Yes, Konrad still blamed Fabian for falling in love, making it appealing.
“It can’t be easy.”
Konrad thought about his childhood. “No, it’s not. My Mutter, the poor girl, didn’t fare well. I mean, she would have bent over backward for my father if he’d wanted. And she did. It was always whatever he wanted.” He gazed at his manicured fingernails, remembering the times his mother took him with her to have their nails manicured. It was some of the most memorable times of his childhood before his father sent him off to boarding school. “I don’t like feeling out of control. This has to be exactly what she felt.”
“You worried about it?”
“Fuck yes, I’m worried.” Konrad felt anger for his father. For his mother, too. His father had led her to an early grave.
“What’s the worst that could happen? You end up like Fabian?”
“No. That Scottie ends up hating me because I don’t know how to make a commitment.” And worse than that, Konrad would end up hating himself.
“She might hate you already.” Dallas laughed, though not in humor. It was his way to lighten the conversation.
“You’re probably right.” Konrad needed to lighten up. He needed to be rational. He was not his father. He could not hurt anyone out of pure selfishness. “She left my place cross with me last night, but I want to change her mind about me. It that moronic?”
Dallas stared at Konrad, searching his face for several beats before he answered. “I’ve never seen you like this. So I say no, it’s not moronic. You want to be different for her—”
“For myself.” He didn’t know how to begin. He’d have to wing it.
“Then, definitely, it’s not moronic.”
Konrad blew out a hefty sigh. He’d hated talking about his feelings. He was lucky Dallas could be a gentleman about it and actually give decent advice, unlike Tylund and Fabian. “I’m going to need about five of these Bloody Marys before brunch is over.”
Chapter Twenty
Scottie sat in the kitchen Saturday afternoon, tired because sleep didn’t come. It hadn’t even been twelve hours since she’d arrived back home, reeling and hating herself. Although she hated the situation more. How could she have let her lust take her by the throat?
Was she just being a fool? An inexperienced idiot who didn’t know what to look for in a man? Maybe, because of her prejudices based on her father, she wouldn’t know what to do when a good guy came around.
She sighed. Too much was on her mind. She needed to get her life together.
“You’re up.” Tara walked into the kitchen, holding her iPad.
Scottie glanced up, smiling at her Tara, despite the battle that had been going on inside her. The tension that had been causing them strife had dissipated once Scottie had paid her portion of the rent. Which brought her to another thing she couldn’t stop thinking about: her grandmother’s brooch—the one she needed to buy back.
“Hey,” she replied to Tara’s greeting.
“Are you okay?”
Scottie sighed. Not at all. Maybe it was time she stopped pretending she was. “I’m just realizing how hard it is to be an adult.”
“Aww, Scott.” Tara touched her arm, and Scottie leaned into it.
“I’m sorry about the rent,” said Scottie. “I should not have just assumed you’d take care of it. I never expected anything from anyone before. Don’t know why I did now.”
Tara gazed at her thoughtfully. “Don’t say that. You can expect things from people, but you do have to make you own way.”
“I know.” Scottie looked down at her yogurt and granola bowl. “I appreciate you so much. I hope you know that, Tara.”
“I know. And I’m sorry for being such a hard ass about the rent. But I’m on my own. I don’t have anyone to rely on. Well, just Brett, though I wouldn’t consider him reliable either.”
As much as Scottie wanted to express her opinion of Brett, she didn’t. It wasn’t her place to tell Tara what a complete douche he was. Still, it made her think of Konrad again. Scottie was so confused about where he stood—where she stood. What made it worse was he was her boss. There was no way she’d quit without getting another position first. She’d need another one, stat. But the thing was, she didn’t want to quit just yet. She wanted to stay, get to the bottom of it all.
Everything was messed up.
“This is why I don’t date,” Scottie said, averting her eyes. She still smelled like Konrad. And sex.
“When’s the last time you dated someone? Or better yet, had sex?”
