Well, except for Carly. He wasn’t sure how she would take the news, but oh well. “That woman’s—”
“Fucking crazy,” Stephanie finished. He smiled. “I’m serious. What the hell were you thinking, making her News Director?”
“So it wasn’t one of my brighter ideas, Love,” he said, pulling into his prime parking spot and cutting the ignition.
“And all to stick it to me, nice.”
Chance leaned over and lowered his voice. “I like sticking it to you.”
“You really are repulsive sometimes.”
He gently brushed her hair away from her face before pulling her in for a kiss.
She widened her eyes and pushed at his chest. “Not here, Valentine,” she cried, looking around the parking lot. “Someone could see.”
He lifted his eyebrow. “They already think we’re dating, thanks to someone else’s bright idea.”
Love gave him a sheepish smile. “Good point. In that case...” She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in again.
****
After making out in Chance’s car like a couple of teenagers, they entered the station while people cast furtive glances their way. Whispers followed them as they walked to her office. Stephanie didn’t care—much. She’d like to be taken seriously at work, but nothing could ruin the mood she was in today.
Well, hardly anything. Once Chance had brought up the fact that his departure from the station was imminent, it had been enough to throw a damper on things. Only temporarily, though. Kissing him had put her squarely back on cloud nine for the time being.
Nothing and no one else was quite horrible enough to sour her spirits again.
“Well, well, well,” Carly said as she walked up to them just as they made it to Stephanie’s office.
Okay, so I was wrong. Stephanie rolled her eyes.
“The happy couple.” Carly gave them a tight-lipped smile. “I’m glad to see the two of you have decided to stop being so secretive.”
Ignoring her, Chance turned to Stephanie. “I’m going to go get started on those calls. I’ll see you soon.”
She gave him a little smile. “Yes...sir.”
He winked. “That’s a good girl.”
Smile broadening, she gave him a playful punch in the stomach.
Chance glanced at Carly, giving her a nod. “We need to have a meeting this afternoon. Keep your schedule open.”
She instantly looked uneasy. “Is everything—”
Turning, he sauntered off down the hall as he whistled a cheery tune.
Carly closed her mouth as her face reddened.
Stephanie laughed and shook her head. “That had to hurt.” She entered her office, attempting to slam the door behind her.
Carly stopped it from closing and followed her in. “Laugh while you can.”
“Oh, I plan to,” she said, still grinning at Chance’s snub of the former beauty queen. Stephanie cringed. “Ouch. Poor, poor Carlene.”
Carly tossed her lustrous brown hair and folded her arms. “I meant laugh while you can because—”
“You’re still planning ‘revenge’ on me. Yeah, got it. Bye.” She hung up her coat.
“That,” Carly said, “and the fact that your little fairytale office romance will be dead in the water in just a couple weeks.”
Stephanie’s smile faltered.
Carly raised her eyebrows as high as her botoxed face would allow. “Yeah, that sort of takes the bloom off your rose a little bit, huh?” She gave Stephanie a cruel smile. “You may be a gold digger, but you’re not even good at it. Chance is passing the time with you, but when he leaves, you’ll be nothing but a regrettable memory for him.” She laughed bitterly. “Definitely not his wife.”
Stephanie gave her a bored sigh. “Which is what you would be had Chance dated you instead of me?”
Carly lifted a hand to inspect her French manicure. “Without a doubt.”
“Right—keep telling yourself that. And while I have your undivided attention, let’s be clear on something else. Lay off Amber or I’ll hurt you in ways you can’t even begin to imagine. Consider that your first and final warning. Now get the hell out of my office, Carlene.” Smiling, she leaned forward. “Before I literally throw you out.”
“Gladly.” She spun around on her heel, but stopped at the door to glance back at Stephanie. “Watch your back.” She left in a huff, her shoulder bumping Amber’s as she came in.
Amber watched her walk away. Frowning, she looked at Stephanie. “‘Watch your back’?”
“I know.” Stephanie took a seat. “What is this, high school?”
Frowning, Amber sat across from her. “I wonder what she’s up to.”
Swiveling in her chair, she shrugged. “There’s no telling and, really, I don’t care.”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so...glowy today?”
She laughed. “Glowy?”
“Yeah, you look sort of—” Amber gasped. “What happened with you and Mr. Valentine?”
She looked down at the desk as she continued to swivel. “We may have...said some special words to one another last night. No big deal.”
“What?” Amber cried. She looked back before leaning in toward Stephanie even more and lowering her voice. “He told you he loves you?”
“Calm down. We’re not in love.” But whatever it was, it seemed dangerously close—at least for her. When she’d stepped into her living room that morning, in time to hear Chance’s ‘jealous’ words, her heart had damn near melted.
He’d looked ready to knock Clay on his ass. She had to hand it to Valentine—the man could act. She smiled at the memory.
“Steph,” Clay had said, looking past Chance, “you can’t be serious with this guy.” His voice had turned pleading. “Come on. You two are supposed to be getting hitched now? What a joke.”
She’d frowned. Word certainly traveled fast, whether that word was a lie or not.
