His hands were large gripping the steering wheel. Very nice, well put together man. She stirred in her seat and again made herself look out the window.
He listens to country music. Again odd. I have always assumed sports car equals like hard rock or something. I would have guessed he would be younger to. He looks like he is in his early to mid-thirties. Hmm.
“So, how long have you been working for Hasting Hotel?” Damn his voice. He could tell me to do anything right now and I would do it. Shit. I got to get the hell out of this car.
“Um, I start today actually.” Let’s skip the small talk and fuck. Shit! What the hell are you doing to me?
“What will you be doing there?” His voice unlike hers, confident sounding, like he didn’t have a worry in the world. As if he was used to speaking and everyone doing what he wanted. Hell, Lois was ready to do things she wanted and he hadn’t said a word about doing them. But she didn’t care. There was something about the way his voice demanded attention.
“My title is first assistance, but I think that is just fancy for secretary.”
She watched him as his expression changed and hardened. It looked like he was going to be sick but at the same time like what she had said had either just pissed him off or totally shocked the shit out of him.
“Are you ok?” Lois looked at him not concerned, not studying, only questioning.
“Yes, I’m fine.” He shifted in his seat as if he were uncomfortable while clearing his throat.
“Ok, well I don’t know how long I will get to keep my job. I’m soaked, don’t really look like I’m ready to work. And I doubt my new boss will believe what kind of morning I have had. He probably won’t even take the time to listen. I don’t have the best of luck these days. Really I have never had good luck. And there I go with rambling. Sorry.”
“Oh, I think he might believe you. After all, you never really know do you? You have to try anyways.” He smiled at her leaving her to further question what the hell he had to be smiling about.
What is the deal with this man? What does he think is so funny? Asshole. Prolly some rich punk, everything handed to him on a silver platter his entire life. Go figure. That’s it.
“Well I’m glad to be able to amuse you this morning.” Lois crossed her arms almost pouting.
“Me to. Usually I don’t get this much entertainment.”
“Asshole.” Lois thought she had said it low enough under her breath that he wouldn’t be able to hear her but again that was not in her luck. At this point, she didn’t know what was harder, picking her jaw up or trying to remove the foot from her mouth.
“Well, I guess opinions vary about that Miss?”
“Brown, Lois Brown. And you are?” Just keep going Lois like you never said it.
“Bond, James Bond.” When he turned and found she wasn’t finding his comment amusing he answered her. “Tom, just call me Tom.”
“Ok, well just Tom, what is it about my morning that you find so amusing? Please enlighten me.”
“Oh, you’ll see.”
She didn’t have time for this kind of game this morning. As they pulled up, she attempted to politely thank him for the ride but he didn’t say anything.
“Do I owe you anything for the ride then?”
“No.”
“Ok, well thank you again and have a good one.”
Chapter Two
She jumped out of the car and practically ran into the building. She couldn’t be late. She took the elevator to the 15th floor. Just one from the top, as she had been instructed to do so. The doors opened and she ran out only to knock down the man that had interviewed her for the job.
“I am so sorry.” Lois reached out to offer him a hand and help up but he didn’t take it.
“Miss. Brown, I can assume you won’t be letting this happen again. Follow me.”
“Mr. Ranker I am truly sorry Sir, this won’t happen again. My truck broke down, I was running late, and then I had to ride into work with this mean arrogant asshole I didn’t even know.”
“Look, I’m sure you have quite the story to tell this morning, but I don’t have time to listen to it, nor do I want to.” Lois cowered down in his footsteps and followed him. He stopped abruptly.
“There is a bathroom just there, you should probably go freshen up. Mr. Hasting’s likes his staff to look presentable.” His look was dull as annoyed her with his words.
Great, arrogant ass number one, gorgeous, smells good, oh did he smell good. Arrogant ass number two, nice looking, smells ok. Hmm, I think I’ll take arrogant ass number one. At least I know he knows how to kiss.
She laughed trying to brighten her mood. She pulled herself together the best way she knew how. Put on her ‘I am fixing to be fired big girl panties’ and walked back out.
Oh my god, what is he doing there? What is he doing holding my purse? I must have left it in his car.
“I’m sorry Tom, I didn’t mean to make you come in, after all wouldn’t want you to get wet now would we.” Lois smiled politely and held out her hand taking her purse. Then it hit her.
“Miss. Brown.” His voice, deep and sexy. His eyes glistened with the way the lights were hitting them. “Miss. Brown?”
“Yes,” Lois was totally hypnotized by his looks, his smell, him.
“I would like to introduce myself, I am Tom Hasting, and you are my first assistant. Oh, and don’t worry I can believe you when you tell me what happened this morning.” He smiled and turned walking into his office. Lois’s face turned a hundred shades of red.
“Miss. Brown. Would you like to explain to me what just happened?” Mr. Ranker stared at her through his now tiny eyes.
“I don’t really know Sir. I just, um.”
“Look while you think hard about whatever you are concentrating on there, I have a meeting with Mr. Hasting, would you like to join us or would you like to continue to stay out here and look lost?”
