BUSINESS CASUAL: AN INK & BRAZEN WOMEN NOVELLA

by Leigh, Cassie

  “My grandfather tells me you’re in residential real-estate and run one of the top marketing departments in that niche for your family’s company. I’m interested in urban development trends myself.” Ciaran’s voice was light and friendly, the way he typically addressed business associates—nothing that would lead Monica to believe she was anything more than that.

  “Young professionals want to be in the center of everything. People like you and I—they wait longer to start families and move to the suburbs. We’re also finding success with empty nesters. That grew our sales of single-family homes as we encourage them to move downtown into condos as their children have children of their own.” Monica leaned forward, practically falling out of her low cut cocktail dress with a sex-kitten smile as if she could temp him before she continued. “I’d be happy to discuss it with you over drinks later when we’re alone.”

  If it hadn’t already been clear that Briar was an unwelcome interloper in this situation, that would have spelled it out in no uncertain terms. Monica Fitch had clearly been on board with the suggestion that their companies merge in more ways than paper, even if Ciaran wasn’t. Someone should send her a memo, arranged unions for business were no longer in vogue.

  “That won’t work for me, unfortunately. I barely made it to this. Briar is our new HR Director and we were knee deep in an office policy rewrite. My assistant interrupted to let me know my grandfather scheduled this dinner meeting. I didn’t want to stand you up a third time but we have more to do.” A thin smile stretched across Ciaran’s lips.

  At least Briar had managed to clear her lipstick from them before he decided to charge in here. She shuddered to think about the state of her own swollen lips. Matte lipstick was a wonderful thing but its power to hang on for dear life had limits.

  “You seem awfully young for such an elevated position.” Monica smiled with her bared teeth as she finally acknowledged Briar. “You must be fresh out of college.”

  No way could Briar force a false smile as both Monica and Ciaran seemed to be. Briar didn’t have the emotional space left to be that fake. Keeping her tone even would have to be enough as she answered her wannabe rival. “I’m twenty-seven actually and I can assure you I’m more than adequately qualified.”

  “I’ll bet you are.” Monica made a dismissive sound that made Briar’s spine straighten and Ciaran’s hand tighten on her knee.

  This is the kind of snake Ciaran’s grandfather wanted him to marry? He probably hadn’t cared to vet the woman past her family connection. Briar would introduce Ciaran’s grandfather to own manipulative mother if Todd hadn’t already whisked her off to god knows where. Her mother and Rand Senior might have enjoyed comparing notes. They appeared to have much in common.

  It also struck her that this was another shared synchronicity in both her and Ciaran’s lives. They kept popping up with increasing frequency. None of them common, but all of them capable of leaving an unseen mark, as permanent at the demons she tattooed to her arm to make hers visible.

  The server chose that moment to interrupt. Something unfortunate might have happened if that had carried on much longer. The girl laid out the menus, her high ponytail bobbed as her attention bounced between the three of them. “Will this be separate tickets?”

  “No, one.” Ciaran’s voice was tight.

  The server carried on, either oblivious or so used to other people’s drama that she simply didn’t care. “Can I start you with a drink and an appetizer or are you ready to order.”

  Briar was in favor of alcohol. “Gin and tonic, please.”

  “Water for me.” Monica’s words came out clipped. Seemed someone else was done trying too.

  Ciaran gave Briar a long look, as though surprised by her order. And maybe he was, but she could handle it. Admittedly, her cocktail of choice could be an acquired taste, but if there was ever a time for a stiff drink, this situation qualified.

  “I’ll have what she’s having, thank you.” He gestured to Briar.

  “I’ll go put those in while you take a look at the menu.”

  “Where did we leave off?” The promise of alcohol coming couldn’t even make her smile now that they were alone with Monica again. “Oh I remember—our backgrounds. I don’t mind sharing since you ask. After finishing top of my class with an MBA focused on Human Resources and Communication, I sat on the board of my father’s company before my family sold our share. You could say I grew up in business administration. I trust your background is something similar?”

