Pull Me Closer (Suits in Pursuit)

by Lauren H. Kelley

  PULL ME CLOSER

  First in A Series | A Suits in Pursuit Novel

  LOVESPIN PUBLISHING | ATLANTA

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This is an original publication of LoveSpin Publishing, LLC.

  Copyright © 2013 by Lauren H. Kelley.

  ISBN: 978-0-9898714-0-2

  Excerpt from Closer to You by Lauren H. Kelley. Copyright © 2013 by Lauren H. Kelley.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written consent of the Publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in book reviews.

  Cover design by LoveSpin Publishing.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  To my editor fabulous Yolanda Barber who challenged me every step of the way.

  To my friends and extended family members who encouraged me to pursue my dream.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Sunday, June 25, 2011

  “I won’t compromise. If that means I have to be alone, that’s what I’ll do.” Kerrigan lifted her bare left hand, staring at the finger where the wedding band rested on normal women her age. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Ash, but that’s the difference between you and me. I’m looking for Mr. Right, and you’re looking for Mr. Right in the Moment.”

  Ashley laughed hoarsely. “Correction, I’m looking for Mr. Perfectly Fine to Fu...”

  Kerrigan choked a laugh back, interrupting her. “Ash! Don’t be crude.”

  “You know me. I speak the truth, even when the truth is ugly.”

  Kerrigan loved her best friend, but she often thought Ashley could benefit from a filter. “I like truth, but must you be so primitive?”

  “I have needs, and you do too if you’d stop thinking with your head long enough to feel the yearning between your thighs. You’re looking for Mr. Perfect and newsflash, he doesn’t exist.” Ashley quipped, the words rolling off her tongue with the slightest hint of bitterness.

  “I’m not looking for anyone.” Kerrigan paused, thrumming her index finger on her temple. “I’m watching that motivational speaker Laura Stephens.” Shuffling over to the sofa, she plopped down, narrowed her eyes and mouthed silent words, mimicking the talk show host who must have consumed one too many energy drinks. “Laura says that if I want to make my life sing I, then I simply need to take the first step.” Kerrigan muttered, her tone mocking. “She’s right about one thing—I have to try something new. I’ve lived in Texas, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York in less than five years.” Her chest tightened, and she wiped light beads of moisture that dampened her forehead. “God! Just saying that stresses me out. I can’t do this anymore.”

  “Kerri, you’ve been a road warrior for eight years. No one can keep that pace forever. Send me your résumé. I’m biased, but living together in the same city will be so exciting.”

  Stretching her legs across the sage microfiber sofa, Kerrigan grabbed her laptop from the cocktail table and huffed. “All right, fine. I’ll email my resume to you now.” She hadn’t meant to sound annoyed. “Sorry, Ash, I know you’re only looking out for me. The thought of moving to another new city is slightly terrifying. You know, if I could open my own little boutique and settle into a quiet non-turbulent existence, I would.”

  “Kerri, you know I love you, but you’ve talked about that boutique for years, and you haven’t done anything to move that dream forward. Besides, marketing is your thing—you’re a genius. Moving to Atlanta might be the best move for you. There’s so much to do, and so many people to meet. Even you might find somebody special.”

  Kerrigan rolled her eyes and signed into her email account. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve done my fair share of dating, thank you very much. Sure, I haven’t dated tons of men like you have, but I don’t have the time, energy or patience, and I have high standards.”

  “Uh huh. Standards? Seriously Kerri, when was the last time you had a serious relationship or short-term boy-toy for that matter? When’s the last time you went on a date?” Ashley’s sarcasm made Kerrigan cringe.

  “Ash, I seriously think something is wrong with me. I swear I’m a loser magnet. If there’s a loser within a thirty-mile radius of me, that moron will sniff me out.” Kerrigan rubbed the throbbing vein in her neck. “That’s why I haven’t dated in almost three years.”

  “God! Three years, Kerri? I didn’t realize how much time had passed. I wouldn’t survive,” Ashley scoffed.

