“That’s only because you made out with Miles Jones to it at the disco in the community hall, ten years ago.”
Cassidy wagged her finger.
“Now, now, Marie, jealousy is a most unbecoming trait in a lady. Pass me the new bulb, will ya?”
“Cass, you’re right, yeah. I wish I had sampled that particular treat. Especially before he came out a few months later. I really, I mean reallllly...wish I had got in there first before you managed to gay him up. What exactly did you do to the poor boy?”
Rory heard Cassidy roar with laughter and couldn’t help but smile and bite his bottom lip.
“Bitch.”
“Ho.”
Rory cleared his throat.
“I always thought Raspberry Beret was by far his best song if we are talking in sexual terms, then again it may be different for you girls.”
He watched with mounting satisfaction as Cassidy and her accomplice stood still for a moment, and then turned slowly to look at him with embarrassed guilty eyes.
He focused on Cassidy, in that moment she was beautiful. Her back rod straight, she was packaged tightly into a black straight knee length skirt and she looked radiant. Her cheeks were flushed and the laughter was still captured in her green eyes. Her red hair splayed out down the length of her back ending in a v, the longest few curls lightly skimmed her cute arse. Cassidy Evans. She was unmistakeable, all curves and hair and that laugh! Loud and raunchy like velvet and butterscotch. Where the fuck had that come from? Butterscotch and velvet! He stared at his shoes incredulously. You need to get your balls back from wherever you left them, O’Malley. And fast! Rory looked up and was met by two pairs of eyes gaping at him. Cassidy put out her hand and the other woman helped her off the chair. Her companion was an attractive woman, tiny, even smaller in height than Cassidy. She had a friendly open face and had short spiky straight hair that was bleached blonde with bright pink tips. Cute and smiley, Rory warmed to her energy immediately.
“What are you doing here?” Cassidy was gaping at him and knew she sounded a combination of surprised, flustered and downright rude. She dragged her hair back from her face. It bounced back and she repeated the movement, but to no avail. Who was she kidding? Her hair was never going to play ball. Rory’s eyes followed the action and she felt her face turn a deeper shade of red. Beyond mortified already, her mind flashed immediately back to the shower that morning. He looked even more handsome than he did the first time they had met, if that were even possible.
Rory put out his hand and walked towards Marie smiling. Cass hadn’t seen that particular smile the last time she had encountered him. She felt her mouth lag slightly at the sight of his face opening up. How the hell did he just get even sexier? Damn it!
“Hello I’m Rory, very nice to meet you.” He flashed a shit eating-grin at Marie and it had the desired effect and was warmly reciprocated. Cass groaned internally.
“Marie Jennings, Lovely to meet you Rory. Cass told me about your…um…meeting yesterday, she described you very well.”
Cass darted a ‘shut the fuck up’ look at Marie who pretended not to notice. Rory grinned at Cass and then turned back to give Marie his undivided attention. “Really Marie. I’d love to hear Cass’ description. Do tell. Will I be very flattered by it, I wonder? I’m sure Cass was very vivid. Being an artist, she can’t help but have an eye for every minute detail.” He was teasing her. Cass felt her face redden even more. I am a fucking tomato, that is all.
Rory winked at Marie and bit his tongue between his teeth. Marie giggled and blushed like a teenager meeting their idol for the first time.
Cass imagined him as a lion playing with his dinner, he was such a charming predator that even the most skittish of prey would walk right into his grasp. Marie smiled coyly.
“Oh Rory, Cass was very complimentary I assure you. You’re so good to come back to check on Duffy. She is doing very well. Eating all round her and she slept through the night.” Cass reminded herself to encourage Marie the liar to bring Duffy home later. Duffy had in fact kept Cass up for three hours straight with her meowing.
“Duffy? Oh yes, the kitten. Good…. ah…good. Delighted to hear that. Did you manage to find her a home?”
“Yes. Yes I did, with me.” Cass raised her chin in a feeble effort to look taller and met his eyes head on. He has brown eyes. How the hell did I not notice that the last time? Why did they have to be big and brown? Why couldn’t they be small, or wonky and hard? Instead of chocolaty and soft with crinkly edges, as though he smiles a lot.
