“Mmm…okay, so how old were you when you had your first girlfriend?” I asked, smothering a yawn.
“Ohhh…seven, I think. Mandy Aiken! She wore dresses and hung on the monkey bars a lot,” he said as I slapped him.
“Liam Whelan Covington! Why does that not surprise me?”
“Oooo, I love it when you use my whole name!” Liam shivered as he snuggled closer to me. “Still one of my favorites of the female anatomy,” he said, snaking his hand up my gown. I giggled as I turned and looked at the alarm clock. “Liam, we’ve got to get some sleep. It’s almost three o’clock in the morning.”
“You never really know someone until you’ve talked to them at three a.m.,” he murmured. “The later the hour, the more truthful the answers.”
I don’t know when we both finally fell asleep, but it was one of the happiest nights of my life. I’d never had such an open, easy intimate conversation with anyone else, even Dana or Tana. I just prayed I had more with Liam. I’d opened my heart and soul to him, and he had the power to heal me or break me completely.
* * *
I felt I’d died and gone to heaven. The hotel room at the Four Seasons felt like home. We moved around each other in sync…perfectly orchestrated, anticipating each other’s moves. He liked to shower, so he rose before I did every morning, being careful not to wake me until he’d finished and drawn my bathwater. He’d learned I was slow to wake, so he’d lean across me every morning to wake me with a kiss and a ready cup of coffee. While I bathed, he’d finish dressing, talking back and forth about our coming workday and our schedules. Most mornings we were able to contain ourselves, but on occasion, we ended back up in bed, wrapped around each other. Then we would hurry to re-dress, me having to touch up makeup and hair. Those mornings were my favorite.
Then we rode to work, me in my new sporty SUV he’d purchase for me and I’d grudgingly accepted, him in his. Most days Scott shadowed us both as the police had turned up no clues to the intruder in my apartment or the car bombing.
After several days, Liam was to leave on a business trip to Dallas.
“Baby, I’ve got to go now,” Liam whispered in my ear in the pre-dawn darkness.
“Hmm?” I murmured, rolling over. Liam flipped the lamp on, and then turned back to me. I held my hand across my face as I sleepily pushed up in bed.
“Remember, I’m leaving for Dallas today. I have several meetings with our lawyers, and then we have our annual stockholder’s meeting at my grandfather’s headquarters. I’ll be back Thursday morning sometime.”
“I’m going to miss you,” I whispered, touching his freshly-shaved cheek.
“Me too, baby. More than you know. I’ll call you as soon as I get to Dallas. Please, Kel, no running without me. I don’t want you running the streets of Austin alone,” he repeated. I nodded. “Promise?”
“I promise. I won’t run alone,” I repeated.
“Good. Scott is staying behind to watch over you. Please be good and check in with him before you go anywhere.”
I nodded and smiled at him. It wasn’t likely I’d go anywhere without him there.
“Now, give me a proper kiss,” he demanded. I slid my arms around his neck and met his lips with mine. I did my best to convey just how much I’d miss him. I must have hit the mark, for he growled all the way out the door to the suite.
By mid-day the first day of Liam’s absence I was already lonely. The door to his office was closed, and I missed him popping in to check on me every couple of hours or so. The clock on my desk had almost come to a stand-still. I gave up trying to concentrate on the ads I was working on, and picked the phone up to call Tana.
“Oh, I see how you are,” Tana answered breathlessly before even saying hello.
“What?” I asked, tapping a pencil nervously, glaring over at the clock for the hundredth time today.
“You haven’t initiated a call to me in days, and now lover boy is out of town and you call me. Pitiful, Biotch!”
I sighed into the phone. “Guilty, but at least you’re my number one backup. Tana, I’m going crazy. I think I need some girl time to pass the time while he’s away. I can’t stand it.”
Tana laughed out loud into the phone. “Well, it just so happens, I made that appointment for us at the spa tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4:00. It will be kind of a late night, but I’ve set it up with wine and everything. It should be fun.”
“Perfect timing! Thank you so much for inviting me!”
