“I don’t believe it. They are not gay.” Amber sounded positively mortified at the idea neither man would be open to her feminine charms. “What on Earth makes you think that?”
Julia shrugged. She hadn’t really thought about it. Yet, somehow she knew she was right. “I don’t know. They just fit together somehow.”
“They are best friends. Everyone knows that. Maybe their friendship is what you’re picking up on.”
Julia shook her head. “It’s more than that. It’s the way they look at each other sometimes.” It was the softening around Derek’s eyes when Scott walked into a room. Like life was just better when he had the other man close by. And the way Scott would sometimes bite his bottom lip when he looked at Derek. As if he imagined biting something entirely different, but held himself in check.
The whole idea made Julia flustered until her normally unflappable demeanour came apart at the edges every time she ended up alone in a room with the two of them. It was like an ecstatic kind of torture. Which was exactly why she preferred to be completely prepared when she had her monthly meeting with them. It helped her look professional, even when she didn’t feel it.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Amber asked, looking put out.
“It never came up, and besides what was I supposed to say? They never talk about it or refer to themselves as a couple. Obviously they prefer to keep their private lives to themselves and it’s nobody else’s business.” Actually, now she thought about it, she felt bad for being the one to let the cat out of the proverbial bag. “Maybe you’re right,” she said, hoping to put a quick end to the conversation. “I’m probably just imagining the whole thing.”
Amber laughed. “I for one don’t blame you if you are. I just want to be able to slide myself in the middle of all that hot male goodness.”
Those words alone made Julia’s stomach clench. Made other parts, lower down, clench too. Images of the two men together, their mouths melding, their hard masculine bodies straining against each other, played through her head. She heard a tiny whimper, realised it had come from her and cleared her throat, hoping to cover it up. This kind of behaviour was unacceptable in the workplace. As a responsible adult she would not allow such salacious thoughts to interfere in her life. Well, not between the hours of nine and five anyway.
“Finally.” She held up the report she’d been searching for with a triumphant shake. “Just in time.”
A moment later there was a knock on the door and Derek poked his head into the room. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said with a wide smile. “Julia, are you ready for us?”
She rose from her desk, desperately trying not to hear a double meaning in his words. “Of course.” With a quick wave to Amber, she followed him across the hall to the conference room where Scott waited. Let the fluttering begin.
Chapter 2
“You’ve done an amazing job, Julia. As always.” Derek closed the monthly report and pushed it aside as they wrapped up their meeting. “I only wish we could have convinced you to stick around longer.” He dished up the well-deserved compliment with a side of his most charming grin, and was rewarded when a flush of pleasure brightened her cheeks.
That was just the reaction he’d been hoping for. He wanted to make sure their prim and proper accountant was happy before he posed the question he’d been wanting to ask all week. “We’ll see you at the party tonight. Right?”
He and Scott had decided to celebrate five years in operation by hosting a small get-together for their employees in a local pub. Nothing fancy, just some drinks and nibbles to thank everyone for their hard work. Derek had his own reasons for hoping Julia, in particular, would be there.
“The party’s tonight?” she asked as she began to gather her belongings. He could all but see her brain working, looking for a polite way to say no. “I’m not sure. I’ve only got one week left and I have a lot of work to finish. I want to make sure everything is up to date when Amber takes over my role. I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it.”
“Oh, come on,” Derek replied with a dismissive hand. “It’s Friday. Blow off work. I have it on good authority your bosses won’t mind.”
She glanced at Scott as she gave a half-hearted laugh, but he was busy using his smart phone to book their final meeting into his calendar. Derek wondered if it would be too obvious if he kicked his partner under the table. A plan was being hatched here. The least the other man could do was pay attention.
“Celebrating the success of the company is important to us and you’ve been a big part of that success this past year. We’d both like you to be there,” he added a little louder. “Wouldn’t we, Scott?”
Scott looked up from his phone with a start. “Yes,” he said in a gruff voice. That steely gaze of his locked with Julia’s for a lingering moment. “Of course we want you.” Derek saw Scott’s jaw clench, watched his throat work as he swallowed hard, right before his gaze returned to the phone in his hand.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Derek turned his own attention back to Julia. She was still staring at Scott. Her brows were drawn into a deep frown, even as she took a shuddery breath through parted lips. Derek reached across the table with one hand to regain her attention, his fingertips brushing against hers. “Please,” he said with a quiet insistence. “Say you’ll come.”
One corner of her mouth lifted in a shy grin that went straight to his gut, and a few other places. She nodded. “All right. I’ll be there.”
“Excellent. We’ll be looking forward to it.” He rose from his chair and walked her to the door with a broad smile. “Scott and I are in desperate need of a night out before we turn into a boring old couple.”
Her wide-eyed gaze snapped up to his, before flicking to the stiff back Scott still presented. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she finally blurted, “See you tonight.” Then she disappeared out the door.
Derek almost laughed out loud a few seconds later as he watched her office door slam closed. Expected though it was, the utter shock on her face had been priceless.
When Julia had begun working for them a year ago, Derek had taken an instant liking to her. She was smart and funny and ridiculously sexy under all those layers of propriety and decorum. Before long they’d started chatting in the lunchroom about a whole range of subjects. They’d enjoyed each other’s company and become friends of a sort. But not once had he ever made reference to himself and Scott as a couple. It was an unspoken rule of his relationship with Scott. They kept their private life and their business life strictly separate. Derek didn’t like it. To him it had always felt like hiding. Scott preferred it that way, though, and Derek did his best to understand his partner’s needs. One day he hoped they could be more open with the people they spent so much time with. Until Scott was on board with the idea, however, they would continue to present themselves to the world at large as business partners, friends, and nothing more.