“Chocolate.” she said aloud.
“Cassidy?”
Hmmm. She could hear Marie in the background, faintly in the distance somewhere.
Hmmm chocolate.
“Cassidy!”
Cass squeaked as Marie elbowed her hard in the ribs and realised that they were both staring at her. Rory tilted his head to the side and looked at her as though she were crazy. This was becoming a habit.
“Something you would like to share Cassidy,” he grinned.
Smug bastard!
She shook her head and gave him a tight smile. “Rory, so good of you to drop in and forgive my rudeness, please. But…if that is all, I am expecting a visitor. A very important client actually. I’m sure Marie can show you out. Thank you for checking up on Duffy, it’s very good of you to ask after her,” she nodded in the direction of the door with her most insincere smile pasted across her lips. If he thinks he can just walk in here and flash those Johnny Depp eyes and I’m going to- Why isn’t he leaving?
Rory sat on the edge of the table and crossed his arms.
“Actually Cassidy, I am here to see you on business. I’m your eleven o’ clock appointment.”
“Huh?” Cassidy crinkled her nose.
He uncrossed his arms and began to drum his fingers against the side of the desk in a slow rhythm.
“I'm Rory O’Malley, newly appointed CEO of O’Malley Resorts.”
Rory smiled a big wide grin in her direction, as he tried to keep the laugh inside. Her face, her sweet beautiful face looked as though she was fighting an internal between professionalism and wanting to smack him silly. Feeling a small bit of guilt at how much he had enjoyed riling her up, he tried to look contrite. He knew that he really shouldn’t tease her but he enjoyed her many facial expressions a bit too much to stop. This woman could hide nothing. Every flicker of her face told a different story, each emotion played out in front of him. It thrilled him.
“Oh…oh…welcome. I didn’t realise it was you. I thought it was Grace I was meeting.” Rory uncrossed his arms. “Grace is my secretary. Let's start over." He offered his hand.
She took his hand and felt the familiar zing of electricity. Again?…seriously!
Marie cleared her throat. “Mister O’Malley, let me take your coat and please sit into the meeting room. Would you like a coffee? Or some tea, maybe?”
Rory looked at Marie and smiled warmly.
“A coffee would be great Marie, with cream and one sugar please and call me Rory.
I’m not big on formalities.”
Cassidy looked at Marie and gave her wide accusing eyes. Marie was too busy to notice, as she blushed and nodded at Rory. For heaven sakes! Married much!
“This way Rory. Mind your head, the ceilings are quite low in this part of the building.”
Marie led the way and Cass watched as Rory’s tight arse clad in a pair of trousers that probably cost more than her entire wardrobe, walked through into the meeting space up onto the mezzanine of the gallery. Cassidy smiled tightly and secretly wished he would bang his smiley and perfect, ego filled head off the beams. And what the hell was wrong with Marie? She was tip toeing around him all giddy and, “Yes, Mister O’Malley. No, Mister O’Malley. Oh please call you Rory? I forgot. Oh thank you Rory, hee hee hee.” Grrrr, this was getting ridiculous, was no one immune to this man and his over the top, hotness? Looks like he had both Duffy and Marie eating out of his hands!
“So, Mister O’Malley.
I mean Rory. What exactly are you looking for?"
Cassidy sat at her desk and leaned forward, genuinely interested.
“I am looking to make my life more beautiful Cassidy and my wallet a little lighter.” The way he said her name made her bite the inside of her cheek and Cass dropped her head. Not before she saw his top lip twitch in amusement and was drawn to it like a firefly to the light.
He was mesmerising, such beauty in a man. She had never seen it as pronounced or stark. Oh she had seen good-looking men before, sure. There were men who modelled for the life drawing classes they held in the gallery that would make you stop and gawk at them. But, this was different. Rory O’Malley looked like a statue craved by one of the masters. His eyes were heavily lashed with long thick black lashes and his face was rugged with stubble. And oh Gawd, those lips. Full and lush and perfectly formed. He was so tall and so broad Cass figured that he must stand out wherever he went. And there was something else, something more, he had a presence that commanded respect, a man really shouldn’t be that perfect.
