Chasing Vivi

by A. M. Hargrove

  He slides his teeth across his lower lip. “I’d say it is.”

  Now I know without a doubt that Prescott Beckham has pulled out all the stops for me, far more than I could’ve ever imagined. But it’s not just that. It’s that I realize exactly how much he’s truly opened up for me. I thought he was a vault, and partly, he was, but there’s a change in him and it’s a wonderful one. Whatever code he lived by with other women he hasn’t applied it to me. In other words, he’s more than trying. He’s doing whatever it takes. Eric’s words come back to me then, bent over backward. He has, hasn’t he? It’s not everything; it doesn’t mean he’ll never hurt me again, but it’s a start.

  “One more question. How many women from here have you dated?”

  “From Whitworth?” he asks.

  “Yeah.”

  “None.”

  I grab his hand and hold it. This is a monumental moment for me, hearing these things. I don’t know why I asked him in a room full of people, but I did. We’ve only just resumed walking when he suddenly stops. I turn to face him this time. “Now that you understand this about me, does this mean you’ll date me?”

  “Yeah,” I say, grinning broadly.

  “Good.” Then he pulls me close and kisses me. And I’m not talking about a peck on the lips. This is an all-out, toe-curling, belly-clenching kiss where his arms curl around me and my knees lose their bones.

  When he lets me go, he says, “It’s about damn time.” Then continues walking us toward his office. I’m dazed. Trying to pull myself together, I let him drag me along for a moment.

  We get to a desk where a familiar face sits. “Vivi, it’s great to see you. And you’re looking so much better these days.”

  “Thank you, Lynn. It’s great to see you, too.”

  She hugs me and we chat while Prescott walks through a door, which I assume is his office. When he’s gone, Lynn says, “Boy, I’m really glad to see you. He hasn’t been worth a damn since … well, since whenever you two had your disagreement or whatever it was. Don’t do that to me again.”

  I laugh at her comical expression. “I won’t. Promise.” Then I wiggle my fingers in a wave and follow Prescott.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve had lunch delivered here.” It’s spread out on a table in here and it looks delicious.

  “This is wonderful. Thank you. Lunch with a view.”

  “And afterward I want you to meet my grandfather.”

  “Oh, maybe some other time.”

  “No, today. Then I’m taking you over to the IT department so you can meet everyone. I’ve arranged for you to interview with the department head this afternoon.”

  “Oookayy. A little warning would’ve been nice.”

  He waves me off as though it’s nothing and we sit down to eat.

  I pick at my food because my stomach is filled with marching ants on their way to fight a battle. I’m thinking ahead to not only the interview, but the meeting with his grandfather. WTF! I already met the matriarch and I have to wonder if Sara mentioned anything to her husband about that.

  Prescott stops eating. “Is something wrong with your meal?”

  “No, it’s great.”

  “Then?”

  “Gee, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because in a few minutes I’m going to meet your grandfather. Or could it be that I’m interviewing with the department head of IT and I’m not the least bit prepared? Although, I was forward thinking enough to bring a résumé for you to pass along.”

  Prescott laughs. “You’re the smartest, most brilliant woman I’ve ever met. Use that gray matter of yours and you’ll be fine.”

  Maybe I should tell him that Eric thinks I’m a dumbass.

  “Can I clue you into something? You haven’t been around me long enough since Crestview to discern whether I’m brilliant or not. And exactly how much do you know about IT?”

  He takes his napkin off his lap and wipes his mouth. Then he says with a sexy smirk, “Vivi, can I clue you into something? You seem to have forgotten that I own this company. Well, my grandfather and I do. And we don’t have shareholders we have to please. This interview is a courtesy only. I can demand they hire you. I, however, choose never to do that. But I, unlike you, have a shit-ton of faith in you. Once you meet Dan Stevenson, who heads our IT, he’ll put you at ease, and you’ll impress the shit out of him.” Then he leans back and adds in that overconfident manner of his, “And if you don’t, I’ll fire the dumbass.”