Oh God. Konrad’s powerful body between her legs giving her life. His soft lips dancing with hers. His velvety tongue against hers. His massive palms holding her thighs apart.
“I don’t know…” Scottie was a bit too breathy. She absolutely knew the answer. She still felt the soreness between her legs.
“Has it been since sophomore year? Jonathon?”
Three years, really? The first man she’d had sex with was a nice guy in her intro to biology class. He was safe. And a dud. He should not have been her first. Scottie had always struggled in that area. Men were bad news. She’d seen it growing up with her own father, who had abandoned her, and all the loser boyfriends her mother had had.
“I guess Jon was the last guy I dated.” Scottie didn’t want to talk about it anymore. She did, however, consider coming clean about Konrad and how much she’d started to fall for him. That was so completely ridiculous, though, that, in the end, she opted to keep it to herself.
Maybe she could act like nothing happened. When she left Korr Properties, either by contract expiration or a new position, she’d surely never seen him again. Never cross paths. Never anything again.
She hated that thought.
“Don’t you want a boyfriend?”
She wanted Konrad. In his bed. As her boyfriend.
“No. I’m good. I need to work on myself.” The words came out so rehearsed, she almost believed it.
“Oh, come on, Scottie. You’ve been saying that since collage. Isn’t there someone you’re interested in?” Tara wasn’t going to let it go.
Scottie looked away, standing. She walked to the refrigerator, though didn’t open it. “Can’t say I am.”
“Not even at your new job?” Tara had peeled a banana. “No cuties there?”
Scottie sighed. “Not a one.” The conversation was over. Awkwardly, she changed the subject for her own sanity. “Hey, do you need help with any catering gigs? I’m trying to earn some extra cash.”
“What do you need extra cash for?” Tara, thankfully, didn’t press the boyfriend topic anymore.
Scottie opened the refrigerator, peering at all the leftover boxes and half-drunk bottles of juice and water inside. “I’m trying to get back something I pawned.”
“What did you pawn?”
Scottie shrugged, closing the door and facing Tara again, taking in her concern. “Just something I want to get back.”
“Did you pawn something to pay rent?” Scottie’s refusal to answer made Tara glower. “You didn’t.”
“It’s okay. I can get it back.” Scottie waved her hand, although she wasn’t totally positive she could get the brooch back.
“Did you pawn what I think you did?” Tara’s eyes were intense on hers again.
“Don’t worry about it.” Scottie walked to the couch, falling into the cushions.
“It was your grandmother’s brooch, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Damn, Scottie.” She walked to the couch, and her hand fell on Scottie’s shoulder. “Were you really that desperate?”
The bit of frustration she felt toward Tara stopped at her clenched jaw. “It’s okay. I can get it back.”
Tara shook her head. “I’m sorry. I had no idea it was that bad. I know how much that brooch means to you.”
Tara was the first person Scottie had called when she’d received it. They were silent again. If Scottie said another word, she’d cry.
&nbs
p; Nodding, Tara said, “I do need help with another catering job I have tomorrow morning. It’s an all-day thing on a yacht.”
“A yacht?” Scottie gasped.
“I’m going to get a fat check for the job. If you can help me, I’ll give you twenty-five percent.”
“No way, Tara!” Scottie’s heart raced.
“It’s fine. Trust me, I’ll have plenty left over. And I think this client likes me. I have another job next Friday through her, so I know there will be more jobs in the future.”
Scottie hugged Tara. “Looks like Decadent Chick Catering is finally taking off!”
“I think it is! Finally. Thanks to Antonia and Fabian.”
Scottie’s heart stalled. “What?”
“You know, the couple we catered on Monday.”
“Oh.” Scottie brought her fingers to her lips. Konrad would be there.
“Is something wrong?” Tara moved around the couch stood near the edge of the coffee table.
Yes. Very wrong. “No. Not at all.”
“So, let’s celebrate tonight,” Tara said, setting on the couch next to Scottie and taking her hand in hers. “We can’t stay out too late though. Have to get up early in the morning.”
