A Gentleman's Agreement

by Avery, Joy

  “I cancelled our reservations.”

  “Why?” Especially since he was starving.

  “A little birdie told me you’ve had a very trying day.”

  Eunice had been the first person he’d called the second he’d gotten off the phone with Freddie. “For the record, your little birdie was right.”

  She smiled over her shoulder. “He usually believes he is.”

  He playfully pinched her butt. As exhausted as he was, the move roused him. Surely, he could conger enough energy for a little naughty play.

  His brow furrowed when Eunice led him passed the king-size bed and toward the closed bathroom door. A cloud of steam greeted them when they entered. Inside, Eunice tilted her head slightly and studied him for a moment. “What?”

  “You look tired.”

  “I am.”

  “You fascinate me,” she said, running her hands down his chest.

  “How so?” A stroke of the ego couldn’t hurt.

  “Most people would have given up on Freddie Fingers, but you rode it out. Not for money. Not for bragging rights. But because you knew you could be good for his career. You’re confident, unselfish, and steeped with integrity. Those are three of the things I love about you.”

  “I needed to hear that. Thank you for cheering me on.” His father’s words played in his head.

  Eunice’s hand continued to search his chest. Would he wind up having to replace another shirt? She was going to make him start purchasing from the clearance rack. Luckily, she decided to unbutton this one.

  “I know exactly what you need.”

  Yes. Yes, he did need it. She hugged her arms around him and ran her hand up and down his back. That wasn’t exactly what he had in mind, but it was amazing what a simple hug could do. “Mmm. That is exactly what I needed. You know me too well.”

  She pulled away and her attention fell to his belt. With delicacy, she removed the leather accessory, then snapped the button on his pants. This day was getting better and better by the minute.

  Eunice’s lips curled when she saw the swell in his pants. “Down boy.”

  He shrugged. “He’s under your control, not mine.” He could tell she liked what he’d said by the way her smile widened.

  After another minute, the only thing left on his body was a pair of black socks. He watched Eunice take a step back, smile, and gnaw at her bottom lip.

  “I thank God and good genes,” she said with a wicked grin. Moving within striking distance, she eased to her knees.

  Oh, yes. This was exactly what he needed, too. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. Feeling a tug at his ankle, his head sprung forward.

  “Lift your foot so I can remove your socks.”

  “My socks?” he asked dumbly. My socks? But…

  “You don’t want to wear them into the shower, do you?”

  It took Blake a moment to completely grasp the fact that he’d gone from anticipating oral pleasure to having his socks removed. He’d totally misread this one.

  Eunice returned to a full stand, took his hand and led him to the walk-in shower, opened the door, and guided him inside. Was he going to have him pull the wet clothing from her body? That would work. Better yet, was she going to pull the wet clothing from her own body—giving him a strip show? Hell, yes. That would work even better.

  Eunice closed the door, leaving him inside—alone. “You’re not coming in?” he asked from behind the frosted glass. “Eunice?” When he opened the door and peeped out, the room was empty.

  He released a heavy sigh, allowing the warm water to flow over his body. Anticipation and let down had been the blueprint for his day. At least the evening was being consistent.

  ***

  When Blake sauntered from the bathroom, Eunice was there waiting with a drink in her hand. Her eyes trailed along his damp chest and settled on the towel concealing his lower half. Her body reacted to the knowledge of what lie beneath.

  He took the glass she offered, then kissed her gently on the lips. “What’s this?”

  “Love potion,” she said.

  Tipping the glass, he hummed. “Mmm. Rum and coke. My favorite.”

  Of course it was. “You look good in a towel.”

  “You took my clothes.”

  “You won’t need them.” She turned and started toward the bed.

  Blake gently grabbed her arm. “Come here.” He stared into her eyes. “Thank you. For everything.”

  Their lips met and she almost lost sight of the bigger picture. She pulled away reluctantly. Leading him to the bed, she said, “Sit.” She climbed onto the bed, positioned herself on her knees behind him, then pressed play on the remote.