  I almost swallow my tongue. “You’ll do no such thing.”

  “Of course I won’t, but you have nothing to worry about.”

  His plate is polished while mine looks like a bird picked at it. “Why don’t I set your lunch aside and let’s go meet Granddad and then after your interview, when your appetite has returned, you can finish it?” he asks.

  “Fine. But this is a little weird, meeting your grandfather.”

  “Why? He already knows you’re going to work here.”

  “Oh, God,” I groan.

  He helps me to my feet, straightens my sweater, and then combs his fingers through my hair. “Perfect.” Then he kisses me. “Now you’re ready.”

  “Wait.” I run some gloss over my lips. “Now.”

  When we walk out, Lynn says, “Oh, good. Mr. Whitworth just called asking when you were coming.”

  Prescott holds my hand as we walk.

  “Sorry if my hand is sweaty. I’m a little nervous.”

  His only response is to pull me closer to him. I’m acutely aware of all the eyes on us as we walk.

  I lean into him. “Do you always command this much attention here?”

  “No. I never walk around holding a gorgeous woman’s hand. They’re curious about you.”

  “Oh, great. When they find out I’m interviewing, everyone will hate me.”

  “Are you really worried about that?”

  “Not really.”

  We stop and Prescott speaks to an admin, who tells us Mr. Whitworth is waiting on us. When we walk in the expansive office, which is almost exactly like Prescott’s, my knees are shaking.

  “Granddad, this is Vivi Renard. Vivi, meet Samuel Whitworth, my amazing grandfather.”

  The older gentleman immediately stands, walks over to us, and takes my hand in both of his. “It’s so wonderful to meet you, Vivi. My grandson speaks very highly of you.”

  “And he does the same of you, sir.”

  “Please call me Sam, or Samuel.” His silvery white hair gleams, but his bright blue eyes are kind and welcoming. He puts me at ease immediately.

  “Okay, Sam.”

  We chat about my interview. He asks me some pointed questions about my education at MIT and my previous experience at my former job in California.

  “Prescott, I believe she’s going to fit right in here.”

  “Granddad, I’ve been doing my best to convince her of that.”

  “I’m a bit nervous because Prescott sprang this on me when I got here.”

  Sam laughs. “Sounds like something he’d do. Don’t waste a minute of your time being nervous. You and Dan will get along perfectly.”

  Prescott wears a satisfied smile that screams I told you so. I elbow him in the ribs. We chat a few more minutes when Prescott announces he’d better get me down to IT.

  “Yes, we don’t want her to be tardy,” Sam says. “Why don’t you bring her out to Westchester for Christmas, son?”

  Holy shit. What the never-ending fuck?

  “I’d love to, that is if she doesn’t have plans.”

  They both stare at me, waiting for an answer.

  “Uh, no. I’m actually open that day.” An awkward sounding laugh sneaks out of me and my cheeks heat.

  “Great. I’ll let your grandmother know. The more the merrier. And it will be loads better than last year, won’t it?”

  “You did have to bring that up, didn’t you?” Prescott asks.

  “Oh, we’ll make a toast to old Puffy Lips herself.”

  I’
m lost in the Puffy Lips comment and I watch Prescott shake his head.

  “We’ll see. I’ll talk to you later about the Grandview account.”

  “Right. And let me know how Vivi’s interview goes. Vivi, it was great meeting you and I look forward to seeing you soon.”

  “Thank you and same here, sir.”

  We leave and Prescott walks me to the elevator. “Told you he was awesome.”

  My brain reels. “Yeah. But Christmas?”

  “It’ll be fun.”

  Okay, Viv, slow down. Focus on computer science for now.

  The elevator drops two floors and we exit to our next destination. Prescott leads me straight to the boss’s office. His admin drips honey as she ogles him.

  “Dan should be expecting me. And this is Vivienne Renard.”

  “Hello.” She doesn’t even look at me as she speaks. “Mr. Stevenson is waiting.”

