by Raquel Belle
Jared was silent for a moment. “That would raise suspicion don’t you think? I did tell your father that I’d think about taking you on. If I went back to him now and refused your services, he’d want to know why, and I’ve always had a hard time lying to your old man.”
Evie let out a long breath and sat back. “You make it sound like you two are closer than business associates.”
“We’re pretty good friends.”
“Well, things just keep getting better,” she said. Not only did she sleep with a client, but she also slept with her father's pretty good friend. “I can’t imagine what you have in common with my father.”
“You’d be surprised.” Jared relaxed in his chair and laced his fingers. “I know I implied otherwise earlier, but I really haven’t heard Garrison talk much about you.”
Evie laced her own fingers and sat forward, giving him a steady stare. “You’d probably hear more about me if I had a penis dangling between my legs. Now, can we get back to discussing business?”
Jared’s lips parted, and his eyes widened before a deep chuckle that made her stomach muscles clench filled the room. “You’re delightful, Evie. Do you moonlight as a comedian?”
It irritated her that she’d slipped up and given Jared insight into her distant relationship with her father. Yes, she had a feeling that she wasn’t allowed to be close to Garrison because she wasn’t the son he’d wanted. Garrison never said or did anything to confirm her suspicion. Evie just spent a lot of time trying to come up with reasons for why her father was so standoffish. It was time to steer the conversation back to business. “No, Mr. Hawthorne, I’m just a lawyer. And I would like very much to discuss just lawyer matters.”
“It’s ‘Jared,’ and I haven’t hired you. We don’t work together, so the line of professionalism can’t be crossed yet.”
Evie’s jaws clenched. If she could reach across the desk and slap the smirk off of his face without consequence, her day would be made. The man was infuriating, and damn it, she found herself wanting to engage in his troublesome banter. But, she wouldn’t. “Right, so we should discuss why I’d be a great fit for your team. I had the chance to skim over your file. Mr. Davis ensured it was on my desk. I haven't gone in depth yet, but I know you’re into shipping steel and oil. You’ve been very successful it seems, and I clearly see why you need a very sharp lawyer. You’re trying to take over the world, Jared, and I know I can draft up ironclad, flawless contracts to help you do so.”
He grinned. “You had time to look over my file with all the pacing you were doing?”
Evie sighed in resignation. Clearly, they weren’t going to get anywhere until he had his way. “Alright, Jared. What do you want from me?”
His eyes did a lazy sweep of her upper half that was visible behind the desk. “You sure you want me to answer that?”
She sighed. Do not blush, do not blush .... Too late. She felt the heat spreading into her cheeks. Evie never had any trouble concealing her emotions from anyone except her best friend. What was it about Jared that crumbled her impenetrable wall every time? Was it his wicked charm? The mischievous smirk permanently on his lips—his sexy lips might she add—or was it that her instant attraction to him was more than she’d ever experienced with anyone?
“You know what? Don’t answer.”
He grinned. “As you wish. So, what brought you from Los Angeles to Seattle? The job offer or something else?”
“Partly the job offer, and the ‘something else’ is none of your business.”
Another toe-curling laugh. “Tell me something, Evie. What propels a woman like you to proposition a stranger for a one-night stand?”
“A woman like me?”
“Beautiful, confident, successful, smart. You strike me as the full package, Evie. Shouldn’t you be married with two and a half kids and a house with a white picket fence?”
Evie fumed, partly because of his sexist attitude—why couldn’t a woman have unattached sex without question? She was mostly perturbed because he’d hit a sore spot. She’d wanted everything he mentioned and thought she’d have it all—a career and a family. She’d come so close only to have half of her dream ripped away by a scoundrel of a fiancé. “I think the real mystery here is why you aren’t married with two and a half kids, Jared. Wouldn’t you say you’re the full package?”
His mouth twitched. “Marriage and kids aren’t my thing.”
That was it? They weren’t his thing? She folded her arms and glared. “Okay. And what would propel you to accept the proposition of a one-night stand from a stranger?”
