by Alicia Rae
“Yeah, and this morning things took a dramatic turn.”
“How so?”
“Remember when I told you a while back that I was worried she came from a bad home?” I asked inquisitively.
“Yes, you’ve always been concerned about her.”
I nodded in acknowledgment. “But something was different about this week,” I said, recalling how Pearl had looked each time I’d seen her. “She appeared broken or defeated, and she was definitely unhappy in her current home environment.”
Her expression filled with compassion and a little bit of uncertainty. “Abbey…” she murmured my name in warning.
I exhaled a lung full of air, allowing the idea to cross my mind. “I want to help her.”
“How do you plan to do that?” she questioned.
I shook my head and let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know, but I have to, Gail. She seems so unhappy and lonely in her life.”
She smiled affectionately at me. “Abbey, don’t you see you’re already doing that by spending time with her?”
“I do, but sometimes, I feel like it’s not enough. What if I’m not home one day when she needs me the most? Or what if something happens to her while she’s out roaming the streets?” I pushed the awful thoughts from my mind, wanting to believe that Pearl was invincible.
Gail let out a deep breath. “Abbey, you can’t think like that. She’s not your responsibility. All you can do is be there for her when you are here. The rest is out of your control.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” I murmured in agreement.
I stared down into my wine glass as I ran my thumb across the rim, not knowing what to think or believe. All I knew was that I was in deep, and I had made a promise to a little girl that I could not break. Now, I just had to find a way to make a difference in her life.
At six in the morning, I shut off my alarm and crawled out of bed, dragging my feet along the way. After an emotionally happy and draining weekend, I felt like I had not slept a wink last night. I showered and then hurriedly got dressed since Jason would be here to pick me up at our regular time.
I smiled, hoping he’d show up with another cup from Starbucks. Right about now, I was in dire need of coffee paired with his gorgeous smile. My phone chimed on my dresser, and I ambled over to it to see a text from Kyle. Surprised, I slid my hand across the screen to read it.
You awake?
I texted him back a quick reply, knowing Jason would be here soon, and I still had to finish getting ready for work.
Yep. What’s got you up so early? Everything okay?
With my cell in hand, I strode back to the bathroom to throw my hair up into a ponytail. My phone beeped with Kyle’s response.
Yep. All is great here. The CEO from Blackborough Incorporated just phoned me. He finally wants to close the deal at our first agreed price—today. Can you possibly make a road trip to Sacramento by 1 p.m.?
I inwardly cringed.
The CEO of Blackborough, Frederick Adams, had been a total asshat the last time I met him. Right before closing our deal, the lowballer had tried to cut our agreed price by twenty-five thousand. I’d felt terrible that Kyle had to step in to help me right before his wedding. It had been a complete mess.
It would be a fairly long drive from Lake Tahoe, but going to Sacramento sounded way better than removing more wallpaper in the Lakeview building. I texted my brother back.
Sure. Just send me the address, and I’ll use the original contract since the price is the same. I’ll ask Jason if he wants to make the drive with me.
Kyle’s response was fast.
Okay. And about that, I hear you and Jason have a thing going on?
I blushed at my phone. Talking about the man in my life with my brother felt really awkward. I contemplated my response before texting.
Uh…I can neither confirm nor deny. ;)
I chuckled while hitting Send, and Kyle responded immediately.
That always means yes with you. Ha-ha. Seriously, I’m happy for you, Abbey.
The happy part threw me off. It was very unlike Kyle. I had expected his brotherly side to pop out. But then, a second text from him came through.
Just let me know if and when I need to kick his ass. I’ll text you the address as soon Frederick forwards it to me.
I laughed at the first sentence, and I couldn’t refrain from rolling my eyes. There’s the Kyle I know and love…most of the time. I fired off a reply.
For a minute, you had me worried that you’d lost your—as Lily says—overbearing ways. LOL. Enjoy your honeymoon!
I set down my phone and flew into my closet to change into business attire. I selected a white blouse and a knee-length black skirt. I slipped on a pair of black high heels to match appropriately. Then, I reentered the bathroom to style my hair and apply my makeup.
The doorbell rang just as I finished. My heels clinked across the floor with each step. Jason grinned when I opened the door. Then, his eyes appreciatively ran up and down the length of my body, filling with heat.
“Damn,” he breathed in a low and throaty tone, sauntering toward me.
His body moved with a masculine grace that should be illegal. It stirred my insides with yearning to feel those hands on me again. He stopped in front of me and gathered me in his arms. My body melted into his without hesitation.
“You should wear skirts like this every day,” he added.
“Thank you,” I responded, coyly beaming up at him. Then, I shot him a saucy grin. “I usually do when I’m not stripping down wallpaper with my bare hands.”
His eyes gleamed with playfulness. “Then, from now on, I’ll do the dirty work if you promise to stand there in that sexy outfit of yours,” he coaxed in a suggestive tone.
He sealed his mouth over mine for a scorching kiss, and I flung my arms around him, thoroughly matching his fervor before drawing back.
