Andrew Jackson walked into the small diner, and his towering presence filled the small space. He was wearing blue jeans, a red cotton shirt, black leather jacket and cowboy boots. “I’ll have coffee, black,” he yelled to the waitress behind the counter, before sliding into the booth opposite Gabrielle.
“Gabrielle,” Andrew said. “I hope you have good news for me.” He gave her a plastic smile that she could see straight through.
The waitress came over with a coffee cup and poured Andrew a cup out of her carafe. “Would you care for anything else?”
Andrew glanced at Gabrielle, but she shook her head. “That’ll be all.” The waitress nodded and walked back to the counter.
“So, what’s it going to be?” He took a generous swallow of his black coffee.
“You’re going to have to find yourself another lackey,” Gabrielle responded evenly.
“You’re refusing to help your father?” Andrew replied. “You really are one coldhearted…”
Gabrielle held up her hand. “No need to resort to name-calling, Mr. Jackson. It’s rather uncouth, don’t you think?” She narrowed her eyes. “You put my father, heck my entire family, up to doing your dirty work. If you want to come after the Adams family, why don’t you have the courage to do so by creating products that will compete with them, instead of trying to steal theirs?”
Andrew laughed and slid his fingers through his slick black hair, but his dark eyes never left hers. “You know, I like you, Ms. Burton. You have a lot of spunk and I’d love to have you on my team, but since you’re determined to stay with the Adams lot, I have no choice but to ruin you, too.”
“Excuse me?” Gabrielle said. She saw a shadow outside the window and turned around long enough for a photographer to snap a photograph of her and Andrew together.
“Did you think I didn’t realize why you wanted to meet me out here in the boondocks?” Andrew asked. “You didn’t want anyone to know we’d met, and now I have evidence that we did. Might be beneficial to me in the future, don’tcha think? In the meantime, don’t you worry your pretty little head about the products at Jax Cosmetics, ’cause I always have a backup plan.” He rose from the booth, guzzled the last drop of coffee in the cup and returned it to the table. “You have a fine day now.”
Gabrielle leaned back in the booth. Andrew Jackson was a dangerous man, and she’d just made a powerful enemy.
* * *
Shane watched Gabrielle from inside his office. It had taken a month since her hire, but they’d finally settled on Ecstasy, the new fragrance to be launched after Hypnotic’s huge debut. He was overjoyed that he could finally tell Ethan and Kayla, who were insisting since Gabby came aboard, that they had a winner.
Despite his excitement, he was still antsy. Could it be because it had been nearly two weeks since he and Gabrielle had spent the night together? Shane didn’t know what had happened, but after their talk in his office, Gabby had been distant. It was as if she hadn’t wanted to be near him, much less in the same room with him. What could have happened to cool her desire for him?
He knew Gabrielle was not immune to him. Perhaps it was time he let her know exactly what she was missing. Once the last chemist had left the lab and Gabrielle remained, finishing a test, Shane made his move.
He left his office and came into the laboratory. “How are the tests coming along for the new lotion?”
“Um…fine,” Gabrielle said, not looking up from her microscope.
“That’s good,” Shane said, walking toward the exit. He locked the laboratory door and turned to stare at Gabby, who was bent over the counter. He loved the curve of her backside even when she was wearing a lab coat, but in his opinion she was wearing too many clothes. He intended to rectify that.
He strolled toward her until he was inches away from her. It was then that Gabrielle finally looked up.
“Shane?” She took several steps backward and tried to lunge away, but Shane pressed her against the counter and lowered his head.
Gabrielle expected a powerful kiss, but Shane took his time. Slowly, he sipped at her lower lip, and then the top lip with his tongue until she released a sigh of pure delight, allowing him easy entrance to her mouth. Gabrielle welcomed the invasion and didn’t realize just how much she needed this until Shane’s tongue was merging with hers. His tongue rubbed over hers again and again, and she found herself helpless but to give in and move against him. Snaking her arms around his neck, she nestled closer to his broad chest.
