Fierce- Drake (Fierce Family Series Book 3)

by Natalie Ann

  “Of course I did,” he said. “Why don’t you go get your purse and lock your office and meet me here in five minutes. I’m starving.”

  She hesitated and then walked away to do as he asked. When she came back to his office, she had her keys in her hand. “Where did you want to go?”

  “I can drive. I’ve got to come back through this way to get home anyway from where I had planned on going.”

  “Maybe it’s on the way to my apartment,” she argued. Hmm, she never argued. There was even a little fire in her eyes that he’d never seen before.

  “It isn’t. I know whereabouts you live.”

  “And how do you know that?”

  There was no way to say it without her thinking it was more than it was. “After you were hired my father said you’d asked him about a few apartments that you were looking at and if they were in safe sections of town. He wasn’t sure and asked me.”

  “Oh,” she said and walked away.

  He hadn’t met her during the interview. His father had introduced her when he was walking her out of the office and he was coming out of another room and saw them. When his father had told him they were hiring her and she asked about apartments later, he’d given the name of the best one on her list. Knowing what he did about her, he’d figured she’d find a place there.

  Since she didn’t argue with him over his response, he was going to assume that was the case.

  She pushed her large purse up on her shoulder—it looked more like a tote bag to him—and followed him to the elevator, then to the parking lot and his car.

  Once she was in, he started the engine and drove the few miles to an Italian restaurant. “I should have asked if this was okay, but they’ve got more than just Italian food on the menu.”

  “It’s fine. I’m not fussy and not one of these people who has a bunch of dietary restrictions or limitations.”

  “Or preferences,” he said, laughing. He’d seen her eat anything that was brought into a lunch meeting, unlike several other staff who always wanted things removed, special orders and so on. He got it, to a point. But some people were just too picky.

  They were seated and drinks ordered. She’d gotten a soda, so he did the same. He started. “I like the budgets you set up for different sectors. Some things that go out to bid will cost more than others. I’m assuming you’ll have an open mind when the time comes?”

  “Of course,” she said. “I understand some clients like to be wined and dined more. I’m not a complete idiot.”

  “I never thought you were. And if I gave that impression, then I’m sorry.”

  “You’re apologizing? Wow.”

  He took a deep breath. Good grief they couldn’t say more than a few words without wanting to go at each other’s throat. “How did we get off on the wrong foot today?”

  She hesitated for a moment. “Sorry. That was wrong of me. Sometimes you just set me off when others don’t have that ability.”

  “I’m actually thrilled to hear that.”

  “You’re joking,” she said. “Why would that make you happy?”

  “Because you do the same to me. I’m hardly ever annoyed or frustrated. Only with you. Why do you think that is?”

  “No clue,” she said back but didn’t make eye contact with him.

  “Oh. I think you know. You just said you weren’t an idiot and it’s pretty obvious even to me why this is happening.”

  “What is so obvious?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. That fire he wanted to see was right there aimed at him, his heart starting to thump and he’d bet his car hers was too.

  “You’re attracted to me.”

  She started to cough. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I’ve given you no reason to think that,” she said.

  “Maybe I think it because I feel the same about you.”

  That shut her up when she opened her mouth and closed it and just held his stare. “What?”

  “You heard me. I’m attracted to you. Why are you so surprised? I’ve even noticed how pretty you look today. Did you do that for me? Because I asked if you were color blind?”

  “No! I went shopping with Jade on Saturday and she convinced me to buy it and then said she wanted me to wear it today.”

  His smile dropped. “Why did you go shopping with my sister?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but we were both working on Saturday and she came in and somehow twisted my arm into it. I’m still not sure how it happened.”

  “That’s Jade for you.”

  “You really thought I wore this for you?” she asked, this time she was grinning at him. He wasn’t sure what to make of that.

  “I guess I kind of hoped.”

  “And why? Because you are attracted to me? And you think that is why we get on each other’s nerves?”

  “So I do annoy you too?”

  “At times,” she said. “If we are being honest. Why do you always seem so happy and laid back with other people and not me? I’ve asked myself that a few times.”

  So she did think of him more than just work related. Promising. “And it never occurred to you that maybe there was more?”

  “No,” she said frowning. “I never considered myself the type of woman that someone like you would want to be with.”

  “Someone like me?” he asked, looking for an insult to find it’s way to him.

  “Come on, Drake. You’re flashy. Your clothes. Your car. Your attitude. I’m none of those things. If people looked up opposites in the dictionary they’d see you there with your fancy suit and me with my white oxford shirt, glasses, and my hair in a bun.”

  “So you dress like that on purpose?”

  “Who said that?” she asked.

  “I just guessed. You’re young. You’re beautiful, but you try to hide it. Why? If I’m wrong, tell me. If I’m crossing the line at all, you’ll tell me that too, I’m sure.”

  “I don’t know what you are.”

  “Which means it’s no to those two things.” Yeah, that brought a big smile to his face.