He held her gaze, mouth curling into the devilish grin she was already becoming accustomed to. “You’re an expert at turning the tables, I see. Marriage and kids may not be my thing, but women definitely are,” he said. “I wouldn’t dare turn down such a proposition from a woman such as yourself, Evie. Now, are you ready to answer my questions? I answered yours, so it’s only fair.”
The tension went up a notch in the room, and Evie shifted uncomfortably. Yes, she was good at turning the tables, evading things she didn’t want to talk about, controlling the direction of her conversations, but not with Jared. He was a force to be reckoned with, a teasing, way-too-attractive force. She considered blurting everything out—all of her humiliating secrets just to get him off her back, so they could move on and discuss actual business. She sent him her most withering glare, one that made men lap their penises between their legs and let her have her way but, of course, it didn’t work on Jared. His smile merely broadened. Damn him.
“You know, Jared, I have a lot to do. It's my first day at this firm. I have to get into the swing of things rather quickly, so I can stay employed, and you’re wasting my time.”
His brows shot up. “Is that any way to talk to a client, Evie?”
“You haven’t hired me. We don’t work together. Your words,” she said.
Jared barked out a laugh. “Evie Davis, I’m honestly thinking about hiring you to keep me grounded.”
“So, you admit to having an inflated ego?” Her expression remained innocent as she stared at him with raised brows. Jared didn’t respond, just gazed at her with what seemed to be a cross between outrage and admiration. She cleared her throat. “If you’re going to hire me for anything less than my expertise, I won’t accept. Now, if you’ll please excuse me ...” She glanced at the door.
“Are you kicking me out?”
“Don’t take it personally. I’m not obligated to give you my time since we don’t have any business together.”
Jared nodded. “Fair enough.” He stood up and offered a hand.
Evie stood and reluctantly accepted. Big mistake. The contact left her more hot and bothered than she’d been when he first stepped into her office. He held onto her hand a bit too long, and she tried to escape his grasp as subtly as she could. Jared’s eyes pierced her to her very soul as he grinned knowingly before releasing her hand.
“I’ll go over your resume, and let you know what I decide in two days tops, Evie.”
The teasing glint had vanished from his eyes, and his tone was nothing but professional. Evie blinked, confused by the swift change. “Thank you.” She watched him swagger off and disappear out the door. Her lungs deflated, as she let out the breath she’d been holding. She floated to her chair and smacked her palm against her forehead. “That is the last time you do something as stupid as pick up a strange man, Evie,” she said to herself. Look what she’d gotten herself into with her foolish effort to get over her broken heart and wounded pride.
Chapter Four
Jared
Jared scowled, wanting to connect his fist to his brother’s jaw so he’d quit his snickering. Liam was three years younger than him, and had been a pain in his ass since they were kids. No one ever teased Jared mercilessly about anything and got away with it except his brother. “Let me know when you’re done,” Jared sneered and took a swig of the scotch in his glass.
Liam laughed harder and wipe
d a tear from the corner of his eye. “You’re drinking before noon, bro. You must really be rattled.” There was another bark of hearty laughter, as Jared waited silently and patiently for it to stop.
“Have your fun, Liam. I remember all too well how you chased Katherine around like a love-sick puppy and came crying to me when she dumped your ass. I never once laughed at your expense, did I? And this is how you repay me.”
Liam held up both palms. “Whoa, Katherine’s and my situation was completely different. One, we were together for three years, man. I was genuinely hurt when I thought I lost her. You’re not heartbroken. You’re just pissed because a woman finally served you a dose of your own medicine.” Liam smirked when Jared growled. “I’m sorry, Jared. The entire thing is hilarious. You slept with Garrison’s daughter and had no idea. What the hell are you going to tell him when you two meet up for drinks to talk about whatever the hell you talk about? That old man looks like he can still deliver a powerful right hook.”
“I have nothing to worry about where Garrison is concerned, since he’ll never find out about Evie and me.”
