Wicked Gentleman

by Christy Pastore

  These are for you.

  I plan to fill this dresser with more—for you.

  Personally, I’m a fan of the pink lace. – Jax

  Lifting the lid, I then pushed back the black tissue paper. My eyes widened at the sight of beautiful silky colors of pink, lavender, white, and black lace.

  “Holy crap.”

  I winced as the hot coffee splashed onto my shaking hand. My muscles had yet to recover from gripping the bookcase in Jax’s office while he tongue fucked me into an epic orgasm. The CEO of Hart Hotels Inc. was on his knees begging to see my pussy covered in fine silk. I literally brought the man to his knees.

  In between meetings and conference calls with national and international art galleries, I spent the majority of my day perusing online auctions. Staying busy was good for my peace of mind and kept me from marching back down the hallway and familiarizing myself with every flat surface in Jax’s office. So much for not breaking the no sex at the office rule.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Brockman.” Carol stood in my doorway holding a file folder in the air.

  “Hello, Carol,” I replied, dabbing a napkin onto my skin.

  “It’s Miss Edgerton, not Carol.”

  “Very well.” I tossed the napkin into the trash as I rounded the corner of my desk.

  “I see that you’ve scheduled the visual display team to tear down the autumn installation beginning at five A.M. Friday morning.”

  “Yes, that is correct.”

  “The Friday morning after Thanksgiving Day.”

  I stood my ground. “Is there a point?”

  With a flick of her wrist she tossed the folder onto my desk. “In the past we have scheduled this as an overnight project. This is due to the fact that many of our visual display team members are also maintenance team members.” She crossed her arms. “Not only that, but it is usually a six hour project, starting at five in the morning takes the installation well into midday hours. The lobby will be filled with guests maneuvering around ladders and pallets of décor. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

  I felt the blush rising in my cheeks. “I didn’t realize.”

  “With your multiple college degrees, certainly you should have realized.” she replied, narrowing her eyes at me.

  “Miss Edgerton, I am happy to—”

  She held up her hand. “I expected more from you. Has he screwed you senseless?”

  Carol didn’t wait for my answer. Instead, she walked away, leaving me in total shock.

  I spent rest of the afternoon trying to coordinate the visual display team schedule with Maria, the head of the engineering department.

  “Lucy, Terri, Sarah, Britannia, and Thom are all available to work from midnight until the project is complete. Hector and Brad will come in two hours early to help finish up the installation.”

  She nodded. “Yes, all the shifts are covered.”

  I clasped my hands together feeling relieved that we’d been able to make the schedule changes on short notice with ease.

  “It was a pleasure working with you, Stevie.” Maria pushed to her feet. “Enjoy the holiday.”

  “You too, Maria.”

  After Maria left, I checked my calendar. No meetings for the rest of the day. I fired up my computer and then scanned my email. Nothing pressing.

  At the sound of laughter in the hallway, I glanced up seeing Eric and Beth gliding by my office. “A few of us are grabbing drinks at The Rusty Anchor, you want to come along?”

  I wondered for a split second if Carol was going to be there. She didn’t strike me as the type to socialize over drinks with co-workers. “Sure, I’ll meet you there.”

  “Great, first round is on me.”

  Eric strode away and I powered down my computer. I grabbed my handbag and my cardigan out of the coat closet glancing at my reflection in the mirror. “What a day,” I mumbled.

  It was nearly five o’clock by the time I got to the bar. With the holiday traffic it was a madhouse on the highway.

  Wild beats of music pumped through the speakers as I pulled open the heavy wooden door. The space was illuminated by the soft glow of electric blue and yellow lights. The scent of fried food and stale beer hung in the air as I maneuvered past a few empty bar tables to the back where I spotted Eric and Beth playing darts. My smile grew wider when I saw Abby sitting at a table talking to Maria and Thom.

  A hand brushed around my hip. “I was starting to think you were going to stand us up.” The familiar voice sent anger funneling through my veins.

