Kerrigan shot up in her seat. “Ash, I know this doesn’t make sense to you, but I have to get away from him. After seeing him with that naked woman in his office and thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t walked in …” Her stomach rolled in waves. “Leaving A.C. Advertising is the best thing for me.”
“I hear you Kerri, but Axel knew you were coming to his office. In fact, he arranged those meetings so that he could get closer to you. He’s been chasing you since day one. The thing with Misty just doesn’t add up.”
“Ash, the man is a player. Nothing has to add up. The opportunity was there and well,” she said glancing at an incoming call. “I can’t believe this. I’ve spoken the devil up.” She lifted the cellphone to Ashley, showing her Axel’s phone number flashing on the screen.
Ashley leaped forward and snatched the phone from Kerrigan’s slippery hands.
Kerrigan lunged forward, tumbling to the sand. “Ash, don’t you dare answer that call.”
A playful grin emerged, Ashley pressed the speaker button. “Hello,” Ashley said.
Throwing a tantrum, Kerrigan waved her arms in protest, and then tossed a handful of sand at Ashley. “Hi, Kerrigan?” The sound of Axel’s voice made Kerrigan’s throat dry and she couldn’t speak.
“Kerrigan, its Axel. Hello?”
Kerrigan pressed her lips together tightly, refusing to speak.
“Oh, hi there. This is Ashley. Kerri, uh, Kerrigan can’t come to the phone right now. I’ll tell her you called.” She took Axel off of the speaker and jerked away from Kerrigan’s clawed hands.
“Thank you Ashley. Tell her to check her email.”
“Um, okay.” Ashley stared at Kerrigan. “I’ll tell her to check her email.”
Kerrigan rolled her eyes at Ashley.
“Let her know that I called about the Hollister situation.”
Ashley nodded her head. “Yes sir, I’ll let her know you want to talk about the Hollister situation.”
“And Ashley, we both know that Kerrigan is sitting there next to you, which is why you’re repeating everything I’m saying. Tell her I will call back in five minutes and she’d better answer.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “Yes, I’ll make sure she gets the message.”
Ending the call, Ashley handed the phone to Kerrigan, and then stood. “Yeah, I’m going down to the water. Oh, and Axel will be calling you in five minutes. He expects you to answer.” Adjusting her bikini top, she strutted toward the water’s edge.
“Ugh! I can’t believe him.” Kerrigan yelled out.
“Just take the damn call,” Ashley yelled back.
The phone buzzed again. Kerrigan’s small fingers glided to the talk button. “Hello, Axel.”
“Hi.” The mere sound of his voice raised her temperature.
Reclining in her seat again, she griped the phone tightly. “I’m on vacation. Do you need something?”
“Yes. I need you to believe me. Misty was the aggressor. I’ve been completely honest with you. What can I do to convince you to stay?”
“Axel, as long as I’m at A.C. Advertising, you’re my boss. We can’t blur the lines, we can’t be ...”
“Anything more than friends,” he finished her sentence.
“Exactly.”
“Kerrigan, do really want to work for Hollister doing research?”
She let out a sigh. “I haven’t made my decision.”
“We need to meet and you need to give me an answer. When are you back?”
She gazed down at the shore. Ashley was flirting with a tall muscular man wearing a bright yellow speedo. She shook her head at the friend. “I’ll be back next week.”
“Good. Brenda will set up a time for us to talk.”
“Fine.”
Axel chuckled softly. “I’m curious. If you’re not interested in anything more than friendship, why did seeing me with Misty make you so upset?”
Kerrigan took a swig of her drink. Her palms moistened. “I, I think anyone would be upset to walk into their boss’s office and find him romping around with his naked girlfriend.” Her stomach quivered. She hoped he would believe her explanation.
“Misty Scott is not my girlfriend and I wasn’t romping around with her. I need you to believe me.”
“Fine. Suppose I believe you. What difference does that make?”