“You and Evie. Listen to you. You make it sound like you two have something going on.”
“I’d say an entire night of sex is ‘something.’”
“Not for you, bro. Never for you. You’re able to forget about a woman before you even leave her bed.” Liam stroked his chin. “Evie Davis,” he uttered her name as if she were some mysterious legend. “I have to meet this woman. I’d like to shake her hand for bringing you down a notch, Lothario.” Liam ignored his brother’s glower and threw his feet up on his desk. “How the hell did you not know she was Garrison’s daughter? You’ve been to the man’s house many times, and his office. You’ve known him for years. Surely, you've seen at least one picture of the prodigal daughter.”
Jared ran his fingers through his hair, tousling the neat style he’d arrived at his brother’s house with. “Nope. No picture. None in his living room, his office, his wallet. Nowhere. He doesn’t even have a picture of his wife, for goodness sake. It’s like he doesn’t have a family.” Jared shook his head. “All the times he mentioned this mysterious Evelyn, he never once showed me what she looked like, and I never asked because if he wanted me to know I’m sure he would have shown me a picture. I figured they weren’t on good terms because don’t fathers happily roll out photos of their kids from their wallets to gush and all that?”
Liam looked skyward and shook his head. “Ours didn’t.”
“Because ours was a dick. God rest his miserable soul.”
“And he and Garrison were best buds. Birds of a feather, Jared.”
“Hey, Garrison is a good man,” Jared said. “That man has been more of a father to me than Charles Hawthorne ever was.”
“Then maybe you should tell him you accidentally slept with his daughter and apologize.”
“Fuck no! Are you insane? What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. And I doubt Evie would appreciate me blabbing. She was adamant about keeping the entire affair quiet. In fact, she told me to forget it ever happened.”
Liam, in the process of sipping from his glass sputtered. “Jared, do you realize that this Evie is practically the female version of you?” He laughed. “I do believe you’ve met your match. I’m enjoying this. So …, when can I meet her?”
“Never,” Jared said. “She isn’t my fucking girlfriend, Liam.”
“She should be. You need someone to keep you on your toes.”
“I don’t do relationships.” Jared looked around Liam’s home office and took in the sickeningly sweet framed photos of him and Katherine. One, in particular, Liam gazed down at Katherine as if she were his entire world. He shuddered. “God forbid I end up domesticated with my balls in one woman’s clutches like you.” Liam and Katherine bought a house together after they discovered they were meant to be, got back together, and got engaged. His brother was actually going through with the family and white picket fence scenario. Jared pictured himself in the same situation and nearly hyperventilated. No way would he risk ending up like his parents in a volatile relationship that destroyed their own children. Apparently, Liam hadn't been all that tainted because he believed in love and sticking to one woman. Jared, on the other hand, was scared shitless about committing.
“It ain’t so bad, big brother,” Liam said. “So, what are you going to do? Are you going to hire Evie?”
“I don’t know yet. I should. She’s a tenacious tigress with deadly claws from what I’ve seen. She’d be a perfect backing for the company.” She’d be perfect for him but he wasn’t even going to venture any deeper into that thought. “And it should be our team, Liam.” He fixed his brother with an expectant stare.
“No, thank you. I’ve told you a million times. I have no interest in joining the family business.”
“It’s no longer the family business. It’s mine. I’ve built it into what it is—more than dad ever could. You’re welcome to join me anytime, and it would be ours.”
Liam’s eyes, amber, like their mother’s, darkened. “I want nothing to do with anything dad ever touched.”
Jared’s brows elevated. Maybe Liam was as scarred by their father as Jared was, just in a different way. “You enjoy making video games?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I make a ton of money, and I can stay at home and give my woman all the attention she needs.”
One corner of Jared’s upper lips curled in mock disgust. “Katherine has turned you into a sap.”
Liam grinned. “And, I love it. You’ll get your balls handed to you by the right woman one day, bro, and I’ll be there to say I told you so.”