  Monica cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Would you excuse me for a moment? I need to freshen up.” Monica slid from her seat, taking her clutch with her. Odds are she wouldn’t come back. Ordering water and now the bathroom—dead giveaway.

  Closing her eyes, Briar allowed her head to fall back. “If I wasn’t here she wouldn’t have been so rude.”

  His body heat soothed Briar’s riled spirit as he leaned in, whispering in her ear, as his hand slid ever so slightly higher up her thigh. “Maybe not, but having you here brought out her true colors and made yours shine.”

  “Ciaran,” her voice came out a strained whisper. “There are people all around us.” Briar laid her hand over his to stop him from progressing further.

  “What do you say I leave an obscene amount of money on the table and we leave?” Ciaran didn’t wait for an answer. He slid his billfold out and tossed a couple of bills on the table. She couldn’t say how much since her attention remained trained completely on him, and her own racing heart.

  In one beat, two at most, he pulled Briar from the chair, across the restaurant and out the door, leaving Monica to her bitterness. The level of exhilaration pumping through her veins, it was like running a race and winning. Knowing she was so far ahead, the competition would never catch her. He released her hand allowing her to run slightly ahead of him, laughing. When she looked back the predatory heat in his smoldering blue gaze made her shudder with an answering fire.

  Briar reached the car, and licked her dry lips as she turned to wait.

  Ciaran crowded into her space, pressing her against the side of the sedan. “Have I told you how sexy you are when you run?”

  His evidence pressed hard against her belly, hijacking her voice and any coherent thought she had past that.

  “I watched you that first day, running up the sidewalk. When you walked into my office I was already hard thinking about trying to find you, but there you were.” Ciaran ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “You found me. I wanted you right then across my desk.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “Give me one reason I shouldn’t put you in the back and spread you out on these leather seats so that I can worship my way up those amazing legs.” He whispered the words into her neck and finished on a kiss.

  Briar moaned, shuddering against him. His touch burned a trail down her side. Then he reached down and pulled her leg up, making her skirt ride up until the cool fall air hit her exposed lace panties. While his hands were busy, his tongue sliding along the column of her neck almost made her forget how very public they were. How was she supposed to think under those circumstances when all she could do was feel—as if she were a raw nerve?

  When she found her voice, it came forced between her heaving gasps for air, as if she were running a marathon instead of making out with him. “Someone will see us.”

  Ciaran nibbled on her ear lobe and her knees went weak. If he hadn’t been pressing her against the car, she would have fallen. “Please,” she whispered.

  “What do you want, Briar,” his sexy growl in her ear added to the fog of lust obscuring her judgement.

  The rapidly cooling night cleared the haze. “Not here. Not like this.”

  He pulled back and she laid her hand on his cheek as their eyes met. His pupils dilated with the answering lust racing through her veins, made his dark eyes appear like black jewels.

  “I want you, but not out in the open like this.”

  He nodded sl
owly as he took several shaky deep breaths.

  “Are you upset with me?” Her voice came out small.

  He answered with a soft kiss. “It has to be right for both of us. Why would I be mad?”

  Because her ex would have been. She couldn’t say that out loud, not to Ciaran, and at least not now. Truthfully, she was a little surprised that he stopped at all. Ann’s words played through her mind as they stood there coming down off the rush, holding onto each other as if they were about to drift away on the lowering tide. The assholes really might be the good ones. How did she know so much?

  His voice sounded hoarse as it broke through her thoughts. “Let me take you back to your car. We’ve been moving at break neck speed. I’m sure both of us could benefit from perspective and time to breathe.”

  She nodded her agreement, not trusting her voice wouldn’t break in a sob.

  Ciaran ran his finger under her chin, tilting her face up until she looked into his eyes. Already the black receded, making way for the rich navy underneath. “Hey, I meant what I said. We’ve known each other three days. I’m in no hurry, Speed Racer.”