He laughed. “Your trust in me makes all the difference in the world. Enjoy your vacation, Kerrigan. I’ll see you when you get back.”
She checked the phone’s screen. Their call was properly disconnected. “Ugh,” the exasperated sound escaped her lungs. Kerrigan rested her head against the lounger and closed her eyes. The sun’s rays searing her flesh mimicked the affect Axel had on her.
“Get out of my head,” She yelled out. “What’s wrong with me?”
Her fingers slid across the phone’s screen, a text message typed to Axel in defeat:
I’m not interested in anything more than friendship.
His instantaneous response enraged her:
Glad you’re staying. See you soon, friend.
He hadn’t said anything out of place and he hadn’t gloated, but she imagined the smug grin he must have worn.
She replied, firing back on defensive impulse:
I didn’t say I was staying.
His next message received an hour later seemed void of emotion.
Meeting in my office, Friday at 9 a.m.
Her stomach clenched. She wondered why the sudden change in the tone of his text.
What are we meeting about?
This time, there was no response from Axel.
CHAPTER TEN
Friday, September 21
For the first time in weeks, Axel and Kerrigan would meet. On the agenda was an urgent matter related to the McBride account. Their last botched effort to meet with Harris McBride was a month ago.
There she stood, radiant with hesitation riddled across her face. Taking small, measured steps, she nervously entered and her eyes darted across the room, never making direct contact with his. Once inside, she stood motionless, unsure of herself and scared, as though she didn’t know what to do next.
“Close the doors Kerrigan and have a seat at the table,” he said in a commanding tone, exerting his control over the situation.
Behind his desk at the other end of the room, he sat stone-faced, eyes tracing her delicate form as she floated across the floor to the conference table. Standing, he casually strode to the table and plopped into a chair near Kerrigan, sitting as close as possible. Axel knew exactly what he was doing to her. After all, she deserved the torment. While she had been scared off by his directness, he didn’t like how she had handled the situation. She wanted him just as badly as he wanted her, and he would give her the jolt she needed. Remaining quiet, he didn’t speak with words. Instead, he let his expression communicate his thoughts. His eyes raked her over as he clenched his jaw and pinned her with his glassy stare.
“Hi. I saw the meeting invitation. Why are we meeting tonight?” Kerrigan asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper while she avoided his brooding gaze with her eyes fixed on restless hands tumbling in her lap.
He wasn’t sure how she felt about seeing him after his snappy text message, but he wasn’t in a mood to be challenged.
He continued glaring at her. “Tonight is about you and me Kerrigan. We need to talk about how we’ll continue working together.”
Flicking her eyes upward, she rolled them and huffed.
“Not interested? Am I keeping you from a hot date this evening?” She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off before she could utter a response. “As the account manager, I assumed you were the right person for the job, and I expect loyalty. I need someone dependable in this position. Have you decided to take the research position at Hollister? Should I look for your replacement?” This was a move of desperation on his part, but he wasn’t afraid to call her bluff.
She took a deep breath and exhaled, jostled by h
is harsh tone. “Um, no. I didn’t take the position at Hollister. You can depend on me. Tonight will be fine,” she replied almost inaudibly.
Relieved that she was staying at his company, the heaviness in his chest lifted. His excitement masked, he pressed on. “Kerrigan, I’m glad you’re staying, but don’t want to interrupt your personal life. If you have other plans this evening, we can meet next week. It’s your call.”
He studied her intensely. He had missed her beautiful face, now hollow and drawn with dampened eyes.
She batted her eyes fighting tears. “I’m free this evening, and no, I don’t have any personal plans. I know how critical it is for us to work together.”
“Good, then we’re set for seven-thirty. That’s all. I’ll see you this evening.” He wasn’t satisfied with her answer. She didn’t address her dating status, but he decided not to badger her.
