“I hate seeing him daily. But I can’t quit yet. Now that Dalmtrix isn’t moving to Hartsville. My credibility as an acquisitions person is shot to hell. I have to fix that, before moving on.”
“What?” The word cracked like a whip.
She turned back to him. His lips pressed into a thin line and his brows nearly met above his eyes. “I pushed Philip and Ryan to purchase a hundred acres in Hartsville County. Dalmtrix was putting a manufacturing facility there which meant new jobs and people needing a place to stay. Today I found out the deal may be dead.
Shifting forward, Andre dropped his plate on the coffee table. “Things may still…work out,” he took a long pull from his bottle of lager.
“It’s probably for the best. I can’t stay at Caldwell Development. Once I help salvage what’s left of that land purchase, I’m looking for another job.”
Tension left his shoulders as he blew out a breath. “I will admit, it will be nice to know you’re not working for my uncle and cousin anymore.”
“And why is that?”
He turned on the sofa to face her. “Mikayla, I’ve thought of you every day since leaving the mountains. My dad, brother and best friend have all said I should forget about you. But here I am.”
Her skin tingled, the blood pounded in her veins. “Why?”
“Because, I want to be here. With you.”
CHAPTER 14
“So, how many cigarettes did you smoke this week?” Mikayla asked.
Andre grinned at Mikayla sitting opposite him on the couch. She’d avoided paying attention to the horror movie by talking throughout. Too bad. He’d hoped she’d ask him to stay and keep away the nightmares. He should’ve left the second she mentioned her connection with Dalmtrix, but he enjoyed playing her hero and wasn’t ready to stop.
He stretched his arms out on the back of her off-white leather couch until his fingers brushed the back of her shoulder. “I had three,” he answered her question.
He liked her apartment. Nicely decorated with warm earth tones and abstract paintings on the wall. Her furniture was modern in style, but she included a lot of traditional features, a grandfather clock, a bright blue and white quilt and a rocking chair. The two styles blended into a welcoming feel, reminding him of her.
“Cheat.”
He chuckled, took a sip of the second, surprisingly good, strawberry lager. “If you worked with my dad, you would too.”
“I work with his brother. If they’re anything alike, then I know what you’re going through. And I didn’t smoke.”
“I might let you backslide tonight.”
Temptation flashed in her eyes. An image of them lying in her bed, sweaty and spent after sex, sharing a cigarette swept through his brain. He shut the thought down. This visit was about getting to know her better, discovering if what happened in the mountains was real or a fluke, not getting her in bed.
“I’ve done well this week,” she said pointing at him. “Let’s keep it that way. You’ve heard about me and my dad. Now tell me about your dad.”
“If you know my uncle, then you know my dad. That’s what’s so crazy about this entire family feud. They’re too alike to get along. Sometimes I think Phillip is growing tired of it all.”
She pulled her feet up onto the couch and wrapped her arms around her legs. A dark burgundy polish adorned her toenails. Simple, not flashy, just like her.
“What actually happened?”
He shifted closer. “My grandfather owned land in Columbia and passed it on to my dad and Philip. Philip wanted to sell it in pieces to developers then reinvest the money in more land. My dad didn’t intend to give up what the family had. He’d started collecting trash for businesses. Dad wanted Philip to go into business with him. Philip said our family deserved more than picking up other people’s trash. He sold his half, bought more land and started developing neighborhoods. My dad moved to Greenville, and through…any means necessary…grew Caldwell Environmental Solutions.”
She tilted her head to the side, and the soft waves of her hair floated around her face. “It sounds like your dad is smart.”
“He’s ruthless.”
“But you’re proud of him. Of the company. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Of course I’m proud. He started with one truck and now we have contracts with businesses and governments all over the Eastern United States. Before long we’ll expand west, and we’re looking into utilizing the methane gas from our landfills to power nearby businesses.”
