Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
AARON
A short while later, I found myself sitting with Harrison in Stargaze, the cozy après-ski lounge, cognac in hand, bemused and…nervous. I hadn’t quite accepted his apology for that night so long ago, but some of the bitterness I’d been carrying around lanced. Maybe confession was good for the soul. A part of me wished I’d stayed silent and strategized an appropriate payback. But I had more important stuff on my mind than settling an old college score.
Like closing a multi-million-dollar deal. In true CEO fashion, my feelings would have to wait. The bottom line was far more important.
“Tell me more about the college version of Aaron Taylor-Ladner,” he quipped as he raised his glass to his lips, taking a long sip of his drink. “Or, I’ll tell you embarrassing stories about me. Which you can use to your advantage.”
He was at it again, flipping the script. His effort to put me at ease, though, only made me tense up. Harrison was the kind of man who, no matter the crime, would charm the judge and jury, evidence be damned. Which is probably what made him a great salesperson; he had charisma, determination, and an attitude that never quit. A way of getting people to talk. Even me.
Especially me.
“Not much to tell. I dropped the ‘Ladner’ name when I was at school,” I admitted. “I didn’t want anyone to know where I came from.”
“Smart.” He nodded and leaned closer. “You were determined to become your own person.”
“Sort of. It was more about craving anonymity than being bold.”
“It was a good idea. But also, risky. A well-known, well-to-do family name has its advantages, I’m sure. Everyone wants to be your friend.”
“But no one really is. And their reasons are often suspect,” I admitted. “Well, except for Shane Lofton. I grew up with him.”
“The artist?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve met him.”
I startled, nearly spilling my drink. Did Harry fuck my best friend? And why did my mind go there?
“How?” I asked.
“At a networking event in LA two years ago. Some art showing I was invited to. He was very popular. I remember him distinctly because he had a gorgeous girlfriend on one arm and a beautiful boyfriend on the other.”
“That’s Shane. Everyone loves him.”
Harrison shrugged. “Eh, he seemed a bit full of himself.”
I laughed out loud. “And you’re not?”
Harrison didn’t reply at first. The flickering light from the nearby fire highlighted the sharp angles of his face. The man cut a stunning profile, and I couldn’t help but stare. He took a slow sip of his drink and licked his lips. Too late, he caught me staring.
“Oh, I am,” he finally replied with a smirk. “But in this circumstance, I meant that Shane talked over people.”
I shook my head. Harrison didn’t know Shane like I did. “Even if he did, it’s just because he’s a passionate person and full of enthusiasm. The life of the party. The opposite of me.”
Harrison eyed me intently.
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got an intense appeal that’s engaging. You don’t need to shout to get anyone’s attention.”
Was Harrison giving me a compliment? Or did I have brain freeze from being out on that mountain?
“You already got the job, Harry. No need to suck up.”
Bad choice of words. I looked away and took another slow sip of my cognac.
“Are you and Shane fuck buddies?” he asked.
I choked, coughing and sputtering. Harrison reached over to pat my back and him touching me didn’t help one fucking bit.
“I’m fine.” I cleared my throat and pushed his arm away. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Shane and I are just friends. He’s like a brother to me.”
“Wait a minute,” Harrison replied and put his glass down. “Why didn’t he help you out the night of the party?”
“What?”
“You said he encouraged you to get in the pool. If he was there with you, why didn’t he help you? Swim out to grab you a towel or something?”
“I…well—” I searched my memory. “When I finally came up for air, and called out, he was already on the pool deck and was headed inside with some girl.”
“Your bestie left you like that?”
“He didn’t know. He was gone before I had to chance to ask him for help.”
Harrison said nothing and his silence grated on my nerves.
“Shane did nothing wrong.” I slammed my glass on the table. “You’re the one who called attention to me, remember?”
Harrison bit his lower lip. “And I said I was sorry?—”
“I don’t think you are,” I snapped. “Thanks for the drink, but I’m done.”
“Still running away?” he taunted.
“I’m not running. You and I have nothing, outside of work, to say to each other. It’s been disastrous since the start.”
I moved to get up, but Harrison placed a hand on my arm, halting me. I had the simultaneous urge to lean closer and pull away.
“I said I was sorry, and I meant it,” Harrison implored. “And I wasn’t questioning Shane’s loyalty, I was just making an observation.”
“Well, don’t.” I started to get up again.
