by C Standing
Perfect.
I thank my long-time assistant, and hang up.
Miss McKinley may think she’s won this little war going on between us, but the little beauty has no idea who she’s dealing with. When I told her I’m a tenacious bastard, I meant it. My tenacity knows no bounds. I’m a relentless motherfucker; I’ll fight heaven and hell to get what I want.
And what I want is her, in my bed, moaning my name.
“You stood me up,” comes the voice belonging to the man I’m trying to avoid.
After he had his disciples call me to meet him for dinner, I threw on my game face, grabbed my purse and phone, and headed out the door to do what I’m here for: take in the sights.
This is my break. My time.
I’m the one who shelled out an exuberant amount of my hard-earned money so I could have the trip of a lifetime. I’m not about to let him or the imbeciles at the airport dictate what I can and can’t do.
I stop for a brief moment, before turning to face him. When I see him leaning against the doorway to the lounge, a drink in hand and looking more casual and heart-breakingly handsome than I’ve seen before, I damn near swallow my tongue.
He’s forgone the jacket and tie, wearing only a crisp white and slacks. The shirt is unbuttoned at the collar, and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, revealing a collage of colorful artwork covering each arm.
Damn, he’s inked?
Of course, he is.
The man is turning out to be my walking, talking weakness.
“I already turned down your invitation for dinner at breakfast. It’s not my fault if you’re hard of hearing.”
A slow and sexy smile tips his lips. “Oh, I’m hard all right. But it’s not of hearing.”
Unable to help it, my gaze drops to his crouch.
Fuck, I bet he’s hung like a horse.
“My eyes are up here, baby.” He smirks, echoing my words from yesterday.
A strange warmth swirls in my stomach at his use of the word baby. I’ve never been someone’s baby before, and I’m not sure if I like how it makes me feel.
Our eyes collide, and for a second, I debate whether I should just give into this insane sexual energy zinging between us and fuck him out of my system.
It’s been so damn long since I’ve felt a man, I’d probably cum like a geyser the minute he drove inside of me.
Enough. Stop that.
You loathe him, remember?
Snapping back to my senses, I roll my eyes and snicker. “Does that shit actually work?” I’m referring to his lame ass pick-up line.
Rick shrugs. “I’ve never had any complaints before.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Why don’t you tell me?” He steps closer, cutting the distance between us in half. “Is it working?”
Every bone in my body is screaming at me to surrender to his advances, and just let this happen, but I can’t deny that I’m not enjoying this little game of tug of war between us.
Despite the fact he irks the hell out of me, I’ve never had so much fun.
If I’m honest, there’s a small part of me that can’t wait to see what he does next.
I shake my head in amusement. “You really don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when it comes to something I want,” he says, darkly.
Okay, if he wants to play ball, we’ll play ball. “Tell me, Mr. Blackley—”
“Why won’t you call me Rick?” he interrupts, sounding thoroughly puzzled.
I cross my arms, prepared to go toe-to-toe with this guy if need be. “Why does it bother you so much?”
“Because I want to hear you say my name,” he answers without hesitation, and holy hell if his honesty doesn’t do something to me.
“Do all your guests know you on a first-name basis?”
“I couldn’t give a fuck about the other guests.” Desire permeates the air around us, making it hard to breathe. “The only person I care about is standing right in front of me.”
“Wow, you’re really coming on hard with that charm, aren’t you, City Boy?”
Rick’s green eyes darken. “Call me Rick.”
I scrunch my face and shake my head. “I’d rather not.” Turning to leave, I bid him goodnight. “Well, this was fun, but my bed awaits.”
Before I can move, he blocks my path. “Have you eaten?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I haven’t.”
“Well, I’ve just ordered some wings from the bar, seeing as my date stood me up.” He winks. Asshole. “Join me. It’s the least you could do for letting me sit there like a fool for almost an hour.”
I let out a bubbly laugh. “Damn, she sounds like a smart girl.”
“I have no doubt. Sexy as hell, too.”
My body hums with excitement at his compliment as our eyes lock. I’d be stupid not to admit there’s some serious chemistry going on between us. And I don’t know if it’s because I want to continue pushing his buttons, or if it’s because I skipped dinner and my stomach is growling at the thought of sustenance, but I give in.
Just this once.
“Fine,” I concede, the word tasting bitter in my mouth. “But I’m only agreeing because I’m starving. This isn’t a date.”
“Absolutely not. Ladies first.” Rick steps aside and gestures to me to lead the way. “I’m sitting at the bar.”
Spying his coat draped over the back of a stool, I park my butt on the one next to his.
Setting my purse on the bar, the waiter approaches me. “What can I get you?”
“Well, seeing as it’s on him,” I motion my head to Rick, “I’ll take a Boulevardier.”
“Of course.” His eyes flick to Rick’s. “Anything else for you, Sir?”
“I’m good for now, thank you.” He holds up his glass. Nodding, the waiter disappears to make our order, and his attention returns to me. “A whiskey girl, huh?” His smile tells me he’s impressed. “A woman after my own heart.”