  “I guess. But I work for you.”

  “You work for my father and uncle,” he clarified.

  “The same thing and you know it,” she said.

  “If you know anything by now you should know that they don’t treat Jade, me, or Ryder any differently than any other employee.”

  “True.”

  “So tell me. After we get back to your budget talks, where do we go from here?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Are you going to let me take you on a date? A real date? Can we see where this might go?”

  “It’s probably a mistake.”

  “Which isn’t a no,” he said, damn proud that he might be getting through to her. He wanted to pick at her. Push her buttons. And when he realized how childish that was, he came to the conclusion that he wanted her. It’s just every time they were together he wanted to strangle her too.

  “I moved here for this job. A job I love and can’t afford to lose it.”

  “And you won’t. We can go on, let’s say one date with the option to go on two more if we both agree. Then we can reevaluate after the third date.”

  “That’s crazy,” she said, but she laughed and it seemed genuine.

  “Is it? We each pick a date and the third one—if we get that far—we put options in a hat and draw.”

  “And what happens if we don’t get past the first date?”

  He didn’t want to think of that right now. “Then you schedule another meeting I’m going to have to suffer through.”

  “Suffer?” she asked with a tilt of her head that had his blood rushing through his body faster than water over a fall. It was a sexy move that he figured she didn’t even realize she was doing.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Okay. What about if after the third date we decide it’s not working out? Then what?”

  “Same thing. No one needs to kno
w either,” he said. “We can keep it between us for now.”

  “I want to keep it between us period,” she said. “Even if we get past three dates. No one needs to know about this at work.”

  “Agreed,” he said. “Now back to your meeting. Let’s get this all out of the way. Then tonight you can think about what we just talked about and decide if you really want to try this.”

  “You’re going to let me back out of it?”

  “Of course,” he said, the fire in his body not from arousal this time. “I wouldn’t force you or any woman to do anything they didn’t want.”

  “Now I’ve ticked you off.”

  “You seem to do that when most people can’t.”

  “Guess I just have the magic touch,” she said, laughing at him.

  Time To Move On

  That night Kara wondered what the hell she could possibly be thinking of.

  How could she jeopardize her job like this?

  Was she really attracted to Drake? Yes...she was.

  She was sick of hiding. Of not taking risks.

  Of people commenting on the fact she was dull or boring.

  She’d spent so much of her life trying to not be noticed, seen, or spoken to. But she was an adult now, away from the things she’d experienced as a kid and it was time to move on.

  Time to open up and explore the world.

  Take some risks.

  Not worry about safety nets and cushions to fall on.

  Besides, Drake made it all seem so logical that it was hard to not even give it a try.

  And if there was one thing that Kara was, it was logical.

  Yet she was thinking of having a workplace romance. Probably one of the most illogical things ever for her.

  No. Not a romance. A date. Maybe three dates. Then they’d reevaluate the situation.

  And because she was such a chicken about taking chances, she waited a few days to confirm she was on the same page with Drake.

  “Hey,” she said, knocking on his door Thursday afternoon.

  He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, a big grin on his face. “Well hello, stranger.”

  She wasn’t sure what to make of his smile, his words, or the glint in his eyes. “Sorry, I’ve been busy.”

  “Or you’ve gotten cold feet.”

  Her icicle toes were thawing as her face flushed red and the rest of her body followed. Embarrassment at being caught and warm tingles with his grin. “Just thinking it all through.”

  “I suppose I didn’t expect any differently. So what did you decide?”

  “That it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.”

  “Well gee,” he said. “Thanks for that. Why don’t you close my door before someone walks by and makes you bolt out of here before we can finish this conversation.”

  He was right again. She was almost looking for an excuse to end it and wondered why that was.

  She really was attracted to him. He heated her up on more than one occasion. Not only that, he had a lot of qualities she looked for in a man. Many of the things Jade had said her brothers possessed that she’d never realized before.

  Knowing everything she did about him and his personality, the only thing that had been blocking her vision from seeing it all before was the fact they worked together. If they didn’t, he might not have gotten on her nerves so much.

  Or maybe he did as a defense so that she wouldn’t realize he was what she was looking for?

  Now she was just confusing herself with these thoughts and had to focus on the hot sexy man in front of her rocking back and forth in his chair with his arms folded in front of his large chest making his biceps stand out more in his fitted gray T-shirt.

  Had she ever noticed his body quite like this before? No, no, she hadn’t, but damn, she was paying attention now as if a nun were standing over her hand ready to rap her knuckles the minute her eyes moved from their target.

  She finally forced herself to turn and shut the door, heard his laugh and wondered if he’d realized she’d been staring at his arms.

  “I didn’t mean to insult you,” she said. “It’s just I thought it all through. I know you’re a man of honor. Nothing will come between my job and yours if we try a date.”

  “Or three,” he said, grinning at her.

  “You’re pretty cocky, aren’t you?”