  She threw her head back and groaned. “Do you remember when I dated Michael the finance guy for two weeks?”

  “Yeah, whatever happened to him?” Ashley asked, the tone of her voice rising.

  Kerrigan huffed, and then uploaded her resume to the blank email message. “I thought he’d bore me to death. He spoke three sentences the entire two weeks we dated. Remember the dude with all the tattoos?”

  “He wasn’t even your type. You saw his body and went berserk,” Ashley chided.

  Kerrigan couldn’t debate the truth. She did like the way his biceps bulged. “I can’t believe he walked five miles from the bus stop to my house for our first date. The whole time, he kept trying to put his grimy little hands all over me.” The thought made Kerrigan’s stomach flip-flop. “He repulsed me. Did I tell you that he asked me for bus fare to get home?” Laughing so hard, Ashley erupted into a snort. Kerrigan clutched her side, soothing the ache from the laugh she so desperately needed. She ran the back of her index finger under each eye, wiping tears away.

  “Like the date from hell with tattoo boy hadn’t been enough, Craig holds the ‘ultimate loser award’.” Kerrigan dug her nails into the sofa’s seat cushion. Just the memory of his beady eyes made her want to yell at the top of her lungs. “He told a friend of his that I wasn’t good enough for his family, and I was only smart enough to open my legs for him.” Releasing a long sigh, she sank into the sofa and pushed her bottom lip out into a pout.

  Ashley groaned. “Okay, so you’ve gone out with a few duds. Who hasn’t?”

  “I’m traumatized. Most men just don’t excite me. If there’s no chemistry, sizzle or magic, then why should I bother, right?” Kerrigan chewed on her bottom lip.

  “Hell, what if the chemistry comes later? You’d never get the chance to find out if you swear off all men.”

  “You remember my theory about men,” she said, sure that Ashley must be rolling her eyes by this time. “I’m not swearing off all men. I’m just avoiding most of them. If a man wants me, he’ll have to do some serious chasing, there has to be chemistry and well … he has to meet my criteria.”

  “Yeah, I know all about your theory on the four general types of men.” The acid in Ashley’s tone made Kerrigan laugh.

  She covered her heart with her hand, a pseudo gesture of being touched. “Ash, I can’t believe you remember my misters—Mr. Self-absorbed, Mr. Obsessive, Mr. Nonchalant and Mr. Chivalrous.”

  “How can I forget? Mr. Self-absorbed is the overly confident, arrogant bastard who I always seem to attract. Definitely stay away from his type. I dated Mr. Obsessive. He was so insecure and smothered me to the point that I almost suffocated.”

  “Who? Too-tall Paul?”

  “Yes! Thought I’d lose my damn mind. His lanky ass was always there, everywhere.” Ashley quipped.

  Kerrigan laughed. Paul wasn’t so bad, but being paired with Ashley, the ultimate independent woma
n, had been a mistake. “Well, when I did date I’d always end up with Mr. Nonchalant. I like a laid-back guy, but there comes a time when a man has to do something with his life. Besides, living in a cardboard box is overrated. Now Mr. Chivalrous …”

  Ashley interrupted. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you and every woman hoping for her proverbial knight in freaking shining armor wants Mr. Chivalrous,” Ashley chided. “Kerri, I know you believe in your theory about men, but I think you use this as an excuse to push men away. You’re gorgeous, intelligent, fun and charming. If you get this job, I'm going to hook you up.”

  Taking the throw from the sofa’s arm, Kerrigan wrapped it around her shoulders and nestled into her usual spot for moping. “Ash, I’m not looking for perfection. I want a man who’s confident, but not arrogant, who’s not afraid to show affection, but won’t smother me, and who simply enjoys life, but has goals, dreams, hopes—a job.”

  “Uh huh,” Ashley said, and then released an exaggerated sigh.

  “I want a man who’s considerate and caring—someone who respects me.”

  “You may as well include something about his looks.” Ashley said, a snicker tickling her vocal chords.

  Kerrigan nodded her head. “A good-looking man is a bonus. I’d settle for any man who has a pulse as long as he meets my criteria.”