Crossing my legs, I shrug. “You’re paying, so I figured why the hell not.”
Chuckling, he throws back the rest of his drink and places the empty glass on a coaster. “Why did you stand me up?”
“Why did you ask me out?” I fire back.
“You want the truth?”
I nod. “Of course.”
He blows out a breath, and for the first time since we met, his confidence wanes. “You’re all I can think about, and it’s driving me fucking crazy.”
I’m momentarily stunned by his confession. I know there's something brewing between us, but I didn’t know I affected him that much. However, as much as I appreciate his admission, I’m not ready to soften on him just yet.
“What, your bed buddies aren’t doing a good enough job of distracting you?” I tease.
He flattens his lips into a thin line. “No bed buddies.” Okay, now that I find hard to believe. I mean, look at this guy. He’s giving David Gandy a run for his money, and that’s saying something because that man is like sex on a stick. “Even if I did, they wouldn’t hold a candle to you.”
I scoff, unwilling to admit I like that he can’t get me out of his mind. “You don’t even know me.”
“No.” He swivels his stool toward me so our knees brush. “But I’d like to be given that chance.”
Starting to feel slightly warm, I decide to steer this conversation onto a safer road. “How do you know my last name?”
“Check-in logs,” he replies with ease.
The bartender appears with my drink. Thanking him, I pluck out the orange peel and bring it to my mouth. I hadn’t meant for the act to be sexual, but judging by the way Rick’s eyes are focused on my mouth, something tells me it is.
My nipples tighten as I watch the way his jaw clenches, like he’s fighting an excruciating urge. Wanting to draw out his torture just a little bit longer, I flick my tongue over the peel, lapping up every last drop. “Do you check the details of every person staying in your hotel? I would imagine that takes quite a bit of
time, and is a huge invasion of privacy.”
I couldn’t care less, if I’m being honest. But watching him suffer pleases me greatly.
His nostrils flare with arousal as he curls his fingers into a fist. Clearing his throat, he rasps, “Only the ones who give me shit.”
“Oh?” I pop a brow. “How many?”
Rick’s eyes sear into mine. “Just one.”
I bite my lip, flashing him a playful smile. “So I’m special then?”
“You have no fucking idea.”
A few minutes later, the bartender returns with his wings. Diving into our food, we spend the next half an hour talking about anything that comes to mind. It pains me to say but the guy even manages to make me laugh.
“You’re here sightseeing?”
I lick the barbecue sauce off my finger. “I am."
“Is that where you were tonight?” Rick hedges. “Sightseeing?”
“Keeping tabs on me, were you?”
“Well, after you stood me up,” he mutters, playfully. “I went to your room to find out what was going on, but you weren’t there.”
I’m not even going to bother asking how he knows what room I’m staying in. Must be the damn check-in logs again.
“Maybe I had a date,” I drawl, butterflies swarm my stomach as I await his response.
Feral eyes find mine. “Did you?”
I run my finger around the rim of my cocktail glass. “Would it bother you if I did?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
“Do I?” I bring my drink to my lips.
Quick as a flash, Rick drags my stool closer to his so I’m practically sitting on his lap, and leans in until the softness of his lips brushes my ear. “Put it this way, the thought of you with another man makes me want to burn the entire fucking city to the ground.”
Holy…fuck.
Electricity crackles between us like a live wire.
My chest rises and falls in quick succession as I suck in a sharp breath. “You can’t say things like that.”
His charcoal eyes fixate on my lips. “Perks of being me, means I can say whatever I want.”
My stomach flips with adrenaline. We’re heading into dangerous territory, and I need to get out of here before I do something stupid, like kiss the shit out of him. “I should go.”
“I’d like it if you stayed.” His throaty voice penetrates my soul.
Yup, I need to go. Now.
I pick up my purse and slide off the stool. “And that’s exactly why I need to go. Thanks for the drink and the wings.”
Rick takes out a hundred and places it on the bar.
I snap a brow in question. That was either some expensive chicken, or he’s a really good tipper.
“My staff works hard,” he explains.
Fair enough.
Grabbing his jacket, we walk out of the lounge and toward the elevator.
“May I walk you to your room?”
Pressing the button, a coy smile hints at my lips. “Nice try.”
Rubbing the back of his neck anxiously, he laughs. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
The elevator dings and the doors open. Stepping inside, I bite my lip to stifle a smile. “You really don’t quit, do you?”
Rick leans a shoulder against the doors of the car, stopping it from closing, and tucks a hand in his pants pocket. “I told you, I’m a tenacious bastard.” He is, and I kind of admire that. “I want to see you again.”
“I’m staying in your hotel, City Boy. It’s kind of inevitable.”
Groaning, he runs a hand over his stubble. “I think I preferred it when you called me Blackley.”
Snickering, I motion for him to move and press the button to my floor. “Goodnight.”
The elevator dings again, and just as the door start to close, Rick jams a hand in. “At least tell me your name.”
Smirking, I tug on his shirt collar. “Why don’t you look in that check-in log. After all, you’re good at that.” I wink and lightly push him backward. “Goodnight, City Boy.”