  Prescott turns to me. “I’ll introduce you, then I’m out to a meeting. When you’re finished, just come back to my office, okay?”

  “Sure.” And then he plants a kiss on me.

  He certainly hasn’t been short on public displays of affection since I said I’d date him. As I turn, I notice the admin glaring at me, but I shrug it off. I can’t worry about her.

  Dan is gracious and after Prescott leaves, we settle into business. I make it perfectly clear to him I want this job on the basis of my merits, and not because of my relationship with Prescott.

  “Funny you should say that, because he told me the exact same thing.”

  That’s good news. Dan asks me about everything from my education to my first position and how I ended up in New York. I hold nothing back, but I don’t throw down the sympathy card either. The truth is I’ve been out of the market and I’m the salmon swimming upstream. I promise if he hires me, he won’t regret it, because I won’t be outworked or outsmarted.

  We talk about my skill set, some of the projects I worked on for my former employer, and at the end of the interview he says, “Quite frankly, I’m surprised you haven’t been hired by at least a dozen companies by now.”

  “It’s the gap on my résumé. Anytime someone sees that, they go on to the next one without stopping to ask questions. I never get a chance to explain.”

  “So true. How about starting the first of the year?”

  “I’d love to.” I want to jump out of my chair, do the happy dance, and yell WOOHOO, but I don’t.

  “This is what we can start you at.” He tells me the number and I really want to do a cartwheel and a backflip. Too bad I’d break my other arm if I tried.

  “Sounds excellent. Thank you, Dan. This is going to be the beginning of a great working relationship. I can already see it.”

  “Same here, Vivi.” We both stand and he walks me to the door. “I’ll get the ball rolling on your employment contracts and paperwork.”

  “Great. And, Dan, have a great Christmas.”

  “Same to you.”

  Oh my effing G. I cannot believe this! I’m getting a visual of my mountain of debt shrinking into a mound.

  I practically skip my way back to Prescott’s office and when Lynn sees me, she says, “Someone looks mighty happy.”

  “I got the job!” I whisper-yell.

  “Job?”

  “I interviewed with IT.”

  “That’s so great. I didn’t know. He never told me.”

  “Probably because I didn’t even know I had an interview until I got here.”

  Her head swings back and forth. “That boy.” Then she motions me to come closer. “Can I share something with you?”

  My head bobs up and down.

  “He doesn’t think things through sometimes, but he truly has a heart of gold.” Her face tells me how much she adores him. Why does everyone seem to be on Team Prescott lately? Then again, it seems I’ve jumped on the bandwagon myself.

  “I’m beginning to see that.”

  She gestures with her head. “Go on in. He’s probably on the phone, but it’s fine.”

  “You sure?”

  “If he knows you’re here and I told you to wait, he’d fire me.”

  My eyes must look like golf balls or something because she quickly says, “I’m only kidding. That man couldn’t fire anyone. Now go on.”

  When I walk in, he’s leaning back in his chair, phone in hand, feet propped up on his desk and crossed at the ankles. His tiger eyes zero in on me, and he keeps on talking. I hear him say, “Let’s wrap this up before the new year. I don’t care how much. It’ll be worth it. We can talk next week. Fine.” He hangs up the phone and asks me, “Has your appetite returned?”

  It has, but not the one he’s referring to. He looks like a billion-dollar sex machine, sitting there, owning the world. And I’d like to climb on top of him and go for the ride of a lifetime.

  “Vivi, what wicked thoughts are running through that pristine mind of yours?”

  “Wicked thoughts? What makes you think …?” My voice trails off as I watch him rise and stalk over to where I’m standing.

  “You can’t possibly hide sexual desire from me. I can practically smell it.”

  Good Lord, it must be a thousand degrees in here. Sweat beads on my forehead and I don’t even dare think of what’s happening between my thighs. The ache grows and my belly tightens at the mere thought.

  “You dirty little girl.” He takes his thumb and rubs his lower lip.

  No, don’t do that.

  “The Little Wolf may yet live up to her name after all.”

