by Liz Kelly
“For the love of God—Tansy?” Vance asked, squinting his eyes in disbelief.
Pinks rolled all the way over—groaning—now lying flat out on his belly.
“Tansy Langford?” Vance could hardly wrap his head around it. Why would anyone want to—?
“I couldn’t help myself,” Pinks mumbled as he tried to push his body off the table. “It was either kill her and throw her body in the lake, or you know, try to fuck her to death.”
“Well, you about damn succeeded,” Vance said. “She’s passed out on her desk with her clothes in tatters. Why the hell did you bring her here?”
Now in a sitting position, with his legs draped over the side of the table, Pinks rubbed a hand along his jaw and looked at Vance. “Where the hell else was I going to take her? I certainly wasn’t going to sneak her into your father’s house, and I didn’t trust myself out by the lake. I would have just as likely drowned her as…you know…this. God, I ache all over,” he lamented, moving his arms, trying to loosen up his muscles.
“Gee, the conference table isn’t as soft and cushy as your bed?”
Pinks gave Vance a deadpan stare. “It won’t happen again.”
“What won’t happen again? Sex on my conference table or sex with Tansy Langford?”
“Both,” Davis said as he stood up and tried to find his equilibrium. “It may have taken all night, but you can be damn sure I have worked that woman out of my system.”
“All night?”
“Yeah, well,” Pinks said as he bent over to pick up Tansy’s unmentionables and stuffed them into his back pocket, “there were a lot of…issues the two of us needed to work out.”
“Like which one of you tops the other around here?” Vance smirked.
Pinks smiled. “Something like that.”
“Jesus Christ, dude. Whatever happened to nice, safe, and boring?”
Pinks picked up his T-shirt and rubbed it over his face. Then he eyed Vance and sighed. “I do believe she literally sucked it all out of me.”
“Dear God,” Vance said, staring at The Ninja. Finally, he shook himself out of his stupor and pointed to the doors. “Get the hell out of here. Take the back way out, go get yourself cleaned up, and when you come back, walk in here like you own the place. Do not let Tansy Langford get the upper hand—in any of it.”
“Right.” Pinks nodded, pulling on his T-shirt and grabbing his belt.
“I have something I need to discuss with Tansy before I head to New York.”
“New York? What the fuck is in New York?”
“God, you’re starting to sound like Brooks.”
“Yeah? Give me two years and I’ll be the mayor around here. Golden Boy, my ass. Did you see me on those drums last night?”
Pinks started whipping his ninja hands around like there were drumsticks attached.
“Yes, I saw,” Vance chuckled. “The whole damn town saw. I don’t know how you and The Outlaw did it, but the place was packed, and your little band is a huge hit.”
“You think that was packed? Wait until you see how many show up for our lacrosse clinic next weekend.”
“Pinks—Jesus—do me a favor. Steer clear of Brooks until I get back.”
“He’s scared, right?” Pinks said with glee. “Afraid I’m going to win Lolly back,” he teased. “I saw her on the dance floor last night. She liked what she saw. She likes Pinks, the Ninja Drummer,” he said raising his brows up and down.
“You are not winning Lolly back.”
“I know,” Pinks said sincerely. “But it sure is fun to yank the Golden Boy’s chain.”
“It is indeed. Now get lost so I can wake up Tansy and use all this to my advantage.”
“See how all this worked out for you?” Pinks said, as he headed out the door. “I set ’em up, so you can knock ’em out of the park. What the hell are you gonna do without me?”
“I don’t know,” Vance muttered to himself as he turned down the hall toward Tansy. “I truly do not know.”
***
It was the feeling of drool running down Tansy's cheek that woke her up. That and the fact that her head, right arm, neck, and shoulder all ached like she’d been hit from behind. She scraped her face over her arm and then began pushing herself into a sitting position when…Bam! The chair rolled out from under her, and her ass hit the ground. But not before her chin struck the edge of her desk with such force it sent shockwaves of pain coursing around her skull.
Owwwww, she thought, wailing inside and squeezing her eyes shut against the crazy pain. Where the hell am I? I don’t deserve this. She started to cry—planning to curl herself into a ball and drown herself in tears. But the laughter coming from some distant place, somewhere outside of the hell she was presently ensconced in, alerted her to the fact that she was not alone.
Fucking Davis.
She opened her eyes and rubbed her chin, checking for blood and loose teeth. From under the desk, she could see a pair of fine leather loafers and a pricey pair of trousers seated across the room.
Holy shit!
She scrambled off the floor, smoothing down her skirt and trying to straighten her hair as she prepared to face Hale Evans.
When she looked up and saw that it was Vance, she let herself collapse into her chair with a sigh of relief. “Thank God, it’s only you,” she said, closing her eyes and letting her head fall back to the desk.
“That’s right,” Vance said quietly. “It’s only me.” He stood and walked toward her. “Only me and my phone.”
She opened her eyes and stared at the cell phone he held out. There was a picture of a homeless woman collapsed in the streets. He flicked his finger across the screen to reveal another picture of the woman taken from a different angle. That poor soul. Somebody needs to clean her up.
