James, Sherry - [Studs For Hire 02]

by Woman In Charge (lit)

  They announced his flight was clear to board and an unexpected pang of hesitation made him hold back. He glanced at his plane, then at Casey, and his gut tightened a fraction. He lifted a hand to touch her, but stopped himself.

  Dammit. This was bullshit. He'd barely known her forty-eight hours, not enough time in his opinion, to develop any kind of attachment worth mooning about.

  "That's me,” he said, his voice purposefully hard for his own ears.

  "I'll see you at the end of the week, then?"

  "Yeah. Hopefully Friday. Remember, I'm driving, so it'll be later in the day. If something changes, I'll let you know."

  "Okay. Give me a call when you reach the outskirts of Omaha. We can decide then if you feel up to dinner or not after a long day behind the wheel."

  Dinner? With Casey? Alex gritted his teeth. Her suggestion sounded too much like a date, and he didn't want to give himself the pleasure of looking forward to taking her out for an evening.

  "Sure,” he said. The flight attendant gave the last call to board. “See you Friday.” He held out his hand to seal their business deal with a shake, hoping to reaffirm the trust they'd placed in each other.

  She accepted the gesture and his fingers curled around the slender length of her hand. Instantly, he knew he'd made a mistake. Searing bolts of awareness he didn't want to feel shot through his arm and straight to his chest—the exact reason why he'd avoided touching her earlier. Her smooth skin, hot to his touch, made him burn with the need to pull her close, feel her body pressed next to his.

  In two days she'd consumed every ounce of his reasoning, and Alex knew from this moment forward, a sweet smile or a simple handshake would never be enough to satisfy his craving for her.

  He wanted something more. He wanted something intimate.

  He wanted something he couldn't have.

  So, take this one moment and savor it, he told himself. To hell with the consequences.

  He leaned in close. The subtle fragrance she wore surrounded him and beckoned him to take her into his arms. His eyes closed, the warmth of her skin his only guide.

  Don't. Alex opened his eyes and forced himself at the last second to shift to the right, placing a kiss on her cheek. Her skin was satin against his lips and still managed to ignite a fire down in the very depths of him.

  She was something he couldn't have. She was something he wouldn't let himself have. Even though his body argued against his denial, he knew if he allowed himself anything beyond this one simple kiss, there would be no turning back.

  And yet, he sensed it might already be too late. Breaking the contact, he turned and strode toward the airplane without looking back.

  Casey Burrows had rocked his world.

  Chapter Seven

  "I had no idea there were so many web sites devoted to Elvis,” Casey said as she perused through the long list of sites on her computer screen. “My hair would turn gray before I'd have a chance to look through all of these. That is if Heather doesn't turn it gray first. She pestered the hell out of me again today."

  "Heather's rich. She figures she has the right to pester,” Terri said as she lounged on Casey's office couch after a long and tiring Monday. She flipped her dark hair over the arm of the couch, took off her glasses and closed her eyes.

  "Hey, Elvis.com. This is where I need to be,” Casey said as she clicked on the official web site owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. “It's amazing the man still has such mass appeal."

  "Elvis is big business. Year after year he consistently stays on the top ten list of the highest money-making celebrities who have passed on."

  "Yes, but you'd think after all these years he'd be a little less big business. Look at this. You can get an Elvis VISA card. And while you're at it, you can order a deluxe Elvis rose bouquet, complete with his picture imprinted on the blossoms, for the bargain basement price of one hundred dollars."

  "Sweet."

  "By the way, if you're in the market for anything Elvis, you have nearly eleven-thousand items to choose from right now on E-bay.” She glanced over at her friend to see if she was still awake.

  "Looking to buy something?” Terri mumbled.

  "No. Looking for inspiration.” She turned back to the computer. “Gee. It says here you can even get married at Graceland. They have a little chapel in the woods. Wow. An hour and a half ceremony will only set you back about six-hundred bucks."

  "He was the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Terri stated simply as if there was no need to say more.

  "So I've been told,” Casey groaned, remembering Heather had said the exact same thing. “I just hope we can give Heather what she wants and still keep it tactful. I mean there's so much hokey Elvis stuff out there. I'd hate for this to turn out looking cheap, like a bad velvet Elvis painting you can buy on some street corner."

  A new bout of concern settled in her stomach. No way, no how, did she want Alex coming back and saying, I told you so. It can't be done. They'd all be ruined.

  "Quit stressing.” Terri got up from the couch and walked over to Casey's desk. “Alex is good at what he does. You're good at what you do. You'll make it work."

  "I hope you're right.” Casey leaned back in her chair and combed her fingers through her hair. “I have this terrible feeling that before this is all over, I'm going to wish I'd forgotten interior design and stuck with accounting."

  "Stop worrying.” Terri waved a hand in dismissal, sat on the edge of the desk and slipped on her glasses.

  "I'd stop worrying if I believed Alex really wanted a part in this. It's going to make for a long fall if he's just here for..."

