by Mia Jones
Melanie walked off the dance floor toward Nick and Angie. “Where’d Jess go?” she asked curiously.
“She has an early morning and decided to head out.”
Melanie leaned over the table, lifted her wine glass, and took a sip before a smirk played over her features. “Or maybe it was the fact Garrett ditched her.”
Nick looked confused then irritated. “I don’t think so, Melanie. I think Jess walked away from him for some reason.”
Melanie looked shocked. “Why in the hell would she do that? He’s like richer then God.”
“Melanie,” both Angie and Nick sputtered out in disgust.
“That’s insulting,” Angie burst out. “What about the man? He could be extremely rich but beat his children and wife. Would you still think he was a catch?”
Melanie stood tall. “Hell, yeah. Because I’d divorce his ass and take him for everything he has.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Melanie. You’re going to end up alone with that attitude. Men can usually smell a gold digger a mile away,” Nick spat out.
Melanie smirked. “We’ll just see about that. Garrett told me he wants to dance with me.”
Nick turned to Angie, disgust shaded his tone. “I’m ready to go. How about you?”
Angie still looked at Melanie with disapproval but nodded to Nick. “Yes. I’m ready.” Angie picked up her purse and turned back to Melanie. “You and I have to talk sometime. I really don’t know what’s gotten into you.”
“Of course, you don’t. You’re married to Mr. Wonderful there. You have no idea what it’s like to be alone.” Melanie hissed before she turned and stomped off.
“I’m glad she brought her own car. That girl is getting crazier by the day, and I’d rather not spend more time with her tonight,” Nick whispered in Angie’s ear.
Angie watched Melanie angrily walk off. “I know. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. I know it’s been hard for her losing her last three boyfriends, but I’ve never thought she’d act like this,” she said concerned. “We’ve been friends for a long time, but she has increasingly become more cold-hearted as time goes on. I just hope she’ll open up to me.”
Nick took her hand and walked toward the door.
“You’re not going to like this, Nick, but I’m glad Garrett and Jess don’t get along. She would never be able to handle him.”
Nick stopped abruptly and turned toward his wife. “Oh, I have a feeling things are just getting started with those two.” His hand cupped her chin and bent to get eye level with his petite wife. “And I want you to stay out of it, Ang. He’s a good guy. I know he can be arrogant.” He ignored Angie’s snort. “And domineering, maybe a little rough around the edges, but I’d would want him at my back any day.”
Angie just nodded then frowned when Nick turned around again. Nick might trust the man, but Angie didn’t. A little rough around the edges? Yeah, right. More like jagged all the way through. She always had the feeling that he was the type of man who would destroy another person very easily to get what he wants. He didn’t seem to care when he bought a struggling business and then ripped it apart and destroyed how many lives in the process? She just didn’t understand why Nick couldn’t see it if she could.
Chapter 4
She hated this part of her job. Asking people for money always made her feel extremely uncomfortable. Nervously, Jessica looked around the expensive furnishings of the G & B Corporation conference room, took a deep breath, and tried to settle her nerves as she pulled her speech and data sheets from her briefcase. She needed to stay calm and professional while she gave the information and statistics about the risks and gains of socializing the cats, hoping it would help convince this company to donate to them to fund a new cat playroom.
Garrett walked into his conference room, going over the list of organizations that were asking for money that day and froze. He was stunned to see Jessica. He didn’t normally attend these meetings, making a few of his trusted men take care of the charity side of his business.
Holy shit. What are the chances? His day just brightened. Hell, his whole month did. His body instantly hardened, making the breath catch in his lungs. How was it possible that this little woman affected him this strongly after knowing her such a short time?
He’d been out of town over the weekend, and had been anxious to connect with her again. He’d planned on calling her and asking her out after work. This was better, much better.
“Hello, Miss Mitchell,” a deep, raspy voice she’d dreamt about the last few nights said behind her. She spun around and almost tripped over the chair between them.
Garrett reached out to steady her.
Garrett was here. Why?
“Wh...what are you doing here?” she stuttered. Jessica put a hand to her chest, hoping to keep her heart from hammering out of her chest. She took a quick, confused look at the other people in the conference room.
He sat just a foot from her on the edge of the conference room table and crossed his arms.
Jessica noticed he was dressed again in a suit− this one dark gray, that molded to his tall, muscular body with perfection. He removed his suit jacket and hung it on one of the chairs which should have made him look more casual but only intensified her reaction to him.
His smile widened. “I own it.” His gaze traveled down her body and frowned. She was wearing ugly clothes again, but this time her blouse was a mossy green and her pants brown. Both baggy and unattractive. At least her hair seemed to be tamed in a bun at the back of her head, but he could tell it was already loosened, fighting to be free.
“You own what?” She squeaked, which caused the other people in the room to freeze and stare their way.
His smile got bigger. She was absolutely adorable. “Everything.”
“What do you mean everything?” Her voice grew steadily higher.