He’d never made an exception to the rule—until today. He’d done it because that’s exactly what he hoped Julia would become. An exception.
“A word, Derek?” Scott brushed past him on his way out of the conference room and into his own office down the hall.
Derek followed him in before closing the door. He leaned back against it, arms crossed over his chest, and watched Scott pace in front of his desk. That jaw of his was clenched tighter than an iron maiden. His fists balled at his sides. In fact, every inch of his delectable body was coiled with tension. Just as it always was after they’d spent time alone in a room with Julia. Only this time he used it to fuel his anger.
“What the hell are you doing?” Scott demanded.
“She’s leaving. After next week she won’t work for us anymore. It changes everything.” He knew, left to his own devices, Scott would continue to choke on his own lust until Julia disappeared from their lives forever. Derek had no intention of being that selfless. There were only a few days separating her from the end of her contract and he’d decid
ed to take action.
“What are you talking about, Derek?”
“I’m talking about the way you look at her.” Derek waited for it. The stare. Scott didn’t disappoint.
“And how exactly do I look at her?” he asked, eyes sparking.
“Like you want to put a kink in her bun.”
Scott barked out a laugh. “You’ve got some way with words, man. A kink in her bun. I’ll have to remember that one.”
“Deny it all you want.” Derek pushed away from the door and crossed the few metres separating them. “I know you too well.”
Scott shot forward and wrapped one strong hand around the back of Derek’s neck, pulling him into a deep, mind-numbing kiss. Caught off guard, Derek groaned as the blunt edge of Scott’s teeth bit down into his lower lip, just hard enough to hurt, before his tongue ran over the sore spot. By the time Scott drew away, Derek was breathing hard, wanting more.
“You do know me,” Scott growled, his breath hot on Derek’s face. “You know you’re mine.”
Derek allowed a grin to spread across his mouth, his tongue curling up behind his teeth in wicked delight. “And she could be ours.”
Releasing his hold, Scott leaned back on the edge of his desk with a heavy sigh, long legs stretched out in front of him. “Don’t be ridiculous. She looks like a librarian. How do you think she’s going to react if we do this?”
“Do what? Show an interest? She’s a beautiful woman. I’m sure she’s used to having two men hit on her at the same time.”
“Yeah.” Scott snorted in amusement. “But I doubt they’re normally fucking each other as well.”
Derek shrugged. “A valid point, but that only makes us more appealing. We’re double the fun.” Moving closer, he slid one leg between the other man’s knees and curved a hand around the back of his neck before leaning down to murmur in his ear. “You feel it as much as I do. The need for soft skin and curves. Sinking into her hot, wet body.” He leaned closer, until his thigh nudged Scott’s groin. “I know you want her as much as I do.”
Scott didn’t reply, refused to so much as move a muscle, but Derek wasn’t fooled. He could see the way Scott’s hands gripped the edge of the desk beneath him until his knuckles were white. That wasn’t the only response to betray Scott’s desires. He could deny it if he wanted to, but his aroused cock said he was ready for the challenge winning Julia presented.
Satisfied, Derek pulled back to look into his lover’s eyes. “We’ve always known we were meant to have a third. After all these years, I think we may have finally found her. Just give it a chance.”
It was there in Scott’s eyes. Behind the gruff, brooding exterior. The uncertainty and wariness. “Don’t get your hopes up. She obviously likes you, but me?” He shook his head. “I’m not so sure she’ll want the package deal.”
Derek grinned and dropped a quick kiss on Scott’s lips before moving away. “Stop glaring at her,” he suggested in a bright tone as he headed for the door. “That should help.”
Our Little Secret (Finding Forever, Book 1) is now available on Amazon
Also by Rebecca Raine: Splinter
Ignite the magick within, or be hunted in the dark.
Rachel Fallon has inherited the estate of her grandmother, Maddie, and believes she’s finally found a place to call home. That is, until a terrifying experience convinces her Maddie’s death was no accident, but murder. Now, her search for answers will uncover a world brimming with magick, where vampires are real and thirsty for blood.
Nick Hunter has left behind his own splinter of reality to follow Maddie’s killer to this place of disbelievers, where people have not learnt to fear nightfall. Despite his difficulty accessing the magick here, Nick is determined to find the vampire and put an end to his madness.
Rachel’s presence is both a complication and an all too tempting distraction, even with the force of the magick she unknowingly possesses. When she becomes the focus of the vampire’s attention, Nick and Rachel must work together to stop him. But as the flames of desire burn hot between them, the truth about the night Maddie died threatens to destroy them both.
Available Now on Amazon
About the Author
Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real-life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two adorable children and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.
Acknowledgements
Where would I be without my wonderful husband? Thank you for all your love and support—and for listening to me rant about Lincoln during edits.
Thank you to my sisters, who always tell me to go for it, and are willing to proofread in a hurry.
Georgia Henry, your honesty and openness helped me make this book what it is. Thank you so much for being such an amazing critique partner.
My thanks to Syneca Featherstone for another fabulous cover. I love working with you.
Finally, to every reader who purchases a copy of this book, and especially those who take the time to leave an honest review, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Lost in Amber: Steamy Contemporary Romance (Finding Forever Book 2) Page 17