  Blake bobbed his head to the melody. “Johnny Gill.”

  Pouring warm oil into her hands, she kneaded at his shoulders.

  His head dipped forward. “Damn, that feels good.”

  “Your shoulders are so tight. Relax.” She kissed the back of his neck. “Let the tension fade,” she said, singing a line from the song. Her arms rowed up and down his. Her nipples hardened from the friction of her breast gliding over his back. This man had a way of making her lose focus.

  “You know, my aunt said Fredrick shops at the same market as she does.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  He didn’t sound much more convinced than she had when her aunt had told her. Not being one who watched sports, Eunice wasn’t sure her aunt even knew who the man was. “Yep.”

  Blake chuckled. “Have her put in a good word for me. Maybe she can get him to change his mind.”

  She kissed his shoulder. “Done.”

  As much as Eunice would have preferred this moment to have truly been about romancing Blake, truthfully, it was more about softening him up for the bomb she was about to drop on him. Like she’d expected, Caleb had told her exactly what she’d wanted to know. Unfortunately, she’d had to endure twenty minutes of his touchy-feeling behavior to get him distracted enough while she probed him for details.

  “Blake?”

  “Yeah.”

  His tone sounded so weary. Could she really drop one more piece of bad news on him tonight? It wouldn’t hurt to wait another day to tell him the name of the rat carrying cheese to Palmer Elliot, right? Besides, if she told him now, there was no telling what he might do.

  Eunice kissed Blake’s shoulder, comfortable with her decision to hold off telling him until tomorrow. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  “I know it will. I have you by my side.”

  In a swift motion, he had her in his arms. The way his eyes studied her caused a sensation to warm her chest. For a moment, it looked as if he were about to say something, but reconsidered. He lowered his mouth to hers, igniting a flame that could only be extinguished in one manner. Oh, how he was good at putting out fires.

  The following morning, Blake woke her with a kiss to the shoulder. Cracking her eye toward the clock, it read 4:30am. She’d only gotten an hour and a half worth of sleep. She’d be a zombie at work today.

  Blake was fully dressed when her eyes settled on him. “Where are you going? Come back to bed.”

  “I wish I could. I have to be at the office early. Seven o’clock conference call.”

  Eunice pouted. “Okay.” She snuggled back into the covers. “Can you pencil me in?”

  “Absolutely. What will we need two, three hours?” His brows bounced.

  “You are insatiable. Go,” she said, shooing him away. “I need my two hours.”

  “I’ll see you at the office. Don’t be late.”

  “Am I ever?” she said, her voice muffled by a pillow.

  Blake snapped his finger. “Oh, I almost forgot.”

  “To kiss me?”

  He lay across the bed and pushed his lips to hers. “That…” He kissed her again. “And to tell you I love you.” He winked and pushed off the bed, disappearing through the door.

  Her cheeks swelled. “I love you, too,” she called out, then snuggled into the covers again.
Yep, there was definitely a happily ever after with this man in her future.

  Chapter 19

  The last thing Blake expected when he arrived in the office that morning was a visit from Palmer Elliot. But here the man was, as pretentious as ever. Blake directed him toward one of the club chairs. When Palmer took a seat, Blake eased into the chair behind his desk. “To what do I owe this honor?”

  A smug expression crawled across Palmer’s face and Blake couldn’t help but notice just how much the man really did resemble a weasel—thin face, beady, dark eyes, long, lanky, and bloodthirsty. And just like a weasel, he couldn’t be trusted.

  “I was in the neighborhood,” Palmer said.

  Blake envisioned coughing the words “bullshit.” But his parents had raised him better.

  Palmer crossed an ankle over his knee. “I thought I’d stop by and offer my condolences.”

  Blake rested his elbows on his desk and intertwined his fingers. “Condolences?”

  “Freddie Bass. I know how much you wanted to sign him to your company.” He glanced around the room as if insulted by his surroundings.