Scottie could only smile. What was she supposed to do? She needed to stay away from Konrad, especially outside of the office. But would she be able to keep her secret about Konrad under wraps when their private lives kept overlapping?
Chapter Twenty-One
Konrad glanced at his Rolex. Not even eleven, and his eyelids drooped from lack of sleep. The music at H Bar kept him awake though, along with his rowdy friends as they all took a third round of tequila shots. Frankly, Konrad thought Fabian had gone overboard with the engagement celebrations.
Konrad took the shot because he was a sport after all. “That’s it, lads. No more tequila for this German.”
“You’re drinking like a sissy tonight,” Tylund said, slamming the shot glass down next to Melina’s untouched shot.
“We have had too many shots,” Antonia chimed in, accepting a surprise kiss from Fabian.
Get a room. Konrad looked away. If Scottie had been there, she’d be on his lap too, getting surprise kisses at every turn.
“This son of a bitch had half a dozen Bloody Marys at brunch today,” Dallas said, laughing.
“Business as usual,” Konrad said, glancing at the bar from the VIP nook they’d always reserved. He needed fresh air and water before he imbibed any further. So much for bottle service. “I’ll be back.”
“Where you going?” Tylund lifted his arms over his head to stretch, pulling on Melina’s ponytail in the process. She smacked his thigh.
Why don’t those two just shag already?
Clearly, Konrad wasn’t in a mood. “To the bar. I need some H2O.” He maneuvered around the low tables, which were solid with liquor bottles and glasses.
Without further hassle from the crew, he made it out of the VIP section and through the main floor. Several people stopped to greet him, mostly acquaintances. Some where women he’d had on rotation at some point or another. Had he only really been in Houston for less than a year? He didn’t even want to think how many women he’d bedded since he arrived.
The fresh air finally hit his face when he’d reached an empty spot along the bar. H Bar had been packed as usual on a Saturday night.
The bartender, Victoria, walked over to him right away. She knew him, and he knew her. Knew her, knew her.
“Hey, stud. Don’t tell me you’ve emptied all those bottles, have you?” A coquettish smile pulled her bee-stung full lips.
“Not a chance, love. I just needed some air and water. I hope you have some for me.” He leaned in, remembering when he’d taken her to the men’s room last weekend. Not his best hour.
Victoria bent over to retrieve a bottle of Fiji water from the bar refrigerator. “Glass?”
“Not tonight. I’m going to drink it like an animal.” He turned the bottle cap until it snapped open.
“A beast,” she said, her blues eyes sparkling.
Before he responded, two arms snaked around his waist from behind. Victoria’s eyes dulled at the display. Konrad glanced down at the tanned slim hands around him, wrists ornate with a Cartier industrial bangle he’d purchased. Pilar.
He turned to her, her lips lifted high in a smile. She was alone. “Hi, gorgeous! What are you doing here?”
Pilar squeezed her arms, giving him a real hug. Her face in his chest, she said, “Hey, guapo. Just meeting Esteban.”
Konrad chuckled. “You better get off me or else he and I will come to blows.”
She laughed, looking up to him. She barely came up to his chest. “He’s not loco.”
“I don’t know, love. I thought he might have tried something at dinner the other night.”
She shook her head, her smile warm and comfortable. He’d truly grown fond of her. “You look good. Are you feeling better?”
He wrapped his arms around her, strengthening their friendly embrace. “I’m okay.” He leaned down to kiss her forehead, his lips lingering there, but his gaze drifted. Right to a pair of hazel eyes planted on him from across the bar.
Scottie.
Fuck. Me. Konrad didn’t expect to see her until the Sunday brunch. He’d still not sorted out what he’d say to her. How he’d tell her she was wrong about him.
He released his arms fast. Scottie was faster and spun on her heels to go in the opposite direction to the ladies’ room. As she did so, the catering chef Tara came into view, a lanky guy holding on to her waist. But it wasn’t only them. Jeff came into view, too, watching Scottie. Calling to her.