Shane’s hands began a slow descent until they came to rest on her backside. He molded the mounds with his hands, Gabrielle trembled and he could feel her entire body spark to life. He pulled her silk shirt from her skirt and fondled her breasts underneath until he felt them become hard and pucker to tight pebbles. They were pert and ready for attention. His attention. Shane unbuttoned her shirt and placed his mouth over one tight pucker through her bra and tugged gently.
“Oh…” Gabrielle moaned.
Shane pushed aside the wisp of satin fabric and his mouth closed around her nipple. He pulled the nipple deeper and deeper into his mouth and pressed her flesh against him so she could feel the firm ridge of his manhood, and Gabrielle nearly exploded. She’d seriously missed being with him.
Quickly, Gabrielle began fumbling with the buttons on Shane’s shirt until it hung open. She was eager to feel the warmth from his chest, hard abdomen and flat stomach underneath her fingertips. He was hot with desire for her. She reached for his belt buckle and unzipped his pants and reached inside to stroke him. He was hot, sleek, taut and ready for her. “Condom?” She looked into Shane’s hazel eyes.
“Pocket,” he whispered. His lips covered hers again hungrily, thrusting deep with his tongue, reminding her exactly what he intended to do with his body.
Once Gabrielle found the protection, she pushed his pants to his feet and quickly took care of protecting them.
Shane meanwhile reached for the hem of her skirt and hiked it up to her waist. He pushed her panties down her legs, and she kicked them aside and circled her legs around his waist.
“You ready, baby?” Shane lifted her off her feet and placed her atop the counter.
“Yes, please,” Gabrielle murmured. “Now!”
Shane’s hard length thrust against her wet opening, and he immediately found the perfect place. He pressed harder, thrusting inside her.
“Shane—” She urged him on and his tempo increased harder and faster, relentless with pulse after pulse of pure ecstasy until Gabrielle shuddered with pleasure. Shane was right behind her, growling against her neck, once, twice—and then he was still.
Shane brushed his lips across her once more, before lowering her to the floor. They hugged each other tightly, neither ready to let go. Shane was the first to finally pull away to collect himself and redress.
Gabrielle was shocked by what had just transpired between them as she pulled down her skirt. What had gotten into them? They were in the office, for Christ’s sake. She bent down to grab her panties strewn across the floor and threw them in her purse.
“Are you okay?” Shane asked, turning back around to face her.
“Uh, I guess,” Gabrielle murmured as she rebuttoned her blouse. “What was that?”
Shane’s hazel eyes peered into her brown ones. “I think we both know why that happened. We were hungry for each other, and no matter how much your head may think this is not the ideal situation, your body thinks otherwise.”
Gabrielle inhaled sharply. “Shane…”
“I don’t want to hear that this was wrong,” Shane replied. “We’re both adults. Let’s just see how this plays out. You know, enjoy ourselves.”
“I think we just did that,” Gabrielle said with a laugh.
“Yeah, that was pretty hot.” Shane smiled, revealing his sparkling pearly whites. “Want to do it again?” He took a tentative step toward her, but Gabrielle held her hand out and pushed against his hard chest.
“Slow down, cowboy,” Gabriell
e said. “This was a one-time-only thing. We need to keep this private.”
Shane put one finger underneath her chin and forced Gabrielle to look up at him. “Does that mean you’re finally ready to admit you’d like this to happen again?”
“I think my actions today are self-explanatory,” Gabrielle said, underneath hooded lashes. She was perched on a dangerous tightrope. She couldn’t very well admit that she didn’t want Shane, because she did. Yet, she knew things would end badly, especially considering Shane’s history of being a player. Should she go backward or forward?
“I’m glad to hear that,” Shane said, sealing his mouth to hers. “I was beginning to think I’d lost my touch.”