  What was he here for? Why had he changed his mind? Casey tapped a fingertip on the edge of her computer keyboard, her mind racing with speculation.

  "Here for what?” Terri asked.

  Casey shook her head. “I don't know. For being dead-set against it, he did come around pretty fast. I wonder if something happened after he left my place. Something or someone had to have convinced him to take on this job."

  "Heather? Maybe she called him."

  Casey shook her head again. “No, I don't think so. She doesn't have his cell number. At least not that I know of. I sure didn't give it to her."

  "Oh, well. Maybe you changed his mind.” Terri smiled.

  "Me? I didn't talk to him again. Brudy and I went on a medicinal chocolate run."

  "Then it had to be something you'd said to him earlier. Could be he needed some time for things to soak in a bit."

  Casey laughed. Sure, she'd like to believe she'd convinced Alex to take the job, but she wasn't so sure. He'd been so adamant about the legitimacy of the job.

  Second of all, Alex gave her the impression he wasn't quite sure what to do with her. One minute he acted like he wanted to kiss her, the next like he wanted to strangle her.

  And that kiss in the airport. Even if it ended up being nothing more than a peck on the cheek, technically it was still a kiss. A mighty fine one at that, too. She rubbed the spot on her cheek where they'd come together, and her heart raced at the memory. Thanks to the warm, electrifying feel of his firm lips, she'd been off-kilter ever since.

  "Terri, you're full of it,” Casey said, more for the benefit of her own convictions than for the purpose of chiding her friend.

  "I'm no dummy. I've seen the way he looks at you."

  Looks at me? No. She didn't dare go there. Casey had a habit of reading more into a relationship than what was really there, and because of her assumptions, men always left, leaving her to fend for herself. The cycle had started with her dad, and in that area of her life, nothing, absolutely nothing, had changed.

  "Besides, whatever his reason for staying, be thankful,” Terri continued. “What matters is you landed the job with Heather. This will be a big boon for us."

  "If we can pull it off. I hate to say it, but Alex is right. This is a risky endeavor. We could end up as major laughingstocks if we fail."

  "Maybe what you need is some firsthand inspi
ration."

  "What do you mean?” Casey looked up at Terri, her hazel eyes serious behind her glasses.

  "Go to the source. Fly down to Memphis and tour Graceland."

  "Go to Graceland? Why do that when I can check out the virtual tours? They also have the Graceland cam which is updated every sixty-seconds. It's almost like being there."

  "Almost, is the key word here. Looking at postage stamp-sized images on a computer screen isn't the same as being there and experiencing it for yourself."

  "That's true. And it would qualify as a bona fide business expense.” Casey tapped a finger on her chin, her brain starting to toss around possibilities.

  "See? It would be a great opportunity to spend some time alone with Alex, too.” Terri smiled and winked.

  "Take Alex with me?” Was Terri nuts? The idea of spending time alone with Alex sent a quiver of anticipation racing through her veins. Normally, Casey didn't have any trouble devising clever ways to spend time with a man, or offering advice to her friends on how to attract a man's attention. For some reason though, when it came to Alex, she felt ... lost and disoriented.

  "Sure. Why not take Alex with you? He's so hot."

  Hot was an understatement. And Casey was weak.

  "I don't know. What about Brudy?"

  "Your neighbor lady still looks after him during the week, doesn't she?"

  "Yes. He practically lives with Mrs. Wiley while I'm at work. She loves him."

  "Then I'm sure she won't mind watching him for a weekend."

  "I don't know. This trip might be too expensive,” Casey said, grasping for any excuse she could find to talk herself out this crazy, tempting idea and its other possibilities. Possibilities a girl should only fantasize about during the night in her cold, empty bed.

  "Come on. Where's that adventurous spirit of yours? It can't cost that much for you two to fly down there for a weekend. Besides, you're working together on this. From what you've said, it sounds like he could use some inspiration, too."

  Terri really was brilliant sometimes. A trip to Memphis could be the answer to their design dilemma. There were only two minor problems. Sydnie. And Alex.

  "What if Syd doesn't go for it?"

  "What won't I go for?” Syd asked as she joined Casey and Terri, three wine coolers in her hands.

  "Oh, marvelous,” Terri said, reaching for a cooler. “After the day I've had, I need this."

  "Me, too,” Casey accepted the other cooler and moaned. “Heather has called five times today. The woman is tenacious."

  "Quit changing the subject, you guys,” Syd ordered. “What were you talking about when I came in?” Casey glanced at Terri and saw as much apprehension on her face as she was feeling in her gut. “Well? I'm waiting."

  Casey took a long swallow of her berry cooler, building her resolve to push for this trip. “I'm struggling with this Gridmore project a little, and since I'm not an Elvis fan per se, Terri suggested that maybe what I need is some firsthand inspiration."

  "So, you're going to go out and rent every Elvis movie ever made and have an Elvis marathon?” Syd asked, mischief in her voice.