  “Confident,” he said. “Those dates are going to work out just fine. Do you believe otherwise?”

  “I hadn’t really put much thought into it.”

  “Your nose is growing,” he said. “And have a seat so I’m not staring up at you. I’m afraid you’re going to start pacing.” He stood up. “Better yet, let’s go sit in the chairs over there. I don’t want you in front of my desk making it seem awkward.”

  “Thanks,” she said, walking over and taking a seat in his little sitting area. He sat across from her.

  “So you’re ready to go on a date with me?” he asked.

  “Are you ready to go on one with me?” she asked back.

  He laughed. “I think we can agree we both are ready. Now the question is when and where?”

  “I see your calendar is blocked out tomorrow and all of next week. I’m assuming you’re off sight working on things.”

  “Tomorrow I’m off sight and next week I’m on vacation.”

  “Oh,” she said. “Well then, we can figure it out when you get back.”

  “This weekend isn’t good for me,” he said. “I’ll be back late tomorrow. Saturday is a family party and they normally go long. Sunday I’ve got plans to golf with Noah. I’m in town all next week. Just doing things around the house. If I don’t take time off of work and force myself, things don’t get done.”

  “No. No,” she said. “During the week I’m busy. I could get caught up in work and lose track of time.”

  “Let me guess? You don’t like going on a date during the week. Kind of like it was a school night and you had a strict bedtime. Weekends are for fun with you?” he asked.

  That smile again. The one that might melt the mean nun with the ruler if she got sucked into gazing at the brown eyes of Drake’s.

  “I don’t know about fun but the weekends are when I’m more flexible.”

  “Then why don’t we plan on next Saturday night?” he asked.

  “But you’ll still be on vacation,” she said.

  “And be itching to do something other than work around my house. So who plans the first date?” he asked.

  “This was your idea,” she said. “How about you?”

  And it would give her an idea of what he considered part of dating. She didn’t need the stress of trying to figure him out. He was definitely more high maintenance than her.

  “Are you going to give me any ideas of things you want to do or are we doing the old boring dinner out routine? Maybe add a movie to the mix?”

  The way he rolled his eyes made her think that wasn’t what he had in mind. Good thing she put it in his hands because that was about what she would have come up with.

  “I’m open to most things,” she said. “I don’t have any set hobbies. No strong dislikes either.”

  “So you’re okay with trying new things?”

  There was something in his look that made her think he wasn’t talking about ideas for a date. “It depends,” she said.

  “I promise it won’t be anything that could hurt.”

  Damn him for turning innocent comments into body-drenching thoughts in her mind. “That’s good to know. So you’ll be in contact with me before then?” she asked. This would give her nine days to prepare herself.

  “Of course. Are you going to give me your cell number or am I to email you?”

  “Now you’re just trying to be cute,” she said. Her voice was trying to stay in control and he took it as businesslike. She was going to have to get a grip at some point.

  “I’ve been told I come by that naturally.”

  “By a ton of women,” she said.

  “Mostly my
mother.”

  “Are you a Mama’s boy?”

  He started to cough. Good, she’d ruffled his feathers a bit. Glad to know he wasn’t immune to it. “What makes you think that?”

  “Just a question. I know you get along well with your father. Even your sister. You talk about your brothers often. Even your mother, but I don’t see her in here often so I have no idea. I wouldn’t have brought it up if you didn’t say your mother made that comment to you.”

  “I guess you get a pass on that. No, I don’t think I’m a Mama’s boy any more than Noah or Wyatt. She spread it out evenly. She’s probably the closest to Jade at times, sharing things like shopping and pedicures, manicures. All those girly things.”

  “Men do those things too,” she said, just trying to tease him a little.

  “Not this man. Nothing other than shopping and I can assure you I don’t do it with my mother or sister as an adult. I could barely stand doing it as a kid.”

  “Since I’ve shopped with your sister, I can sympathize. She wore me out.”

  “It’s exhausting both physically and mentally to shop with Jade. All she wants to do is try on dresses and skirts, heels and boots. Then it’s hair accessories and nail polish. Girl overload. I’m guessing she hasn’t changed much.”

  “What you see at work is probably the same as a kid so I’ll tell you no. She was like that with me.”

  Kara still couldn’t believe how exhausted she was when she’d gotten home from the day her credit card took the most abuse it had in years.

  “Okay. So back to the date. I’ll figure something out and let you know a few days prior. Does that work?”

  “It does,” she said. She pulled her phone out. “You give me your number first.” He read it off to her, she punched it in and then sent him a text. “There you go. When you’re ready to let me know, I’ll be waiting.”

  “I have a feeling you don’t wait for too many men.”

  “No,” she said, standing up. “If we are done, I’ve got some work to finish up.”

  “You always have work to finish up.” He stood up with her. “I’ll make sure to send over my comments on the project we’re working on before I leave tonight. That way you aren’t held up while I’m gone if my father or uncle have any questions on how it’s going.”