Whatever You Like

by Maureen Smith

Roderick chuckled, enjoying her discomfiture. “Told you you should have gotten in the truck.”

  Lena shot him a dark look. “It’d serve you right if you got a ticket for double-parking.”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time. How’s your grandfather doing?”

  “Much better. But I’ll have you know that I spent the whole week dodging questions about you and our relationship.”

  Roderick grinned. “Have you gotten any better at thinking on your feet?”

  “Let’s just say I benefited from the constant flow of visitors into his room and an act of mercy by his nurse.”

  Roderick laughed. Gently skimming his knuckle over her cheek, he asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

  “No.” She smiled. “And you still owe me dinner and a show, remember?”

  “I know. We’re going on Monday night. I’ve already got the tickets.”

  “Really? To what show?”

  “You’ll find out Monday.” He smiled softly. “What do you want to eat tonight?”

  You, she thought wickedly. I want to dip you in honey and sop you up with a biscuit.

  Aloud she said, “Let’s eat someplace casual, where we can just go as we are. I don’t feel like getting dressed up.”

  “I know just the place. Ever been to Michael’s?”

  “Nope, never heard of it.”

  Roderick gave her a look of grave disappointment. “You’re not a true Chicagoan until you’ve developed an appreciation for a good hot dog.”

  Lena laughed. “I hoof it practically everywhere I go. Doesn’t that make me more of a Chicagoan?”

  He grinned. “Naw, sunshine, it’s all about the dog.” He took the plastic bag out of her hand and started toward the truck, asking over his shoulder, “What’d you buy? Anything that needs to be refrigerated before we go?”

  “Naw.” She grinned. “Just some feminine products.”

  Wordlessly he passed the bag back to her, and she laughed.

  Roderick took her to a place called Michael’s in Highland Park.

  Lena agreed to try a char dog, then had second thoughts when she got an eyeful of the monstrosities that were brought out to them. The hot dogs were nestled between poppy seed buns and loaded with chopped onions, sport peppers, mustard, neon-green relish, tomato, pickles and celery salt. They were appallingly fattening—and surprisingly delicious.

  Lena, who’d always made a practice of sitting face-to-face to her clients, didn’t bat an eye when Roderick joined her on the same side of the booth. They sat close together, their thighs brushing under the table as they shared a plate of cheese fries, dabbed mustard from the corner of each other’s mouths and laughed as Roderick showed Lena how to eat the messy hot dog without having it fall apart.

  It was the most fun she’d had since…well, since the previous Saturday at Mackinac Island. She thoroughly enjoyed being with Roderick. Whether they were having a romantic candlelight dinner aboard his luxurious yacht or gorging on overstuffed franks in some outdated-looking diner, every minute spent in his company made her crave more. So when he suggested going to the Navy Pier to walk off their meal, Lena jumped at the chance to prolong their evening.

  They held hands as they strolled along the scenic pier, which was packed with tourists and abuzz with noise and bright lights. They took a ride on the Ferris wheel, which swept them high into the air and dazzled them with spectacular views of the city. It wasn’t Lena’s first trip to the Navy Pier, nor was it Roderick’s, who’d been coming here since he was a child. But when they looked at each other and smiled, Lena knew she wasn’t the only one who thought the place had never seemed more magical.

  When they weren’t holding hands, she loved the warmth of Roderick’s palm at the small of her back as he guided her through the crowds, the way he pulled her protectively against his side whenever someone strayed too close. Although the evening had cooled, the heat of his touch kept her skin tingling, her body humming with sexual awareness.

  Before she realized it, he was leading her toward the back of the pier. Away from the bright lights and—more importantly—away from the crowds. Once they’d turned a dark corner and ducked behind a deserted boathouse, Roderick hauled Lena into his arms and kissed her.

  As their hungry lips meshed and parted, she whispered, “Don’t tell me.”

  “Tell you what?” He licked into her mouth, sensually twirling his tongue around hers.

  She shivered. “You used to sneak back here every summer and make out with girls.”

  His grin was a flash of white. “How’d you guess?”