“Not so fast, darlin’. There is one condition, since you’ve ditched us so much lately. You have to provide the entertainment and fill us in on every little detail about ‘Mr. Sex-in-a-suit,’” she warned.
“Crap, Tana…you’re awful, you know?”
“That’s not what Tom says,” she joked as I laughed out loud at her. “Oh, and Sunni has a new ‘lova’, so there is plenty to talk about!”
“Sounds good. I really need a girl’s night.” I suddenly couldn’t wait for tomorrow night to get here.
“Me too. We’ll leave straight from work. You want to come over and hang with us tonight? Tom’s cooking in,” she offered.
“No, if I’m going to party tomorrow night, I’d better work on some stuff at the hotel tonight and get some things done while Liam is gone. I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”
“Okay Cat, it’s a date!”
I hung up and shrugged. Knowing I had something to look forward to tomorrow, I plunged into a pile of reports. Since the merger with Whelan and the reorganization, the reports were bigger and more complicated for the marketing and public relations budgets. When I looked up again, the building was empty and it was almost seven. I’d never even stopped for lunch.
I’d never been one to eat out alone. I always felt self-conscious. I decided to head home to our room at the Four Seasons and order room service. After a long soak in the tub, I dressed in some of my old pajamas, knowing I’d get cold without Liam in bed to warm me. I’d just settled in with a chef salad and the remote when my cell rang.
“Hello?”
“Kelly, Stuart Drake. I’m sorry to bother you so late at home,” Stuart began.
“It’s no bother, Mr. Drake. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I’m calling you because I was unable to reach Liam earlier, and I wanted to update the two of you on the investigation into the bombing and vandalism.”
“Oh.” My breath caught in my throat. I was hoping they’d finally caught whoever was behind them.
“The police positively identified a boot print and also a handprint from your parking space taken the day of the vandalism. The prints matched Carter’s.”
I let my breath out slowly. “And the other incident?”
“The police have gone over and over the video. The only car entering the parking garage the day of the bombing not belonging there was a black SUV with no plates. It left approximately twenty minutes after arriving around 1:00 in the afternoon. The police went over all the evidence they could find in the rubble. It appeared to be a home-made bomb, but there is nothing to tie the bombing to Carter. They questioned him extensively about it, but he has a tight alibi. He didn’t, however, have an alibi for the night of your break-in at your apartment. The police have warned him to stay away from you and Austin, Inc. We’ve placed a temporary restraining order on him. I’m sorry, we don’t have anything further.”
“Thank you, Mr. Drake. I’ll let Liam know.”
“Kelly, we’ve tightened security up at the building, at Liam’s request. There are more security cameras being installed as well as a full-time receptionist in the lobby, and all personnel are being issued badges which will have to be shown to enter the building and parking garage. You should be fairly safe from now on, at work, anyway.”
“I’m sorry to cause so much trouble,” I replied, feeling guilty for all the changes.
“No apologies. These measures are long overdue, and with a high-profile partner like Whelan industries now in our building, I’m afraid these chan
ges are more than necessary. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“Thank you, again.”
I hung up, feeling more uneasy now than I did before. If the intruder and bombing were separate issues, who else wanted to hurt me? Tears began to well up as my cell rang again. My eyesight was too blurry to make out the caller.
“Hello?” I asked huskily.
“Hey, baby, it’s me. What’s wrong?” Liam asked intuitively.
“Oh, Liam! I’m glad you called. I miss you so much. I just wish you were here right now.”
“Kel, it’s more than that. I can hear it in your voice. Has something happened?”
“No, just a phone call from Stuart just now. He had some news about the investigation.”
“Yes, I saw where I missed a call from him. I was about to call him back, but wanted to hear your voice first.”
I smiled at his admission. “They positively identified a hand and shoe print from the graffiti. It was Carter. Unfortunately, they don’t have anything to tie him to the explosion or break-in at the apartment. He has an alibi the day of the car-bombing. They only have a video of a black SUV coming and going--nothing else.”
