Tearing her gaze away from his hard and wet man parts, she glanced up at him and couldn’t help the smirk on her face, because it was that moment that Sophia knew she’d done well. His head was tilted back; his eyes were closed, and his mouth was open on a groan. Pat on the back for her. She reveled in this feeling of control, enjoying how it made her feel so cocky, sexy and desired.
“Get up here.” He helped her stand. He kissed her once more and the floating feeling that traveled through her body told her not to let him go. Not again. Whatever it was, good or bad, short-term or long, she needed to stick around and quit finding excuses to blow it up.
“Stop pushing me away, Sophia. I’m not going anywhere. Especially not after that.” He chuckled.
She made a funny face knowing he was only partially teasing her as well as having read her mind.
“All jokes aside. I’m in love with you, Sophia. I tried hard not to fall for anyone else after Mindy. But then there was you.”
“Then there was me.”
“And you changed everything. You made me realize what a jackass I was being. You proved to me that not everyone is like Mindy. You showed me a whole new side of myself, and I want to share it with you. Please, tell me you’ll stay with me this time. Promise me you won’t think of reasons to push me away. Although, be warned if you do, nothing is going to keep me away from you. Or that naughty mouth of yours.”
“Oh, Michael—”
“I’m not done.” He put a finger up to her mouth. “I’ll help you with nursing school so you can go full time. I’ll do whatever I can to help you. Whatever you will allow me to do for you. You can work at Together—”
“I don’t want to work at Together. I don’t have any experience where that is concerned.” She said quickly. “We’ll figure something out.”
She wanted him. She refused to let him go. Sophia knew she still had a few issues to work out, but all the nights he’d put in there, leaving work early because of her, she knew she could count on him. The truth was Sophia didn’t want to work at The Glass House. Not if Michael and she were going to be a couple. She liked the way he was slightly possessive over her. She wanted her man not wanting her to work there. And she knew in her heart of hearts that he would take care of her and love her the way she was worthy of. But at the same time, she couldn’t let go of her independence either.
“We’ll work something out,” Sophia repeated. “We deserve this.”
She deserved this.
She deserved him.
“I loved you since before I danced for you. Keeping you away was a way to punish myself for not being home when my grandma passed away—”
“I’ve told you over and over there wouldn’t have been a thing you could have done,” he said.
“I know. I mean, I know that now. But there was never a day I didn’t want you or think about you, ever since the night of the gala. You were it for me then. I was too stupid to let it happen, citing all these reasons we wouldn’t be able to work. I was afraid to look deeper into myself, afraid to let anything get in the way of my well-laid plans. I’m sorry for pushing you away, Michael. I want you. All of you, only you.”
Charlet stood in the doorway. “Enough with the sweet-talking you two, when will this room get done?”
Michael and Sophia smiled knowingly at each other as Charlet entered the room. They were finally good. For today. For tomorrow. Hopefully forever. It took a long time for them to get there, but Sophia’s body felt lighter knowing the two of them were in this together. That some of the heavy weight on her shoulders no longer had to be so heavy. So long as she had Mr. Michael Vilander by her side.
Interested in the second book in the Irresistible Billionaires series, All Shook Up? Click here to download your copy.
* * *
Billionaire CEO Cole Carrington knew the only way to check the seemingly downward spiral of his lingerie store was to go undercover. If it was being mismanaged he’d be able to get to the bottom of it. What he wasn’t expecting was to run into Jillian Winters, the gorgeous woman he’d evicted months ago from the same location.
* * *
When Jillian Winters gets evicted from the building she rented, she’s forced to shut down her five-star lingerie store. Unable to have the proper funds to relocate into an equally swank location in Downtown Denver, Jillian is certain her managing skills aren’t what she believed them to be. Still sulking weeks later, Jillian’s pesky sister helps her get a new job—same location, new lingerie store—owned by the handsome stranger who evicted her.
