by Cathryn Fox
“He’ll understand,” I say as my brain races going over ever rule I have in place for my staff, mainly the no-fraternizing one. Even if I want to continue to see her, how can I? I’m her fucking boss, the one who has to set an example for everyone else.
She cocks her head. “You know him?”
“Something like that.”
She crinkles her nose. “Is he as hardcore as I hear?”
“Pretty much.”
“Dammit, I was told he meets with all new hires on day one. He’s likely to can my ass the second I walk into his office.”
Oh, he’ll want to do lots of things to her ass, but canning it isn’t one of them.
9
Holly
Last night after lovemaking, Will held me close, like it would be the last time we were ever going to sleep together. And I suppose it was. As I slide into the passenger seat of his Jeep, ready to head back to the city, I think back to our lovemaking in the woods, when the phone interrupted him. What was he going to say to me?
What if I said I didn’t want—
Didn’t want what? For this to end, for us to be finished?
God, is that just wishful thinking on my part?
Will slides into the driver’s seat. “All set?” he asks, so much quieter today than he has been. I breathe him in. He smells like smoke, wood and man, much like he did the first time I found myself in his arms.
“I am,” I say. “I appreciate the ride.” I appreciate everything he’s done for me, actually.
He starts the engine, and with dusk upon us, he turns on his lights and backs out of the driveway. We hit the main road and begin the hour’s drive back to the city. We’re both tired, lost in our own thoughts, and I stare out the window and watch the scenery. I hum along softly to the music, and every now and then glance at Will, sure his eyes are on me. But instead I find him focused on the winding road. I glance at my belongings in the back seat, my mind revisiting the call I made to the office this morning. I informed them I wouldn’t be able to make it, and they assured me they understood. Apparently, the president was also unable to make it in due to the storm as well. That gave me a measure of relief.
“I hope there’s a washer and dryer in the hotel. My work clothes smell musty from my wet car.”
His hand slides across the seat, finds mine. “I’ve been thinking. Why don’t you come back to my place tonight? You can get cleaned up there, wash, dry and iron your clothes. I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to do that at the bare bones hotel you booked, and we can’t lug all this stuff into your room.”
“No,” I say quickly. “You’ve done enough for me already, Will. I can’t ask anything more of you.”
He casts a quick look my way. “You’re not asking.”
“Will…”
“Look, it makes sense. You don’t even have your car back yet. A taxi drive from Newton to the city will cost you a fortune. I can drive you to work, and pick you up. You can stay with me until your car is fixed and you have a decent place to live.”
“I’m paying for my car,” I say again. He’s bossy and stubborn, but I’ll fight him on this. I pay my own way in life.
“I know, but I have a big house and you don’t take up much space…” He grins at me.
“Will—”
“It’s not up for debate, Holly,” he says, his tone changing. “Besides, I still own you, remember.”
“You said I was yours until the storm passes and the roads are clear, then I’d be free of my debt.”
“Yeah, but I also said I’d own you for as long as you’re under my roof.” He points upward. “Holly, meet roof.”
I can’t help but laugh at that and while I’m excited to be spending more time with him, I know it’s going to be that much harder to walk away.
We drive a little longer, and he pulls into the driveway of a huge house overlooking the ocean. I sit up a bit straighter. “You live here?” I ask as he pops the garage and drives in, parking his Jeep beside a black BMW.
“Yeah.”
“What do you do?” I ask again, and he averts my gaze. “Office job. Boring,” he says again. The fact that he’s not telling me means he’s keeping a modicum of distance between us. We’re simply having sex while he’s helping me out. I’d be wise to remember that.
“Let’s get your stuff unpacked and aired out. I’ll show you were the washer and dryer is once we get inside.”
We pull my damp, and some ruined belongings from the Jeep and lay them out. I open my suitcase to examine my work clothes again. All they need is a good scrub and they’ll be perfect. I gather them up, and Will opens the door that leads to the inside of his house.
“This place is massive,” I say. “Do you live here alone?”
He nods. “It was an investment.”
“A place like this needs a family, Will. At least a dozen kids.”
His head rears back. “A dozen?”
“Okay, maybe three.”
“That sounds a little more reasonable.”
“Says the man who doesn’t do relationships.”
“Come on,” he says. “Let’s get those clothes washed and get you settled in.”
Jeez, the way he said settled in makes it sound like I’m staying forever, although I’m not. Tomorrow, I start apartment searching, and hope my car is ready. I don’t want to impose any more than I already am.
Will gives me a tour, and then he goes about making us something to eat, while I work on cleaning my clothes. I turn the washing machine on and as I walk back to the kitchen, I stop in the big dining room and look at the pictures. I grin at one in particular of him and his sisters—judging by their resemblance—hugging at a beach.
“Hey,” he says from the doorway. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I whipped up some pasta. Nothing fancy.”
“I don’t need fancy,” I say, noting his mellow mood.
“I know.” I walk to the kitchen, which is ginormous, and admire his big, built-in ovens.
“Wow, I could do a whole lot of baking with ovens like these.”
