Drunk on You: an age gap, enemies to lovers, fake engagement, office romance (Love & Whiskey Boo

Chapter Twenty-Three

“With the timelinewe’re working with, I’d probably say …”

Ana strolls into my office, stopping me mid-thought as I rake my gaze down her body. I had to be at work early for a meeting this morning, so I didn’t see her before I left. She’s dressed in a sexy black pencil skirt, a white button-down blouse, and a pair of fuck-me heels. I briefly wonder if I can convince her to let me slide that skirt up and over her ass and fuck her from behind with her bent over my?—

“Jesus, man,” Ryder says, reminding me that he’s in my office. “I can practically hear your dirty thoughts from here.” He stands and shakes his head. “We can finish this conversation later … when you’re not busy fantasizing about your fiancée.”

“You don’t have to leave on my account,” Ana says.

“I need to get home anyway,” he tells her. “Nora is craving chocolate-covered pickles and swears if I don’t somehow find a way to get them for her, she’ll die.” His eyes widen at his slipup. “I mean …”

“I already told her.”

“And I won’t tell anyone,” she promises.

“Thanks. We’re announcing it soon. I’m sure you’ll be invited to the party.” He rolls his eyes. “Speaking of parties, have fun in Vegas … but not too much fun.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I say, making Ana laugh and Ryder glare.

He leaves, closing the door behind him, and I turn my attention to Ana.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of you visiting my office?” I smirk playfully. “Hoping to get fucked? Because I can make that happen.”

She snorts out a laugh and drops a file onto my desk. “The day-care plans have been drawn up by the architect and approved by the engineer for the remodel. I need you to sign off on them.”

“Okay, cool,” I say, pulling her into my lap. “I’ll look over these on the plane tomorrow. Now, what do you say to me bending you over this desk and fucking that perfect pussy of yours until you come?”

“Mmm.” She grinds against me. “I would say?—”

Buzz.

“Mr. Parker, sorry for the interruption, but you told me to let you know if Sonia calls. She’s on line one.”

“Shit, I need to take this.”

I pat Ana’s butt, and she pouts, but this call is too important to blow off.

“Seriously, you go from wanting to have office sex to dismissing me?” she says as she stands with a huff.

“Sorry, I need to take this call. Rain check?”

“Whatever,” she grumbles. “I’m heading home to finish packing. Maybe I’ll pull out my pink vibrator and give it a go. B.O.B. has been feeling a bit left out.”

“Touch yourself, and you’ll regret it,” I warn, the thought of her coming without me making me see red.

“Oh, really? Then, you’d better get home quickly to stop me,” she sasses, sauntering out and slamming the door behind her with a cackle.

I grab the receiver, hoping this call is quick so I can chase after my woman. I planned to stay late to get some shit done since we’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning for Vegas, but my priorities have shifted—number one: getting home to make my gorgeous fiancée come.

“Sonia,” I say when I answer. “What can I do for you?”

“You can meet me for dinner at Carlson’s tonight.”

Well, shit, there goes my night.

Anastasia

“You can meetme for dinner at Carlson’s tonight.”

I stop in my place as a sultry voice practically purrs the words over the speakerphone to my fiancé.

“Whoops.” Josie quickly lifts and drops the receiver, silencing the call. “I forgot to click transfer,” she says with a nervous smile that has my hackles rising. “With the new system, if I don’t click …”

She rambles on, but my only focus is on the fact that some woman seems to think Julian is going to meet her at Carlson’s when he’s meeting me at the house.

My phone dings with a text, and I pull it out, finding a message from Julian that has my heart plummeting into my stomach.

Julian

A last-minute meeting came up. I’ll probably be home late.

Me

Guess the vibrator it is.

Julian

I’ll make it up to you. I promise.

Julian

You should have dinner with your dad since we’re leaving tomorrow for a few days.

“Who’s Sonia?” I ask Josie, pocketing my phone.

“I’m not sure,” she says with a shrug. “Julian just told me to put her through to him, no matter what.”

“You’re his assistant. Shouldn’t you know who he does business with?” I accuse, my tone harsh.

“I don’t know everything about Julian,” she snaps back. “Take you, for example. I didn’t know about you until you two were already engaged. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

I should probably apologize, but I’m too upset about the fact that my fiancée is going out with another woman tonight instead of coming home and being with me.

On the way home, I call Paige, needing to speak to someone who’s not associated with Julian.

“Hello, stranger,” she says. “How’s it going?”

“I think Julian is cheating on me.”

“Can he do that if your engagement is fake?”

I open my mouth, then close it, unsure of how to answer that because she’s right. Our engagement is fake, so technically, he’s not cheating on me. But …

“He told me he wanted us to be real,” I whisper, my heart cracking into pieces.

“Oh,” she gasps. “Apparently, a lot has happened since we last spoke. Care to get me caught up?”

I quickly give her the CliffsNotes version, and when I’m done, she whistles under her breath.

“Never thought I’d see the day.”

“What?”

“The all-work, no-play Anastasia Webb has fallen in love.”

“I have not.” But even as I deny it, I know I’m lying to myself because she’s right. I have fallen for Julian. Despite everything, I have fallen for my fake fiancé, who apparently thinks it’s okay to date other women.

“Maybe since you’re not official, he doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong,” Paige suggests.

“He told me the first day we met that he would be loyal,” I hiss. “And now, he’s talking to other women, but expects me to give us a real chance? Fuck that.”

“Then, maybe it’s a business meeting,” Paige says. “You should just talk to him.”

I’m about to pull into the driveway, but at the last second, I pass it by.

“I’m going to Carlson’s.”

“And what are you going to do if you find him with another woman?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper, the thought making me sick to my stomach. “But I need to know.”

The drive to Carlson’s feels like it takes forever. Once I arrive, I let the valet attendant know I won’t be long so he doesn’t park my vehicle. Then, I go in search of Julian.

I find him quickly, sitting in a corner booth with a beautiful blonde woman. I stand, frozen in place, while I watch them talk and laugh. He drinks his scotch, no doubt Kingston Gold Label, while she sips her glass of white wine.

When she leans over and places her hand on his arm while looking at him like he hung the damn moon, I can’t take it anymore and leave. A myriad of emotions flits through me on the way home—heartbroken, sad, hurt, devastated, and confused—but the one I settle on is betrayed.

How dare he make me fall for him, only to seek out another woman! I might not be perfect, but I deserve better than that.

I finish packing despite not wanting to go on this trip. I’m going to be stuck on a plane with Julian for three hours and then sharing a room with him for the next three nights.