“We’ll be sure to send you an invitation to the nuptials,” Chance said with an easy grin. “See ya. Oh,” he said, taking the box from Clay’s hands, “and thanks for the donuts.” He’d shot Clay a wink before shutting the door in his face.
How insane was it that the mere mention of her imaginary, upcoming wedding didn’t send her running anymore? In fact, she’d lapsed into fantasy a time or two. Pure craziness. She’d never been the daydream type. No need to start now.
Amber’s voice broke into her thoughts. “And you told him? That is huge.”
“Did you hear me? You can stop planning the wedding in your head. Chance and I...care about each other, that’s all.”
Amber laughed. “Whatever. Have you even thought about your plan at all? Or does it not matter anymore?”
Stephanie waved her question away. “I still plan to get Kenny back and in the position he deserves—and I plan to get my rightful position as well.”
Amber crossed her arms. “But are you still planning to use Mr. Valentine to do all that?”
Stephanie didn’t answer just then. She couldn’t. Valentine was a playboy even if he wasn’t a complete bastard. And she was still too damaged to ever have a real relationship. Using him to get ahead was the only thing that made sense.
Still, she was reluctant now. She couldn’t help but have fleeting thoughts of how it would be if they were in a genuine relationship. Yes, they’d want to kill each other most of the time, but they’d never be bored.
She felt a pang in her heart whenever she thought about how it could never be.
Plans change, feelings change...it was too bad people didn’t.
****
Carly Samuels stormed into the ladies’ room and walked up to look at herself in the mirror. Being blown off by Chance was humiliating. It was, however, nothing compared to the steely glint in his eye and the edge in his voice when he’d said they needed to have a meeting later that afternoon.
She was doomed to fear the worst until she knew what it was about. The suspense was almost eno
ugh to drive a girl to drink. The only bright spot was the fact that his little rude ass girlfriend wouldn’t be there to witness the...whatever the hell it was going to be. A demotion? A termination? Oh, Stephanie would just love that.
That bitch. Carly couldn’t wait to wipe that smug look off her face. Like she had the right to any pride. Her father was a stinking drunk, for God’s sake. Watching him stumble around like the disgusting, embarrassing loser he was and seeing that horrified expression on Stephanie’s face had been the highlight of Carly’s entire work year. Even now, she smiled at her reflection as she thought about it.
Taking deep breaths, she thought of what to do next. Chance had, in not so many words, implied that, whatever their meeting was going to be about, she wasn’t going to like it. She’d love to knock him down a peg or two as well. Who the hell did he think he was, treating her like crap?
Just because his straight-from-the-trailer-park lover looked down her nose at her, he’d decided to jump on the bandwagon. Whatever. She’d just kill him with kindness. Until she found a better way to hurt him.
Carly whirled around and exited the ladies’ room. If Chance thought a little abruptness was enough to send her running off, he had another think coming. Heading straight for his office, she thought up a fake crisis. She’d bat her eyes, give him a nice hint of ‘damsel in distress’, and his little plan to chastise her would be long forgotten.
It had always worked before, with other men. His door was slightly ajar and she heard him speaking. Ugh. He was probably talking to that grumpy ass—
Carly peeked in to see him pacing as he held his cell phone up to his ear. Whatever he was yapping on about couldn’t be that important. And it surely wasn’t more important than she was. She squared her shoulders.
“I’m a little busy right now,” Chance said, clearly exasperated with whoever was on the other end of the line.
She raised her hand to knock on the door.
“Don’t worry about Love. I’ll take care of her.”
Immediately dropping her hand, she eased closer.
“Look, we’re talking about firing the woman,” he whispered furiously. “Give me time to figure out the best way to do it.”
Her jaw dropped. She mouthed, “Oh my God,” slowly before turning around and heading straight for Stephanie’s office. She was grinning from ear to ear now. Losing her job would be just the thing to take the wind out of that bitch’s sails—maybe even permanently. Her whole sad life was her career.
It took all Carly had not to rub her hands together in glee. Stephanie Love wouldn’t be such a tough little cookie now. Maybe she’d even end up like her dad, drunk and useless. Carly couldn’t wait to see it for herself.
As she neared Stephanie’s office, she heard voices filtering through the slightly cracked door. And even though they were keeping them low, she could still make out Stephanie’s voice and the owner of the other, that perky nitwit, Amber.
Carly rolled her eyes, preparing to push the door open.
“This whole thing started as a way for me to use Chance and now...”
Widening her eyes, she leaned in to hear better.
Stephanie sighed. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”
“You still want your promotion, right?”
“Yeah, but using him to get it. I—I just don’t know.”
Carly clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. She hurriedly turned and walked a safe distance away lest one of them emerge from the office. Pacing the floor, she put the pieces of this twisted puzzle together.
He’d just been using Stephanie for sex. That much Carly had figured all along. But he’d been planning to fire her the whole time. That was so sick! She loved it; it served that bitch right.
And as for the bitch—wow, what an idiot. Instead of using Chance for an engagement ring and a better life, she’d only been using him for a promotion. Carly shook her head in disgust.
Common sense should have told Stephanie that had she landed him, she wouldn’t need a damned promotion because she wouldn’t have had to work. Carly patted her hair. Some people really didn’t know a thing about thinking practically.