“The meeting.”
She followed him into the office. She listened to the two of them talk about mergers, acquisitions, and nothing made a lick of sense to her. The best she could get out of it was Hasting Inc. was about to merge with Brainstone Suites.
“Miss Brown, are you going to join us?” Lois couldn’t stop looking at him. She had just totally been blindsided by this entire event and for the life of her she couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
“Would someone like to tell me what is going on here?” Mr. Ranker sounded down right irritated. Tom looked at Lois waiting for her to answer.
“This morning, my truck broke down, Tom I mean Mr. Hasting gave me a ride.”
“So this is the arrogant asshole that brought you to work.” OH MY GOD!!! He didn’t.
“I didn’t mean it, I was just irritated by my morning. I’m sorry Sir. I won’t let that happen again.” That’s it. She put her hands in her lap and cowered down again waiting to hear the words ‘you’re fired’. Those words never came. She looked up and both of them were smiling at her, then they erupted into laughter.
“Don’t worry about it. I am an arrogant asshole. Well most of the time anyways. It would do you good to remember that.”
Lois listened to the instructions they were giving her totally grateful he hadn’t fired her. She couldn’t stop thinking of his lips on her mouth. She longed to kiss him again but it was obvious he didn’t even remember her, which meant she wasn’t his type or she would have left some lasting impression. Like the one he had left with her.
After the meeting Mr. Rankin showed Lois to her office. She couldn’t believe it. Her office was bigger than her entire apartment. She didn’t know exactly what her job would entail but as long as she got to do it from her office she didn’t care.
The room was rectangular shaped. Her desk positioned at the far wall in front of the floor to ceiling windows. She raced over looking out taking a deep breath at the view. She overlooked the entire city. She imagined she would be spending a great deal of time enjoying the view.
&nb
sp; The rest of the room was empty. No other furniture. Thank God Mr. Rankin had told her she would be allowed to decorate it however she liked. The first thing she was going to do was put some wonderfully colored paintings on the wall. Some seating of some kind on the far end. And the rest she would play it by look as the furniture came in.
The day ended quicker than she had ever thought it would be. She was glad. Her feet were killing her. By the time she made it home, she didn’t feel like anything but a long hot bath.
After waking up in cold water that was skin scorching hot when she relaxed down into the tub, she dried off, pajama up’d, and hit the hay.
She couldn’t believe it had already been two weeks. She was physically exhausted. She wasn’t getting enough sleep. Didn’t have time to eat, which hadn’t exactly hurt her any. What she did manage to scarf down was so full of carbs she had managed to keep what weight she did have.
Two more days, just two more days. Finally a day off. The thought of finally getting some rest was the best thought she had ever had at this point.
She waited to make sure everyone had left for today and reached inside her bag and grabbed out her clothes. She had another job to get to. Lois changed quickly and ran towards the elevator. She pushed the button and glanced at her watch.
5:30. Damn it. I only have 30 minutes to get across town. Is the elevator ever gonna get here. She pushed the button again impatiently again and then she was startled.
“It won’t come any faster by pushing it over and over again.”
That same sexy voice she had heard all day and that smell that drove her crazy was now invading her nostrils. Just the sound and smell did things to her body that she didn’t think were possible without touch given her history. “Yeah, just in a hurry I guess.”
“Where you headed in such a hurry?”
“To work.” Immediately she wished she could take the words back.
“I thought you were leaving work now?”
She was embarrassed to a degree but answered. “I work two jobs.”
“Ok, I’ll take you then. I’m sure it will be a very interesting ride. The last one was.” He teased her.
“No!” She blurted out. She didn’t even know why she had.
“Ok then, how are you going to get there?” Tom’s voice changed. It had turned into a ‘don’t give me no back talk voice’.
“I can walk or call a cab.”
“Really, how is that? Mark says you don’t have a cell and that he ordered you one that will be in tomorrow by the way. He also tells me you walk everywhere you go.”
“Well I don’t have a cell and I can walk just fine. I didn’t know my life was so interesting I was being investigated. Tell me do you investigate all your hired help.” He glanced down at her heels, smiled and then looked back up at her with that same scant, devil like smile.
“No you can’t, I’ll drive you. To answer your question, only when they call me Sir.”
She didn’t know what he had meant by the whole Sir thing. She called everyone Sir or Ma’am and she knew there was no finding a way out of the ride. She just followed behind him. His car was waiting.
He grabbed her elbow stopping her just before she reached the car. “What happened to your truck?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. When I went back for it, it was gone. I filed a police report but I doubt they find it. I don’t even know who would want it really.” She was glad her answered fed his curiosity because she had already said too much.
“Thank you, Jeffrey.” Jeffrey had opened his door already and quickly opened the passenger door to.
“Where are we headed?”
“Pillar’s.” She mumbled.
He didn’t say another word to her on the drive. And she found herself relieved that he didn’t. They pulled into the already packed parking lot as always. He parked and shut off the car.
“Thank you again.” She jumped out of the car and hurried inside. She threw her bag under the counter, grabbed an apron and started waiting tables.