  “Thank you for your thoughtfulness, but the prospect hasn’t died just yet.”

  Palmer flashed his index finger. “Actually…it has. Freddie committed to me this morning. All that’s left is to sign the paperwork.”

  Blake’s jaw tightened, but the news really didn’t come as much of a surprise. He ground his teeth. By the smirk on the weasel’s face, he’d enjoyed every second of delivering the blow. He shrugged one shoulder. “Well, hey, you win some, you lose some.” He wouldn’t give Palmer the satisfaction of knowing how much he’d gotten under his skin.

  “Seems like you’ve been on a losing streak lately, brother.” He spread his hands. “But hey, we can’t win ‘em all, right?”

  A vision of smashing his desk lamp into Palmer’s face played in Blake’s thoughts. Nah. He couldn’t risk damaging the pricey piece on Palmer’s swollen head.

  “I’m sure Freddie will be extremely happy with your company. He’s in…able hands.”

  “Of course he will be. We’re the best.” He studied Blake a moment. “Well, I guess—”

  Palmer paused when the door swung open and Eunice entered, her focus on something in her hand. Whatever she held had her undivided attention.

  “Blake—” When she glanced up, she came to an abrupt stop. “Oh. I apologize. I didn’t know you were in a meeting.”

  Blake could read her mind. More so her body language. She was wondering what in the hell was Palmer Elliot doing there. “Palmer stopped by to offer his condolences,” Blake said. “He was just leaving.” He eyed a knowing Palmer.

  Palmer stood and faced Eunice. “Eunice…” He took her hand. “You’re looking as lovely as ever.”

  When he pressed his crusty lips to the back of her hand, Blake’s fingers curled into tight balls. There were some things he could ignore…and some things he couldn’t. Like Palmer being touchy-feely with his woman.

  Eunice eased her hand from his and nonchalantly wiped it against her pants leg. “Thank you.”

  “Eunice, I’ll buzz you as soon as I’m done here,” Blake said.

  She nodded, gave Palmer an awkward glance, then exited the room.

  Palmer wrung his hands together as he watched Eunice walk away. “Yeah, I see why you banished that no fraternization policy.”

  Blake’s scrutinized the man. How the hell—? Johnny really needed to come through fast. Blake made a note to have Colin in IT scrub every email account in the building. Maybe Palmer had had some kind of computer virus sent to their server. He wouldn’t put it passed the man.

  “You’re one lucky dog, Farrington. I hear Eunice is as sweet as sugar.” He started to move to the door. Over his shoulder, he tossed back, “Both inside and out.”

  Blake stood from behind his desk, the man’s words drawing him dangerously close to losing his patience.

  “Oh, I almost forgot. I wouldn’t bet on that deal with Kyro Reed going through. Word on the street…he’s considering going in a different direction.” Palmer tossed up two thin, dark fingers. “Peace.”

  You son-of-a—

  Blake snatched up the receiver to phone Kyro but slammed it down when his cell phone rang. Johnny. “Just the man I needed to hear from. Whatcha got for me,” Blake answered, forgoing a customary greeting of hello.

  Listening, Blake wanted to believe Johnny had gotten this one horribly wrong. Hell, he would pay him to be wrong. But that was the thing with Johnny, he never got it wrong. Blake massaged his temple. “Johnny, I need you to be two hundred percent sure about this one.”

  “Sorry, brother. I know it’s not what you wanted to hear. Especially since you and Eunice are a thing now.”

  How in the hell did so many people know so much of the business that he wasn’t sharing? “Dammit.” Blake massaged his jaw as if he’d been slapped. “Dammit.”

  “She met with Palmer’s man yesterday. Caleb Martin’s his name.”

  Eunice? Betray him? No, there was no way. He glanced toward his office door, his overactive imagination getting the best of him. Was that the reason for Palmer’s unexpected visit? And that look. The awkward one Eunice had given Palmer. Maybe she feared Palmer was telling him everything. Blake massaged his now throbbing temple.

