"I still need Alex to draw the final rendering sketches for these, mine are just temporary, but what do you think?” Casey asked Syd as she laid out the design boards she'd slaved over for the last two days. In spite of being at home sick, she'd managed to work with the photos of the rooms in Heather's mansion and pull together paint, fabric, and furniture ideas.
"I think you need to watch your back,” Syd said sternly. “After Heather's little show here at the office last night, I'm even more convinced the woman will stop at nothing to get what she wants."
Casey's spine stiffened. She set down the layout for the Hawaiian suite and fisted her hands on her hips. “What happened last night?"
"Heather showed up after hours in a flurry of fur and scarves."
"And?"
"And Alex had his hands full."
"His hands? Literally? Or figuratively?"
Sydnie took a seat on the corner of Casey's desk and folded her arms. “You have to ask?"
"Against his will, I'm sure. Alex tolerates Heather. He's not interested in her personally.” She turned her attention back to the room designs and hoped Syd didn't see through her nonchalance. In reality she was sweating bullets.
"Maybe, but she's sure still interested in him. She was practically pawing him when I left. And I heard her ask him what he thought of her Halloween costume."
"You left?” Casey spun around and stared at her friend. “Why?"
Syd explained about Heather's surprise invitation for Alex to join her at dinner, and how he'd fibbed that Syd had already ordered out for him. “So, you see, I had no choice but to go and bring him something. By the time I got back, Heather was gone."
"And what happened while you were gone?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. Alex was working on the blueprints when I came in, and Heather was nowhere to be found."
"Did he say anything?"
"Thanks. For bringing him supper."
"Did he offer any kind of explanation? Any clues?"
"Nope."
"How did he appear? I mean, did he have a guilty look on his face, like they'd been up to something?"
Syd shook her head.
"Did you see lipstick on his collar, or on his cheek?” Casey pressed. “Was his hair messed up?"
"No to all of the above,” Syd said, still shaking her head. “He looked just like when I'd left him. Cool, confident, and sexy. So I handed him his cheeseburger extra value meal, he said thanks and that he'd see us in the morning. That was it. I got the impression he was in no mood to talk. So I went home."
"Why didn't you call me? I need to know what's going on around here,” Casey said, aggravated—no, make that ticked off, at Heather and her conniving, man-stealing ways.
"It was late. I figured you'd be sleeping after being so sick. Excuse me for being wrong."
"I'm sorry. It's just, what am I supposed to do about this ... fiasco?” Casey threw up her hands in frustration and started pacing. “I can't demand she leave Alex alone. She'll fire us all."
"True. But you can play along with her game, too. If she sees you and Alex getting friendly, she's bound to get the hint and bug off."
"I don't know, Syd. She's not easily deterred. Plus, she might see me as a threat, and still fire us. I don't want to take that chance. It's too risky."
"Do you want to risk losing Alex?"
Casey stopped in her tracks and turned to face Syd. “You're forgetting one thing. Alex isn't mine to lose."
"And he never will be if you don't step up to the plate."
"I know,” Casey sighed. “I'd just rather finish this job first and collect our paycheck. It's safer that way."
"You might not have that much time."
"That's a chance I'll have to take."
The phone rang out in the reception area, but stopped after only two rings. Within seconds Terri raced through Casey's office door, panic covering her face. “I think we've got trouble,” Terri said.
"What is it? Has something happened?” Syd asked.
"Heather called. She insisted we bring Alex's drafting table and tools over to the house right away."
"What? Why?"
"She said she and Alex are working at her place from now on and that he needs his table ASAP."
"Did she say anything else?"
"Only that Alex had been there for hours already and they were making great progress,” Terri said with a dramatic flare.
"Progress? What kind of progress?” Casey's eyes narrowed to slits. The woman was going too far.
"I don't know. She hung up before I could ask."
Syd was right. Casey needed to step up to the plate and get friendly.
"Girls,” she said with determination. “Help me get this drafting table loaded into my car."
* * * *
"So, you've moved out on me,” a smooth, sassy voice said from behind Alex.
Casey. His breath hitched.
He turned away from the large windows lining the south wall of Hector's former home office to see she stood just inside the large double doors, her arms folded below her breasts, questions on her face. Dressed in a black turtleneck sweater and black slacks, she looked sleek and hot.
The glow had returned to her skin and her green eyes were bright with mischief. It had been two days since he'd taken her home to recoup from her illness, and he hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until this very moment.
"Feeling better?” he asked, sticking to a safe topic.
"I was. Then I found out you'd decided to pack your drafting tools."
"It was kind of a spur of the moment decision."
"Ahh. Well, thanks for including me in the decision making process."
"Sorry. I didn't want to bother you if you still weren't feeling well."
