicious weight of her breast cupped in my palm, and letting my hands drop away.
She straightened, pushing away from the door, smoothing her skirt and adjusting her blouse. She ran her hands through her hair, looking nervous, and glanced ove
r at me.
“Here's the thing. You might hear this from Suzanne because I'm honest about it, but my last employer hit on me all the time. He threatened to give me a bad reference. I don't use him as one, but I'm honest about what happened. I don't think you're an asshole. In fact, it's obvious you're not. But I can't put myself in a bad position,” she explained, her words threaded with uncertainty.
I stared at her, considering I was crazy, but I couldn't seem to think straight when it came to her. I suddenly wanted to punch whoever that guy was. I could have empathy for his desire for her, but it didn't sound like she returned it. Any asshole that would make a threat like that, well, he was a fucking asshole.
Lust thundered through me, and I took a breath, trying to gain control. “Will you have dinner with me?” I asked.
Her eyes widened further.
When she didn’t reply, I clarified, “I know what you just said. I'm not that kind of guy. There's something between us, and it's obvious it's not a one-way street.”
We were close enough for me to see her pulse fluttering wildly in her neck. It took all I had not to draw her back against me and pour my desire into another kiss. Her breasts rose and fell when she took a deep breath.
“I don't know if that’s a good idea.”
I stared at her, calculating. “I don't want a relationship, but I want you and it's obvious you want me too,” I said flatly.
She stared at me, swallowing and then shaking her head slightly. In a flash, she opened the door and dashed out of my office.
Chapter 5
Sophia
It had been an entire week since that insane kiss with Lucas in his office. By some small miracle, I'd managed to avoid meeting with him alone since then, likely due to the fact that he’d been traveling for most of the week. He had gone along with my public statement about his ex and issued an apology for swearing at his last interviewer. As a result, I anticipated his next interview would go well.
Meanwhile, I was hoping the next time I had to be alone with him, I would have better control of myself. I didn't seem capable of controlling my pulse, or the fact that my panties got wet whenever he happened to be around me. He didn't hesitate to keep his heated gaze on me, which annoyed me to no end. It should've annoyed me even more, given what happened in my last job. Yet, I secretly savored it. Everywhere his eyes landed sent sparks flying through me. Lucas was no aging, leering, entitled wealthy man. He was young, handsome as sin, and actually a halfway decent guy as far as I could tell.
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