by Desiree Holt
He teased her clit, bending to take a stiff nipple into his mouth and suck on it. His fingers were busy sliding in and out of her, his thumb tormenting the hot nub of her sex. The orgasm rolled through her so smoothly she hadn’t even felt it begin. Just…suddenly there it was, shaking her like the wind in a grove of trees.
Alex moved his mouth to cover her clit, sucking it hard as he worked her through the shudders until her body was limp again. She was completely undone, a blob on the bench. He soaped her body, not missing a single crack or crevice before rinsing her off with a small hand spray. She lay supine, drained by the experience, while he saw to his own shower. Finally he turned off the spray and the music, dried them both carefully and carried her back to bed.
The last thing she remembered him saying was, “I have a great way to wake you in the morning.”
Chapter Five
Livy stood in her shower, letting the cold water beat down on her, hoping it would shock some sense into her. If some inner signal hadn’t woken her up at four thirty she still be lying in Alex McMann’s bed like any other woman, watching him strut his stuff at his conquest. She was just damn lucky he hadn’t woken up. Well, the sex might have been beyond great but she never, ever spent the whole night with a man. It was against her rules. Just because she’d let her guard down for one night didn’t mean it would happen again. If she couldn’t compartmentalize sex with Alex as she did with every other man then she’d just have to stop doing it.
Yeah, right. Tell yourself another one.
And while she was at it, maybe she could wash away that feeling for him that continued to grow inside her. A feeling she hadn’t allowed herself for year, because she knew that giving in to it would be disaster all over again. What a mess she’d made for herself.
The cold water didn’t seem to be eradicating the heat inside her body and her nipples were so puckered they were almost prunelike, so she turned off the shower. Damn that man to hell anyway. No, that was wrong. It was all her doing. She’d thought she had things right where she wanted them—hot sex then back to business. But somehow Alex had managed to worm his way under what he called her power suit and touched her inner core. He awoke emotions she’d kept buried for a long time, the kind of passion that springs from love.
I can’t let that happen again. Love hurts too much.
Still, she couldn’t erase the feel of his hands on her, his mouth, the sweep of his tongue. The fullness of his cock inside her. The way their lovemaking came from something deeper than just physical attraction. He’d taken her to heights she’d never before experienced, a place she wanted to go again. With him.
And no matter how much she wanted to deny it, the evening had been more than just sex.
The man should come with Danger written on his forehead.
She shook herself, wrapped a terry robe around her body and headed into the kitchen. The coffeemaker had done its thing so she filled a mug and took a sip of the hot brew. Yes, that was exactly what she needed. Something to wake her up and shock some sense into her. She was taking another swallow of the rich coffee when her telephone rang. She looked at the caller ID. Alex McMann. Deliberately she let the telephone ring long enough for the answering machine in her den to pick it up. She heard the sound of his voice but was too far away to make out the words.
Then she heard the familiar chimes of her cell phone ringing in her bedroom. Taking care not to spill the coffee, she hurried to check the call. Alex again. Of course. While she dried her hair, put on her makeup and dressed for the day both phones rang again several times but she never picked up. Finally, purse and keys in hand, she went into the den and pressed the playback button on the answering machine.
“Livy? Where are you? I had a nice wakeup surprise planned for you but I guess I got the surprise. Call me. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Livy? Why aren’t you answering? I can’t believe you just left like that. Not even a note.” A pause. “Jesus, listen to me. I sound like a girl. Call me.”
“Olivia? Pick up the damn phone. I want to know why you sneaked out the way you did. Call me so I don’t have to hunt you down.”
His voice had changed from cajoling to anger and he had every right to be mad. When she checked her voice mail on her cell it was more of the same. Livy knew she was being unfair to him but she really had to get her shit together before she saw him again. Had to rehearse what she would say. Make sure she was composed and sure of herself. They had to be on the same page with this. They just had to.
She hoped he didn’t show up at the office. That was no place to have this kind of discussion. But if he did, if he dragged the personal into the work place, then he wasn’t a man she wanted to be involved with.
By the time she parked in the garage in the basement of the Concordia building she was convinced she had her game face on. She’d chosen a navy pants suit with a bolero jacket and a white silk blouse that shrieked business yet made her feel feminine. No skirt today. But she still wore the stilettos and they gave her a tiny swagger.
She had barely set foot in her office before Jo said, “Frank wants to see you right away.” She checked her watch. “He’s got fifteen minutes before a meeting so you’d better hustle.”
Livy checked herself twice before hurrying to Frank Vincent’s office. His secretary waved her on in.
“Fifteen minutes,” she reminded Livy.
“I know. He asked for me so I’m sure whatever it is won’t take long.”
Frank was checking a report on his desk when she walked in. He looked up and smiled at her.
“I have to leave but I just wanted a thumbnail report of your dinner last night. How did it go?”
Praying that nothing showed on her face she returned the smile with one she hoped showed quiet confidence.
“It went very well, just as I expected.”