“How much art are we talking about Mister…Rory?" Cassidy hoped he would stretch to a hundred thousand. It would really get them started. A ten percent commission would really set them up for the next six months. The rent was low enough, but the owner of the courtyard was itching to sell and retire. The new owner could put the prices up or worse sell up altogether. The ten grand would cover the rent for the next year.
“My budget is five million.”
Cassidy held her coffee cup in mid-air. She looked at him with her mouth sagging open and dropped the cup nosily onto the saucer, before folding her arms quickly.
“Are you serious?” She cocked her head to the side and examined him. He couldn’t be serious. Could he?
“Totally serious,” he said. He took a long sip of coffee before laying the cup gently onto his saucer. He laid his hands on the desk in front of him and laced his fingers.
“I never, ever, joke about money. Do you think you can handle it Cassidy? I’m looking for very specific art. I’d also like to buy some of your own paintings. I’ve seen Girl with Violets at the Marlborough Hotel in the foyer. I liked it very much.”
“Thank you,” said Cassidy. Her breath caught in her throat. Five frickin’ million, which was a commission of half a million. She could barely get her head around the figure. She blushed at his compliment of her own work. She was proud of that piece and especially enjoyed working on nudes. There was something freeing about working with a naked subject. She loved the shape and curvature of the human form combined with the challenge of trying to capture the texture and tone of human skin.
“Thank you Rory. It’s a piece that is very special to me; if you like I could create a piece that is similar for you.”
“No need. I bought it yesterday. The owner of the hotel is a good friend. He really didn’t want to part with it, however I can be very persuasive, but thank you for the offer, Cassidy. I would like to commission a complete series of nudes with flowers.” Cassidy stood up from her desk and looked down at him.
“Oh. It must be liberating to be able to buy anything you want like that,” said Cassidy clicking her fingers. She was angry and not sure why. Who the hell did he think he was? Buying whatever he wanted like it was dinner in a fancy restaurant, instead of a piece she had worked on for six months? She was not a fan of limitless wealth and had seen how it could corrupt people. Her ex-boyfriend Jonathan had been a hell of a lot nicer before he had sold his first movie script and made his first million. Suddenly, the people who surrounded him acquiesced to his every whim. His ego had flared, as had his temper.
He had only hit her once. A full force punch in the face when she had refused to have sex with him one night, when he was off his head on coke. It was enough for Cassidy. There were no second chances where violence was concerned. Cassidy had grown up with a father who adored and loved his wife and a brother who had treated her like a princess. Her father treated her mother as an equal, a precious gift. Cassidy knew he was one in a million. There was no violence in their home. There would be none in hers either. A fractured jaw and a broken heart were enough of a lesson learned. Love hurts and she would avoid future pain at all costs.
Rory stood up and stepped forward until he was inches from her face, he spoke softly.
“I work very hard for my money Miss Evans, I spend it as I wish. I will not apologise for my wealth. It affords me the luxury of choice and the ability to help those less fortunate than myself, if and when I so desire.”
So we are back to Miss Evans, Cassidy thought. Fair enough. She raised her eyes until they were locked with his in a battle of wills to see who would break contact first. She looked away when she couldn’t stand it any longer. Being that close to him, made her want to reach up and rub her hand down the front of his chest.
“I meant no disrespect Rory,” she smiled sweetly. He nodded at her not returning her smile.
“Would you like a tour of the current collection?”
“No. I think I would prefer to discuss all further requirements over dinner tonight.”
“Over dinner?”
“Yes. I assume you do entertain clients, Cassidy. I like to be entertained; I’ll send a car for you. Your place, say eight o’clock?”
“You know where I live?”
“Of course. I had you checked out, discreetly of course. My work involves some very powerful men and women. Protecting my interests and theirs, is paramount. This is my personal card; call me if there is any change of plan.”