  I took a step forward putting distance between Cord and me before turning to face him. “What did I tell you about touching me?”

  Not giving him a second more of my time I strode towards Abby. She jumped up and hugged me. Eric asked me for my drink order and then I greeted everyone else.

  “Let’s grab this booth,” Abby suggested.

  “So how have you been?” I asked, sliding against the red pleather.

  “Good, really good and you?”

  “Same. How’s your sister? Did she have her baby?”

  “Not yet, only a few more weeks.” She smiled over the rim of her glass. “Oh, I received a promotion at Tonic Volley.”

  “That’s awesome. What’s the job?”

  “Assistant Graphic Designer,” she answered. “It’s full-time and came with a big pay increase.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Yeah, and I didn’t even have to sleep with anyone to get the gig.” She gave me a crooked smile and then tossed back her drink. Eric sat my cocktail in front of me, giving me a moment to formulate my response to Abby.

  “I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not.”

  “Of course I’m only joking, Stevie.”

  Smiling, I relaxed into the booth taking a sip of my martini. “So why don’t you tell me more about this new job and if you’re dating anyone, I need all the details.”

  I managed to keep Abby talking through another round of drinks. She informed me that she was dating a new guy and that she had officially given notice to Carol that she was leaving.

  “How did Carol take the news that you were moving on?” I asked.

  She hiccupped through a laugh. “Carol was her typical self, saying that she’d miss me, blah, blah. I don’t care. I loved working at Hart Hotels, but if I’m honest, Carol’s an asshole.”

  I leaned forward clicking her glass to mine. “Can’t argue with that—she’s reprimanded me twice, and was a total bitch about it.”

  “Did you tell your boyfriend?”

  I waved her off. “Not worth it, besides Carol is Jackson’s ‘most trusted employee’.”

  Abby side-eyed me.

  “His words, I swear.”

  “Carol the cuntasaurus,”Abby staged whispered. “She needs to get laid.”

  “Isn’t that the truth,” Beth agreed, sliding beside Abby. “I’m sorry she’s been so awful to you both.”

  My brows lifted. “It’s not your fault, Beth.”

  “I know,” she commented in a low whisper. “I don’t know why she has such a stick up her ass. When I first started working for her, she was pleasant. I can’t say why she changed.”

  We shifted the conversation to a non-Carol, non-work topic—holiday plans. Beth was going to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, while Abby was running in a five mile race for charity before going to her mom’s place in Jacksonville.

  After my second martini I needed to use the ladies room. Excusing myself, I disappeared into the restroom, which was surprisingly clean and chic. The line was four deep. Ten minutes later I made it through the line and stood washing my hands. I toweled off my hands and pulled my phone from my purse. I had a text message from Jax that was sent an hour ago.

  Jax: I’ve got a call with the Project Manager for the Park City renovation. We’re executing a few change orders.

  Me: Sorry I am just now seeing this message. Partaking in happy hour with Eric, Abby and a few more work people.

  Reaching
for the door, I kept my eyes focused on the screen. I stepped into the hallway and found Cord leaning against the wall. “Are you texting your new boyfriend?” Light from the red lamps that lit up the hallway passed over his face as he approached me.

  “That is none of your business.”

  “Rumor has it that you’re screwing the boss.” The smell of beer and smoke was heavy on his breath.

  “You know what they say about rumors,” I shot back.

  “Please enlighten me.”

  “Rumors are spread by fools and accepted by idiots.”

  “Well then, let’s put the rumors to rest—are you or are you not fucking Jackson Hart?”

  “Charming.” I tried pushing past him, but he didn’t move an inch. “Get out of my way, Cord.”

  “You didn’t say the magic word.” His hot breath fanned across my ear.

  “Get the fuck out of my way,” I snapped.

  He held up his hands in mock surrender and slithered back until his hip bumped the wall. As I moved past him, the beer from his mug splashed onto my skin.