"But I thought we were partners.” Slowly, she walked across the now empty room. Every piece of furniture and Elvis memorabilia had been removed, leaving the room a huge, hallow cavern, but Casey lit up the space like a thousand shining stars. “Aren't partners supposed to tell each other everything?” she asked, stopping only a few feet away from where he stood.
"That depends,” he said with a hint of challenge in his voice. He'd missed sparring with her for the last two days, too.
"On what?"
"On what kind of partnership we share.” For the first time in almost two years the word partnership didn't make him cringe.
"Hmm. Strictly business. Wasn't it?” She bit the tip of her finger in question while a hint of a grin tugged at her red lips. Alex suppressed a groan in frustration. What he wouldn't give to nip and tease those lips into submission once more. Their tryst in Memphis had only been four days ago, but it felt like an eternity. Especially since they didn't get to finish what they'd started.
He was a tortured man.
"I still can't believe you left me for this,” Casey said, spreading her arms wide to indicate the room. “I thought you liked the Feng Shui I had going in my office."
"I do.” And a whole lot more.
"So, what are you doing here? And more importantly, what were you doing here without me?"
"Following the boss's orders."
"Boss? As in Heather?"
"You got it."
"It sounds like she's taken Elvis’ Teddy Bear song literally and put a chain around your neck."
"Not quite. I'm still my own man.” He winked.
"Are you now?"
"Yes,” he said firmly. “Besides, it was going to have to happen sooner than later anyway. I'll need a base point here during construction."
"Well, Mr. Your-Own-Man, I have something for you.” She gave his collar a light tug, then smoothed the fabric with the steady, sensual pressure of her fingers.
"And that would be?” he asked, his breath sounding ragged to his own ears. A light, spicy scent clung to her hair, reminding him of the crisp autumn day outside.
Yeah. Casey was feeling better all right. She was in full-blown tease mode. And if she kept it up, he'd be in full
-blown mode himself.
"Why don't you follow me and find out? Boss's orders.” As she turned, she let one long fingertip blaze a trail along his jaw, ratcheting up the fire already building inside him. Without looking back she headed for the door and left him standing there like a dumbfounded idiot.
"Aren't you coming?” she asked without missing a step. “I'll need your help."
Alex mentally kicked himself into gear and joined her out in front of the house by a hot red Chevy Avalanche.
"What's this? A new ride?"
"New, yes. Mine, no. This is Terri's. We decided trying to stuff your drafting table into the trunk of my Mazda wasn't going to work."
"Smart conclusion.” Alex laughed and dropped the tailgate. He removed the folded drafting table while Casey gathered items from the front seat. Fifty pound bags of dog and cat food were stacked at the front of the truck bed. “What's up with all the pet food?"
"Terri volunteers at an animal shelter. She's always donating to the needy."
Alex felt a major leap in his own needs as he watched her lean into the vehicle. The black slacks she wore fit her shapely backside to perfection, outlining her firm, just-right-for-his-hands cheeks. Oh, yeah. He was needy all right.
They returned to the house and immediately Alex put his mind and hands to the task of setting up a work area next to the windows to take advantage of the best light. Casey handed him his bag of drafting tools and he made a point not to let their fingers touch. If they did, he wouldn't be responsible for his actions—like pinning her down on the top of his drafting board.
"What do you have there?” he asked, nodding toward the poster boards she held, and trying like hell to keep his mind on work.
"The room layouts.” Was that apprehension he heard in her voice? “I finished them last night. That is except for the final room renderings. I just temporarily put my sketches on the boards to give you an idea of what I have in mind."
"But you've been sick. How did you—"
"I was bored. And I knew we needed to get rolling, so I worked while watching hours of HGTV."
"Speaking of getting rolling. Terri handled acquiring all the permits we need, and Riley and Sons will be here later today to start digging the footings for the addition. And the blueprints are done and have been approved. We're on our way."
"Wow. Sounds like I wasn't missed at all."
Alex wanted to tell her he'd missed her as much as he missed the sun on a cloudy day, as much as the snow capping the Rockies, but the last woman he'd felt similar feelings for had betrayed him.
But Casey was no Valerie. He was certain of it.
"So how much did you have to change to get Heather's approval?” she asked, bringing his brain back around to the job.
"Not a thing."
"What? You can't be serious? She didn't have you change one single thing? No moving a door, window or a wall? Nothing?"
"Not one single thing. She was, surprisingly easy to please.” Alex saw Casey's brow furrow, and her lips formed a tight, thin line. Her wheels were spinning—no doubt wondering what had transpired between him and Heather. Alex hid a smile. A little jealousy could be good. Right now Casey didn't need to know there was nothing to be jealous about. He only had eyes for one woman, and she was standing right in front of him.