“I mean I own G & B Corporation and the building, among other things.” He laughed out right when her face turned red. Everyone in the room stood confused. None of them had ever heard this man laugh and had rarely seen him smile.
Jessica was silent for a minute. She paled and swallowed several times when she felt the burn of tears.
“Oh shit,” he burst out. He gripped her upper arm and pulled her from the room. Several steps later, he pulled her into an office and shut the door. He leaned his back against the door and pulled her in front of him. His gentle hold tightened when she tried to pull away. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m not.” She sniffed, and her eyes rapidly blinked several times.
His thumb caressed her upper arm where his hand gripped her and smiled. “When I ask you a question in the future, it would please me if you always tell me the truth.”
She mumbled something as her gaze focused on his shirt button. The scent of his skin was intoxicating...it made her feel light-headed and slightly drunk.
“What? I mean there is no future.” She tried to pull away from him. “Please let me go. I need to gather my things and get back to the shelter.” She felt panic start to edge in and wanted to get as far away from him as quickly as possible.
His eyes flared, and his brows drew together in a scowl. “Why would you do that?” Anger and confusion were laced in his voice.
Jessica used a hand to wedge more space between them to wipe her eyes. “Because I can’t stay here. I’m so embarrassed. I feel so bad about you and your staff taking the time to meet me.”
“Jessica, we had to be here anyway. We have contracts that need to be signed, so we all were going to be here anyway.”
Jessica thought about it for a second and nodded. She felt a little better, but not much. “I have to go.”
“For God’s sake, why?”
“There is no way I can ask you for money.”
“Why the hell not?” he said impatiently. His hands stayed locked on her arms.
“Just because.”
“Jessica. When I ask you a question, I will require a real answer.”
&nb
sp; The arrogance she’d seen the other night peeked through. It seemed to piss her and off at the same time raise her desire for him. “It doesn’t feel right. Now let me go, please.”
“Jessica, look at me,” he demanded in a voice you couldn’t help but respond to, and was pleased when she instantly looked up. The softhearted look on her face hit him hard and made it impossible to remember what he was going to say. His only thought was to see if her lips were as soft as they appeared. He slowly lowered his head, and his mouth pressed against hers almost hesitantly. A moment went by as he explored the contours of her lips. His hand encircled her jaw and pressed down to open her mouth. A groan tore from his throat when he tasted her. His tongue dueled with hers in an intimate byplay.
Jessica wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She couldn’t seem to get enough of his kisses. The feelings racing through her overshadowed her common sense.
One of his arms wrapped around her and turned them so she was tucked between his hard body and the hard coolness of the wood at her back. He twisted his hips and made room between her legs, pressing against the very core of her. His control slipped, and his only thoughts were of her and making her feel good.
Groans and whimpers tore from their mouths before Garrett bent again and took her mouth more forcefully and deeper this time. His hand slid down to enclose her breast through her shirt. His kiss turned hotter and more dominant.
Jessica’s body jerked at the contact as more heat flooded her already drenched panties. She tore her mouth from his at the same time she pulled her arms from around his neck and panted. An embarrassed flush slid over her features. “Stop. Oh, my God. We don’t even know each other. We shouldn’t be touching like this,” she said breathlessly.
Garrett couldn’t hear her over the molten blood rushing through his veins. He pressed his mouth against her neck and spread heat to her shoulder as his hands roamed over her like he was trying to absorb her into his skin.
“Garrett, stop,” she said more forcefully and pushed at his shoulders.
He lifted his head and stared down at her. “What, baby?” he asked hoarsely.
“I want to go. You’re making me feel uncomfortable. People should get to know each other before they kiss.” She twisted away from him only to have his arm reach out and gently enclose her wrist before she took a full step back. “We need to get to know each other better,” she said firmly.
“That’s a good idea. Let’s go. I have a condo on the top floor. We’ll get to know each other very well.” He pulled her in for another kiss.
She pulled away and frowned in confusion. “You live here?”
“Not all the time.”
“Why do you have an apartment here? Where else do you live?”
Garrett frowned in frustration. “Because I work late a lot of the time, and it’s convenient when I don’t want to take the time to drive out to a house I own in the Breckenridge area, and I usually send my driver home way before I’m done. Besides, I’m usually wiped out. I sometimes don’t get out of here until two or three in the morning.”
Jessica couldn’t wrap her head around everything he was saying. She shook her head and tried once again to pull away from him. “Why?”
Garrett sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes. “Because that’s when other markets are open in different parts of the world.” He was clearly getting aggravated.
Jessica looked thoughtful for a moment and at the same time tried again to move away.
His gaze narrowed and darkened. “Stop trying to pull away from me. You won’t be going anywhere until we hash this out. So this is how were going to play this. I will ask the questions, and you will answer them immediately. Do you understand?”
Jessica’s eyes widened at the tone of his voice and nodded her head. She stiffened when he tried to pull her closer, but not in fear. Not at any time had he scared her.