He gestures to the table in the big dining room. “Sit.”
“Bossy much.”
“Very. Now sit.”
I step into the huge dining room and take in the long table that sits at least twelve. Yeah, a house like this needs a big bustling family in it. Will pours us each a glass of wine, then puts a bowl full of pasta in front of me. “Mmm, carbs,” I say.
“I don’t want you to lose your curves,” he says and my heart misses a beat.
“These curves are from too many cupcakes.”
“You’re beautiful, Holly, and I want to taste those cupcakes. In fact, I want to taste all your baking.”
I give a sigh. “I start a new job tomorrow, and I have to find an apartment. It’s going to be awhile before I have time to bake.”
“Do you like accounting?” he asks and takes drink of wine.
“It sort of gives me a rash.”
He laughs, and covers his mouth, choking on his wine. Once he swallows he shakes his head and says, “Could you have at least saved the joke until after I swallowed?”
I resist the urge to say, that’s what she said. Instead I say, “Sadly, I’m not joking.” I twirl pasta around my fork, and take a big bite, and note the way Will is watching me. “What?” I ask.
“Why accounting then, if it gives you a rash?”
“A girl’s gotta pay the bills, right?”
“True. But what if you didn’t have to pay the bills? Tell me what your ideal world would be like.”
A bubble of excitement wells up inside me as I think about that, but I quickly squash it. “It’s a waste of time to dream of something I can never have.”
“Humor me,” he says and slides his fork into his mouth.
I take a sip of wine. “Okay, well if I didn’t have to worry about money, I’d open up a little bakery down off Spring Garden Road. Near the Public Gardens.”
�
�Why there?”
“It’s so pretty, and that street is the beating heart of the city. I love it.”
“Where would you live?”
“I’d be happy anywhere. I don’t need much.”
“I know.” He takes a few more bites of pasta. “So you’d straight up quit this junior accounting job.”
I snap my fingers. “Like that. But it’s not an option, Will. It’s hard to make a go of a bakery today.”
“What’s your specialty? What is the one thing you make that nothing else can compare to?”
I rub my tummy. “Chocolate brownies.”
“Then what if you opened an upscale bakery, specializing in brownies? Write up a business plan, then market it properly, pushing that you have something special.”
“Upscale is good, but I wouldn’t want to price them too high. People of all income levels should be able to enjoy Bennett’s Bodacious Brownies. Bennett is my last name by the way. Not sure if I ever told you that.”
“No you didn’t. But Bennett’s Bodacious Brownies is a great name. Is that what you’d call your bakery?’
I nod and sip my wine, my mind drifting, and I gift myself a moment to visualize it. “Why all the questions?”
“No reason. Dinner talk,” he says, and finishes his food.
I take a few more bites and push my plate away. “I’m so full.”
“But there’s dessert.”
“When did you make dessert?”
“It’s on the counter. Why don’t you grab it while I gather these plates.”
“Sure.” I make my way back into the kitchen. When I see the wooden spoon and nothing else sitting on the island, I let out a little squeal.
10
Will
I’m a pretty honest guy, and keeping my identity from Holly isn’t something I’m proud of, but I had to put a plan into motion before I told her who I was. I had a lot to consider, like my company, my staff, my rules. I’ve been driving her to work all week now, all the while avoiding a run-in with my staff—none of them would ever recognize my Jeep—and then home to make calls and oversee both my business, as well as a few other secrets I’m keeping from Holly. I glance at her sitting beside me as she tells me about her day.
“So you’ve not me the boss yet?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, but rumor has it he’s going to be back in the office on Monday. Apparently, he’s strict and regimented but not as bad as I’ve been told, so that makes me feel a bit better, especially since I screwed up a simple entry today.”
“You like your job?”
She laughs and holds out her arm. “Not really. Do you see this rash?” I laugh with her, even more sure of what I’m doing. “But a girl’s gotta pay the bills, so I’ll just get an ointment or something over the counter.”
“My sisters are coming over tonight.”
Her eyes go wide. “They are?”
“I invited them to dinner. I hope you’re okay with that?” I’m anxious for them to meet Holly. They’re going to fall for her as fast as I have. Of that I’m sure.
“You don’t have to ask my permission, Will. It’s your house, your family. I can find something to do tonight. You don’t need me hanging around.”
I slide my hand across the seat and capture hers. “You said you wanted sisters. You can borrow mine for the night.”
She gives a nervous laugh as I pop the garage, and drive in. She grabs her purse and we exit the car. I kind of like this little routine we have.
“I can’t believe my car isn’t ready yet,” she says as we enter the house.
“Ah, yeah, it should be ready anytime now,” I say fibbing. The car has been ready for a while, but I don’t want her going to the seedy motel outside of town.
“Good, I really need to get it so I can go apartment hunting. I found a few good places and made some calls to check them out next week. Things are looking up.”
I nod, take her purse from her and pull her to me. “Things are looking up,” I say, and press my erection into her stomach.
She laughs. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I have plenty of ideas.”