“Welcome back, Miss McKinley,” Harold, the doorman, greets as he opens the door to the hotel. “Did you enjoy your stroll?”
Instead of eating breakfast in the hotel, I’d chosen to brave the blizzard conditions and head to one of the coffee shops along Fifth Avenue. “Thank you,” I say, cradling my Costa cup to keep my hands warm. Man, I need to get some freaking gloves. “And it’s River.” The kind older man tilts his head to the side. “As opposed to Miss McKinley.”
He smiles softly. “My apologies, River. Have a lovely afternoon.”
“How come Harold gets to know your name, but I can’t?”
A smile touches my lips.
Rick.
“Because Harold is a gentleman and he’s not trying to get in my panties.”
He takes a step toward me, flooding my senses with his presence.
God, the man can rock a suit.
Brushing a flake of snow out of my hair, Rick drops his voice to a rumble. “I can be a gentleman, but I don’t think that’s what you want.”
“I don’t want anything from you, Mr. Blackley.”
Groaning, he throws his hands up in exasperation. “Why won’t you call me Rick?”
I lift a shoulder, teasingly. “I prefer City Boy.”
Laughing, he shakes his head.
I’m heading across the lobby when I hear him say, “It’s beautiful, by the way.”
I stop short, confused by his words.
“Your name,” he clarifies. “It’s beautiful and unique. Just like you.”
Our eyes linger on each other for a second longer than appropriate, before an older woman flanks to his side, iPad in hand.
“I’ll catch you later, River.” Rick winks, and takes off down the same hallway I walked yesterday.
I take the elevator up to my floor. Taking out my key card, I slide it in the lock and step inside.
However, as I turn to put my purse on the dresser, I notice something sitting at the foot of my bed.
My luggage.
What the hell? The customer service reps at the airport told me they couldn’t find it.
So how—?
Then, it dawns on me like a light bulb going off in my head.
Rick.
The morning we met, he told me he could pull some strings, but I didn’t actually think he’d follow through.
I bring my fingers to my lips, and warmth floods my heart.
I can’t believe he did this.
My clothes… I finally have my clothes.
Awestruck, I run my fingertips over the smooth case, before spying another small card carefully placed under the handle. Opening the envelope, I read the words.
Miss McKinley,
I believe this belongs to you.
Don’t worry, you can thank me
by joining me for lunch later.
CB.
My brows furrow at the initials.
CB?
City Boy?
Nibbling on my lip, I smile at his playfulness.
What is it about this man that turns my insides to mush?
I’ve spent the past two days doing my best to avoid him, but no matter what I do, he’s there knocking down the—what I thought were impenetrable—walls around my heart.
He’s sought me out every step of the way, but now I can’t help but wonder if I should change the game and be the one who goes to him.
Plonking my ass on the bed, I groan and fall back.
I didn’t come here to be romanced and pursued; I came here because I needed a break from life. I needed to let loose and find myself again.
I have no doubt that a fling with Rick would be all the excitement I need, but I don’t want to get attached. I mean look at us, we’re oil and water. He’s the owner of this renowned hotel, and undoubtedly worth more than I could ever dream to make in ten lifetimes.
Christ, one of his suits is probably my entire mortgage put together.
&
nbsp; Then there’s me, the jaded girl from the dregs of California, who worked three jobs just to put my sister through college.
We’re polar opposites, and yet somehow, in some twisted parallel universe, we work.
Do it.
Go to him.
God, I can’t go to him… can I?
My mind races at a million miles per hour, trying to weigh up the pros and cons of surrendering to the unimaginable attraction between us. Hell, maybe I should just throw caution to the wind.
My thumb taps mindlessly against my cheek as I mull it over to the point where everything and nothing makes sense.
Oh, fuck it.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Jumping up off the bed, I grab the card and my purse, and head out the door.
I’m coming for you, City Boy.
Wanting to surprise him, I decide not to go to the reception. Instead, I trek down the same long hallway I marched down yesterday. Spotting someone in a suit coming out of an office, I make my way over to him.
“Excuse me, you wouldn’t happen to know where Rick Blackley is, would you?”
He looks me up and down in distaste, and my hackles rise immediately. What the hell is his problem? “He’s in his office. Straight down the hall, you can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, wanting to get the hell away from him.
I see a large and slightly obnoxious office at the end of the hallway, with the letters CEO on the door, and my steps falter.
Holy fuck… he’s the CEO?
How did I not realize that?
Nerves begin to ripple in my stomach.
I approach the door, lifting my hand so it’s poised to knock. Doubt, the nasty little imposter that it is, begins to filter through.
Should I be doing this? Venturing down this road when I’m only here for a few more days?
Dammit.
I wish I could see inside, but the glass on either side of the door is frosted.
Just do it.
Before I can change my mind, I knock on the door. However, for some unknown reason, I don’t wait for a response, and I go straight in.
When I step over the threshold to his office, all the happiness and exhilaration I felt a few minutes ago dissipates into nothing.
Because perched on the corner of Rick’s desk, wearing a dress that’s a little too low cut to be professional, is a busty brunette.