“Tansy,” Vance whispered as she brought her hand up, feeling for a lump on the bottom of her chin.
I should put some ice on this. I cannot be walking around town with a puffy, black-and-blue face.
“Tansy,” Vance said again, drawing her attention and pointing to the picture on his phone. “I need your help with something and I want it kept confidential.”
“I’m not doing it,” she said. “I mean, I’m happy to make a donation and work in a soup kitchen, but don’t ask me to make over that poor wretch.” She flipped a finger at his phone. “I am no miracle worker.”
Vance looked at his screen and then hooted with laughter. “Tansy. This picture was taken twenty minutes ago. It’s a picture of you.”
She blinked a couple times and leaned forward for a better look. As the full extent of her passage through Hell dawned, she heard Vance say, “Now, unless you want this blasted across all forms of social media, I suggest you agree to help me.”
She moaned, dropping her head back to the desk. “I’ll do anything you want,” she said. “Except touch you. I refuse to touch you.”
“I’d have to be roped and gagged,” Vance said, putting his phone in his pocket. He sat on the edge of her desk.
God, I hate when he does that.
“Well?” she said. It wasn’t exactly that she hated working for Vance. It was more that she couldn’t stand to look at him. She rolled her head to the side, trying to see what women saw in him.
“I finally understand why you’ve hated me all these years.”
“Is that right?” she said, pushing herself up and folding her arms over her chest.
What the hell?
She looked down at her braless torso and saw that there weren’t but a couple buttons holding her shirt together.
“Yeah, nice office attire,” Vance said. “But I’m going to need you to focus right now because I have a plane to catch, and as far as you’re concerned, your job and your…reputation….” He patted the pocket that held his cell phone. “Depend on how well you can pull this off for me.”
“Spit it out, oh Great and Powerful Oz,” she snarked.
“Piper Beaumont was a friend of yours in grade school.�
��
“Yes, Piper Beaumont.” Tansy nodded gingerly so the pain in her head wouldn’t upset her stomach. “Saw her last night for the first time in ages.”
“Right. But back in eighth grade, there was a weekend she spent with you where she asked me to dance, and I promptly blew her off. I’m guessing that pissed you off and you’ve never forgiven me for hurting Piper’s feelings.”
She gasped, shocked that he would know that.
“I get it,” Vance said. “And now maybe you understand how I felt when you moved out of town leaving Brooks holding his dick.”
“It’s not the same,” she protested.
“Yeah, yours was worse. Way worse. And I’ll tell you what,” Vance said, getting up off her desk. “I hate the idea that you’ve had your big grubby man-paws all over my boy, Pinks. If this is some kinda scheme to upset Lolly—”
“Lolly? Ha! And you can just stop right there, Casanova. You are not the boss of me.”
“Really? You might want to take a look at who is signing your paychecks, Big Foot. Because that is exactly what I am.”
There were literally no words to describe the amount of pain she was in.
“Look,” Vance said. “Snubbing Piper was rude and I apologize. In fact, I’d like to make it up to her. And in order for me to do that, it would be helpful if I could take a look at her Pinterest account.”
“Just…sign up and follow her boards,” Tansy said. “I think even you can handle that.”
“Tansy, please, work with me here. Just set up a Pinterest account for me under an assumed name and make it look legit. Then send me the password or whatever I need so I can snoop around Piper’s stuff. I’m curious about this kitchen she’s dreaming up, and I figure it might be a good way to get to know her a little better. See what she likes.”
“You want me to help you get insider information on Piper.”
“You’ve got a problem with that?” he said, flicking her picture at her again.
She winced. “I guess I don’t really have a choice now, do I?”
“Nope. And thank you,” he said as he started moving toward the door. “Anything you want from New York City? Something from the Big and Tall Girls’ Collection at Barneys?”
“A new job,” she shouted after him.
“Call Lewis Kampmueller. I’ll put in a good word,” he shouted back.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Piper pushed open the double glass doors of Collins & Reese Thursday morning and nearly dissolved into a puddle.
Standing before her was the most handsome, most polished hunk of male glory she had ever witnessed, and it was obvious by the intense and hungry look in his eye that he was there for her. Only her.
Tall and immaculate in his custom-made three-piece suit, Vance Evans was the poster boy for health, wealth, and playboys the world over. He didn't look like a cop. He didn't look like a highly paid lawyer. He looked like a man in control of his own destiny. The way he held himself—legs apart, hands clasped behind his back—screamed authority, power, and clout. His presence dominated the room, and within all the hustle and bustle of the morning office activity, there wasn't a single person, male or female, who didn't slow down and notice all that sovereignty.
As if in slow motion, people moving through the lobby area took notice of Vance and then followed his gaze to Piper. Then they noticed Piper and followed her gaze back to Vance. In the back of her mind, Piper considered the spectacle they were becoming. Yet she was powerless to do anything about it, because she was so stunned at his presence, so stunned at the sight of him, and so trying to control her own response to what had to be the world’s largest aphrodisiac.
He grinned, broke eye contact for a second, and then crossed the Persian rug between them, rubbing a knuckle over his lips.
“Miss Beaumont.” He smiled down at her, blocking her view of everything else. “If you continue to look at me like that, I’m likely to drag you into the nearest storage closet and ruin your reputation.”
