I also now knew that he owned the restaurant where we’d had dinner that first night. I had nearly died of embarrassment when I found the receipt in my bag the next day. I had insisted on paying for everything, and was extremely confused to see I had only been charged for one drink. Then I’d found the note on the back.
‘Better luck next time sweetheart.’
I had eventually gotten it out of Quinn that the sneaky little bastard owned the place. The frustration of being tricked was quickly replaced by a feeling of admiration for how well he clearly ran his business – the food, atmosphere and service had been second to none.
Weston’s voice through my intercom broke my thoughts. “Sex on legs approaching.”
I laughed out loud at him, he was not shy about his obvious appreciation for Lawson’s physique.
His voice crackled through again. “Oh god, I would do that in a heartbeat.”
I pulled open the door separating me from my now drooling assistant. “Good god man, get a bib already.” Weston looked at me and we both busted out laughing.
If Lawson had ever heard West and his insanely inappropriate comments, he hadn’t mentioned it. Although today I couldn’t help but notice the way his lips curled up into a smug smirk that told me he’d heard exactly what had been said.
I feigned surprise at his presence. “Mr. Pierce. That’s every day for two weeks. Are you going for some kind of record?”
He just winked at me and nodded at Weston. “How’s it going West?”
“I can’t complain Mr. Pierce, the view is outstanding today.” My jaw dropped and I pulled my eyes from Lawson to look at my smart-ass assistant. He smirked at me and gestured out the window. “That water really sparkles today.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as I hurriedly pulled Lawson inside my office. I pushed the door shut and leaned against it. “I’m sorry about him, he’s… he’s… just… Weston.” I finished lamely.
Lawson stepped towards me with a predatory gleam in his eyes and chuckled.
“Don’t you play innocent with me Miss. Rush, I know all about how you and your assistant talk about me when you think I can’t hear. Don’t think for a minute that I don’t know the filthy things that come out of your mouth pretty girl.”
I gaped at him as he grinned and turned to move to the couch. “You’ve heard us?” I squeaked.
“Every day.” He held up the sandwich he brought me “Chicken salad?” It was my favourite, and I knew he had gotten it from the delicious little deli down the road. God the man was too perfect for his own good.
I blushed from the embarrassment of both having been caught, and from him knowing exactly how to please me.
With food anyway.
“My favourite. Thanks.” I gave him a small squeeze on the bicep as I grabbed the sandwich and plopped down next to him. His arm was rock solid, and I instantly regretted the contact. Now I couldn’t help but wonder what the rest of his body would feel like under my touch.
I bet it’s all rock hard.
I quickly shook my head to try to clear my thoughts. “Thanks for bringing me lunch. Again. If this tradition is going to continue then we’re gonna to have to start taking turns at bringing food.”
“I’m not giving you much choice here. I show up uninvited, so I bring the food.”
I gave him a grateful smile. “You’re always welcome to have lunch with me Lawson.” I saw him swallow his mouthful of sandwich slowly as I said his name, almost as though he had to remember what to do with the mouthful of food. It gave me a burst of satisfaction that he seemed to be as lost to his reactions as I was to mine in his presence.
“Come have a drink tonight.”
I shook my head lightly. “I can’t, I brought Quinn to work today.”
He gave me his mega watt, charming smile. “Well isn’t it lucky that she’s meeting Colt and us across the road after work then?”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you always get everything you want?”
I’d expected him to joke with me but instead his expression turned serious. His eyes were smouldering with intense emotion. “No Ellerslie. Not everything.”
I felt my face heat as I looked down at my sandwich, I wasn’t sure I would ever get used to the way he had been looking at me. I felt like he could see through all my faults and insecurities and see the real me. It made me feel vulnerable and exposed. But I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed it too. He was the most interesting man that I had ever met.
“We’re friends. Right?” I asked.
“We are.” He went back to eating his sandwich and I could have sworn I heard him mutter under his breath about it being the hardest friendship he’d ever had.
I decided to change the subject. “You never told me about your relationships.” He stiffened next to me and I risked a peek up from my sandwich. His expression was one of pure disgust, and the anger I could see in his eyes scared me a little. I pretended to rearrange the last piece of my sandwich in the hope that he would calm himself down. When I looked back up he had slipped an easygoing smile onto his face – but his eyes still revealed the truth.
Lawson Pierce was hiding a secret.
“Oh no pretty girl.” He said with a shake of his head. “Today it’s my turn.”
“She was brave and strong and broken all at once.”