* * *
Unforeseen circumstances force Jillian into the management position where she realizes she’ll have the chance to learn from her previous mistakes. But she’s taken aback when a competitor offers Jillian part of her dream again—half owner of a lingerie store. Jillian must decide where she wants to be: working at her hot boss’s upscale lingerie store and helping him succeed. Or working toward her ultimate goal of being an owner again—even if that means taking a step down from the five-star norm she’s used to.
* * *
Especially when she realizes that dealing with Cole Carrington on a day to day basis isn’t as difficult as she first thought it might be.
Billionaire CEO Cole Carrington knew the only way to check the seemingly downward spiral of his lingerie store was to go undercover. If it was being mismanaged he’d be able to get to the bottom of it. What he wasn’t expecting was to run into Jillian Winters, the gorgeous woman he’d evicted months ago from the same location.
* * *
When Jillian Winters gets evicted from the building she rented, she’s forced to shut down her five-star lingerie store. Unable to have the proper funds to relocate into an equally swank location in Downtown Denver, Jillian is certain her managing skills aren’t what she believed them to be. Still sulking weeks later, Jillian’s pesky sister helps her get a new job—same location, new lingerie store—owned by the handsome stranger who evicted her.
* * *
Unforeseen circumstances force Jillian into the management position where she realizes she’ll have the chance to learn from her previous mistakes. But she’s taken aback when a competitor offers Jillian part of her dream again—half owner of a lingerie store. Jillian must decide where she wants to be: working at her hot boss’s upscale lingerie store and helping him succeed. Or working toward her ultimate goal of being an owner again—even if that means taking a step down from the five-star norm she’s used to.
* * *
Especially when she realizes that dealing with Cole Carrington on a day to day basis isn’t as difficult as she first thought it might be.
All Shook Up - Chapter One
Jillian Winters knew by the tight, strained expression on Tasha’s face, that something was up. The older woman nibbled on her thumb as she made her way past the barely-there lingerie which filled most of the store and the small corner of ‘Pleasurable Selfies’ which was enough to keep any woman like Tasha as far away from the boutique as one could get.
She headed toward Jillian who stood behind the counter folding her newest shipment of women’s stockings. A flicker of apprehension tore through Jillian as she thought of any news Tasha might be delivering.
Tasha owned the building that Jillian rented for her boutique, The Peekeasy, and the older woman rarely—if ever—made her way into the store if she didn’t have to. She was the epitome of conservative and a firm believer in being discreet about what one wore beneath her clothes.
Jillian smiled. “Tasha, I’m surprised to see you. Is everything okay?”
Tasha rested her elbows on the white countertop and leaned in, her voice just above a whisper. “I had to sell, Jillian. I’m sorry. The new owner will be here any moment and I rushed over to give you time to process the information.”
Jillian stopped mid-fold, unable to fully grasp what this meant. “The building? Oh, Tasha. Why? I had no idea it was for sale.” Still trying to process the information, something else occurred to Ji
llian. “Wait. You sold me with it, right? As in, the new owners will still honor my lease?” Her heart dropped full-speed into her stomach while she waited for Tasha to answer.
“Of course.” Her ex-landlord chuckled. “Part of the agreement was that he takes your lease. He will decide whether or not to renew it, keep in mind. You and I have been going month to month since March.”
“What? No, we haven’t. I mailed you the signed lease back. I have a signed lease for another nine months!” Jillian’s voice rose as she felt her world crashing down around her. Don’t panic. Not yet. It was close, she was on the verge of a full meltdown. But surely there was some misunderstanding.
“I have no current lease, Jillian. Only the one you signed in March 2014 and that expired in March of this year. You’ve been month to month ever since.”
“Why wouldn’t you have asked me?”