  Nah. Not Eunice. Wasn’t possible. Was it?

  “It could be nothing,” Johnny said, clearly as a means of helping Blake cope with the information he’d delivered. “But since you are paying good money to deliver all the information…” Johnny paused.

  “What is it?” Blake hadn’t meant to snap at the man.

  “The two used to entertain a friend-with-benefits type of situation. But I found nothing to suggest that’s still the case.”

  A bout of nausea rushed over Blake. “Thank you, Johnny.”

  “You know how to reach me.”

  The line went dead.

  Any other time Blake would have taken Johnny’s word as law. Not this time. He refused to believe Eunice would—could—betray him like this. Though he knew he was only pacifying the situation, he needed further proof. He wanted Johnny to be wrong. He needed Johnny to be wrong. Because if he wasn’t, Blake knew he’d never be the same again.

  ***

  Eunice yelped when Blake burst into her office like he was on fire and looking to be extinguished. And by the red-hot expression on his face, he could go up in flames at any moment. What had Palmer Elliot done or said to him?

  Blake’s stern eyes never left her when he snapped his finger in Trevor’s direction and said, “Get out.”

  Eunice’s mouth dropped open, stunned by his actions. Trevor looked as if he wanted to protest, but Eunice warned him against it with a slight head shake. Whatever had Blake rattled, it wasn’t good. A moment later, Trevor left the room.

  Blake slammed the door behind him with so much force a plaque fell from the wall. Coming from behind her desk, Eunice stood directly in front of him. “Blake, what’s wrong?”

  He jabbed his finger at her. “I trusted you.”

  “What do you mean you trusted me? Have I given you a reason not to any longer?”

  He tossed the stack of papers he’d entered with onto her desk.

  “What is this?” she said, glancing down at what looked to be phone records. Her phone records.

  “I had Colin run your incoming and outgoing calls.” In a tight tone, Blake said, “I’m curious. How long have you been screwing Caleb Martin?”

  This drew her attention. Resting a shaky hand over her collarbone, she said, “Wh-What?” She’d heard him clearly, but she needed to buy some time to get her thoughts together.

  Blake’s eyes darkened to an onyx hue. The predatory way he studied her rattled her nerves. How could he honestly believe she would betray him?

  “Did you really think you could hide this from me? Did you really think I wouldn’t find out you were the mole? Did you really believe you could do all this right under my nos
e?”

  He had it all wrong. “Blake, listen—”

  “No. You don’t get another second of my time.”

  Eunice shook her head. “You have it all wrong, Blake. I am not your mole. And I was going to tell you about Caleb, but not until—”

  Blake pointed to the door. “Get out.”

  His tone—harsh and cold—froze Eunice mid-sentence. “What?”

  “Get out of my building. You’re fired.”

  His words crushed her. “Blake—?” When she touched his arm, he snatched it away. “I’m not leaving until you hear what I have to say.”

  “Don’t make me call security.”

  This was the man she’d given her body, given her love to, and he could just toss her away like trash? Despite the many emotions bubbling inside her, Eunice kept her tone steady. “Security? You would call security on me, Blake?” He remained silent, his cold eyes never leaving her. “You don’t have to call security. I’ll leave.”

  When she began to pack her things, he poured salt into her gaping wound.

  “I’ll have your belongings sent to you. I need to go through it first to make sure you’re not giving any more information to Palmer.”

  Stunned, Eunice stared at him. He held their connection only a few second before rolling his eyes away, turning and leaving the room, slamming the door behind him.

  In a fit of anger, Eunice snatched up her purse and rushed behind him. Outside her office, she stood in the middle of the hallway and yelled his name loud enough for the entire building to hear. “Blake!”

  Surprisingly, he faced her. The expression on his face suggested he thought she was insane, but at the moment, she didn’t give a damn what he or anyone else thought.

  In a much calmer tone, she said, “The next time you tell someone you love them, you should really mean it.”

  With that, she turned and left. Her pride intact, but her heart in pieces.

  Chapter 20