“Okay, Kel. I’ll call Stuart back. I don’t want you worrying about this. We’ll catch whoever is trying to hurt you, I promise. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
I nodded.
“Kelly?”
“Sorry…okay. You can’t hear me nodding.”
Liam chuckled. “So what are you doing tonight without me?”
“Well, I’m afraid poor Scott will be bored to tears while you’re away. I’m piled up in your bed with a salad and iced tea and the remote.”
“Umm…wish I was there with you. What are you wearing?” I could almost hear him grinning on the other end.
“Well, I’m wearing some really sexy flannel pj’s, for your information, hot-shot. I get cold without you beside me.”
“I wish I was there to warm you up. Save the thin, sexy lingerie for when I get back.”
I stretched as I placed the empty salad bowl on the nightstand.
“I’m going to the spa tomorrow afternoon with Tana and the girls, you know, to use the package she won at the gala.”
“That’s great, baby. Y’all go and have fun. Scott’s number is in your phone, so call him and let him know the details so he can follow you.”
“So protective! It’s kind of turning me on, Covington,” I whispered into the phone. “So, you will be back Thursday, right?”
“Or sooner, if I can swing it. It’s looking like Wednesday night or Thursday, though. I’ll call you tomorrow night.”
“Please do, we might have to make it a long call. I’ll really be missing you by then.”
Liam laughed. “I’ll make sure I’m fully charged, baby. I love you. I’ll talk to you then.”
“I love you too. Bye.”
* * *
“You have exactly five minutes to get your adorable butt down to the lobby! Your ‘Mr. sex-in-a-suit’ boyfriend sent a limo for us to take to the spa!”
“You are kidding?” I asked, dropping the report I was working on down on my desk as I talked to Tana on my cell.
“Nope. It’s waiting outside, and we are all here. Come on, Sanger! It’s time to kick this night in gear!”
“Okay, on my way.” I touched my cell to end the call, and then dropped it in my purse. When I made it to the lobby, all three of my roommates were jumping up and down with excitement.
“Your boyfriend is of the top and over,” Sunni exclaimed. Tana snorted.
“Sunni, I can’t wait to get you relaxed and trashed. You will be all the entertainment we need. The expression is ‘over-the-top,’ girlfriend,” she corrected as I grinned at them.
Jen was already out the front door and climbing into the limo. She stuck her head back out the door and shrieked, “Champagne, bitches!” at the top of her lungs.
“Oh, he is quite the charmer, isn’t he?” Tana questioned, one eyebrow raised.
“You have no idea,” I breathed as Sunni giggled. Tana followed Jen in, with Sunni and me bringing up the rear. As soon as we were all settled in, we filled our glasses with the expensive champagne Liam had provided.
“This is great. Do you do this all the time now you’re banging the boss?” Jen asked, already on her second glass.
“For your information, this is my very first limo ride. Liam usually drives us wherever we go in his SUV, which, by the way, is pretty low-key.”
“But he bought you a car,” Tana argued as Jen’s eyes widened.
“He WHAT?”
“Nothing is final. I’ve agreed to drive it, for the time being, but I haven’t accepted it as permanent yet. I told him I won’t accept it unless he lets me make payments on it. We’re still negotiating.”
“Negotiating? Sanger, you will be a woman of marriage by the turn of next year-end,” Sunni said matter-of-factly as she drained her glass.
“Can any of you follow the belly-dancer’s monologues? Because I get totally lost trying to flip all of her adjectives and adverbs around,” Jen declared, tossing her glass at Tana.
Tana laughed as she caught the glass to refill it. “Pace yourself, ladies. There is more wine waiting for us at the spa. And now, Kelly, we want the rundown…Spill!”
All three of them converged on me, and I felt like I was the center of attention again in 7th grade in the middle of a game of truth or dare. It was the longest car ride of my life.
We were wasted and relaxed after a half-hour in the hot tub.
“Sooo, Tana. Whaaat’s next?” Jen slurred, pouring another glass of wine.