Her head popped up. “There’s a landfill near the spot Dalmtrix is considering. Maybe you can buy that landfill and supply gas to them.” Her lips twisted in a self-depreciating smile, “Maybe then the deal will go through.”
He turned away and drained the remainder of the lager from his bottle. He couldn’t tell her the real reason he was in Columbia. As soon as he ended this deal with Senator Leventis her land acquisition would be a waste of millions of dollars. Guilt rode his back like a crazy monkey, but not enough to make him confess his family’s plans. From the moment, she’d opened the door and smiled, the stress that tightened his neck and shoulders after a week at work dissolved. He liked her, and it was much too soon to destroy what had barely started. He wouldn’t think about how much he wasn’t the good guy she thought he was, or how the soft smile on her face would turn to a look of disgust if she found out.
“Maybe.” He sat his empty glass on the coffee table. “So, tell me about your family.”
“Nothing remarkable to tell. My mom died when I was four. I don’t really remember her.”
“What happened?”
“A heart attack.” She downed the rest of her ale. “She was older than I am now, almost forty, still it was a shock to my dad…my family.”
He reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
She shrugged and shifted until his hand fell away. “It’s alright. I was young, and despite his lack of female style, my dad did a great job raising me.”
He brought his hand back, watched as she pushed her hair behind her ears and gave a brave smile. Just like she’d done in the mountains. When things were tough, she plowed through, said things would work out. He wondered how many times it actually had worked out for her. Losing her mother, then later the man she loved in college, only to have Ryan humiliate her. Then there’s the deal falling through. He couldn’t control that…not really. But a part of him wanted to make sure she never suffered a loss again.
“I take it he lives nearby,” he asked.
“Not too far away. I grew up near Rock Hill. He’s an inspector for the County’s Public Works department. You know roads, pipes, stuff like that.”
“Sounds interesting.”
She laughed. “It was. The man drilled in my head just how dirty men could be. How they’d lie, tell you they love you and do everything up to murder just to get you in bed.”
“Rough on the boyfriends, huh?”
“You can’t imagine.” Her shoulders relaxed, the smile on her face softened. “He liked Brenden, said he could tell Brenden cared.”
His body stiffened. He forced himself to relax. He wouldn’t be jealous of a dead man. “But he didn’t like Ryan.”
“He liked Ryan alright, he just didn’t like Ryan and me together.”
Three guesses weren’t needed to figure out what her dad would say about him. Difficult to imagine the man would encourage her to get with another Caldwell man.
“Are your feelings usually in line with your dads?”
“Most of the time. Guys in high school ignored me. Brenden was the first guy to notice me. We met in class and just clicked from the start. Brenden was easy to love.”
“And Ryan?”
She sighed, ran a hand through her hair. “Ryan and I got along great at work. I knew he was a playboy, but through my friendship with Renee, I saw past that. He flirted, but I didn’t believe he could seriously be interested in me. But he kept on. I trusted him with no
t so good results.”
“And with me,” he asked softly.
Her lips parted with a staggered breath. Eyes warmed to the consistency of hot chocolate. She wanted him. That was no secret. And he wanted her. He wanted to talk to her, see that smile on her face, and impress her with his plumbing skills instead of his family name. He was interested in more than a quick bedroom romp. Something near panic hit and made his heart pound against his ribcage. He didn’t know how to do the long term, loving type relationships.
“It feels natural…like it did with Brenden,” she said. “But it’s also different. Something says I shouldn’t do this, something bigger says I should.”
Her words dissolved his panic. Desire thrummed through his body and slowly hardened his dick. Now was the time to pull her close, kiss her, then carry her to the bedroom and do what the not so good guy in him wanted. What he’d tried not to think about since leaving Greenville and driving down I-26 to Columbia. One thing stopped him, her budding faith in him. If he slept with her, and she found out about C.E.S.’s involvement in losing Dalmtrix, she’d view his actions as part of the whole family feud.