  “And you think this man will ride into your life on his magical unicorn or appear on your doorstep wrapped up in a bow? You have to put yourself out there, maybe even date if you want to find your man.”

  “I refuse to go out with a bunch of losers trying to find the right one. I want a man that leaves me breathless and makes me come alive.” The thought of a man like this made Kerrigan’s insides tingle.

  “What you want is to fall in love,” Ashley said, her tone soft.

  Shifting her position on the sofa, Kerrigan glanced at the television. Muted, Laura Stephens flitted back and forth across the screen in a blur of colors making wild arm gestures, rambling on in silence. “I guess you’re right. I do want to fall in love. I want to be wooed, and I won’t settle for less.”

  “Wooed? Really?” Ashley laughed. “What you’re looking for is a damn time machine, and I can’t help you with that, but I can help you land a new job. I’ve got more info on those two jobs I told you about.” Ashley’s excitement seeped through the phone.

  “Oh, that’s great Ash. Give me details on the positions.”

  “One is a junior account rep, and the other is a senior account rep position on our national accounts team.”

  Kerrigan frowned. A vision of her future flashed through her mind as she imagined herself sitting alone in an empty airport. “Ugh! That sounds like travel, and travel is exactly what I’m trying to avoid.” Every Monday, schlepping to Los Angeles on the redeye, and then back to New York that evening by seven. Tomorrows hectic work schedule gave Kerrigan palpitations. She refused to think about the Wednesday meetings in Chicago.

  “Well, I do know these positions are for local accounts. The clients are national players, but they’re headquartered here in town. Very little travel required. The agency is small, has a laid-back environment and is located in the heart of downtown. The CEO is awesome.”

  Kerrigan’s interest piqued. A fresh start in a new city is what she needed to help her regain control of the crazy that had become her life.

  “I’ll send your résumé to the hiring manager in the morning. Her name is Marie Henderson. Your background and experience is perfect. Leave the job to me. All you need to do now is find a place to live.” She paused. “And Kerri, if you really want to find a man, maybe you need to open yourself to new experiences.”

  Kerrigan hit the send button on her email. “I’m going to try being more open-minded and open myself to new adventures, but I’m not compromising. I want my Mr. Right.” Every night she sent a silent prayer heavenward. Kerrigan waited for this man, and he would be worth the wait.

  A blaring sound jarred her from a deep sleep. Where am I? Who's calling this early? Kerrigan stretched across the hotel bed to the mahogany nightstand, her fingers almost unable to reach her iPhone. She hated overnight business trips and stays in a strange hotel room.

  “Hello,” she said, her thoughts muddled and not awake fully.

  “Hi, may I speak with Kerrigan Mulls please?”

  Staving off a yawn, “This is Kerrigan,” she muttered.

  “Hi, Kerrigan, this is Joan Washington, a recruiter with A.C. Advertising. I received your résumé. You have quite an impressive background. I’d like to bring you in to interview with Marie Henderson. Are you still interested in the junior account rep position?”

  The woman’s voice sounded too cheery for a five o’clock morning call. Kerrigan’s foggy brain clearing a little, she remembered the time difference between Los Angeles and Atlanta.

  She cleared her throat. “Yes, that’s right.” The words rolled off Kerrigan’s tongue. She was impressed with the evidence of her grogginess expertly masked.

  “Wonderful. I’ll coordinate the schedule and be in touch later this week with details. If you pass the first round of interviews, expect to come back to meet with our CEO.”

  “Sounds fantastic, Joan. Thank you.” She yawned, quickly muting the call.

  She took her first step into the bathroom and looked at her haggard appearance. Tired, swollen eyes stared back. Her long wavy-curly mane needed some care and attention. She had the credentials and experience, but if she expected to land a new job and create the life she wanted, she needed to look the part. In desperate need of a makeover, Kerrigan made a hair appointment, treated herself to a manicure and pedicure, and planned a small shopping spree for her interview. She would be ready, and she would look damn good too.