“I do need to get out of these work clothes and shower. What time are your sisters coming?”
“In an hour or so.”
“Then you might want to join me.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, I scoop her up. She yelps as I carry her into the master suite.
She’s been in my bed with me all week, even though I have numerous rooms in my house. I set her down, and say, “Strip.”
Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink, and she slowly removes her clothes for me. Once she’s naked, I tear my clothes off and guide her into the bathroom. I turn on the nozzle, and adjust the spray. Her beautiful, heavy breasts sway as she steps in and gives a little shake to her backside. It almost makes me want to dash to the kitchen to grab the wooden spoon and use it on her again. My dick grows impossibly thicker as I remember the way she squirmed beneath my hand as I tapped her with it. When I finally put my finger in her, she was soppy wet, just the way I like her. Jesus, I love playing games with her.
She tilts her head back and lets the rain shower spray fall over her body. Fuck, she is so sexy.
“Mmm, feels good,” she murmurs, and I enjoy the view for a few more seconds before I join her. I lather my hands, and run them all over her body, and her moans of approval curl around me. I scrub the day from her body, and work to relax her tense muscles. Once I have her clean I rinse myself off, and carry her to our bed.
I lay her out, and fall over her. With my nose to her skin, I breathe in the clean scent of her skin. “I’m almost regretting inviting my sisters,” I say and put a hand between her legs. “All I want to eat is right here.”
“Will,” she murmurs and moves against my hand. I insert a finger. I swear to God, I’ll never get tired of finding her so hot and ready for me.
“Missing me today?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Were you thinking about all the ways I was going to take you tonight?”
“Actually, I was thinking about all the ways I was going to take you,” she says, and catching me by surprise, she pushes on my chest until I roll off her. With a wicked grin on her face, she settles herself between my legs. “I spent the day thinking about your gorgeous cock,” she says as she strokes the length of me, her eyes hungry at the sight of my dick. My heart races a bit faster, and I go up on my elbows to see her. Never in my life has a woman worshipped my cock the way she does.
Leaning forward, she takes me into her hot mouth and a groan I have no control over climbs out of my throat.
“You are so good at that,” I say.
“It’s not something I ever liked until I met you,” she says, and my pulse beats harder against my throat. Jesus fuck, I’m crazy about this woman. She’s talking about getting her car and moving out. I can’t let that happen. I won’t. I plan to show this woman what she means to me, and what I want. I just pray to fuck my plan doesn’t backfire.
She works her mouth over my crown and cups my aching balls. They tighten in her hand, and I’m so close to shooting a load down her throat. I inch her off me, needing to taste her before I release.
“My turn,” I say, and roll her under me. I spread her thighs, and lightly pet her sex. “Mine,” I say. “All mine.”
“I’m still under your roof,” she says, teasingly.
I press my mouth to her hot cunt, and lick from bottom to top. Her sweetness fills my mouth, and I flatten my tongue and center it on her clit, knowing just how she likes it. Her hands go to my hair, and she grips and tugs.
“Yes,” she cries out. I push a finger insider her, then another. As I finger fuck her, and torture her clit, she goes completely still, and lets me work her body. In no time at all, the dual pleasure pushes her over the edge and she comes in my mouth. I lap at her, drink her in, until I have my fill. I kiss a path back up her body, spending a few minutes with her nipples, then I’m inside
her.
Home.
A place I never want to leave.
Her legs go around me, and her lips find mine as I give her my cock, my body…my heart. I’m in love with this woman. I don’t care that I barely know her. In the span of a week she changed my life, my outlook, my desires. Never has a woman gotten under my skin like this, and even though she’s talking about leaving, I know I’ve gotten under hers too. We were made for each other. Simple as that.
“Will…” she murmurs, coming all over my cock.
“I know, Holly. I know,” I say as I pour myself into her, give her every drop of my release. Goddammit, this is how I want to come home every day. I used to spend nights at the office, no reason to come home. But now I do, and I can’t go back.
I kiss her deeply, riding high on my post-orgasm bliss. “I’m not nearly done with you,” I say, just as the doorbell rings. “Shit.”
Holly’s eyes go wide. “They’re early.”
I pull out of her. “You take your time getting ready. I’ll let them in.” I drop another kiss onto her mouth.”
She smooths her wet hair down. “We have sex written all over us, Will. They’re going to know.”
I shrug. “It’s just sex, Holly. Nothing wrong with adults having consensual sex, is there?”
She nods and before she looks away, I catch something in her eyes. “Holly?”
“Yeah.”
“Everything okay?”
She plasters on a smile. “Perfect.” The bell chimes again. “You’d better get that.”
I hesitate for a second, but then she climbs from the bed and darts into the bathroom to prepare herself.
I saunter down the hall and open the door to find my two sisters standing there. “Where is she?” Cara asks.
“Why hello. It’s good to see you too,” I say, laughing, and they push past me.
Randi sticks her head into the living room. “Well, where is she?” she asks.
I step up behind her, pick her up in a hug and spin her around. When I set her down, she looks at me like I have two heads. “What?” I ask.