“Never going to happen.”
“Uh huh.” Liam emptied his glass and regarded Jared with interest. “So, did Evie really kick you out of her office?”
Jared gritted his teeth at the memory of Evie politely telling him to get the fuck out. “She did. Said I was wasting her time.”
Pursing his lips, Liam bit back a laugh. “Please, just invite her over here for one dinner. I have to meet this chick.”
“I have a feeling that if she ever heard you calling her a ‘chick,’ she’d knee you in the balls. She strikes me as that type.” Jared drained his own glass and stood up. “And I doubt she’ll accept any kind of invitation from me if it doesn’t have to do with work.”
“Damn.”
Damn indeed. Jared wouldn’t mind taking Evie out for dinner just to have another roll in the sack afterward. If he bedded her one more time, surely he’d get her out of his system. “I have to get back to the office to do real work while you play video games,” he teased.
Liam sneered. “Screw you, Jared.”
With a chuckle, Jared walked to the door. “Nice chatting with you baby brother. Tell Katherine ‘hi’ for me, will you?”
“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t,” Liam said.
Jared’s smile stayed in place until he was outside. Liam’s words rang in his head. Tell Garrison what went down with his daughter and apologize? It wasn’t like he’d known who Evelyn was at the time. No way could Garrison blame him. Then, Evie’s worried expression seeped into his mind. She was convinced she’d lose her job if her boss/father found out. Jared sighed and strolled to the black Mercedes waiting for him. He shook his head in refusal as the driver moved to get out to open the door for him. The only reason he didn’t drive himself to Liam’s was because he knew he’d have a few strong drinks. They were much needed after running into Evie again and discovering that he still wanted her as much as he did when he saw her sitting at the bar that night.
He had to remind himself several times who she was and how dangerous sleeping with her again would be. Not that she’d be interested anyway. He knew she was attracted him. He didn’t get to where he was without having an eye for detail and reading people. But she wanted to keep her professional name unblemished, especially in her father eyes, and he respected that. Jared already knew he wanted Evie to join his team.
The woman had guts and bigger, figurative balls, than most men he knew. She’d impressed him with her bravado the very night they’d met, and again when she’d let him know she could handle any job. He was just conflicted about working with her knowing he wanted more than her professional expertise, and knowing she was his friend’s daughter. The safer route would be to employ someone else. But that was at the risk of offending Garrison and possibly Evie. She was qualified. Garrison didn’t play around with his firm. He wouldn't have hired Evie if she wasn’t good, and she sure as hell wouldn’t have been his top pick to work for a company as large as Jared’s. Surely, he could put his business first and shove aside his need to have another taste of the mercilessly infuriating and intriguing, Evie Davis.
Chapter Five
Evie
Evie glanced around her new apartment and plopped down on the chocolate-brown sofa. She was practically engulfed by the plush cushions, which was exactly why she’d purchased it. It was the most comfortable sofa she’d ever sat on. There were still a few boxes lining the living room wall that needed unpacking, but she was much too drained to take on the task. Luckily, Karen was on her way over to help with the unpacking. It was rare for Karen to have free time nowadays, and Evie considered herself lucky that her friend could get away from work.
She needed someone to talk to before she burst. It had been a long day. She met the rest of her father’s associates and her new colleagues. She’d had to come to terms with the fact that her father was now her boss, and on top of her concern about being around Garrison, there was Jared. Their entire encounter had been so nerve-wracking, she downed an entire bottle of wine the minute she got home, and now she was way too tipsy to prepare dinner.
The knock on the door came as a relief. She wouldn’t have to relive her and Jared’s conversation. Evie jumped up and scurried to the door to fling it open. Karen stood wearing a bright smile. Karen always had a way of brightening Evie’s mood with her mere presence. Her friend was warm, open and had no filter whatsoever, she and always had Evie in a fit of laughter with some out-of-order comment. “I’ve brought myself and food. Don’t you just adore me?”