Letting the deal go through wasn’t an option. His family may be ruthless, but every step they took, made C.E.S. more successful. Getting Dalmtrix to move somewhere else, and expanding the landfill gas program was the best business decision. He’d just have to make sure Mikayla never found out the extent of his family’s involvement in the company’s change in plans. No matter how much he wanted her, he had to move slowly, earn her trust, and show her that there was more to this than revenge against Ryan or even Caldwell Development. Then she’d have some reassurance if she ever learned about his involvement.
The rationalization caused a guilty burn in his stomach. But her admission that their attraction felt right doused the flames.
He cleared his throat and broke eye contact. “You want to watch the other movie. Or are you tired of my company already and want me to leave.”
“No, this one is fine.” She turned back to the television.
He swung one of his legs onto the couch then slid it behind her.
“Come here,” he reached over and tugged on her arm.
She hesitated, then settled her back against his chest. A two by four was less stiff than her body. He ran a hand up and down her arm. Gradually she relaxed. Having her this close, with her sweet floral scent encasing him, and the soft strands of her hair brushing his chin, the arousal between his legs slowly grew.
Andre tried to focus on the human killing thing on the screen. The distraction proved useless. He could only focus on Mikayla and her reactions to the movie. Her body tensed during a suspenseful part, pressing her back and her curved rear into him. A ridiculous chase followed the suspense. She chuckled, her breasts bounced and his fingers flexed on the couch. Bloodshed came next, and Mikayla squirmed, sliding her legs back and forth along the couch. His breathing hitched and pictures of Mikayla sliding her legs along his, naked and warm in bed flickered through his mind. The longer they watched, the more arousal drugged his system.
She snuggled closer, rested her head against his chest. The move brought her backside right against the hard ridge of his erection. He wasn’t going to sleep with her. Yet. But if this kept up, he damn sure was going to need a cigarette. Or another taste of her. Andre buried his nose in her hair, breathed deeply, inhaling her scent. Her body tensed, he was sure this time not because of the movie. He settled one arm under the weight of her breasts and propped the other hand on the back of the couch. She shifted, her back increasing the friction between her body and his hyperaware dick.
She sucked in a quick unsteady breath, and her beautiful breasts rose and fell again. Andre licked his lips. The outline of her nipples beneath the close fitting t-shirt captured his attention. He shouldn’t touch her. If he did, he wouldn’t remember he was trying to move slowly. Trying hard not to lift her shirt and see those hardened tips between his fingers. His hand twitched against her stomach. She gasped.
Enough with the good-guy stunt. He slowly brought his hand up until the full weight of her breast rested in his grasp. His head lowered to easily nip and lick the softness of her ear.
Her lips parted. Heavy lids lowered over soft brown eyes. Carefully he pulled on the tail of her shirt. Taking his time to reveal the smoothness of her flat stomach, then tugged higher until the satin cups of her beige bra showed. Her stomach caved in and he ran eager fingers lightly across her skin. With the other hand, he tugged the thin barrier of the satin bra down and revealed two of the most delectable breast he’d ever seen. Pecan brown, with a plump chocolate drop nipple. His mouth watered. A sharp breath hissed between clenched teeth and his fingers wrapped around her luscious flesh.
Mikayla’s head twisted to the side, a silent gasp escaped her full lips. He lowered his head to the smooth skin along her neck. He kissed her and tasted the sweetness of her skin. Each flick of his tongue increased the pounding of his heart. He wanted to flip her around and take her hard nipples between his lips. Draw them deep in his mouth while his hands squeezed and caressed the pliant mounds. Instead, he casually rolled the rigid tips between his thumbs and index fingers. Her body tensed. Then suddenly relaxed. Only to tense again. Her legs rose up and down as she ran her feet along the couch.
Mikayla’s chest rose, a silent plea for more, and he gave her what she craved. Gently plucking and teasing her nipples until they protruded stiffly. She whimpered, sweet feminine noises filled the room.