  When I returned to our table, Abby was engrossed in a conversation about tattoos with a guy that I didn’t recognize.

  “Hey, I think I’m going to take off.”

  She gave me a frown. “Oh no, do you have to?”

  I fished my keys from my purse. “Yeah, lots to prep for tomorrow. I’m making a turkey and it’s my first time.”

  She slipped out of the booth to give me a hug. “It was great to see you, Stevie. Let’s not wait so long to catch up.”

  “I agree. I’ll text you soon.”

  On my way out the door I waved to everyone and told them to have a nice holiday. As I walked to my car, the conversation with Cord replayed over in my mind. He had some nerve. Too many variables were working against me and Jax. Abby, Carol, and Cord all knew about the two of us. Who else knew?

  “WELL, IT’S OFFICIAL. I’VE WRECKED Thanksgiving.” Stevie tossed the charred meat into the trash, and I pulled open the sliding glass door in the kitchen.

  “You didn’t wreck anything.”

  She pressed her fingers to her temples. “What was I thinking trying to cook an entire feast? I am a takeout girl, not Betty Crocker.”

  Along with the pearl earrings, the apron she wore over her black skinny jeans and white sleeveless, lace blouse might have suggested otherwise. Laughing, I leaned my hip against the counter. “Hey, most days I don’t cook either. I’m not sure that I could have done much better.”

  “All we have is pie, rolls and potatoes.” She leaned forward and scooped up her wine glass from the counter. “It doesn’t make for a great meal.”

  “As much as I love carbs, you’re right.” I took a drink of whiskey watching as Stevie swirled the contents of her glass. I had a feeling that she was contemplating how to save the meal.

  I walked over to the sliding glass door and pulled it shut. “I have an idea. I know a place we can go.”

  “Where?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  She eyed me over her wine glass. “What do you have in store for me, Jackson Hart?”

  Stevie rarely called me Jackson. Admittedly, I liked it—really liked it.

  The streets of Salissa Island were nearly desolate. I let Stevie drive my Mercedes over to Amelia City. She took me by surprise when she veered left onto Emerald Avenue.

  “These are not the directions I punched in,” I pointed out.

  She smiled. “I know. We’re taking a quick detour. I want you to meet someone.”

  Stevie maneuvered along the streets of Amelia City with ease and then pulled up to the cemetery. “Okay, this is a little frightening.”

  “Don’t be scared, it’s not like its Halloween,” she mocked, turning off the engine and then handing me the keys.

  We trekked along the brick walkway lined with trees hand in hand arriving in front of a grey marbled headstone. In the distance, another family stood together hugging and taking photos. Brightly colored balloons dotted the sky above them.

  Ruby Marie Harrison

  Beloved Wife, Mother, and Grandmother

  “Hi, Gran,” Stevie said, brushing the debris from the top the gravestone. “It’s me, Stevie, and this is Jackson, the guy I told you about.”

  I leaned closer, whispering, “You told your grandmother about me, should I be worried?”

  She nudged her shoulder into my bicep. “I did, and I believe she approves.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I’m positive that she would have liked you. I come here every Saturday morning, when I’m not working.”

  “This is your personal appointment? The one you said you had when you snuck out of my house that morning.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  We stood in silence for a few moments. I hadn’t been to a cemetery since my mother’s funeral.

  Too many flowers.

  Too many people.

  Too much rain.

  Too much noise.

  Everything from that day came barreling back at hyper speed. I tipped my head to the sky watching the clouds float by. Stevie curled her hand around my forearm. “Is this too weird for you?”

  I shook my head. “I wouldn’t say that at all. Honestly, I was thinking about my mother.”

  She smacked her palm against her forehead. “Oh, shit. I wasn’t thinking in bringing you here.”

  I bent to meet her eyes. “Don’t overthink it, Stevie. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be. I don’t think much of my family on holidays. If you hadn’t brought me here, this day might have passed without giving her a thought.”