He was smiling at her again and leaned in close. The scent of vanilla floated on the air and accosted her nostrils. He smelled so good. Damn it to hell, did this man have no visible flaws?!
Cassidy remained silent as she took the business card from his outstretched hand. Her fingers touched his briefly and she felt his index stroke hers lightly. The intimacy of their connection had her eyes clashing with his. Her mouth was so dry that she couldn’t open it.
His face was serious as he dipped his head and turned his back on her. She stared after him and watched as Rory made a point of finding Marie and giving her a goodbye handshake. She heard them laughing and snorted rolling her eyes to heaven.
The card weighed heavy in her hand and she turned it over. The card was black with only the word ‘Rory’ embossed in gold across the middle. And a personal mobile phone number. How many other women had held these cards? She wondered. She folded her arms and watched him as he left without a backward glance. She shook her head. That damn bossy man, was going to be hard work!
“Whoa, Cass. You may be slightly over your head there. He is hotter than hell.”
Marie was staring at her with her mouth open.
“Did you see the way he was looking at you? Holy hell! He was eye-fucking you right there. Oooh, I feel so dirty.”
“Jesus Marie, will you stop? This is a professional relationship, nothing more.”
Marie snorted at her. “Cass we have known each other since we were four! I know when you are hot for someone. We have shared everything from our first shitty dates to losing our virginity. I still can’t believe you let Michael Livingston touch your vag, by the way. Don’t try to tell me you aren’t wet for Rory O’ Malley! Lie to yourself all you want kiddo, but I know you.” Cass scrunched up her face and made a puking face at Marie.
“I’m going to stop you right there, Mar. Firstly, we swore we would never mention Michael and his micro-penis ever again. Secondly, I am not “wet” for Rory O’Malley. He is a client, nothing more.” Cass made air quotes simply because she knew they pissed Marie off.
“He’s lovely, Cassidy. What the hell is wrong with you? And why didn’t you tell me earlier he was Irish? Nice accent isn’t it. Soft.”
“Soft in the head more like! There’s nothing wrong with me Marie. I just don’t see the attraction.”
Marie spent the rest of the day talking about Rory, until Cass finally forbade any further mention of the O’Malleys.
&n
bsp; (Cass)
Honey is sweet,
But don’t lick it from a briar.
Irish proverb.
By the end of the day Cass was wrecked tired and more than ready to go home and shower before her meeting with Rory. She rolled her eyes when Marie insisted on coming to her flat to help her dress for the occasion. She was still ignoring Marie’s sexual innuendos and general annoying banter as she started to get ready.
“I hope you are dressing to wow the crap out of him,” Marie said as she flicked through a magazine, crunching on some celery and peanut butter she had scavenged from Cass’ fridge.
“I am not looking to wow him, by the way. I just don’t see the attraction,” Cassidy yelled back into the kitchen from halfway into her closet. Why was there nothing to wear for Christ sake?! Everything was too tight, or too revealing, or too safe, or too aghhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Marie’s head popped around the corner, a stick of celery hanging from her mouth.
“You don’t see the attraction Cassidy? I take it your temporary blindness is curable? You sure are going to a lot of effort for someone who you don’t give a shit about impressing.” Marie cleaned some peanut butter from her gums and plopped herself belly down on Cassidy’s bed, putting her hands on either side of her chin.
Cassidy stood with her hands on her hips, black balcony bra teddy on and nothing else. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.
“I will not give him anything to say, Marie,” she said stiffly.
“I am a professional woman and he is a client. I will dress to impress, even if I’m not! Impressed, I mean.”
Marie raised one eyebrow.
“Hhmmmkay. Again, you sure are going to a lot of trouble for someone who is unimpressive. And that underwear. Very not sexy, Cass. I think you have succeeded in carrying off the business-like look you were aiming for.”
Cass grunted and kept rifling through her clothes which were looking more and more like a small mountain in the middle of her floor. Marie jumped off the bed and went to the back of the closet. She rummaged about for a bit and then poked her head out holding a dress.
Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance Page 6