Practical thinking was what it was all about. For instance, she couldn’t wait to break Stephanie’s frozen, pea-sized heart in half, but it was going to take some finesse. If Chance knew she’d been purposely eavesdropping with the intention of blowing his little plan to hell, Stephanie wasn’t the only one who’d be in an unemployment line.
She knew she should just sit back and wait for him to kick the bitchy grump to the curb all on his own, but she was impatient. If she acted fast, there might even be a shot at going to the Valentine’s Day gala with him after all. There had to be some way to get the ball rolling much faster. She’d just have to find it.
The door to Stephanie’s office opened. The two women came out and walked toward the break room. Carly crossed her arms while she watched Stephanie go. So confident, so tough, so untouchable. Carly smiled. Well, you’re about to be touched, bitch.
Stephanie said Carly couldn’t hurt her.
Stephanie was wrong.
Chapter 32
The next afternoon, Stephanie knocked on Chance’s office door and poked her head in. She struggled to keep her voice serious. “You wanted me, sir?”
He turned from the window and gave her a slow, sexy grin. “I always want you, Love.”
She came in, closing the door behind her. “Is that so?”
“It is.” Chance crooked a finger at her. “Get over here.”
She smiled as she neared him. “Am I in trouble...sir?”
“Why would you think that? Maybe you’ve even been good.” His eyes held a mischievous glint as he considered that. “Not likely, but possible.”
“That’s a relief,” Stephanie said, bringing a hand to her chest. “For a second there, I thought I was about to get it.”
Chance put his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “Oh,” he said, bending down to speak next to her ear, “you’re still gonna get it.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Promise,” she said softly.
He gave her a long, slow kiss. “Promise.” Pulling her with him, he leaned back to grab something off the desk.
Stephanie frowned. “What’s going on?”
He held the remote out toward a small CD player he’d set up in the corner. Music—undoubtedly something from the sixties—started to play. He tossed the control back on the desk.
“You called me in here to dance? I have work to do, crazy man.” She turned to go, but he hauled her to his chest.
“This is work. Just consider it research for the party.” He grabbed her hand, spinning her around before bringing her in close.
“You’re still planning to play this stuff aren’t you?”
Chance frowned at her. “Uh, yeah.”
Stephanie laughed as he twirled her around again. “What about that one song?”
“Which one?”
“The one we danced to that night at Mister’s. ‘Bring It—” She cocked her head when she noticed the look he was giving her. “What?
He was nodding slowly, sporting a big grin on his face. “You liked it.”
She did, actually. “It was okay,” she said casually.
Holding her tighter, he chuckled against her neck. “You like it, admit it. You even remember the name of the song.”
Smiling reluctantly, she placed her arms back around his neck. “Fine—I like it.”
Chance eased his hands down to press her to his growing erection. “You want to hear it at the party?”
She bit back a moan. “Maybe.” He pinched her ass, and she gasped. “Hands above the waist, Valentine.”
“Funny,” he said, tilting his head, “you’ve never said that before.”
“Shut up,” she laughed. She rested her head on his chest while they swayed to the music.
“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about,” he s
aid.
“What’s that?” she asked, completely content as they danced.
“I wanted to think of an interesting, romantic way to ask...”
Her pulse began to race, and she pulled back to look at him. “Ask what?”
“As much as I’d miss having you as my assistant, how would you feel about taking that News Director position after all?”
A rush of disappointment surged through her. She was losing it, big time. Had she really wanted a different question? This was supposed to be the best thing he could ask.
His eyes widened. “You don’t want it anymore?”
“No,” she said lightly, “it’s not that. I just, uh...” She released a long breath. “This is unexpected.”
“Then, say yes.” He leaned down, planting little kisses along her jaw. “I’m good at making you say yes, right? And scream it, whisper it, moan—”
With steadier nerves now, she laughed. “Yes, Valentine, yes.”
He placed his hands on her face, tilting it up to him. A low growl rumbled from his throat as he studied her. Pulling her to him roughly, he slid his tongue between her parted lips. Her legs trembled slightly from the way he began to make love to her mouth. She clutched his shoulders, wanting to bring him closer, never wanting any of this to end.
They ignored the knock on the door until it became clear the person wasn’t going to go away. Chance groaned as they stepped away from one another. Grabbing the remote off the desk, he flipped the music off.
“Yes?” he said.
The door opened and the station harlot appeared. “Chance, I really need to tell you—” She glanced at Stephanie. “Oh,” she said quietly. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ll just come back.” She turned to go.
“Carly,” he said wearily. “Whatever it is, tell me now. I might be,” he looked at Stephanie, “busy later.”
Stephanie suppressed a smile.
“I don’t think it’s best to talk in front of...her.” Carly crossed her arms.
“And why not?” Chance asked.
“It’s just...this—what I have to tell you—involves her and I’m not sure—”
“For God’s sake, piss or get off the pot, Carlene,” Stephanie said, tracing her finger along the edge of her lower lip to fix what was sure to be smudged lipstick. “By all means, share whatever the hell it is you came in here to share.”
Chance on Love Page 21