“Somehow, I seriously doubt you’d get any work done,” I retorted teasingly, knowing that I hadn’t accomplished much last week with him shirtless and glistening with sweat.
“Probably not.” He laughed. “So, speaking of your outfit, I assume you aren’t working with me today?”
“Actually, plans have changed. I have to make a business trip. I was hoping you’d want to join me. You could even come into the meeting with me.” I thought that if Jason was going to be partners with Kyle, I might as well start showing him the ropes.
His brows rose in surprise while he was still holding me close. “Sure. Where to?” he asked, caressing his thumb in circular motions along the small of my back.
“Sacramento. I have to close a deal with the CEO of Blackborough Incorporated at one this afternoon.”
“Uh…you do realize that’s about a two-hour drive from here, right?” he asked, checking his watch.
“Yep. I thought maybe we could make a day trip out of it and then spend a few hours sightseeing afterward. We could head back by nightfall,” I offered.
Jason shook his head from side to side. “Ah, negative. If you’re going to make me drive that far one way, I demand an all-nighter,” he said, revealing a sexy grin.
I tipped my head back, laughing, before meeting his gaze again. “All right, I can work with that.” I gave him a quick peck on his lips. “I have to pack a bag before we head out, and then we can stop by your place, too. I’ll be right back.”
As I went to take a backward step, Jason tugged me forward and kissed me once more. “There…” He smiled, pulling away. His eyes were shining with happiness and anticipation. “Now, you can go.”
I shook my head while spinning around, and I dashed into my bedroom as fast as my feet would carry me. I speedily packed an overnight bag—tossing in two outfits, pajamas, sexy undergarments, and my glasses—and then I ran to my bathroom to pack my toiletries. Then, I grabbed my briefcase, containing the contract for Blackborough that I needed for my meeting later today, off my desk. I reemerged into my foyer to see Jason patiently waiting.
; “Ready?” he asked.
“Yep,” I answered while grabbing my purse, keys, and phone off the counter. “Do you mind if I drive?”
“Sure, if you want to,” he responded, opening the door.
After locking up, we walked outside, and I led him to my private parking garage. I entered my key code, and my garage door opened, revealing my most treasured beauty—my fully loaded red-hot Chevy Camaro.
“Wow,” Jason hummed in appreciation. “I almost forgot you had this,” he said with an admiring tone while walking toward the passenger door. His eyes traveled back and forth across the length of my car.
I blinked over at him in surprise. “You’ve seen it before?” I asked, striding to the driver’s side.
“Yes. It was parked in your brother’s driveway a few weeks ago.”
I chuckled under my breath. “Ah, the night Lily drove me home after I’d consumed too much alcohol on our girls’ night out.”
With only the hood of the car in between us, Jason’s eyes danced with amusement as he kept his gaze on me. “I was hoping to meet you then, but you were there and gone before I had the opportunity.”
“Well, at least you finally got your chance,” I teased with a smile.
Jason grinned. “Yeah, I did.”
After making the drive to Sacramento, a long sigh of relief slipped past my lips at being twenty minutes early for my meeting. I slipped my car into park and shut off the ignition. Being early for a business meeting was necessary for my mental health. I was one of those people who needed a few minutes to relax before going into any business meeting, so I could prepare my game face.
I glanced out my window to see a gloomy, run-down peach brick building with chipped white paint bordering the window trim and front door. On the front lawn, brown rust with an orange tint outlined the edges of a white sign that read, Blackborough Incorporated.
I shook my head. Frederick Adams was indeed in serious need of a more up-to-date building. The newly remodeled office building he was purchasing from Kyle’s company had been completely renovated on the exterior as well as the interior. The restorations had taken nearly six months to complete. And at three hundred thousand, Frederick was walking away with a great deal.
I sincerely hoped today’s meeting with the CEO would go better than the last. Frederick was a single man in his early forties, and I’d learned that he believed women had no place in the business world. From the first moment he’d set eyes on me, I had known that his objective was to fight me at every turn in hopes that I would fold under pressure and lower the price. Today, I would hold my head high and keep my backbone firmly rooted in place. Women belonged in suits just as much as men did. I would not let him shake my confidence this time around.
Jason lightly touched my forearm, pulling me out of my thoughts. I had been so absorbed in them that I had forgotten he was there. My head spun to meet his questioning stare.
“You okay?” he asked softly, searching my eyes.
“Yep.” I nodded reassuringly, putting that game face of mine securely in place. “Let’s close this deal, and give this CEO a more eye-catching building.”
Jason chuckled. “Let’s do it.”
We stepped out of my Camaro at the same time. I opened my backseat to grab my handy briefcase before shutting the door. I rounded the trunk of my car and noticed Jason buttoning his black dress jacket. For the second time today since he had changed into a business suit, I came to an abrupt halt, admiring the breathtaking view.
His dirty-blond hair was styled lightly with gel, giving him this roughed-up, messy, sexy look. My eyes traveled down the expansion of his shoulders that were set and ready for business. His biceps filled out every inch of his jacket sleeves. My gaze skimmed over his narrow waist, envisioning those gorgeous abs hidden beneath his dress shirt, before looking over his toned thighs.