"So, let's see those room layouts,” he said, tugging the boards from her white-knuckled fingers. “We have a house to remodel."
"Okay,” Casey said, a little breathless from Alex's sudden demand. Would he be just as demanding in bed? Oh, boy. She couldn't go there. Not now. Her heart hadn't stopped pounding the way it was since she'd walked into the room—she didn't need to add to its rhythmic pace by thinking lusty thoughts.
Focus. Focus on work. But work only added more pressure to her nerves. Showing her layouts to Sydnie and Terri was one thing, but putting them out for a professional like Alex to see and judge, was something else.
Casey wrung her hands and took a calming breath she hoped he didn't see. Heck, she hadn't been this nervous when they were tearing at each other's clothes in her hotel room. Funny how a few drinks and a burning desire had a way of taking away one's inhibitions. Too bad she couldn't call upon those two elements to rescue her now. Well, she could the burning desire part.
"Promise me you won't be too hard on me,” she said, trying to get a grip. “Remember, I'm still learning."
"I promise I'll go easy.” Alex chuckled and the deep, easy sound offered a bit of comfort. He placed the boards on the drafting table and eased back to sit on the window ledge, giving her some space.
"First, we'll discuss the grand foyer.” Holding up the design board she said, “I personally don't see anything wrong with the foyer other than it's currently too dark. Agree?"
She looked at him and knew instantly she'd made a huge mistake. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing his muscular forearms and strong wrists that lead to big, rugged hands. Hands that had cupped and fondled her breasts not so long ago.
"Agree,” he said, reminding her she wasn't in the room alone, that this wasn't just some fantasy she was enjoying all by herself.
"Since ... this is the main entrance,” she said, a little short on breath, “and where the Gridmore family portraits hang, I thought we'd simply lighten the paneling with a nice, soothing neutral shade of Indian Summer.” She pointed to a paint chip and the rendering she'd done to bring the room to life and hoped to God he didn't notice the tremble in her hand.
"The color will lighten the area considerably,” she continued, “and there's just enough neutral fleck in the black marble tile to pull it off while still being classy and sophisticated. I also suggest we leave the other woodwork untouched."
"Sounds good.” Alex crossed those muscular arms of his in front of his broad, powerful chest. She'd felt the power of that chest, felt the heat of his skin, the rhythm of his heart beneath. Taking a deep breath, she forced her gaze up and discovered he watched her intently. His eyes darkened and she was afraid he'd read every single thought dancing through her head.
Casey took a step back, hoping increased distance would keep her in check. “I didn't do anything ... for this room yet,” she held out her hands to indicate their surroundings, “since this room will lead into the addition, I figured we'd tie the two together with an all-out Elvis theme. But I need to see your design for the addition before I can do too much."
"Do you have any ideas?” he asked, his voice low and seductive as hell.
Oh, yeah. She had ideas.
"A few."
"Let's hear ‘em."
Oh, God. This was torture. Sweet, agonizing torture. How much longer could she stand here and babble about room design when all she could think about was Alex?
"Well. Heather hosts a monthly Elvis meeting as well as an annual convention, and with this room being so big, I thought it would be the perfect area for her guests to gather, mingle and party. I see the walls in this room lightened as well, a bar added at the west end, and low slung, retro style furniture in eclectic colors placed in groupings, and photos of Elvis in groupings on the walls as well."
Crap. Was she rambling? To her ears she sounded like she was rambling.
"What about the other rooms?” he asked. He pushed away from the window and stepped over to the drafting board. “Show me what you have in mind."
Casey felt a whimper rumble at the back of her throat. Was it her imagination, or was Alex really that tall? That big? That deliciously bad?
With a quick catch of her breath she was once more surrounded by the mesmerizing scent of him.
"I thought ... what we could do is...” Forget about the damn house and ravage each other. It's only a job, right? Who cares about money and a reputation anyway?
"What? What could we do, Casey?” He brushed a tendril of hair away from her cheek. The backs of his fingers breezed lightly against her skin, sending a wave of heat pulsing through every square inch of her body.
"Uh.” She took a deep breath.
“I think ... it would be fun to ... theme the rooms to not only some of his songs, but his movies, too.” She scrambled to find the right design board in her pile. This impromptu presentation wasn't going anything like she'd planned.
"How so, sweetheart?” His warm breath tickled the shell of her ear as he spoke, the husky sound seeping down, fanning her desire.
Sweetheart? Yeah. Nothing like she'd planned. Holy crap.
"Elvis made ... several movies in Hawaii,” she said, her focus wavering to point she could barely think. “I designed a 60's Hawaiian room ... for Girls, Girls, Girls, Blue Hawaii and—"
James, Sherry - [Studs For Hire 02] Page 17