A kick in the balls would hurt less. Why the hell was Jeff with her? If they were on a date, Konrad would die. The notion made him absolutely ill.
He left the bar. Left his water behind. Left Pilar calling to him. His only mission was to get to Scottie.
In his mad race to her, he passed Jeff, not acknowledging him, though he himself had been acknowledged. Down the dark hall to the bathroom, he spotted Scottie holding the ladies’ room door knob. She froze at the sight of him. Her eyes first widened in surprise, then narrowed to slits.
He came on her like a lunatic, taking her face in in his palms as if he had the right to do it. “What are you doing?”
She shoved his hands away. “What are you doing?” Her voice cracked.
“Here with Jeff, are you?” He glanced back. Still alone. His heartbeat reverberated in his ears. His whole body thumped from his hard pulse. “It didn’t take you long, did it?”
Her forehead creased, a blaze in her eyes making her irises glow green in the dim light. “Seriously? You obviously are here with Pilar. So it didn’t take you long, did it?”
He reached for her again, his hands on her face again, pulling her into a kiss she succumbed to for a microsecond before she pushed away from him again.
“Don’t kiss me with those lips.” She brought a trembling hand to her mouth, wiping it.
He’d never been in such a high emotional situation. Control was gone. Nothing was his deliberate doing. Everything sprang forth from the turmoil flowing inside, the ache, the loss of stability. He had no idea who he was in that moment, but he knew he didn’t want Scottie to walk away from him. And he didn’t want her to be with anyone else. Nothing was clearer than that, even when everything else was very unclear.
“Are you with him, Scottine?” His voice croaked.
“No, you asshole! I’m not with him.” She shook her head. “We ran into him at Bowie Brew and he followed us here.”
The way she looked at him made him want to fall through the floor and never return. If Scottie thought he was scum, then everyone did. “I’m not with Pilar. I’m with my friends.”
“Oh, right.” She glanced past him at the sounds of heels tapping on the tiles.
Konrad took her hand and pulled her a few feet to the corner of the hall, where the wall met another wall. She yanked her hand away. He took it
back, bringing it to his lips. “I swear, I’m not with Pilar. I ended it with her before we got together.”
She didn’t pull her hand away. “I don’t believe you, Konrad.”
“Look at me, Scottie.” He pressed her back against the wall, his body sizzling for her, wanting her so bad, wanting to taste her lips again—be inside her again. When she didn’t look, he demanded it again.
Hazel eyes met his. “What?” The simple question was all breath.
“I…” He stared at her, taking in every part of her face: her eyes, her nose, her quivering lips, her exposed décolleté, the pulse at her throat. “I think it’s you.”
“What’s me?” Her voice cracked.
“What I want. I want you.”
She gasped at his words.
“Do you want me too?”
Her lips parted. She looked as stunned as he was by his words, but she didn’t respond, didn’t give him the “yes” he wanted to hear. She didn’t say no, either.
Konrad pressed his lips against hers in a hard kiss. As harsh as he was with her, she wrapped her arms around him. Their kiss grew in strength, in undeniable power—in an intensity he’d never known before.
She pulled away before he could completely lose his mind with her. “I have to get back. They’ll come looking for me.”
As much as he didn’t want to, he released her but caged her in with his hand on the wall. “I have half a mind to not care.” But he had to. Jeff was his employee, and Konrad and Scottie needed to talk about what this all meant.
She glanced past him. “You have to care.”
Leaning in to kiss her again before he set her free, he said, “I know.”
Their kiss lasted longer than it should have. When they parted, a voice called from the end of the hall.
“Look who it is!” Jeff walked up, thankfully seeming to have missed the display of only seconds ago.
Scottie stepped away from Konrad, smoothing back her wild hair. “We just ran into each other.”
Jeff had a smirk on his lips. Perhaps he’d seen something after all. “Yeah, I saw him walk by. What a surprise, Lord Korr.”
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