“Jessica. Stop. I want you in front of me while we talk.”
She took a step toward him.
“That’s a good girl,” he soothed when she calmed and settled in front of him. “Now what do you need to get before we go upstairs.” He paused when she shook her head. “What?”
“I’m not going upstairs; I’m going back to work.”
“Like hell you are.”
Jessica stiffened and searched his angry face. “Are you going to keep me here against my will?”
“If I have to,” he said through gritted teeth.
She relaxed as she caught discouragement mixed with a gentle expression on his face. “I don’t believe that, Garrett.”
Garrett ran an agitated hand through his close-cropped hair. “Jesus,” he whispered and closed his eyes. “Woman, you’re driving me crazy already.”
Jessica laughed at the harassed tone of his voice, which earned a scowl. “I’m really not trying to.” Her face turned serious. “Garrett, I really need to go.”
“What about the presentation?” Garrett let his hands slide up and down her arms, his gaze
intent on hers.
“I can’t do that anymore, especially when you dragged me in here. I can’t imagine what everyone is thinking,” she whispered as the blush on her face darkened.
“I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks, and you won’t either.”
Jessica cringed. “You can’t force me to not worry.”
“Like hell.”
“Garrett.”
“Jessica,” he mimicked.
They stared at each other for a moment until Garrett’s eyes heated and he leaned forward to take her mouth.
She wedged her arms between them. If she didn’t leave soon, she was afraid she’d give into him, and right now that wasn’t an option she could live with.
“What did I say about pushing away from me.” He clenched his jaw.
“I’m sorry, but we just met, Garrett. I don’t know you at all. I also can’t understand why you’re even paying attention to me,” Jessica whispered against his chest.
“Just listen to me.” He kept his voice firm but soft and waited until he had her full attention. “We’ll get to know each other better. I already know a lot about you, and you seem to understand me better than anyone else ever has. You’re not afraid of me at all, which I find interesting and amazing, and we want each other. I’m paying attention to you because I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want you.” His hands gripped her shoulders, and his gaze pierced hers. “Is that true for you, Jessica? Do you want me? Do you want me more then you have ever wanted a man before? I need you to give me an honest answer, baby. Because if you don’t, I won’t continue to pursue you.”
Jessica stared at him. You would think his eyes would be cold, they were as black as coal. Instead, they heated and bore into hers and seemed to see right into the heart of her.
“Jessica?” Garrett warned.
Jessica’s heart twisted at the vulnerability she saw. “Yes, I want you.”
He tightened his hands, and he let out a silent sigh of relief. “More than any other man you’ve had?” Just the thought of her with anyone else spiked his blood pressure. He gritted his teeth against the irrational anger that wanted to spill.
She could absolutely tell him the truth, as she’d hadn’t ever been with a man. She nodded slowly and kept her smile to herself. “I haven’t ever wanted a man more than you.”
He relaxed his grip when he was able to take a deep breath.
“But I’m not going to your apartment, and don’t even think about going to bed with me. I am definitely not ready for that.”
Garrett chuckled. “We don’t have to wait until we find a bed. My desk will do just fine.”
Jessica gasped. Her eyes widened as her gaze went to the desk and back. “But...”
Garrett watched as a red tinge crept across her face and chuckled. She was adorable. “I know. It’s too soon. Besides, the first time I take you, I want you on a comfortable surface, like my bed.” He smiled when her blush deepened and stood before him mute. “There is
no reason you can’t go ahead and do the presentation... Stop it,” He growled when she shook her head. “Goddamn, you’re stubborn.”
He stared at her silently for so long, Jessica started to fidget. “Okay, how about this. You give me, just me, the presentation...Jesus Christ, woman. Why the hell not?”
She stopped shaking her head. “Because I’d feel sleazy trying to take money from you now. You kissed me. I mean isn’t that the way prostitutes make a living?”
Garrett snorted back a laugh. “I don’t know too many prostitutes who’d sell themselves for puppies. Besides, I haven’t gotten you under me. Yet.”
Jessica gasped at his arrogance and then narrowed her gaze. “And you might nev—”
Garrett’s nostril flared as he bent to get in her face. “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it, because it is going to happen with us, and you need to get used to the idea.”
Jessica inhaled sharply. “No. You can’t just say something like that, Garrett. We don’t know each other, and we’re from totally separate worlds. I think if you took some time to think about it, you’d agree we’re too different.”
At first his anger spiked, until he reminded himself she didn’t seem to have a lot of experience. He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling and sighed before looking back at her. “We’ll deal with th—”
She shook her head.
With a growl of pure frustration, he bent and got nose to nose with her. “As I was saying...we’ll deal with our differences and our relationship later. Let’s just deal with your shelter right now. Please, Jessica. You and I having a personal relationship doesn’t have anything to do with this...” He gritted his teeth and ignored her shaking head. “What’s important to you right now? The shelter, right? Do you really want to walk away from a potential donor?”