The meeting was done, and Kerrigan gathered her things. She stood, and he watched her without saying a word. She moved so gracefully. He wanted to hold her rounded hips in his hands, to taste her plump lips, to savor her scent. Just as determined, he wanted to claim her heart, mind, body and soul. Growing hard, his cock jumped to life. He would have to wait a few minutes before getting up to keep his bulge concealed.
She paused before walking away from the table where they sat. “Goodbye Axel.”
He tilted his head and smiled coyly, offering a parting comment to dismiss her. “We’ll be working very closely together Kerrigan. Although you’ve wounded my pride, I know how to remain professional. I have another meeting. See you tonight.”
She nodded her head and sprinted for the door, making her retreat.
Axel was deep in thought when Rob waltzed into his office, trudging heavily across the floor to the conference table with his equipment trailing on wheels behind him.
“Good afternoon, my friend. Man, have I got some great clips for you to hear.” Rob’s excited tone wasn’t enough to shake Axel from his funk.
Axel stood and dragged himself to the table. Whipping out a chair, he fell into the seat and leaned back. “Okay, let’s go.”
Rob cocked his eyebrow. “You’re usually talking my ears off and giving me orders before I can sit down.” He frowned. “I’ve never seen you so, so, down. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Axel glanced coolly at his friend, narrowing his eyes and then looked away. “Hmm. Guess I’m out of sorts these days.”
Squinting at Axel, “Ah, I know what’s going on here,” Rob said. “This mood of yours has to be about a woman. Let me guess—that hot little account manager you’ve been obsessed with for months.” He leaned down and pulled out his laptop. “Kerrigan, right?”
Axel grimaced, a frown painting his lips. “Yep.” He rested his elbows on the table’s surface, his head planted in his hands as he stared off, looking at nothing in particular. “I can’t get close to her, and I can’t get her off my mind. There’s something about this woman, and I can’t figure this out. This is…”
Rob grinned. “…this is what every man goes through when he falls.”
Like a blow to his gut, Axel’s stomach clenched. “Falls?” His eyes were stretched wide. “Oh, no. No. No! If I could get close to her, I’d get her out of my system.”
Rob shook his head, gliding his mouse across the slick smooth table. “Man, you’ve been chasing after the same woman for a year. You haven’t been interested in anyone else and you stopped dating.”
The truth in Rob’s words snapped Axel’s head up.
“The fall is scarier than the landing. Believe me.” Rob smiled. “Happens to us all. Even you.”
Axel pursed his lips. “Man, I’m in trouble. I really do like her. She’s amazing.” He halted his glare on Rob. “Shit!”
The fall.
He stood at her door, hand overhead leaning against the doorframe.
“You ready?” Axel’s voice boomed.
Kerrigan jumped in her seat. “Ah! I, I didn’t know you were standing there. Yes, I’m ready. I just sent off an email.”
“I seem to have a certain startling effect on you. Let’s get out of here.” Then Axel grinned broadly.
She logged out of her computer, grabbed a stack of folders on the desk, and then claimed her handbag and jacket. She stood up and turned to meet his gaze. One sweeping look at her and he knew he was in trouble. He had deliberately kept his distance from her all day. Seeing her would have heightened his anxiety.
She wore a fitted black knee length dress that hugged the delicate curves of her body accentuating her shapely figure. She had removed her jacket to reveal thin spaghetti straps that clung to her shoulders, and the neckline plunged low enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. Her hair flowed down her back in gracious waves and her caramel skin shimmered flawlessly. His heart melted, and he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself much longer.
She looked down quickly, breaking eye contact with him, and shuffled to the door to make her exit. Fixed in the doorway, he turned slightly to let her pass. Attempting to squeeze pass him, her hip lightly grazed his groin, awakening the sleeping giant in his slacks. Molten lava ran through his veins. He didn’t attempt to move or apologize.
“Ah.” A breathy gasp escaped her lips.
He tensed. “Uh, um.” The throaty sound made her jump.
