“An agreement?” She suddenly realized she was beginning to sound like a parrot. Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t understand.”
Just then, Veronica came over to them and kissed him on the cheek. “Darling, how I’ve missed you.”
He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. “Did you have fun in my absence?”
“I certainly did.” She laughed and patted his chest. “And the best part is I get to be the woman by the pool in the commercial.”
“Good.” Patrick turned to Amy. “It was nice seeing you again, Amy.”
Amy was sure her jaw hung to the floor as the two went off to mingle with another couple. She struggled to make sense of what she’d witnessed. Maybe she shouldn’t be surprised that Veronica had sex with Jack Bently so she could secure a spot in a commercial. Only, there wouldn’t be a commercial now that Nathan was telling Ryan that he wouldn’t be signing the papers with Jack Bently.
She waited for Nathan to come to her, and when he did, he asked, “Are you ready?”
Nodding, she accompanied him toward the front entrance.
A man ran over to them. “Mr. Rudolph, Mr. Bently is waiting for you in that room.” He pointed behind them.
Nathan shook his head. “Give him my apologies, but I’ve decided someone else may have the benefit of his cruise line.”
“But...sir...?”
“If he wishes for me to go into detail, I’ll do that when I’m at work on Monday. This is not the place or the time.” Nathan’s firm tone left no room for argument.
“Yes, Mr. Rudolph,” the man finally answered and headed back for the room where Jack would be expecting Nathan.
Without a look back, Nathan took her by the hand and led her out the front door, and she couldn’t think of a time when she admired a man more.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Once Jack Bently’s property disappeared in the rearview mirror, Amy turned to her husband and smiled. “I love you, Nathan.”
He glanced at her and returned her smile. “I think you’ve said that already tonight.”
She shrugged and took his hand in hers. “Maybe it bears repeating.”
“I’d never get tired of hearing it.” He squeezed her hand. “I love you too.”
She enjoyed the silence as the lights of downtown Omaha grew closer. Before they were due to take the exit off of I-80 that would take them home, she asked, “Nathan, can I get more pens?”
His eyebrows furrowed and he laughed. “What?”
“Pens. You know. Like the kind you have in your desk? I need a pen.” Even as she said it, she knew how lame it sounded, but given the stuff that had just transpired that evening, it was the best she could come up with. “So, can I please have a pen?”
He shook his head and bypassed the exit he needed to go home. “Alright, but that is a strange request.”
“I feel like writing a letter to my parents, and I want to use the best pen in Omaha.”
He gave her a ‘you’re odd’ look, but he took the exit that led to his work. “I guess I can do that.”
She wondered if he bought the flimsy excuse or if he saw right through it. He seemed as if he had no clue as to what she had in mind, but maybe he was playing along to amuse her. She decided not to dwell on it. He’d just paid her a high compliment that night by taking her concerns into consideration, and if he was merely humoring her now, then that was fine.
He pulled into the parking garage and up to his spot. After he opened the door for her, he said, “I do have a couple of those pens at home.”
“You do? Why didn’t say something before?”
Grinning, he held his hand out to her. “Just a hunch it was best to keep quiet.”
She took his hand and got out of the car. “You know.”
“Would it ruin the mood if I said I hoped?”
“No, though I guess that I don’t do anything that surprises you.”
“Maybe.”
He was playing with her, she realized as he shut the door and locked the car, but she didn’t mind the game.
Holding the keys in his hand, he asked, “Ready to get those pens?”
The sexy tone in his voice made her blush. “Yes.”
When they got into his office, he shut the door and asked, “Do you want me to turn on the lights?”
“How can you expect me to find pens in the dark?”
“Good point.” He flicked the switch on and threw his keys on his desk.
After he drew his blinds, she opened the drawer that contained the pens and pulled one out. “Okay. I got it. I’m ready to go now.”
He glanced her way.
“What did you think I came up here for?”
“You better be kidding.”
“Why would I kid about something as serious as a pen? Writing a letter is important.” She got a nice sense of satisfaction in watching his expression go from a knowing look to disappointment. “You coming?” She turned off the lights. “Oh wait. I dropped it. Can you get me another one?”
“A pen?” he asked, sounding unsure.
She quickly unzipped the back of her dress. “Yes. Turn on that light on your desk and find one for me.”
“Why don’t you turn on the lights? You’re right by the light switch.”
She groaned and let the dress fall softly to her feet. “Must you argue with a woman’s logic?” Then she slipped off her thigh high pantyhose.
He shuffled across the room and turned on the lamp in time to find her standing in front of his desk in nothing but her pink bra and panties with the black lacy trim.
“Sit down,” she ordered.
His eyes grew wide but a smile crossed his face. “I thought you wanted a pen.”
“I do. But I’ll get it later.” She set her hands on her hips and gave him a determined look. “Are you going to listen to me or not?”
“Who am I to argue with the boss?” He sat in his chair.