  She smiled at his unconventional endearment.

  “There, much better.” He opened the passenger door and held it for her. Your smile is beautiful. I want to see more of it.”

  She lowered herself into the car, already missing his warmth. He leaned down and gave her another soft kiss before he closed her in and came around. Yeah—Dating Whisperer thy name is Ann. She owed both her friends a coffee.

  “He signed it.” Jay cut straight to the chase, not waiting for Briar to greet him when she picked up the line. “He didn’t contest a damn thing.”

  After everything, two months of waiting, having to sell most of their shared possessions, and he didn’t even fight her for alimony. “Now I feel like a bitch for having his car repossessed. I assume they haven’t found him yet if he was that agreeable.” She spun in her chair doing a tiny celebratory dance in her seat for ten seconds before pulling herself together. “Does that mean I’m free? It’s really done?”

  “I’m on my way down to file it with the clerk of court as we speak. He had the damn thing notarized. You didn’t have children and the house was sold to clear debt. Yes. It’s done.”

  Relief rushed through her faster than the lust from last night. “Thank you, so much, Jay. You’ve made my day. How soon can I file my name change?”

  “I already have the papers drawn up. Just say the word.”

  “Word.” It came out as more of a triumphant squeal, but judging from the laughter on the other end of the line, Jay got the point before he disconnected.

  Briar hugged her now silent phone to her chest. Even though he hung up, it was the closest she could get to hug her lawyer. Maybe she should have a funeral for Mrs. Briar Goodall. She’d have to consult the handbook they were currently rewriting regarding changing her name to Sullivan, which would also mean telling Ciaran—an idea that took her joy level down a couple notches.

  A knock sounded on the glass, as she set the phone face down on her desk. The man himself walked into her office. Ciaran shut the door and closed her blinds. She wanted to roll her eyes, and just barely suppressed the cynical need to tell him just how not suspicious that move was.

  His smile was so damn sexy, it gave her strength to keep the sarcasm as bay. “You look awfully happy? Does that smile have anything to do with me?”

  “Some of it might.” She pursed her lips, biting the inside of her cheek to tone it down.

  “I’ll take what I can get.” He moved behind her, and swept her hair from her neck.

  “Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Rand? Before someone walks into my not very private office.” There is was; the pessimist in her could only be denied for so long.

  “There’s my girl.” His hands kneaded the muscles of her neck. It felt like heaven. “Must we be so formal?”

  She was his girl. He said it. It might scare her if it didn’t feel so good to hear the words come from his mouth. A lazy smile spread as his hands worked their magic to relax her.

  “We’re at work, so yes.” Her tone might have been chastising but considering how rapidly she turned to putty under his touch, it lacked conviction.

  He tilted her head to the side, and his soft lips and unshaved scruff—which she found turned her on more than the polished version—met the sensitive column of her throat. “I think you may need to stay late today so that we can discuss today’s wardrobe choice. You are definitely out of dress code.” His voice vibrated along her skin.

  “Would there be food involved in this meeting?” Her voice sounded breathy and far away, carried off by the need he was already stoking to life inside her.

  “Chinese can be arranged.” His hands ran up under her blazer and she felt his smile followed by another kiss. “Strapless, Briar? This is practically lingerie.”

  “Not practically.”

  He groaned and stepped back. “I’ll have Jack send the meeting invite.” He walked around to the right side of the desk putting much needed distance between them. “Patience, Speed Racer. Five o’clock will be here before too long.”

  She glanced down to see that he was right and smiled as he walked back out of her office with a lopsided smile that matched her own.

  She's everything Ciaran never knew he wanted in a woman—just as she was. Smart and sassy, brazen as hell, but still soft. The thing that surprised him the most was how vulnerable she seemed. It took her from a fantasy that he might never have wasted his time on, to real lover. She made him feel things and forget his priorities until she became one. While he always agreed with his father’s choices, he had never been able to see himself making the same.