The moment she touched him in the doorway confirmed his plans. Forget professionalism, forget that he was her boss, and forget she'd erected a barrier between them. Tonight, all bets were off. His pride had been wounded when she so coolly rejected him at his admission of feelings for her, but he would proceed with his plan to bring her to her breaking point.
She walked briskly ahead of him after the doorway incident. He didn’t mind one bit. He enjoyed the view of her swaying hips and shapely legs. His pulse quickened, and his palms dampened. He chuckled inwardly knowing that she fought to keep her distance from him, and she had been unnerved by what transpired between them. She would receive the surprise of her life for what he had planned. Tonight would be fun.
After exiting the building, she paused. “Aren’t you going to lock up the building?” She asked.
“Brenda is here and so are the security officers. Maybe Kevin can lock up.”
She frowned, her forehead crinkling in the cute way hers always did. “I forgot to ask where I should meet you.”
Looking at her for a moment, and then feeling a twinge of guilt for not being completely forthcoming, he pursed his lips. “You’re my date tonight and I’m driving.”
“Oh … Okay.” The apprehension on her flustered face gave him a rush of excitement. She had no escape.
He opened the passenger door of his black Range Rover and offered his hand to help her climb inside the vehicle. When their hands met, her eyes stretched wide, and a jittery hand fluttered to her throat, but she didn’t speak. He strolled around, got inside and started the engine. The melodic sound of a male voice bellowed loudly through the speakers. The next tune that played was the more upbeat and soulful Settle Down track. He hoped she liked his taste in music.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you as an Ed Sheeran or Kimbra fan,” she said.
“You like them?” Their banter was casual, but at least he was getting to know a little more about her and easing the tension at the same time.
“Yes, I have both of their albums in iTunes,” she said.
The corners of his lips curled upward into a grin. “One more thing we have in common.”
She turned her head away, staring out of the passenger window as the city life whizzed by. “I guess so,” she replied, under her breath with clipped words.
“What?”
“I said, I guess so.” She punctuated her words sharply.
He touched her arm. “Sharing things in common isn’t so bad.”
Conversation between them died down as he merged onto the interstate. She looked to be deep in thought as she fidgeted with her hands. Now that his plan was underway, his nerves heightened.
; Finally, breaking the awkward silence, he reached for the volume control on his steering wheel and turned the music down to speak. “Curious about where I’m taking you tonight?”
“Well, I can’t say I’ve given it much thought,” she said. He didn’t believe her. She must have been racking her brain all day because she had even tried to pry the information from Brenda, who had asked Axel how to response when she called requesting information about the evening.
“Really? You haven’t wondered at all what I might have up my sleeve. I’m glad you trust me that much.” He glanced at her for a moment. “I thought you would want to know what I have planned for us this evening.”
He continued his delicious torture, enjoying that she was probably beyond nervous by now, although she would never let on. “Okay, then I’ll just surprise you.”
“Mr. Christensen, I don’t know what you have planned or what kind of meeting you think this is, but I only have intentions to work on a game plan for how we can work together on the McBride account.” Her words were stern, and her hands trembled slightly.
He jerked his head toward her, his nostrils flared, heat radiating from his pores as his fiery temper reared. “Now you’re back to calling me Mr. Christensen again? Come on Kerrigan. Don’t be childish. You and I are going to spend lots of time together. In the interest of our work, I want you to be comfortable around me.”
He took a deep breath and cooled his tone. “Tonight, I have different intentions for you and me that have nothing to do with McBride. I thought we should spend time together. You also said we needed to talk. I agree. We do need to talk.” His eyes never left the road.
“Despite what you wrote in your last email, you and I both know there is something happening between us. I feel it, and I know you do too. You have no reason to be afraid of this or me.” He said, waving his hands between them. “I want you to trust me. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She glanced up at him briefly, and then looked away, staring into the early evening sky. “You don’t want to hurt me, but if I don’t give you an opportunity to, then I’ll be sure you won’t. Now please just take me back to work. There’s no point to this evening.”
Pull Me Closer (Suits in Pursuit) Page 10