She moved the lamp over to the edge of the desk. The soft hue lighting it produced in the room would embolden her enough to act the part she wanted to play out for his fantasy because there was no way she’d be able to do this with the overhead lights shining down on her. Her skin was already warm from the weight of his stare. She went over to him, not feeling as graceful as she imagined she’d be when she visualized how this would play out, and she thought it was way too quiet in the room.
“Do you have a radio or something to play some music?” she asked.
His gaze rose from her breasts to her face. “What?”
Well, at least she knew he didn’t pick up on her awkwardness. That made her task easier. “Music. You know. To set the mood.”
“Sure.” He swirled in his chair as if he couldn’t do her bidding fast enough and went to the shelf lining his wall. He turned on his radio and adjusted the channel until it settled on an instrumental station. Then he promptly returned to the chair and faced her, an expectant smile on his face. “Is there anything else I can do to inspire the mood?”
“Not yet.” She undid the buttons on the jacket of his tux. Noting how dry her lips were, she licked them. “I might need some help with this.” She leaned forward and tried to remove the cummerbund from around his waist.
Instead of helping her, he ran his hands up her arms.
She glanced up at him and chuckled when she realized his gaze was focused on the generous amount of cleavage her position allowed. Her uncertainty began to ease. She could probably fall flat on her face, and he wouldn’t notice as long as she was showing off a part of her body. Slightly amused, she succeeded in taking off the cummerbund and tossed it to the floor.
She knelt in front of him and unfastened his pants. When he sharply inhaled, she glanced up at him. “If it’s going to be your fantasy, it might as well be a good one.”
He leaned back and helped her with his boxers so that she could explore him with her tongue and mouth. She took her time, alternating her technique and pacing, taking cues from his groa
ns and shifting in the chair to gauge when she should do what.
When she was satisfied with her pursuit of him, she undid the shirt studs. He straightened in his chair to help her remove his shirt and jacket before he took off his undershirt. Then he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. His tongue traced her lower lip until she opened her mouth and brushed her tongue with his. He groaned and deepened the kiss as his hands slid to her bra and brushed her breasts through the soft fabric.
She undid her bra and flung it aside so he could touch her naked flesh. Her nipples responded to his light teasing, and she let out a contented sigh when his mouth left hers so he could kiss her neck. She closed her eyes and took in the sensations his hands were capable of producing. Her breasts had always been sensitive to touch, and thrills raced through her body and settled in her core.
“Get on my lap,” he whispered in her ear.
Highly aroused, she obeyed, forgetting that she was supposed to be the one giving the orders. Slipping out of her panties, she climbed on top of him. She straddled him, thinking that he was going to enter her right then and there, but he lifted her up and settled her onto his desk. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he entered her and she gasped in delight, her body tingling with unbridled excitement. This fantasy was a lot more electrifying than she thought it’d be.
He leaned over her and enveloped her in his embrace, her breasts crushed against his chest as he passionately kissed her. Her hands ran up and down his back and her hips rocked leisurely in rhythm with his, in no hurry to finish what she’d started. In time his movements became more forceful, his actions more demanding. She reached down to caress the sensitive nub on her body, and he rose above her, his hands braced on the desk as he continued thrusting inside her.
She was hardly aware of anything but how good he felt and how she clenched tightly around his erection. Her fingers worked faster until she found her release. She cried out and rode each wave of pleasure as it crashed over her. He followed shortly after, his body stiffening as he had his orgasm. Her legs tightened around his waist and she savored the lingering effects of their lovemaking.
He leaned down and held her, gracing her cheeks, her lips and her neck with his kisses. She, in turn, rubbed his back, wishing this moment in time could be suspended forever and knowing it couldn’t. These were the times she cherished, when they were together intimately and caught up in the physical joys of their union. And to think something so wonderful could result in a child. She tried not to think of Veronica, but what Veronica considered a curse, Amy thought of as a blessing. She felt fortunate that she’d be the mother of Nathan’s baby and that he’d be the father of hers.
“That was better than I thought it’d be,” Nathan whispered. “But I think I’m stuck.”
She laughed. “Getting old, are you?”
“Well, I’m not at my prime anymore.” He eased up and stretched his back. “That’s better.”
He helped her sit up and hugged her. “You’re wonderful, you know that?”
She snuggled in his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. “You are too. I still can’t believe you turned down the contract for the cruise line for me.”
“You made a good point. I would have been stupid to not listen to you, and if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s stupid.”
“You think Jack will be mad?”
“Most likely, but he can take his cruise line somewhere else. There’s always someone else looking for a connection with a wealthy man. He probably already has someone else lined up for the job.”
Amy figured Nathan was right, so she decided to give it no more thought.
They got dressed and just before they left the office, Nathan snapped his fingers.
“I almost forgot.” He returned to his desk and opened the drawer. “I have your pen. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on writing that very important letter.”
She pretended to sigh with relief as she took it from him. “Oh good. I mean, if I didn’t leave with this, then it would have been a wasted trip.”