- Anna Funder
23. Lawson
I leaned back in my chair and looked out at the view from my office window. It wasn’t nearly as nice as the view from Ellerslie or Quinn’s, but it wasn’t bad.
Ellerslie…
I hadn’t known what to say when she’d asked me about my past relationships. What could I say?
O yeah, I forgot to mention, I got completely fucked over by a vindictive bitch that I thought I loved... and ever since then, I’ve kept women in my bed but not my heart?
Charming.
Ellerslie would be sure to love that. I was sure she’d realised that I was hiding something from her – she was a smart girl and I’d been an open book about every other aspect of my life. There was just something about her that had me spilling my guts about myself. I had told her things that weren’t necessarily secrets, but that no one else knew about me.
I wanted her to be the one to know me best.
But more importantly I wanted to know her. I couldn’t wait for midday each day so I could spend time asking her questions, listening to her tell stories and watching the responses she gave.
I hadn’t had the balls to ask her about her divorce or ex-husband yet. It was a shitty situation – I didn’t want her to feel worse about it than she already did. I knew I would eventually need to ask her about it, I needed to find out when she would be a free woman again. I was determined not to put too much pressure on her while she was still married. If she was ever going to be mine, then I needed her to be mine in every sense of the word. I didn’t want some stupid prick staking any claim to her.
I glanced at my watch.
5.40pm.
I had asked Ellerslie to meet me in the lobby at 5.45pm so we could head over to the bar together. I knew it was only early evening, but I still didn’t like the idea of her walking around on her own. She triggered a protective instinct in me that was usually reserved for only my mother and sister – that alone said a lot about how strongly she had taken a hold of me.
***
I entered the lobby – Ellerslie wasn’t there yet. I walked across the tiled floor and leaned against one of the sectional walls. I would be able to see her as she stepped off the elevator, but it was likely she wouldn’t spot me straight away.
I loved watching her when she didn’t realise I was looking. Everything about her held me captive. The way she ate, the way she absently curled strands of her long blonde hair around her finger, the way she cocked her head to the side when she tried to figure something out and the way she tapped her foot to the beat of any music that played.
I had no idea when it had happened, but she had become so much more than I ev
er intended her to be. I had to have all of her - not just in my bed.
God… she is everything.
This whole ‘let’s be friends’ business was a tough gig. I was cursing myself for ever suggesting it.
I was just about to check my watch for the hundredth time when the elevator doors slid open… and there she was. I don’t know how it was possible, but every time I saw her, she was more breathtaking. She looked up and quickly scanned the room. I felt like the luckiest son of a bitch in the world that this beautiful woman was looking for me.
Even if we are just friends.
She must have felt my eyes on her because she turned and looked directly at me. Her nose crinkled up in the most adorable way when she realised she was being watched and she gave me nervous wave. I pushed off the wall and stalked towards her.
“You look beautiful.” I told her as I lightly brushed a stray curl from her face.
She laughed and gave me a small shove. “You are so full of shit. You saw me a few hours ago and I look exactly the same now as I did then.”
I laughed at her. Not many women would speak to me like that. I knew I was an intimidating guy and I liked that El didn’t seem to have too much trouble putting me in my place.
I held my hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, I thought you looked beautiful then too, I just didn’t tell you.”
She gave me a shy smile. “Shall we go?”
I grabbed the coat she had slung over her arm and helped her into it. It smelt of her and I had a hard time keeping my hands to myself – as it was, I lingered a little longer than necessary. I stood close behind her and ran my hand along her collar, sweeping her hair out from under the jacket. I felt her shudder under my touch, and I couldn’t help the smug smile that spread across my face.
“You’re already shivering and we aren’t even outside yet.” I teased her over her shoulder.
She leaned back until her back was pressed firmly up against my front and turned her head slightly so her warm breath hit my face. My own breath came out in shallow pants as I felt her body against mine. She fit perfectly against me and I got lost in the rounded curve of her ass.
“Seems I’m not the only one affected by the temperature in here.” She whispered against the side of my face. She laughed and pushed back slightly before walking off ahead of me.
Tease.
I chuckled as I realised that my overwhelming desire for this woman was leaving me a little behind the eight ball. I followed the sway of her hips towards the doors, something I decided I would happily be doing a lot of. I caught up to her and held the door open for her, she regarded me with an amused expression before stepping out into the street. The rapidly dropping air temperature hit us as soon as we stepped outside.
“Holy shit it’s cold.” She squeaked. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this.” She said between shivers.