  Then he kisses me—a dirty, hungry kiss. He devours my mouth, nipping my lips, sinking his teeth into them, tugging, and teasing, until the ache between my legs grows unbearable.

  When he releases me, my chest is heaving in sync with my racing heart.

  “One thing hasn’t changed. I still want to fuck the innocence out of you.”

  “What makes you think I’m innocent?”

  “Everything about you is innocent, pure.”

  “I’ve been with men before,” I say.

  A throaty chuckle rumbles from him. “Just because you’ve been with men doesn’t mean you’re not innocent.”

  Those words make me heat even more from within. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  He runs a finger from my chin to the top of my sweater. “You’ll find out. I’m going to do some very filthy things to you soon, and when I do, you’ll not only love them, you’ll be begging me to never stop.”

  Chapter 29

  Prescott

  At first I was afraid I went too far with my dirty talk. History had shown that it didn’t always successfully mix with Vivi. But when those deep cherry spots appear on her cheeks and her hand reaches for her neck, I know I’m on the right track. I think Vivi secretly loves it. Just wait until I have her stripped bare, her pink pussy exposed. But that’s not all I’m going to take care of. That little ass she’s been parading around will get some attention, too.

  Baby steps, I remind myself.

  So I switch gears on her and totally throw her. “Tell me about your interview.”

  “Interview?”

  “Your job interview. Remember? The one you were so nervous about?”

  Her hand flutters through the air. “Oh, yes, the interview.” A breathy laugh, one that makes me want to kiss her again, rushes out of her. “I start after the first of the year.”

  “I suppose a celebratory dinner is in order then.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Why not?”

  “I have to work at The Meeting Place. I promised to fill in for one of the bartenders. Lucas is shorthanded.”

  Dammit. I don’t want her tending bar anymore. It makes my fucking skin crawl knowing there are men out there checking her out. But, fine.

  “How about I meet you there and take you home? No stalking.”

  “Sweet.” She stands on her toes and kisses my cheek.

  “That’s it? The cheek?” Then I point to my mouth and she grins. She p
laces her lips on mine like a two-year-old would, making a loud smacking noise.

  “Better?”

  “Not in the least.” Grabbing her by the ass, I pull her against me and kiss her, making her think of what might come later. “Now it’s better.”

  “I’ll say.”

  As I’m releasing her, she grabs my face and plants another kiss on my lips. “Until later.”

  After she’s gone, I realize my plan backfired. I wanted to start a fire in her, but I’m the one left with a boner. All I can think about is the tight pussy that awaits me, if I’m lucky. I wonder if she’ll let me slide into it later tonight. Trying to take my mind off it, I pour myself into work that needs to be done.

  At around five-thirty, Granddad enters my office and wants to know how Vivi’s interview went. When I tell him she’s starting after the first of the year, his grin explodes.

  “I’m so happy for the two of you. You make a great couple, son. I can’t wait for your grandmother to meet her.”

  “Do you think she’ll like her?”

  “I do. I really do. Vivi isn’t one of those flashy women your grandmother despises. In a way, she reminds me of your mother. You were too young to remember, but she was like her—beautiful in a simple, yet elegant way.”

  That’s a great way of describing Vivi. She’s elegant and gorgeous, but not flashy or overly done.

  “Prescott, have you told her about your mother?”

  “She knows some of it,” I answer.

  “Son, I know it’s difficult, but I can see your heart is involved with this woman. Don’t you think it would be wise if you told her the whole story? It may provide her some answers to …”

  “Go ahead and say it. I won’t be offended, Granddad.”

  “To how you are, in some respects. If she knows the reason for how you were, too, it will be easier to understand.”

  “But I’m fine now.”

  “Yes, you are. I was thinking it would add some insight into why you’re the person you are, though.”

  “I’ll tell her someday. But not now.”

  He pats me on the shoulder. “Your call. See you tomorrow night. Are you bringing Vivi?”

  I laugh. “I don’t know. I’m going to spring it on her.”