  “Mmm,” she purred, arching back as his mouth fed on her throat. “You’re such a naughty boy.”

  “And you love it.”

  She did. Thoroughly.

  He reached between their bodies. She heard the soft rasp of a zipper, followed by his muffled groan of frustration. “Why’d you have to wear jeans today?”

  She laughed. “Sorry. You’ve gotten spoiled.”

  “That’s okay. Where there’s a will—” He yanked the tight jeans just past her hips, taking her panties with them. She felt the cool air on her skin, then the heat of his hands as he cupped her bare bottom. A soft moan escaped her.

  She unfastened the button of his jeans, dragged down the zipper and wrapped her hand around his hot, pulsing erection. He groaned.

  Slipping his fingers between her legs, he stroked her slick folds. “You’re so wet,” he murmured approvingly.

  She smiled. “I stay wet for you.”

  He made a sound—a deep, rough sound that bordered on a growl. And then he removed his hand and nudged his penis between her thighs, rubbing back and forth against her clitoris until the tantalizing friction made her moan. She curled her arms around his neck and widened her legs as far as her jeans would allow. Roderick lifted her slightly off the ground, then slid into her wetness. She gasped sharply.

  He began thrusting upward, strong, steady thrusts that sent stabs of pleasure slicing through her. Unable to wrap her legs around him, unable to really move, she could only clench her teeth to keep from screaming as her body began to convulse.

  They came together, crying out just as fireworks exploded in the night sky.

  Lena raised her head from his shoulder and they grinned at each other, their faces illuminated in bright flashes of color.

  “Talk about perfect timing,” Lena murmured, and they both laughed quietly.

  Roderick lowered her feet to the ground, and they quickly composed themselves before returning to the noise and the crowds. Lena was flushed, her legs feeling as wobbly as if she’d been guzzling tequila.

  Roderick smiled down at her. Tightening his hold around her waist, he leaned close to murmur in her ear, “That was just a teaser. Wait till I get you back home.”

  A delicious shiver of anticipation ran through her.

  “Lena?”

  At first she didn’t recognize the voice.

  She stopped and turned around, her gaze sweeping the crowd to identify the owner.

  And that’s when she saw him.

  The man who’d callously used and humiliated her three years ago. The one man she’d hoped and prayed she would never see again.

  Glenn Donahue.

  As he separated from the crowd, her heart nose-dived.

  “You know him?” Roderick murmured, a subtle edge to his voice.

  Lena nodded tightly.

  As Glenn approached, she briefly catalogued skin the color of toasted almond, attractive features and a trim physique outfitted in a beige sweater and blue jeans.

  “Lena,” he greeted her with a warm smile. As if he hadn’t looked right through her the last time they ran into each other. “I thought that was you.”

  “Glenn.” Her smile was cool, detached.

  “You look beautiful. But that’s nothing new.”

  “Thanks,” Lena murmured. “Glenn, this is Roderick—”

  “Brand,” Glenn finished, his smile broadening as he grasped Roderick’s hand. �
��Glenn Donahue. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a huge fan.”

  Roderick inclined his head, coolly sizing Glenn up. Lena also couldn’t help comparing the two men. Roderick was at least three inches taller and fifty pounds heavier. And in terms of who exuded more virility, there was no contest—Roderick won by a landslide.

  As Glenn stood there grinning at him, Lena suddenly understood why he’d gone out of his way to speak to her tonight. He’d wanted to meet Roderick, not catch up on old times with her.

  As if to confirm her suspicion, Glenn told Roderick, “The next time you’re undertaking an expansion project, be sure to look up Donahue Development. That’s my company. I’m now one of the largest real estate developers in Chicago.”

  “Congratulations.” There was a hint of mockery in Roderick’s voice.

  Glenn’s smile faltered. As he divided a speculative glance between Roderick and Lena, she saw a malicious gleam enter his eyes a moment before he asked innocently, “So, Lena, are you working tonight?”

  Heat rushed to her face. Just when she’d thought Glenn Donahue couldn’t humiliate her any more than he already had, he proved her wrong.