I took her arm, and when she didn’t protest I linked it through mine. “It’s actually starting to warm up a little. I wanted to get away for the weekend to board but now I doubt it’s gonna happen.”
“You snowboard?” She looked up at me with excitement in her eyes.
God that look will be the death of me.
“Yea definitely. I love it. Did Quinn ever tell you how good she is on a set of skis? Our grandparents took us all the time when we were kids.”
“She may have bragged about it from time to time.” She smiled bigger. “I’ve always wanted to learn to snowboard, it looks like fun.”
As we pushed through the doors to the bar, the plan in my head solidified.
If that’s what the lady wants...
I just needed Quinn on my side. Probably Reeve too… and a whole lot of luck.
24. Quinn
He is so sweet.
When I arrived at the bar across the road from the office, Colt was already sitting down with my favourite beer waiting for me. I smiled as he caught my eye across the room and his own face lit up with a huge smile.
If he were 10 years older, I might just marry him right now.
I felt bad for thinking about him that way, but there was no denying he really was too young. I repeated my cheesy new mantra in my head.
He might not be Mr. Right, but there is no reason he can’t be Mr. Right now.
I leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, his hand lingered on my hip and he whispered in my ear. “You look good Quinn.” There was definitely a spark between us, and I knew that we had more sexual chemistry than most, but something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what is was, but it was still lingering there in the back of my mind.
We had been out on only one date, but had met here twice since then. We’d spent time having a drink and talking. I had enjoyed his company a lot more than I expected too. And it felt nice to have somebody so interested in me and what I had to say. The surprise date that he’d planned for me was amazing fun. We had gone ice skating and I had loved every minute of it. It didn’t hurt that his hands were constantly on my hips or that I had used his firm biceps for support on more than one occasion.
“I got you your usual.” He said as he nodded towards my drink and took a swig of his own.
“Thank you, it’s just what I need after the week I’ve had.”
He was so patient. He just looked at me with raised brows and waited for me to explain.
“It’s nothing in particular, it’s just been so busy getting the branch up and running with El, and I’ve been doing the hiring for some of the positions we still had to fill. It’s just been a busy time.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “But enough about me. How was your day?”
“My day was pretty similar to yours actually. Long. I had to hire three new bartenders since the club is so busy, and my brothers and I have decided that I will now be the one in charge full-time. Since they both have other fulltime jobs, it just makes more sense.”
“That’s awesome, I know you’ve been hoping for a little more freedom at the club. I’m excited to see what you do.”
He smiled at me even bigger and nodded in agreement. “I’m actually really excited too, it’s gonna be a hell of a lot of work, but it’ll be worth it to get that place to where I know it can be.”
He had a real eye for seeing the potential in an idea. We had talked about his visions and he had some amazing plans for the club.
I felt my phone buzz in my pocket at the same time I spotted my brother and best friend walk in the door. I quickly checked the message and frowned when I saw it was from Lawson. I glanced up at him again to check if he had seen me and locked eyes with him.
He’s up to something.
He had a gleam in his eye that told me he needed something from me.
“I Need help. Can we talk alone? asap.”
My brother had been all over the place since our night out a couple of weeks back. He’d shown up at our offices every single bloody day, and only one or two of those visits had he even come to see me. I could see how gaga he was over El – I just couldn’t figure out why he was playing the friend card instead of pursuing her like he would with any other woman.
“Hey sis.” Lawson pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Colt.” They gave each other one of those guy handshakes where they smack palms and bump fists and so on. I raised my eyebrows at him, but the subtle shake of his head told me he wasn’t talking in front of El.
He is so fucked.
I smirked at him.
“Hey Colt, good to see you again.” Ellerslie smiled at him warmly – I knew she liked him. She wasn’t nearly as concerned about the whole toy boy/cougar aspect as I was.
“You too Ellerslie, we’ll have to get you back in the club again sometime soon, it was a good time.”
El laughed.
“Gah, y’all can go without me, I swear I was hung over for 3 days after that.” I replied.
“Don’t sweat it Q, you’re just getting old.” Lawson teased. He’d been doing that a lot lately, teasing me about being older. I was will
ing to put money on my so-called best friend ratting me out about how old Colt was. Then again, Lawson could have just asked him – Colt had no idea I was looking to keep his age on the down low.
I choose to pretend I didn’t notice his intentions. “You forget your walking stick today old man?”
He just chuckled and asked El what she wanted to drink. “Surprise me?” She smiled at him.
I caught Lawson’s eye as he got up to head to the bar. “I’ll come with you, get another round.”
Rushed Page 12