  Now he sat here thinking about a future past this business. All because Briar made her intentions clear and then asked him to wait. Their lives ran such an odd parallel that whether they took it fast or slow, he was certain he couldn’t go wrong with her. After last night’s abrupt stop, he assumed it would take weeks or at least several dates before they might pick up where they left off, but when she walked in for morning coffee in that skirt and a bustier under her more office appropriate blazer he knew. Her whole outfit was like waiving a red cape at a bull.

  “Knock, knock.” Briar slipped through the door and closed it behind her.

  Ciaran sat in the dark, watching the light through blinds behind him play across her skin, drawing lines across all the places he planned to kiss.

  Radiance seemed to roll off her skin in the softer light of early evening. Her need to challenge him, her competitive spirit called out to him. It burned every damn time he had to pull her in his office. Alone, to discuss another dress code rule. Only this time he was going to break the rules and bend her over the desk. Right after he worshiped those legs.

  Ciaran watched her saunter around the edge of the desk. He rolled his chair back to give her room for whatever she wanted. More than he needed to have her, he wanted her to be comfortable, to be okay with this. Briar could have the reigns until she was ready to hand them over.

  She used the space to perch on the edge in front of him, crossing her legs at the knee so that her too short skirt rode up, exposing that her fishnets ended in a lace band at the top of her very bare thighs. A soft smile played on her lips as she twirled the black beads at her throat. Since his earlier stop in her office, she’d pulled her hair into a high ponytail revealing purple streaks in her hair that he somehow missed yesterday. Or maybe they had always been there. He’d never actually seen her hair up off her neck.

  Ciaran couldn’t help but smile at that very small but important detail. “Briar, you know party colors are against the rules. I’m afraid you’ll have to do something about your hair.”

  “I think maybe we can come to some kind of arrangement so that I can keep it. Maybe a little quid pro quo.” Her voice was light as she leaned forward. The swell of her breasts strained against the fabric of her top.

  Ciaran rolled his chair
forward, and took her calf between his palms. He stroked the silky grid of lines, up the curve. He uncrossed her legs, letting the one he held rest on the desk. “I’ve been having full on fantasies about these legs for days.”

  He repeated his actions with her other leg, stroking the curve. This time he raised her leg to rest on his shoulder. His hands continued stroking up the insides. He turned his head to graze his lips along the inside of her thigh.

  “Ciaran,” her voice was husky and her silver gray eyes flashed with something that made him wonder if he already pushed too far.

  He didn’t want to stop, but he’d meant what he told her the night before. He would stop no matter what if she needed it. “Tell me what you need.”

  Briar’s lips curled into a wicked smile that sent relief and lust on a race, burning inside him. “Hurry up, there’s something I’ve been meaning to try.”

  He grabbed her ass and pulled her forward, forcing her to fall back on her elbows so that she could still watch him. Her legs spread wider to accommodate him. “You’re right. I can take my time later.”

  * * *

  Briar bit back the tiny shriek from his sudden move as she slid forward on the desk. He had her spread wide; her skirt rucked up to her waist, exposing the black lace thong she put on for him when she dressed that morning. She hated the damn thing, but if she were going to ruin her panties in the rush to have sex, she did what any good girl would so she didn’t wreck her favorites. These she didn’t mind sacrificing to the cause.

  His eyes moved across the full display, clearly hungry to touch and play, but other than pull her closer, he hadn’t made a move. “You are the hottest, damn thing I’ve ever touched.” He traced a finger up the top of her thigh.

  “Are you going to keep talking or prove it?” She shouldn’t goad him, but he’d been so nice. She wanted a little more of the asshole that made her hot. She could appreciate basking in the glow of this side. She fully intended to. He could make love to her later. Right now, she wanted him to fuck her.