Then it hit her, toppling into her like a falling brick wall. Tasha had been planning to sell. Having committed to any tenant for another year wouldn’t make her selling offer as strong. This was Jillian’s fault. She should have followed up with Tasha. Damn it, why hadn’t she? Jillian knew she hadn’t received the signed lease agreement back from Tasha and had simply chalked it up to Tasha’s refusal to step foot inside her boutique. A tense silence filled the room. Tasha patted the counter in a conciliatory manner.
“When I sent you the agreement and never got it back, I decided it was best to sell. It worked better for me if you were on a month-to-month basis.”
Well, at least she was honest. Refusing to go down a path she couldn’t fix, Jillian attempted to put her head on straight and think through what this meant for her. To think through the pounding in her head. The vomit trying to escape from her stomach.
“Who is the new owner? What do they plan to do with the space?” Jillian asked as calmly as she could.
“Cole Carrington is the new owner and I can only imagine that he wants it for its ideal location,” Tasha said.
“Who’s Cole Carrington?” Jillian asked. As if she’d asked for a wish and a genie was granting it, Jillian’s shop bell rang as the wooden door swung open. She knew instantly that the man taking up the entire space of the doorway, wearing a black tailor-made suit was the one and only, Cole Carrington.
The air around her crackled as he took in his surroundings and Jillian wondered what he was thinking as he checked her store out. His eyes roamed over all the shelves and tables where every kind and color of lingerie was on display. The man acted as if neither woman was standing there as his head tilted one way and then another way, sizing up her inventory.
He gazed at the few racks that displayed babydolls and bodices, and an overwhelming sensation traveled through her chest and straight down to the pit of her stomach. The blazing sunlight made it hard for her to get a really good look at him, but his presence alone was enough to make the small hairs on the back of her neck stand tall.
“Mr. Carrington, I was just explaining to Jillian that you’re the new owner.” Tasha filled the silence as she walked away from Jillian toward Mr. Carrington. The door swooshed shut, the bright light no longer blinding her. He looked at her. Their gazes locked from across the room, maybe time stood still for a moment—she couldn’t be sure.
He bent his head toward Tasha’s ear and whatever he whispered—well, Tasha turned to Jillian, waved awkwardly and hustled out the front door, leaving Mr. Carrington and her alone.
He was tall and well-built—enough so that Jillian momentarily panicked at the idea of being left with the stranger. But when he sauntered closer to her, not up to the counter like a customer would but around it so he was basically next to her, she forgot everything as she fell into the depths of his mysterious green eyes. Green eyes so vivid, they were almost unreal.
“Hi.” She spoke in a near whisper, her throat suddenly too dry.
“I gather you’re the owner of The Peekeasy?” He pulled some papers from his fancy leather folder and began reading them over. Jillian took the opportunity to study him. He had a strong jaw, a small cleft in his chin and perfectly shaped eyebrows. The smattering of facial hair along his chin, up his cheeks and around his decadent mouth were barely evident—merely hinting that the day was almost over. She swallowed as quietly as she could, imagining what the smooth skin of his face would feel like against her fingertips. His hair was like any other shade of random brown but somehow, it was a stark contrast against the mossy green of his eyes – green eyes that matched his tie perfectly.
She was admiring the full Cupid’s bow of his lips when his mouth quirked into a slight grin. “Am I right?”
Jillian’s gaze traveled slowly from his mouth to his eyes. “About what?”
“The owner? You rent this place?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m Jillian Winters. Owner of The Peekeasy,” she answered proudly. She slid her hand out in front of her in a polite gesture. His gaze drifted to her outstretched hand before he set the papers on the counter and gripped her palm. It was a gentle handshake but managed to leave her trembling. His fingers were long and thick as they held her smaller, dainty ones. The two of them gazed at one another longer than necessary and once again, she felt like she was being drawn into his eyes by some magical force. She inhaled deeply, pulling oxygen into her lungs.
The man was…breathtaking.
“Cole Carrington. Nice to meet you. I see that you’re on a month-to-month lease.”
“Apparently,” she said dryly.