Her eager response sent a surge of I’m the man pride through his body. Each twist, sharp inhale, and light moan of her body revealing she was just as caught up in the pleasure of the moment. And urged him to go with the impulse blasting in his veins. He slid one hand down her stomach and stretched his fingers, longing to slip in the treasure between her thighs. His fingertips breached the edge of her pants and he let out a ragged exhale.
Mikayla stiffened, then scrambled up. He sat frozen for a second and stared at the now empty space between his legs then at her. Slowly, he sat up and watched her shaky hands struggle to pull the wrinkled bra over her gorgeous breasts and yank her shirt down.
“We have to stop.”
He ran a hand down his face. They trembled. Hell, his entire body trembled.
“If…that’s what you want.” His voice was tighter than the underwear struggling to contain his erection.
“It’s not…I mean it should be. But it’s not.” She shuffled from side to side. Her hands twisted underneath her shirt behind her back. To fasten her bra, he supposed.
“Can you be more specific?”
Mikayla pulled in a deep breath, her shoulders rose and fell. After a few seconds, she turned and met his gaze. Then looked away. Then met his gaze again.
“I can’t have sex right now.” She cleared her throat, ran a hand through her hair. “It’s just not a good time.” She drew out the last word.
He stared in confusion.
“Of the month.”
It dawned on him. His face burned. What the hell! He was actually blushing? “Oh… well…I understand.”
“Besides, it’s for the best, anyway. We’re just friends.”
They were beyond that. Biology kept them apart tonight, but something far deeper pulled them together.
“What just happened says we’re more than friends.”
“But, are we going there?”
“Apparently not tonight.” He took a deep breath. “Let’s watch the movie.”
She hesitated, and then sat on the other end of the couch. To hell with that. Andre slid his hand around her arm and pulled her beside him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, ignored his throbbing penis, and tried to watch the movie.
CHAPTER 15
Mikayla stretched and rolled over in her bed and her knee bumped into something warm and hard. Her eyes popped open. Andre slept soundly next to her. Fully clothed from the night before. They’d watched movies until late, so she’d offered him her couch. They en
ded the night with another horror movie, which lead to another nightmare and Andre getting off the couch to slide in bed with her. Regardless of their “just friends” efforts, the night before ranked as one of the best dates of her life.
He lay closer to her this morning than he had in the mountains. Still no spooning, but he faced her and his feet touched hers. Mikayla’s long neglected body parts heated with the memories of the previous night. She would have forgotten all about not letting things get intimate if Mother Nature hadn’t intervened.
Slowly she eased out of bed and grabbed a t-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. She tiptoed into the connecting bathroom. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she hoped into the shower. When she left the bathroom, all thoughts abandoned her mind as she drank in the sight of Andre’s large body sprawled out on his back across her queen size bed like he belonged there. His long arms and legs took up the limited space she’d left behind. The temptation to crawl back in and curl herself around him hit hard. She liked seeing him in her bed. Despite the odds, they clicked, but so many things made trusting that easy connection scary.
She could fall for him. Hard. She couldn’t let herself do that until she was clear about what was actually happening between them.
A knock on her apartment door jolted her out of her thoughts. She checked the clock beside the bed. Damn! My hair appointment with Renee.
The knock came again. Andre shifted and stretched in the bed. Mikayla ran to the side of the bed.
“Good morning,” Andre’s voice, deeper and sexier with the gruffness of sleep, filled the room.
She pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh. Renee is at the door. She can’t know you’re here.”
Frowning, he sat up on the bed. “Are we a secret?”
“No, but there’s no need for her to find out like this. She’s already upset about what happened with Ryan. She’ll think you’re here for revenge and release that famous Caldwell temper.”
Andre’s frown deepened. “You can’t believe that’s why I’m here after last night.”
Show Me How to Love Page 11