He chuckled and opened the door.
She glanced around the dimly lit area where she usually saw his secretary sitting at her computer. “Boy, this place looks spooky at night.”
“Now you know why I only come in during business hours.” He shut and locked the door. “Thankfully, you’re here to protect me.”
She slid her arm around his waist as they went to the elevator. “Yeah, I’m a regular bodyguard alright.”
“You are. You have that intimidating look down perfectly.”
“Intimidating look?”
The elevator doors opened so he led her inside the elevator. “You can be pretty scary when you’re riled up. I’ll never forget how you charged up here that day you tore up the marriage license in front of me.”
She hugged him. “Oh, that. I forgot I did that.”
“How could you forget? That was the day my secretary bought a burial plot for me by the city dump.”
“She was jesting.”
“I got a bill for it.”
She shot him a critical look.
“It’s true. She thought it was funny,” he replied. “The tombstone was in the shape of a rat and had the engraving: ‘R.I.P. Here lies Nathaniel Rudolph who died of a mysterious illness. We’ll miss him.’”
“She did not.” Amy flung her arms around his neck and giggled. “You’re making this up.”
“I’ll have to show it to you sometime.”
She kissed him. “I don’t want you dead.”
“You did that morning.”
“So I was a little upset. I got over it.”
He hugged her. “I assured her that you’d be fine, but she refused to believe me.”
The elevator doors opened and she stepped forward with him. “I can only imagine what she’d think if she knew what just happened in your office.”
“She wouldn’t think anything. All you did was get a pen.” He winked and stopped in front of the car so he could unlock it. “It was all very innocent.”
“Well, maybe some day I’ll tell you my fantasy and you can do your part to make it come true.”
His eyebrows rose in interest as he opened the door. “And what would that be?”
“It has something to do with a private spot on the beach in the moonlight.”
“Sounds like a Christmas present.”
She smiled and kissed him. “It’d be nice.” Then she got into the car and let him take her home, which was exactly where she wanted to be.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Monday morning, Nathan had just stepped off the elevator when Carmen held up a piece of paper. “Your ex-wife called.”
Nathan took the piece of paper, crumbled it up, and threw it into the trash. “Thank you, Carmen.”
His secretary cleared her throat as he turned to go into the office.
He returned his attention to her. “Is there something else?”
She held up his cummerbund. “The cleaning crew found this under your desk.”
Unable to hide his smile, he took it and asked, “Did they find anything else?”
“No, though they noticed the lamp was moved from its regular location.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Anything interesting happen here Friday night?”
“Nothing that would interest you.”
“Hmm...” She drummed her fingernails on her desk. “I guess Amy won’t be killing you after all.”
He shook his head. “I’m surprised you thought such a thing was going to happen. It was a matter of time before things worked out.”
“As ever, you’re an optimist.” She glanced at him and sighed, “And judging by the stupid grin on your face, I should start looking into buying you a baby gift.”
“Wouldn’t hurt.”
He decided that was all he was going to say on the issue before he unlocked his door and went in. Setting his briefcase down, he sat behind his desk and turned on his computer.
The phone buzzed so he
switched on the intercom. “What is it, Carmen?” He looked through his open door where she sat.
She peered over at him. “Ryan Jackson’s on line 1.”
“Alright.” He switched off the intercom and picked up the phone. “Good morning, Jackson.”
“Do you still want to delete Bently’s cruise line from the commercial?” Ryan asked.
“Yes. I spoke with his assistant. Jack will find another agency to sign up with.”
“I had to be sure before I sent out the new contract to you. I’ll get right on it and have it to you before the day is up.”
“Good. Oh, Ryan?”
“Yes?”
“How are things with your wife and the kids?”
“They’re fine. Her mom’s been over helping so she can get some rest.”
“I didn’t think of that. Does she like having her mother there?”
“Of course, and her mother can’t get enough of the grandkids.”
That gave Nathan something to consider. He should ask Amy if she wanted her mother’s help when their child was born. “Good luck with everything, and congratulations.”
Ryan laughed. “Yeah, Tyler said you’re eager to have one of your own. Maybe I should be the one wishing you luck.”
After they said good-bye, Nathan logged into his system. The first thing he did was check his emails. An email from Jack Bently caught his attention. With a grimace, he opened it. As expected, Jack went into a tirade about Nathan’s decision to not sign the papers on Friday night and swore that Nathan would be out of business within a week.
Nathan knew the man carried some weight in town, and Nathan had no doubt that he’d soon be getting emails or calls from a few of his connections who felt their loyalty to Bently surpassed their loyalty to him. And he was right. By the end of the week, he’d lost a fourth of his clients.
***
Amy stood by Danielle in the supermarket holding a pregnancy test kit. “But aren’t these all the same?” Amy asked her friend, glancing at the box in her hand.
“No, they aren’t. First Response and EPT are the best ones. This store brand will probably give you a false negative, if you are pregnant. Trust me. I’ve been there; done that.”
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