“How did he react to getting the contract?”
“Just as you expected.” She sat down in one of the chairs. “Surprised that you made the decision so quickly. Stunned and honored. Ready to go to work and build you the best damn village you’ve ever seen.”
“Good, good.” Frank shrugged into the jacket hanging on the back of his chair. “Still got your radar working on him? On them?”
Livy nodded. “And my opinion hasn’t changed.” At least not on the business front.
“Good. That’s what I want to know. I know the letter instructed him to call here to set up the meetings with you and Dan but I want to get this going right away. The investors are anxious. So you make the call, get together with him and get this thing underway.”
She cleared her throat. “You sure you don’t want Dan to be point on this? My area of expertise is strictly financial.”
Frank stopped, cocked his head and studied her. “Is there a problem here you don’t want to tell me about?”
“Problem? No, no, not at all.” She shoved her clenched hands into her pockets. “Just wondering if Dan might not like the challenge for a change.”
“Olivia.” His gaze held hers as if he was searching for something. “I depend on you to keep everyone honest, us and the builders. Dan will be working with commercial leasing agencies to fill the spaces, with real estate companies to sell the houses. Who better to keep the builders honest than the chief financial officer?” He paused. “Are you sure there isn’t something else I should know?”
“Absolutely not. And I’m looking forward to working with the McMann brothers on this.”
“Good, good.” He checked his watch. “Gotta run. Get those meetings set up and have a schedule on my computer when I get back.”
“Of course.”
Of course. Just let me jump from the frying pan into the fire.
She could do this. Business before pleasure, always. And what better way to get the message across to Alex McMann than to come back at him strictly business. She’d just pretend last night never happened, and make sure it didn’t happen again.
Yeah, right. Who are you k
idding?
* * * * *
Alex bypassed everyone at work and headed straight to his office, slamming the door in what was for him a very unusual move. He tossed his briefcase on a chair, shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the old-fashioned coat tree in the corner. He wanted to punch someone’s lights out or kick the wall or…or…something to work off this anger that had taken him over.
He had never, in all his years as an adult, had a woman sneak out of his bedroom. Of course it more likely would be a hotel room because Olivia D’Angelo was the first woman he’d ever brought to his house for sex. Women invited him to their place or he made hotel arrangements. He’d argued silently with himself in the restaurant before doing it but his usually reliable gut was telling him this woman was something special. Very special.
But sneaking out like that… He was insulted and roaring mad. And even more than that. At thirty-six he was ready at last to settle into a permanent relationship. The dating scene was wearing on him and most of the women he spent time with were at that desperate point. From the first moment he met Livy he felt that kind of connection with her, the sense that this could be something special. Last night, in his bed, with Livy lying in his arms, he’d realized what that connection was. Love. Just that fast. Josh had certainly been right. The way she responded to him, he thought she felt the same way. That this was more than just hot sex to her.
Obviously he was wrong. He’d better get himself under control since he was going to be working with her for a very long time. Damn, he thought he had more self-control than this. But he couldn’t remember the last time a woman affected him this way. Or anyone he’d had better sex with. He’d had a feeling this was more than just sex, but maybe he was wrong.
He leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair, just as Josh burst into his office.
“Want to tell me what the fuck is going on with you?” he asked, closing the door behind him. “I thought you’d be higher than a kite this morning after closing the deal with Concordia.”
Alex drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, doing his best to pull himself together. He never let his temper get the best of him and he’d have a tough time explaining why he did it now.
“Sorry. Really. Something irritated me and I gave in to it.” He put on what he hoped was a relaxed smile. “All is good. I’m happy. See?”
Josh actually laughed. “That is the most pathetic attempt at a smile I’ve ever seen.” He dropped into a chair in front of Josh’s desk. “Come on. Give. What’s eating you? This isn’t like you at all.”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” He wasn’t one to share his deepest emotions, even with his brothers. And in a short time what he felt for Olivia D’Angelo had turned deeper than the ocean. “Anyway, I think we should have a celebration dinner tonight. All of us. Ness too. This is the biggest thing we’ve ever taken on.”
Josh studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. But whatever’s eating you, if you want to talk I’m here. And Tyler.”
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, but I need to work this one out myself.”
Josh leaned forward suddenly. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with that so-called business dinner you had last night with Olivia D’Angelo, would it?”
“No,” Alex snapped, then said in a calmer tone, “No, it wouldn’t. We had a very nice dinner, talked about the project and that was that.”
“Why do I think you’re not quite telling me the truth?”
Alex shrugged. “Think what you want but everything’s copacetic between me and the lovely Ms D’Angelo. Now. Want to discuss the project? We have a lot of details to work out and I have to draw up the contract.”
Josh unfolded himself from the chair. “Let me get my notes together so you can read them and you can get to work on it. Tyler’s out at a site but if you call him he’ll work on his end tonight. Then you can put a draft together and we can go over it.” At the door he turned. “Two things. Dinner at my house tonight. Barbecue. And whatever’s eating you, holler if you want to toss it around.”