* * *
“Well, someone finally returned my call,” Courtney replied when Gabrielle showed up to brunch on Sunday at a local patisserie that Courtney liked to frequent.
“I’m sorry, Courtney,” Gabrielle said. “My life has been a little crazy these days.”
“Is that so?” Courtney asked, reaching for her cup of cappuccino and taking a sip. “And would I know why?”
Gabrielle smiled broadly. “Yes, it’s Shane,” she confirmed. “We are seeing each other.”
“I knew it! Shane tried to act like nothing had happened, but I knew better.”
“Everything happened as you said it would,” Gabrielle gushed. “When Shane saw me a couple of weeks ago at the dinner party, he was…”
“Spellbound?” Courtney offered.
“Something like that. And one thing led to another and… Well, you know…” Gabrielle felt shy talking about sleeping with Courtney’s brother.
“Ended up in bed together?” Courtney replied. “Okay, so you know Shane is not immune to you, so what’s next?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, where do you see things going from here?”
Gabrielle shrugged. “We’ll see each other, you know, date.”
“Hmm…” Courtney mulled over Gabrielle’s statement. “Yes, but I know my brother. And Shane gets bored after he gets what he wants. My advice will be not to give him too much. You know, remain mysterious. Shane needs a woman to challenge him.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m not a pushover,” Gabrielle said.
“Good,” Courtney said. “Because Shane needs a woman like you.”
* * *
“Thank you for coming with me today,” Kayla said as she and Shane entered the hospital where they’d be attending a Lamaze class together. Ethan was out of town on a business trip and her brother had graciously agreed to come in his place as her partner.
“No problem. You know I’ll always be here for you,” Shane said, opening the door for her so she could enter.
“Did you remember the pillow for my butt?” Kayla asked, turning around.
Shane held up the pillow and mat that she’d asked him to carry in. “I can follow directions, sis.”
“Sorry,” she said and then blushed.
When they arrived at the meeting room, ten other couples were already making themselves comfortable on the floor. Shane spread out the mat and placed the pillow on top and helped Kayla to the floor.
Shane glanced around. This was all kind of surreal for him, being surrounded by so many pregnant women.
“Are you okay?” Kayla asked when she saw the nervous expression on Shane’s face. “It’s not like you’re the father, you know.”
Shane laughed shakily. “I know that.”
“You’re my pretend daddy for today.”
“Are you comfortable?” Shane asked, lowering himself to the floor and scooting behind her as he saw several other men doing.
“I am,” Kayla said, leaning back against him for support. “So before class starts, why don’t you tell me what’s been going on with you.”
“Everything’s going rather nicely.”
“So does that mean you’re seeing Gabrielle Burton?” Kayla inquired.
“And if I were?” Shane asked. Although Kay was his sister, she was also officially his boss and might frown on a workplace romance.
Kayla didn’t answer because the instructor clapped her hands to signal class was to begin.
“To prepare for labor and contractions takes patience and training,” the instructor began. “Studies show that your birth experience will be much easier and shorter if you use relaxation techniques. Our goal is to show you those techniques and help you practice.”
She walked over to the light switch and dimmed the lights.
“Today we are going to work on some breathing and massage techniques. I want you to focus on deep breathing through your nose,” she said.
Kayla lightly reclined her head and breathed in deeply and out again. “And if you were seeing Gabrielle, I would advise you to be careful.”
“You’re supposed to be breathing,” Shane whispered in her ear.
“I can multitask,” Kayla responded. “I do run an international cosmetics company.”
The instructor came over to them and placed her forefinger to her mouth to silence them. “As the partner, your role is to keep the mother calm and relaxed.” She gave Shane the evil eye. “And to be encouraging.”
“Did you see that?” Shane whispered. “She doesn’t think I’m being encouraging and keeping you calm. You’re the one who brought up my relationship.”