  Beside her, Roderick stiffened. If he’d suspected that Glenn was just an old boyfriend, he now knew better. And the truth was just as embarrassing, just as damning, as it had been three years ago.

  Summoning every ounce of dignity she possessed, Lena smiled sweetly at Glenn. “Working tonight? Oh, no. I’m just enjoying the company of a handsome, wonderful man who knows how to show a woman a good time.” She sighed. “If only all my dates worked out that way.”

  As Glenn’s face tightened at the veiled insult, she felt a small surge of satisfaction. But it didn’t matter. The damage had already been done.

  “Are you here alone, Glenn?” she inquired, glancing around curiously.

  “No,” he said quickly. “My date’s in the restroom.”

  Lena smiled. “I hope you’re both having as good a time as we are. Now if you’ll excuse us,” she said smoothly, “Roderick and I were just leaving. Nice running into you again.”

  “You, too,” Glenn muttered sourly.

  Lena could feel the tension rolling off Roderick’s body as they left the Navy Pier and made their way to where he’d parked his truck. He didn’t speak, and neither did she.

  As they headed onto the JFK Expressway, the tense silence stretched between them, straining her nerves to the breaking point. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she drew a deep breath and blurted, “I’m sorry. I know that was awkward—”

  “He was one of your clients?” Roderick’s voice was brittle.

  “Yes.” Lena swallowed with difficulty. She knew what was coming next.

  “You slept with him?”

  She averted her face to the window, closing her eyes. “Yes.”

  She knew what he was thinking. He was recalling every hypocritical speech she’d given him about not becoming sexually involved with her clients. He was remembering the way she’d reacted with such shame after they made love that first night, as if she’d never crossed the line before. As if he and he alone had caused her downfall.

  “So I’m not the first client you’ve ever slept with,” he said flatly.

  Her stomach twisted sickeningly. “No,” she whispered.

  She braced herself for an angry barrage of insults and accusations. But Roderick grew silent, and somehow that was far more devastating than anything he could have said to her. She remembered Zandra’s warning about how quickly he got turned off when a woman fell short of his expectations, and it made her feel worse. Like she’d let him down.

  When they reached her apartment building, Roderick parked and walked her to her front door. Lena felt as though she should say something, anything, to defend herself. She should tell him that what they’d shared meant more to her than anything she and Glenn had done. Because it was true.

  But she couldn’t get the words past her constricted throat. And when Roderick leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead, she couldn’t shake the sense that something precious was slipping away from her.

  “Good night, Lena,” he murmured.

  She tried to read his expression, but it was indecipherable. “Good night,” she said softly.

  He turned and walked away without a backward glance, leaving Lena to wonder whether she’d seen him for the last time.

  Chapter Twenty

  To keep her mind occupied the next day, Lena threw herself into a whirlwind of activity. After popping two aspirin to combat menstrual cramps—courtesy of an overnight visit by Mother Nature—she proceeded to clean and vacuum her apartment from top to bottom. Next she baked a lemon pound cake for her grandfather and delivered it to him. After leaving the retirement home, she ran errands she’d been putting off for weeks. And at the end of the evening, she pulled out her laptop and caught up on work.

  The day came and went without a word from Roderick.

  Lena told herself that any concern she felt was on the college’s behalf. If Roderick decided to renege on his deal with her, the college wouldn’t receive the grant money, which was the most important thing at stake here. So it was only natural that his prolonged silence would make her nervous. She was worried for her employer’s sake, that’s all.

  Or so she told herself.

  The next day at the office, she couldn’t concentrate on work. She tried to get started on a new grant proposal, but her mind kept wandering. She was staring off into space when a knock sounded on her door.

  Startled, she glanced up to find her boss standing in her doorway. “E-Ethan,” she stammered, embarrassed because he’d caught her daydreaming when she was supposed to be working. “What can I do for you?”

  “I just came by to see how you were doing.” Gentle, concerned blue eyes searched her face. “Is everything okay, Lena? You’ve seemed distracted all morning.”