  “Do you want to visit her today?”

  I laced my fingers with hers as we walked back towards the car. “Well, that would be quite a trip because she’s buried in Montana.”

  “I assumed she was here in Florida, I’m sorry.”

  We arrived at the car and I pulled Stevie into my arms. “You need to stop apologizing. Intimacy and sharing personal stuff, even though at times it’s difficult, I believe that’s what is called being in a relationship.”

  She smiled as the warm breeze toyed with her blonde hair. “Speaking of our relationship, I wasn’t going to bring this up, at least not today anyway.”

  I tucked an errant strand behind her ear. “What, is it?”

  “Yesterday, at happy hour with Abby and Eric, Cord was there, asking me if the rumors about the two of us were true. I managed to blow him off, but I am not sure that he believed me, and seeing as Abby and Carol know about the two of us—how long will it be before my mask slips and the whole company finds out.”

  Aggravation teased at my nerves. No way in hell was I about to let her asshat of an ex fuck with us. We’d tell people about us when the time was right. I hoped that my employees were smarter than to give into petty gossip.

  “I’ll have a chat with him on Monday.”

  “Oh no you won’t.” Stevie burst out with a laugh, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “If you talk to Cord he will know with absolute certainty that I told you. And why would I, Stevie Brockman the Design Consultant for Hart Hotels, be bothered to talk to my boss. . .” She jabbed at my chest. “About a silly rumor.”

  In my ideal world, my relationship with Stevie was the best kept secret on the island. However, I was smart enough to realize at some point it would get out. “Good point. I’ll keep my mouth shut for now, but if he steps out of line he’s gone.” Paying no attention to the public that surrounded us I threaded my fingers through her hair and claimed her mouth.

  Stevie’s stomach rumbled effectively breaking our moment. I smiled against her lips. “I’m going to feed you now. I don’t need you passing out on me.”

  “Can I drive?”

  I shook my head, unlocking my car. “In your condition, lack of nutrients and all, I’m not so sure that you should be operating heavy machinery.”

  “Wise guy.”

  “Yes, I am very wise.”
>
  “I CALLED MY MOM THIS morning, and her exact words about my dad were—he went to Florida to view a few properties. Apparently he’s expanding the business.” I wrung my hands together as Jax pulled onto Emerald Avenue.

  “You don’t believe her?”

  “It’s not that I don’t believe her, I believe that’s what he told her.”

  “Maybe that is why he came to you for the money,” Jax asserted, flicking his turn signal to change lanes.

  I shrugged. “Well, he could have been nicer.” Uncertainty coiled in my veins and I couldn’t help but wonder if my distracted thoughts were the cause for screwing up our turkey dinner.

  We didn’t say anything more for the remainder of the drive. Our destination was a magnificent high-rise building just over the bridge.

  “What is this place?” I asked, as he handed the valet his keys.

  “Come with me and find out,” Jax whispered, resting his firm hand against my back leading me towards a bank of elevators.

  The elevator deposited us on the top floor where the doors opened to a hostess desk for Masson’s, an elegant Italian restaurant. I’d heard rumors about this place. A sleek rectangular fireplace was anchored in the middle of the space surrounded by tables covered in pristine ivory linens.

  “Good afternoon, Mister Hart, we have your usual table ready for you.”

  As we moved through the nearly empty restaurant, Jax kept his hand on my lower back. To my surprise, his usual table was a private room. I walked towards the windows taking in the view of Amelia City, Salissa Island and the ocean spread before me.

  “It’s breathtaking.”

  “Not half as striking as you,” he remarked, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.

  “I feel really underdressed. Why didn’t you tell me to change?”

  He moved to stand in front of me. “You look beautiful. Now, shall we sit and order some appetizers?”

  Eight handstitched ivory, leather chairs were positioned around an oval table and a glass chandelier hung from a tray ceiling. The adjacent wall was finished with a glass paneled black wine cellar door.