Have at it.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
“The nearest storage closet is right down the hall,” she whispered back.
He gave a soft laugh. “Piper, walk me to your office.”
She did as she was told, leading him down a long hallway to the right, around a corner and back to her small, windowless office. He closed the door behind him and she burst into giggles. “What are you doing here? Dressed like that?”
“Isn’t this the way your new clients dress?”
“No.” She shook her head adamantly. “That is not how anyone dresses. Now you’re the one who is inciting a riot.”
He came forward and put his hands on her waist. “This is what I wore the day Duncan set up an introduction. I wanted to make a good impression on my old friend, Piper.”
“Oh—” she breathed. “You have made quite an impression.”
“Good. So when can I take you away from here? Noon?”
“Noon?”
“Your vacation, Piper.”
“Yes, well, about that—”
A tentative knock on her door interrupted them. “Come in,” she called.
The face of her dearest colleague poked through, grinning. “Mind if Katie and I come in and meet the handsome man?”
Piper waved her in. “Vance, these are my good friends, Gracie Wills and Katie Winslow. Ladies, this is Vance Evans, my friend from fourth grade.”
“You all know about fourth grade?” Vance asked putting out his hand, dazzling Katie and Gracie with his debonair looks and out-of-control sex appeal.
“Did he look like this in fourth grade?” Gracie asked Piper as she shook Vance’s hand.
“He’s never looked like this,” Piper said.
“I’ve suited up in the hopes of bending Piper to my will,” Vance said. “She’s promised to take a two-week vacation starting today, and I’m here to make sure that happens.”
Piper shook her head at her friends. “It’s not going to happen,” she whispered.
“Oh, it’s going to happen,” Vance insisted. He turned to Gracie. “Who is the managing partner here?”
“Ms. Jeffries. Would you like me to inquire when she’s available?”
“Gracie!” Piper scolded.
“Yes, I would,” Vance said, grinning.
“Vance, that’s ridiculous.”
“I don’t think it’s ridiculous.” Gracie turned and headed out the door. “I’ll be right back.”
“She just wants to do your bidding because you’re dressed like that,” Piper said, pointing a finger up and down his long, lean body.
“Which is exactly why I dressed like this,” he said. “I was hoping for your cooperation, but I’ll be happy to bend the entire firm to my will in order to get you out of here for a couple weeks.”
“How can I help?” Katie asked.
“Piper, how can Katie help?” Vance asked, looking at her pointedly. “Can she take care of the first years while you’re gone?”
“Well, I can certainly reassign them easily enough. That’s my job,” Katie said.
“Perfect,” Vance said. “And why don’t you join us for lunch? Gracie too. My treat.”
“I’d love to,” Katie said, turning to leave. “Around noon?”
“Noon works for me,” he said, turning to Piper.
“Noon is fine.” Piper wondered how she’d lost control of her own free will.
The door closed behind Katie. Vance, who now stood with his hands in his pockets, cocked his head giving her an inquisitive stare. “You’re playing hard to get.”
“I’m trying not to be ridiculous.”
“I like ridiculous. Ridiculous makes me hard.”
“Vance!”
He stalked her slowly. “Piper, I’m taking you out of here one way or another.” He reached into his back pocket as he backed her up and pulled out a pair of shiny handcuffs. They dangled in front of her, swinging to and fro. “I’m a cop, and I’m not afraid to use the
m,” he said as her back hit the wall. “Twenty years is a long time to wait to see if we are going to work this thing out,” he said, reaching for her left arm and cuffing her wrist.
“Oh.”
“I am done with waiting,” he said, his lips coming to hover over hers. “You’re coming to Henderson. You’re staying with me. Bad Cop is going to coax every secret out of The Lawyer Beaumont while Perfect Piper bakes cakes in my father’s kitchen and Naughty Piper prances around in skimpy little underwear.”
“You’ve been thinking about this, have you?” Piper couldn’t help but be amused, although she noticed her heart was definitely trying to beat its way out of her chest.
“The three of you have been keeping me up nights.” He reached around her back and clipped her other wrist into the cuffs.
With her hands bound behind her back and Vance’s arms braced against the wall on either side of her head, Piper should have been a little more nervous about somebody walking in. But she couldn’t remember ever being so turned on.
Vance leaned down and kissed her lips. Then he turned his head and kissed her again. Then he went back to his original position and kissed her some more. She touched her tongue to his, and he took the kiss deeper. She closed her eyes. Somebody moaned. The intense desire she had to feel his hands on her breasts made her forget where she was. She moved her body into his, felt his growing erection, and rubbed herself against him in an effort to ease her own need and stimulate his.
She wasn’t playing hard to get, so much as she was playing to get him hard.
There was a swift knock on the door, and she heard Ms. Jeffries call her name right before she stepped through with Gracie on her heels. Vance turned and put his hand out to introduce himself immediately, like he’d been standing there waiting for Jane to walk in. Luckily, Jane Jeffries was as dazzled by Vance as the rest of them were because she barely gave Piper’s heaving chest, stiff nipples and flushed cheeks a glance.