“You mean your affair,” Kayla said with her eyes closed as she half attempted her breathing exercises. “You know you never stay with one woman longer than a few months. What happens after?”
“We are both adults, Kay.”
“Yes, but whenever sex is involved, emotions always come. I’m a woman. Trust me, I know these things.”
“Well, trust me that I have this covered,” Shane replied. “Now lie back and do as I say.”
Kayla peeked up at him with one eye open. “You do realize this is the only time you’ll get to boss me around? I am your boss and your big sister.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Shane laughed.
Chapter 8
“What do you say to dinner and a show tonight?” Shane asked one evening after work, a couple of weeks later. They had just finished collaborating on the scents for the new shower gels and lotions and had come to an agreement. Shane had really started listening to her ideas. He respected her opinion and was treating her as an equal.
“Do you think that’s wise?” Gabrielle asked. They’d pretty much kept their relationship restricted to a casual hookup after work at her hotel room, watching a movie or grabbing a bite to eat in some obscure part of town. This would be their first foray out in public.
“Well, if we were to run into anyone I can say that I scored these tickets from my sister,” Shane replied, “which would be the truth.” Courtney had to go on an unexpected business trip and had given him the tickets.
Gabrielle’s face split into a wide grin. “Then I would love it.”
“Okay, then.” Shane gave her a warm smile that was just as intimate as a kiss. “Why don’t you head out early and I’ll pick you up at six.”
Shane arrived promptly at Gabrielle’s door at 6:00 p.m. She had just enough time to shower, flat-iron her hair until it was silky smooth to her shoulders and slide on the evening dress she’d borrowed from the fashion department. Like Courtney, she was a size four, and the shimmering metallic loaner gown fit perfectly. It had a single ruched seam and cascading ruffle down the front that defined the languid, drapey fit of the dress with its single long sleeve and front slit.
“You look hot!” Shane commented when Gabrielle opened the door.
“So do you.” Shane was wearing a modern tuxedo with a two-button jacket with a satin lapel and flat-front trousers that showed off his trim waist.
“Thank you. You ready to go?” Shane asked. “The show starts at 8:00 p.m. and I thought we could grab a prix fixe dinner on the way.”
“Sounds great!” Gabrielle grabbed her clutch purse and they were out the door.
A fifteen-minute ride later and they w
ere at an Italian restaurant filled with the theater crowd coming for dinner before a show. The meal of grilled chicken and butternut squash risotto was divine, but Gabrielle hardly noticed. Although she appreciated her privacy, she was excited to be with Shane out in the open. No hiding or sneaking around; they were finally out in public for the whole world to see. She felt confident standing next to Shane, and not just because she’d had a makeover. It was because he looked at her as if she was the only woman in the room. They shared a lively discussion about politics, the Atlanta Braves and of course what dessert they wanted to share. They settled on the tiramisu.
Gabrielle thoroughly enjoyed the show, and not just because of its talented stars. Shane had held her hand for the majority of the night and never let go. When the evening was over, they walked hand in hand back to his Jaguar, where he surprised her by inviting her back to his place.
Gabrielle’s eyes grew large. “What will your parents think?” She barely knew his parents, other than a cursory introduction at their party. She didn’t want to give them the impression that she was some sort of brazen hussy.
“Not the family estate, silly,” Shane said and laughed. “My loft.”
“You have your own place?”
“Heck, yeah!” Shane responded. “I love my family and we’re very close, but sometimes I do need my privacy, if you know what I mean.”
As his gaze came to study her face, there was an invitation lying in the smoldering depths of his eyes. “I do.”
“Then, let’s go.” Shane eagerly grabbed her hand. Gabrielle had no doubt Shane would deliver on every delectable promise in those liquid eyes of his. And hours later, he had.
* * *
“I’d like you both to go to Paris,” Ethan said to Shane and Gabrielle at the development meeting a week later. “Gerard Devereux has created another great design, and the bottle prototype would be great for Ecstasy. However…”
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