  "Very funny. I have something better in mind."

  "And that better would be ... I know,” Syd snapped her fingers, “listening to Elvis, Aloha from Hawaii nonstop for a week.” She grinned ear to ear.

  "No,” Casey said firmly, knowing Syd was being difficult for the fun of it.

  "It's a great album.” Syd took a drink.

  "I don't doubt that. What I'm proposing is Alex and I take a trip to Graceland.” Whew. That felt good to get that weight off her chest.

  "Alone? Together? Graceland?” Syd set down her drink on the desk with a thud. Her face void of expression.

  Uh-oh. Not a good sign. The weight returned, threatening to snap Casey's breast bone.

  "It's not like we'd be totally alone. Hundreds of people visit everyday. You should see the list of celebrities who've toured Graceland. There have been so many they even list them alphabetically."

  "And you think visiting Graceland will be the answer to all your problems?” Syd asked.

  "Maybe not all, but it can't hurt. Terri, help me out here, will you? This was your idea.” Casey gave her friend her best pleading look.

  Terri shrugged. “I'm staying out of this. I did my part, now you do the rest."

  Casey groaned. “Argh. Some friend you are. Syd, lighten up. I think this is a great idea. All we'd need is a couple of days. We go down, tour the place, and come home. Two airline tickets, two nights of hotel, a little food and we're set."

  "You're making it sound like I'm against the idea,” Sydnie chided.

  "Well, you don't exactly sound like you're for it,” Casey said defensively.

  "Now who needs to lighten’ up? You've been wound tighter than a guitar string for the last week because of this job."

  "I'm under a lot of pressure here.” Casey took a long drink of her wine cooler, the alcohol barely easing her tension.

  "And that's why I think you should go."

  "What?” Casey choked. “Really? You're serious?"

  "Of course, I'm serious. Make arrangements and go—the sooner the better, too.” Sydnie gave Casey a goofy look. Heading for the door, she stopped and turned to face her friend. “Oh. And don't forget to book two hotel rooms. You don't know Alex well enough yet to be making, A Big Hunk o’ Love.” Syd shook her finger teasingly, then disappeared around the corner.

  "Yes, mother,” Casey mocked, catching Syd's reference to one of the King's songs. Now, all she needed to do was convince Alex and she was set. “Woo-hoo. Elvis, here I come. I hope."

  * * * *

  "It looks like all your paperwork is in order, Alex,” the sleek, older bank president said from behind his oversized desk. “The other loan officers and I will confer in the morning. I assure you, we'll give your request for a loan due consideration."

  Due consideration? That sounded like another snobbish way of saying, sorry, can't help you.

  Alex leaned forward, resting his arms on the chair. This was his third bank stop today, and Colorado Financial was the first to at least let him fill out an application. The first two, after he told them how much money he wanted to borrow, simply said sorry and ushered him out the door.

  "Look, I don't mean to be abrupt,” Alex said, hoping he didn't sound desperate, even though he was. “I'm kind of short on time here. Can you at least tell me if the odds are in my favor of getting the loan?"

  The silver-haired man, Jerry Shirley by his name placard, leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers over his trim waist. No doubt he stayed fit by playing golf and racquetball at the local country club, all paid for, of course, by the bank.

  "We at Colorado Financial take all of our loan requests very seriously and make every effort to grant those loans. However, sometimes we simply can't, no matter how much we'd like to. As I'm sure you're aware, credit history is crucial.” He steepled his fingers and Alex sensed the man was looking down his nose at him.

  He struggled to rein in his defenses. “And you're saying my credit history isn't up to your standards."

  "Not at all. While it's true your credit score isn't as high as I'd like to see it, it is still within a range we can work with. However, since it falls on the lower end of the scale, it does throw you into a higher risk category."

  The man sat forward and laced his fingers together on the top of his mahogany desk. His face was unreadable, but his thumb twitched.

  Shit. This didn't look good.

  "Alex, you are applying for a two-hundred and fifty-thousand dollar loan. A quarter of a million dollars is a lot of money. A request like this must be considered carefully. All bank officers must be in full agreement before the loan can be granted."

  "And when you do your considering, do you take into account personal history? Or is it all up to a series of black and white numbers on a piece of paper to determine the outcome?"

  "We, of course, rely very heavily on th
e numbers. As a smaller branch of locally owned banks, we do have the freedom to work closer with our customers—take into consideration their personal track records, if you will."

  Alex took a deep breath and pushed forward. This was his best chance to get the loan he needed to survive. If he couldn't persuade the bank president to back him, he was out of luck here, too.

  "Mr. Shirley, I hope you will consider my personal history. I didn't amass the debt for which is the purpose of the loan. My former business partner decided to go out and have a ... good time at my expense. She did it so fast I didn't realize what had happened until the bills were landing in my mailbox. I was busy working to build the business and was taken completely off guard."