“As I said, I’m good. Thanks, anyway.”
He was thinking about heading for the coffee pot when his phone buzzed.
He picked up the receiver. “Yeah?”
“My, my. Still in a jolly mood, are we?” Marcia, their all-around assistant, had an amused tone in her voice. “Maybe this call will take out some of the vinegar.”
“Who is it?”
“Olivia D’Angelo from Concordia. Shall I put her through?”
Alex wanted to tell her no. He wanted to bang his head on the desk. He wanted to be back in bed with Olivia D’Angelo and have a do-over. Figure out what went wrong. But he was an adult businessman so he’d just suck it up. Still, he was curious about what she had to say.”
“Tell Ms D’Angelo I’ll be delighted to talk to her,” he told Marcia.
“Yes, sir.” She chuckled.
“Alex?” Her voice sounded just as musical as it had yesterday only without the softness. This was the hard-edged businesswoman.
“Good morning.” He made his voice as uninflected as possible. Two could play at this game.
“Frank and I met this morning and I’m calling to set up an appointment. We need to put together a schedule of meetings. Concordia has a definite pattern they like to follow. What time today would be good for you?”
Today?
“My brothers and I haven’t put the preliminary contract together yet. I’d prefer to have something on paper to show you first. And Dan Tuturo went over your process with me.”
“I’m sure what Dan explained was our construction procedure and how we’ve handled other projects. My area of responsibility is all the paperwork and making sure we’re always in sync.”
”I’d still like to wait until I have a working draft.”
There was a brief pause. “Frank was clear he’d like us to get together today. So again, what’s good for you?”
He wanted their meeting on neutral ground, someplace where neither of them could throw a temper tantrum if the conversation heated up. Besides, if he went to her offices they’d be interrupted by others and if they met here Josh wouldn’t be able to keep his nose out of it.
“How about a working lunch? Santino’s lunch crowd is usually gone by one thirty. We could have a late lunch and go over whatever details you’re concerned with.”
The Italian restaurant was a place where he often took clients for lunch or dinner. He was in his comfort zone there and he needed that to see Olivia D’Angelo considering the circumstances. He had to figure out how to shutter his emotions and move forward in a businesslike manner. This was a prime example of why you should never sleep with business colleagues, a rule he’d always kept to. Until now.
He was met with a long silence.
“I think it would be better if we met here.” Her voice was as uninflected as his although he could detect a note of…something. He couldn’t identify it.
“One thirty is the best time for me and I plan to eat lunch today,” he insisted.
Why am I being such an ass? If I piss her off she could deep six the contract.
Wait! I think I’m the injured party here.
This time the silence stretched out so he thought she might have hung up.
“All right,” she said at last. “Santino’s at one thirty. Strictly business.”
Josh ground his teeth. “Absolutely.”
Business it is. And I won’t bring up her sudden departure. I’ll pretend last night never happened.
Only how was he supposed to do that when in such a short space of time he’d fallen in love with her. Not the hard-hearted CFO but the vulnerable woman he sensed beneath all that armor.
* * * * *
Livy arrived early and was already waiting at a table when she saw Alex enter the restaurant. She tried to read his body language as he made his way toward her. Was he still angry? Disappointed in her? Sorry about the whole night? Her stomach chur
ned as all the possibilities spun in her head. She’d badly miscalculated her ability to handle sex with him.
Because it’s not just sex, you stupid ninny.
The maelstrom of emotions had blindsided her and she had no idea how to handle them. She’d ignored all the little warnings, sure that she could handle this situation, like every other one.
Big mistake.
So. Now she had to clean up her own mess and move forward. This project could last more than five years and they’d be working together all that time. More in the beginning but still. She had to get a grip on herself. She’d made a bad miscalculation about herself and now she had to fix it.
He nodded at her as he pulled out a chair and at down.
“Thanks for meeting me here. I really needed lunch.” He gave her a wintry smile. “Anyway. I always find things go better over food, don’t you?”
“Uh, yes, I suppose so.
What things? Surely he wasn’t going to give up the contract because he was pissed off at her. Was he?
He took a small leather memo book from his jacket pocket along with a pen and set them on the table. “As you can see, I’m prepared to take notes. My brothers and I want to make sure we don’t make a mistake with this project.”
She tried to match the iciness of his smile. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine. We’re all looking forward to working with McMann Brothers.”
“We should probably order first.” He lifted the menu and began to study it.
Livy worried her bottom lip for a moment, wondering if she was about to make yet another mistake. But she couldn’t stand having this wall between them. She touched the top of his menu and tilted it toward her.
“Alex? Put this down a minute, please.”
He frowned. “I’ve hardly looked at it.”
“I think we should address the elephant in the room first and get it out of the way. Don’t you?”
“Elephant?” He frowned.
“Please don’t act as if it isn’t right here between us. Let me just say what I have to say and then we can order.”