My God…
I wanted to ravish him on the spot. I pressed my lips together as I fought the urge to drag him into the leather seats of my car, so I could show him just how hot he looked right now. For all I knew, it could have been hours by the time Jason took a deliberate step toward me, causing me to meet his gaze. Desire pumped hot and heavy in my veins at the sight of his heated dark eyes burning into me.
He stopped mere inches in front of me and slightly bent his head forward while keeping his hands at his sides. “The way you were just looking at me…” he trailed off, shaking his head as if to block out the vision. “I would fucking give anything to strip you out of that skirt and take you up against the hood of your Chevy right now,” he said in a hoarse tone. “The next time you look at me like that, you’d better hope we’re in a more secluded area.”
My heart beat with measured force. Oh, what I wouldn’t give for him to follow through with that right now. If only we didn’t have a meeting—
Right! Meeting!
I reached up to steal a chaste kiss, hoping it would hold me over until later.
As I pulled back, Jason groaned. “Damn, woman, you have me all tied up in knots.”
I smiled up at him affectionately. He’d had the same effect on me since the first moment I laid eyes on him.
“Same here,” slipped past my lips before I could stop it.
Jason’s eyes softened. I had to fight back the urge to kiss him again, or we were never going to make it inside the building.
“Let’s get this meeting over with, so we can get back to our mini trip.”
“You got it,” he said, dropping his hand to the small of my back before leading me to the door.
My eyes scanned the parking lot for people, and luckily, I came up empty. I was relieved that no one had witnessed our private moment. Jason opened the front door for me, and I walked inside first. I rounded the corner to see a stunning redhead sitting at a small black desk in the center of the room.
“Hello.” She smiled. “Welcome to Blackborough Incorporated. May I help you?” she asked in a friendly tone.
I politely returned her smile while stopping in front of the desk. “I’m here for a one o’clock appointment to see Mr. Frederick Adams.”
She glanced over at her computer screen. “Miss Madison?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll let Mr. Adams know you’re here.” Rising from her spot, she gestured to the waiting area. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you,” I responded, moving to take a seat in the brown leather chair along the far wall.
Jason sat down next to me. We watched her walk out of the room, and then she reemerged a few minutes later with Frederick. Jason and I rose to our feet. Frederick was dressed in a gray suit with a pink tie. His long black hair was combed back, and his green eyes locked on me.
“Ah, Miss Madison…” Frederick said in a tone that made bile rise up in my throat.
Hearing his voice again just gave me the creeps.
He stopped in front of me and outstretched his hand. “We meet again.”
I reluctantly shook his hand only long enough to be polite. “Mr. Adams, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Indeed,” he replied before directing his attention to Jason. “And did you bring a rookie with you this time? Or is he your backup?” he asked, attempting to make a joke.
“He’s no rookie or my backup,” I corrected in an even tone. “This is Jason Johnson, Kyle’s new partner.”
“Interesting,” Frederick responded, looking as if he was sizing Jason up. He did not offer to shake Jason’s hand. Instead, he gazed back at me. “Well, I don’t have all day. Follow me,” he said, spinning around to lead the way.
Ugh…
I had never met someone so rude and arrogant in my life.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed Jason staring at me. I tilted my head at him as we started to follow Frederick. Jason didn’t say a word, but his eyes spoke for him. He didn’t like Frederick or his attitude. I couldn’t have agreed with him more, but business was business, and I had a job to do. I just wanted to make it through this meeting an
d get back to my happy bubble.
We walked into a conference room. Frederick took a seat at the head of the table. Jason and I sat next to one another on the side closest to Frederick. I set my briefcase down on the floor at my left.
“So, Abbey—” Frederick drawled.
Jason corrected, “Miss Madison.”
I could feel the tension radiating off of him in dense waves.
Frederick’s eyes snapped to Jason and then back at me. “Fine. Miss Madison, you have a contract for me, I presume?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, picking up my briefcase and opening it. I pulled out all the necessary documents. I handed the contract to Frederick while quickly rattling off my speech with all the necessary details for the second time.
Frederick nodded here and there, just like he had at our original closing, and then the snake reared its ugly head at the closing cost—again.
“Miss Madison, I told you once before, and I’ll tell you again. My offer was two hundred and seventy-five thousand. Please don’t tell me you wasted my time again with incorrect numbers,” he sneered. “And we agreed to all contractors providing a warranty of their craftsmanship for two years, not one.”
Is he seriously going to sit there and act like I accidentally typed the price twenty-five-thousand dollars higher? This man is delusional.
From the corner of my eyes, I watched Jason sit upright in his chair, propping his forearms on the table. He looked ready to protest. I gave him a warning look to back off.
I had this. My backbone was confidently in place. “Mr. Adams, why you would make these ridiculous accusations is beyond me. Three hundred thousand was the final agreement, and all of our contractors have a standard one-year parts and labor warranty as always,” I replied.
Frederick pondered briefly. “I’ll accept the one-year warranty miscommunication, if you meet me halfway on the price. Certainly, you have that authority.” He smirked.