Chapter Three
“Cutting it close aren’t you Lois.”
“I got here as quick as I could Michelle.” Lois smiled briefly at Michelle and went to the next table.
“What can I get you?”
“You can get me anything you want honey.”
Young.
Drunk.
Stupid.
The normal crowd.
Lois turned to walk away just as the man reached out slapping her on the ass. Lois grinned through her teeth and kept walking. She had no choice. She put up with this every night. Tips were good. They halfway paid the bills that her father had left for her.
She grabbed a few beers and took them back to the table. Again as she turned, he slapped her ass before he grabbed her pulling her down into his lap. Lois struggled to get up. She was beginning to feel it was a losing battle when nothing.
Silence. Complete and utter silence.
His grip released. Lois jumped up and turned. Tom had knocked the guy completely out.
Tom grabbed Lois’s arm, fierce, causing her pain. She winced and he paused looking at her as he loosened his grip then continued to escort her out of building. He pulled her to his car and opened the door gesturing for Lois to get in. “I can’t leave. I have to work.”
“Get. In.” His voice was strong, harsh like. And there was a part of her that wanted to immediately obey him. Which only pissed her off. She would never obey a man.
“I can’t. I have to work!” Lois barked back.
“You work for me, and my employees do NOT work in places like this. Nobody has to work in a place that allows its employees to be treated like this.”
“Well this employee has to work here. My boss knows very well I can handle myself!” Lois yelled.
“I’m your boss and don’t forget it. And why? Why do you have to subject yourself to this this anyways?” His eyes remained dark. They intimidated her like this.
“Because I have bills to pay that’s why.” Lois’s voice went quiet, almost to a whisper.
He let go of her arm. “What bills?”
“Bill’s that are none of your concern. Now if you will excuse me!” Lois didn’t want to tell him her sad story. Her father wasn’t a father to her after her mother had died. When he died, she was left with multiple bills to pay that he had been so kind as to put her down as responsible party.
“How do you expect people to help you if you talk to them with that attitude.”
“I didn’t ask for your help. Now if you will again excuse me, I have to work.” Lois turned stomping away from him.
“Wait! Are you really going to go back in there?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, then let’s go.” His words were forced through his teeth.
“No, you’re not coming with me. Why did you even come in there?”
“I haven’t never been there, wanted a beer. Thought this must be as good as any to get one.”
Lois looked at him confused and finally responded. “Well guess I can’t argue with that. Let’s get you that beer then Butch.” Lois laughed.
“Butch?”
“Well if you’re gonna act like a body guard then you gotta have a name for it.” Laughter filled the air.
Lois left him standing by the door as she went off to do her job. She became so busy she had completely forgotten about him being there.
“You know, that guy can’t keep his eyes off you.” Michelle teased at Lois.
“Michelle, don’t get any ideas. I swear it.”
“Ok, but you know I’m your best roomy and just looking out for you. Did I mention he’s hot? Get you some girl!”
“You know I’m not like that.”
“Oh yes, saving it for Mr. Right. That’s right I forgot. The last good girl waiting to meet the last good boy. How fucking romantic! You weren’t such a good girl when you had your tongue down his throat at the club.” Michelle was being sarcastic and it only irritated Lois. Even more so pis
sed her off that as drunk as Michelle was she remembered him but he still hadn’t remembered her.
“That’s not fair and you know it. I just can’t have sex with anyone like some people I know. And if you don’t mind, he’s my new boss and he doesn’t remember me. I’d prefer it stay that way.” Ok, so I’m lying. Yes I can. I want to. I want him to kiss me again like he did before.
“Well, the shift is about over and your boy over there has had about 12 to many I think.”
“I haven’t served him 12. And besides he got himself here, he can get himself home.”
“I don’t believe it, he defended you and you’re gonna just let him get himself home.”
“Damn it. Why did you have to serve him so many?” She looked over at him. His dark eyes had softened. His tanned complexion only darkened them in the poor light.
“Go get him. You know he’s hot. Do it Lois or I will.”
“Is that a threat or a dare?” Just the thought of it made Lois fighting mad.
“Dare!”
“Don’t dare me Michelle.”
“Ok, I won’t dare you. Just simply stating a fact and maybe egging it on a bit.” Michelle chuckled.
“Ok, I’m going.” Lois could feel her legs shake as she walked up to him.
She’s right. He is very, very hot. Downright sexy. But he’s my boss. I need that job. I can’t take him home. I can’t kiss him. I can’t fuck him. SHUT! UP! LOIS!
“Is there anyone that I can call to come pick you up? A cab maybe?”
“Yeah, 555-1259.”
“Ok. Be right back.”
Lois dialed the number and waited for an answer. “Hello.”
She paused in total disbelief. Lois was speechless.
“Hello Lois. You have reached your boss. Your knight in shiny armor. Ok, so maybe you’re my rescuer instead. I require your attention. Just think of it as home work. Do I have it?” That damn low sexy voice of his. He had her full attention.
“Yes.s.s.s” Lois managed to stutter out the words.
Seducing Peaches Page 2