He looked around her store again. His eyes warmed as they settled on the Pleasurable Selfies corner. Unlike Tasha, he took his time perusing the items on the shelves—waterproof vibrators, edible panties and boxers, flavored lubricants, handcuffs, party favors—his gaze traveled in slow motion as she watched him take in every single piece of merchandise.
When he turned toward her, she felt as if he’d pulled away every facade of herself. She was completely exposed. Not like the naked exposed where one dreamt about being on stage in their underwear in front of their peers. But the kind where, with that one single glance, he could look into her heart and read into her soul. To simply know her deepest, darkest secrets as well as all her desires in that one brief moment. That he and he alone, could give her every fantasy she’d ever imagined.
“According to the terms of your lease, the landlord has to give you forty-five days’ notice whether or not said landlord is going to renew.”
She blinked, pulling herself together. Who was this guy? “Yes,” Jillian answered. “Please tell me you aren’t here to terminate it? You just bought the place.” She didn’t know Cole, but she knew the look of remorse and if she had to guess, it was a look he mastered well. Her heart slammed into her chest. Her entire life—her hopes, her dreams, her aspirations to be the next big thing—all started sliding slowly on the whirl cycle down the drain. Noooo. Please, no. Her throat was thick as she tried to swallow.
“I’m sorry. I will not be renewing your lease.” He said it with such finality and in an all-business tone, Jillian didn’t dare ask him to change his mind. This was it. Her life was crumbling before her. Every tear, every sleepless night, every damn back ache she’d gotten from turning The Peekeasy from scribbles on paper into a store, was being ended by one swift and powerful move from the new landlord.
She was in such a state of shock that when he turned away, she didn’t follow. She simply stood, staring at his large, suit-covered backside—a mighty fine one—but she wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of that. No. Not when he just turned her life into an upheaval. How was she going to find another empty retail site like this in forty-five days? Not to mention the fact that she was in Lower Downtown Denver where the prices of rent were sky-rocketing by the Nano-second. There was no way her clientele would step foot in something less than desirable. Commerce City? Not going to happen.
Her bank account was not nearly where she wanted it to be which meant she was going to have a more-than-difficult time finding anything similar, not to mention suit
able, compared to what she had now.
His shoes knocked slightly against the wooden floor boards as he looked around. He’d already seen the place, hadn’t he? What was with the extra attention to detail? His hands smoothed over some of the antique-white cabinets and shelving, as if he were trying to figure out what he could change about the place. Jillian straightened her back, forming the words in her head that she needed to get out.
“Listen. Please don’t kick me out. This is my dream,” Jillian said as she rushed to stand next to him. With one of his hands, he reached out and touched the smooth lines of a cerulean G-string. His long fingers glided between the fabric, slowly stroking over the satin triangle where he then gently smoothed it down until the thin strip that started the “string” in G-string slid between his thumb and forefinger, like he had all the time in the world.
If that attention to detail didn’t turn any woman on, what would? Her eyes narrowed, hating the unexpected arousal between her legs. “Don’t touch those.”
He glanced up at her beneath his long lashes. “I can’t touch?” he drawled, his mouth turning up slightly at the edges.
What was with this man? All her hard work was vanishing into thin air and the man that was holding the purse strings—or in this case, panty strings—was eliciting all sorts of erotic desires from her with three single words.
“They’re panties.”
“G-strings. I’m familiar with what they are, Ms. Winters.” His eyes raked over her body as heat marred her cheeks. As if he was assessing whether she was wearing a G-string herself.
“Yes, of course.” She cleared her tight throat. “I’m sure you’re very well familiar with what they are.”
He moved on like that around her store, touching shelves and fixtures, fingering lingerie and smelling perfumes while she followed along like a lost little puppy. He was obviously used to getting his way—too arrogant from it too—and she was tongue-tied, still reeling about how she could convince him to allow her to stay. He stopped at the Pleasurable Selfie corner and she nearly toppled into his backside.
Nothing But Trouble Page 21