  “I’m fine.” When Ethan looked unconvinced, she added honestly, “I just have a lot on my mind.”

  “Your grandfather,” Ethan surmised with a sympathetic nod.

  “Mmm.” Lena felt a pang of guilt for using her grandfather as a crutch.

  “I know how rough last week was for you.” Ethan paused. “If you need to take some time off, just let me know. It’s not as if you haven’t accrued plenty of vacation days.”

  Lena nodded slowly. “Thanks, Ethan. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Good.” He propped a shoulder against the door. “How are those revisions coming along for the performing arts grant?”

  “Great,” Lena said brightly, inwardly cringing at the bald-faced lie. “I expect to have it resubmitted by the end of the day.”

  “Wonderful.” Ethan beamed with approval. “I’ve been champing at the bit to tell Dr. Dukes about Roderick Brand’s visit and his generous offer to approve an additional five hundred thousand dollars. I still can’t believe our good fortune.”

  “Neither can I,” Lena murmured, grateful that Ethan hadn’t spilled the beans to the college’s president.

  “It hasn’t been easy to keep such great news to myself,” he admitted with a grin. “Every time I’ve seen Dr. Dukes around campus or had a meeting with her, I’ve been tempted to tell her. I know how thrilled she’s going to be, and I don’t have to tell you how much publicity we’re going to receive as a result of this major grant award. But I want to wait until everything’s finalized. And I have every confidence that you’ll get the deal done.” He laughed, winking at her. “No pressure.”

  Lena forced a weak laugh. “No pressure.”

  After Ethan left her office, she groaned softly and dropped her head onto her desk. If Roderick decided not to keep his end of the bargain, she was royally screwed. And she’d also be royally pissed.

  Her cell phone rang, startling her.

  She jerked upright, then dove for the bottom desk drawer to retrieve the phone from her handbag. When she saw Roderick’s private number on the caller ID, her heart slammed into her rib cage.
She paused to take a deep, calming breath, then answered with a cool, “Hello?”

  “Lena. This is Roderick.”

  Her stomach knotted. She rose unsteadily from her chair, crossed the room and closed the door before she spoke again. “Roderick. How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.” His voice was heavy. With exhaustion? Or with residual anger? “Listen. Something’s come up, and I won’t be able to take you to the show tonight.”

  Hurt flared in Lena’s chest. “If this is about Saturday night—”

  “It’s not,” Roderick said brusquely. “I have to leave for Japan earlier than I’d planned. In fact, I’m flying out this afternoon.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment swept through her. “How long do you expect to be gone?”

  “I don’t know. Two weeks, at the minimum. Longer, if necessary.”

  “I see.” She leaned back against the door and closed her eyes against an odd stinging sensation. “Well, have a good trip. I’m sure you have important business matters to attend to.”

  “I do,” he muttered grimly.

  Tell him, Lena’s conscience urged. Tell him that Glenn meant nothing to you. Set the record straight…before it’s too late.

  She inhaled a deep breath. “Roderick, there’s something I—”

  “Hold on.” She heard a woman’s voice followed by dead air, as if Roderick had pressed the mute button.

  Lena waited tensely, telling herself that the female voice she’d heard belonged to Roderick’s secretary—not a new lover.

  After a full two minutes, he came back on the line sounding more aggravated than before. “Sorry about that. Look, something else has come up, so I have to run.”

  “Okay. I understand. Have a safe trip.”

  “Thanks.”

  Lena hesitated, then blurted, “Will you call me when—”

  But Roderick had already hung up, severing the connection between them. Perhaps for good this time.

  Lena returned to her apartment that evening with a heavy heart.

  After changing into an old UCLA sweatshirt and black leggings, she trudged back to the living room, turned on the television and plopped down on the sofa to eat the takeout meal she’d picked up on the way home. But she found herself poking disinterestedly at the lasagna and salad. She had no appetite, because her thoughts were consumed with Roderick and the brief conversation they’d had that morning. It bothered her that he’d be out of the country for two weeks—maybe even longer—and things were still unresolved between them.