“You have two,” Tana held her fingers up for emphasis, “more choices before our scheduled massages for the night. I think I will go with a bikini waxing and then a facial. How about y’all?”
“Not me. Nobody touches my tidbits but me,” Jen protested as we all laughed. “What about you, Sanger?”
“I think I’ll surprise Liam with a new haircut, and maybe go with the facial too.”
“Ooh, good choice. Change things up a bit,” Jen replied. “Um, by the way, Sanger, who is the big hunk of man riding shotgun with the chauffer,” she inquired, swirling her wine in her glass.
“Oh, that’s Scott. He’s Liam’s friend and old teammate. He acts as a bodyguard for Liam’s family sometimes,” I murmured, embarrassed by the extra attention.
“Oh, right. The break-in. Well, I have to say, he could guard my body any time he wants,” Jen offered.
“Jen, I’m shocked,” Sunni exclaimed.
“I’m just sayin’, and it’s been a while. I could rock that bodyguard’s body,” she retorted, her eyes lighting up.
I shook my head, giggling as I rose. “I’m totally relaxed. I think I’ll go and get my hair-cut. I’ll meet y’all back at the massage rooms.”
After I’d dried off, I followed the signs in the Grecian-like hallways to the hair salon. I instructed the young girl waiting on me there to just trim my hair up a couple of inches, and layer it a bit for some body. She was very good, and done in no time. Since I hadn’t chosen any other services I still had some time, so she offered to wax my eyebrows and legs. I could handle that, but I was like Jen. My bikini area was another issue. After she finished, I felt very clean and polished.
Since it was time for my last appointment, I headed down the hallway to our last stop, the massage rooms. I checked the schedule on the ornate desk and found I was to use room three. I could hear Jen’s voice faintly through the doors, already in room five. I settled into the room. Soothing Celtic flutes played softly in the background along with the sound of running water. I followed the instructions on a card which had been placed on the crisp, clean sheets. I was to disrobe and lay face down on the table and cover up with the sheet. My masseuse would enter when I pressed the bell on the table to let him know I was ready. I was a little uneasy, getting naked in a strange place, but I’d been for massages before with Tana and it was the
usual procedure.
I settled down on the table and pulled the sheet up over me. The pad under me was heated, and it felt wonderful. The smell of lavender wafted from the heat of the pad and the sheets. I settled my face down in the stirrup-like holder and waited as I pressed the buzzer. Before I’d even slipped my arm back under the sheet, the door opened and closed.
“Miss Sanger, I’m Chris, your massage therapist today. Is there any particular area we need to work on?”
Something about his voice put me on edge. He was whispering, his voice almost raspy. It freaked me out a little. Then I realized, he was probably just trying to keep the atmosphere as calm as possible. I was being silly.
“Just an all over, I guess. I would rather stay covered,” I requested.
“I’ll only uncover the parts I’m working on,” he answered close to my ear, beginning to rub oil on my shoulders and back. It felt so good. I began to melt into the mattress. With all the alcohol we’d consumed on the ride over and in the hot tub, and the hour or so I’d spent in the hairdresser’s chair, I was very tired, but relaxed. I began to drift, my muscles loosening up. The masseuse worked on my neck and shoulders and then pulled the sheet down low on my hips. As he worked his hands, he began to rub deeper and deeper, working his way down. When he rubbed his hands around and down, he brushed his fingertips against the edges of my breasts. I began to get very uncomfortable.
As I tried to raise my head, he pushed my head back down in the holder as his other hand reached down from underneath, slapping something across my mouth. Before I could move, I realized he’d taped my mouth shut with duct tape. I pulled my hands up under me to push myself up, but he forced my body back down with his as he grabbed both my hands and brought them behind my back.
“You aren’t going anywhere, you cock-tease,” he hissed into my ear. I screamed with every ounce of strength I had, but it only came out a muffled groan.
“Oh, that is sexy. I like a little fight, especially from damaged whores like you” he hissed as his hands roamed over my ass. I shuddered at his touch. His full weight came down on top of me, trying to force my legs apart with his.
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