  Tuesday, July 12, 2011

  “Sir, Kerrigan Mulls is here. Are you ready for her?” Brenda asked.

  Axel frowned, but kept his attention turned to his computer. “Should I be ready for her? Who is she?” he barked.

  Brenda’s eyebrows pressed together and the toe of her square-tipped shoe tapped against the hardwood floor. “Kerrigan Mulls. She’s interviewing for the junior account rep position in Marie’s department. She’s your eleven o’clock.”

  Grateful for an organized executive assistant like Brenda, “You know, I couldn’t run this company without you,” he said, gave her a quick glance and returned to his work.

  Brenda’s gaze settled on his humbled smirk. “I hope you remember that.”

  Axel Christensen was many things. Young. Hot. Successful. He didn’t have a lot of patience. He wasn’t particularly in the mood to conduct an interview today. His sexy little lunch date would be meeting him soon, and he couldn’t wait to see Misty Scott again. Their conversation would be dull, and they had nothing in common, but then again, her brain didn’t interest him.

  Insisting that he meet every job candidate for the account rep positions, he cursed himself. The interviews were important, but he would make this one brief. Having become an excellent judge of character, he would know within minutes if Kerrigan Mulls would be the right person for the job.

  Axel glanced at Brenda, whose arms were crossed, clutching a stack of papers against her chest. “All right, send her in,” he relinquished his frown and turned back to the spreadsheet on his computer screen.

  “Very good. I’ll bring her in now.” Brenda headed for the executive suite reception area where Kerrigan Mulls waited.

  Kerrigan took in the contemporary, but elegant and expensive décor of the executive suite. The receptionists’ counter where Brenda sat was sleek, and modern made of what looked like frosted glass over silver metal with the agency’s name etched across the front. Lounge-style seats in navy leather sat in the lobby, and abstract prints in vivid hues hung around the room against stark white walls.

  While waiting, Kerrigan pulled out a sheet of paper and read over her notes. She hadn’t been able to find much information on A.C. Advertising or the CEO in her research, but she
pegged him as a weasel, a fast-talking pitchman, despite Ashley’s praise. Based on what she learned, he had been driven to succeed and had done quite well, having built the multi-million dollar advertising agency from the ground up. The position she wanted would support the company’s growth and expansion plans by securing new business and additional revenue.

  The heavy oak doors opened slowly and Brenda emerged, bustling over to her with a stack of paper and a file folder in hand. “Miss Mulls, Mr. Christensen will see you now. Do you need anything? Would you like a beverage, maybe some coffee?”

  She eyed the woman with pity. She looked bogged down with all those items in her hands. “No, thank you—I’m fine. Please call me Kerrigan.”

  Standing, Kerrigan’s hand ran down her skirt to smooth out the creases that had formed while she sat, and then she shook her hair into place. She leaned down, picked up her laptop bag, and followed Brenda through the set of oversized oak double doors that led into the CEO’s office. Eyes darting throughout the space, she noted the décor, handsome like the man who sat behind the immaculately organized desk at the other end of the room.

  The large office housed three meetings areas including a conference table to the right of the entrance flanked by a set of tall black bookcases. Her eyes landed on a long red leather sofa anchored against the wall near the large black desk where the CEO sat. She and Brenda approached two guest chairs in front of his desk, his eyes still riveted to his computer screen.

  Brenda clutched her papers and folder tightly. “Mr. Christensen, this is Kerrigan Mulls. Kerrigan, this is our President and Chief Executive Officer, Axel Christensen.” Brenda gave a half smile, and then walked briskly toward the massive doors, slipped passed the two of them leaving Kerrigan alone with him.

  He didn’t make the halfhearted effort to recognize her. Kerrigan stood there with her hands trembling and knees knocking, marveling at the young CEO. She didn’t imagine the head of the company would be, well … so damn good-looking. Ashley omitting this information surprised her. Despite his appearance, she couldn’t believe that her friend raved about working for the man. He seemed cold and distant. A far cry from awesome, as Ashley described him.