“Don’t leave.”
I sat back and glared at him. “Why?”
Harrison finished his drink in one gulp.
“Just stay. Talk.”
“Again, why?”
“I just thought…I mean, maybe, if we got to know each other?—”
It wasn’t like Harrison to stumble for words.
“—we could, uh, let go of this animosity and you, know, be friends.”
What?
I let out the loudest laugh in my entire life. So loud that guests nearby turned to stare at us. Me and Harrison? Friends? Ninety-nine percent of our interaction was bickering. His suggestion was ludicrous.
“Oh my God,” I chuckled as I wiped away tears. “Are you for real?”
Harrison’s blue gaze turned molten. “Why the fuck not?”
“Us?”
Harrison blushed, his face turning so red that I hardly recognized him.
“Fine.” He stood up and dropped a couple of twenties on the table. “That should cover my drink.”
“Harry—”
He grabbed his puffer coat and beanie.
“I’m sorry I made fun of you, once, a long time ago when I was a drunk college student,” he bit out. “But obviously you can’t or won’t accept my apology. You want to live in the past, go for it. Let’s just agree to keep out of each other’s way until we finish our negotiations.”
Harrison stalked off, and for some crazy reason, I reached for my jacket and followed him. Out of the bar and back to the hotel.
“Have you forgotten that we’re sharing the same room?” I asked him as we stepped into the elevator.
“Maybe I’ll find another roommate. The night’s not over yet.” Harrison’s frigid eyes stared back at me and I full-on shivered. “And even if I don’t, I’d rather sleep outside in a goddamn snowbank!”
“Isn’t that dramatic?”
“Look who’s talking. You’ve been holding on to a grudge for a decade. And yes, I’d rather sleep outside. Being surrounded by ice is a hundred times warmer than being near you.”
His comment hit me like a punch to the chest.
“You son of a?—”
The elevator door opened, and he bolted for the hallway.
I ran after him, slipping in the process, grabbing hold of Harrison’s arm, and taking him down with me. Harrison tumbled, falling flat on his back, and I ended up on top of him. Our bodies slammed together, knocking the breath right out of me.
“Shit,” I grumbled as I straddled his waist, struggling to get up.
“Get off me,” he growled.
“Harry, I?—”
Without warning, Harrison rolled us over, until he was straddling me. My stupid cock was way too interested in our tussle.
“Only my friends call me Harry and as you pointed out, we’re not that.”
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know what for at this point, but it sounded right.
“If anyone saw us lying together in a hotel hallway—” he grumbled and slid off me, standing up. “We’re two fucking idiots.”
“Speak for yourself.”
He offered his middle finger in response, and then he offered his palm.
Without thinking, I put my hand in his and he hauled me up off the floor. But as soon as I was on my feet, he dropped my hand like I poisoned him and made for our room. I thought facing him this morning was challenging, but I was feeling all kinds of weird shit right now that I wasn’t prepared for. Why did I run after him? Why couldn’t I just leave well enough alone?
I followed him into the room and watched as he made for his suitcase.
“I thought you were joking.”
Harrison ignored me, yanked open the closet door, and began to pull out his clothes.
“Where are you going to sleep?” I demanded. “The lobby?”
“Why not?”
“Just stop.”
“No.”
“Harry.”
He let out a strangled groan, threw the shirt aside, and stomped towards me, backing me into the nearest wall. My body vibrated, humming with annoyance, and something more primal. Anytime I was near him, I was ready to fight or fuck.
“What did I say about that?” he hissed.
“You like it,” I teased, unable to help myself.
The flare in his arctic blues told me I was spot on. He hated me, but he didn’t.
“Shut your mouth,” he growled.
“That’s my line.”
“Aaron, swear to God, don’t push me right now.”
“Maybe I want to push,” I whispered. “Make me shut up again, Harry. Do it.”
Harrison suddenly gripped my neck, holding me in place.
“I thought you wanted to play it safe, boss,” he whispered, leaning in so close, his lips almost brushed mine.
Safe? That was shot to hell the moment I locked eyes with this man.
“And this?” He squeezed my throat, his thumb rubbing my pulse point. My semi turned to a raging hard-on. “This isn’t safe.”
“I don’t care.”
Harrison’s grip loosened, but he didn’t let go of me. “Aaron.”
“Fuck me.”
He trembled. I felt it, and he knew it.
“You’re messing with me,” he responded and dropped his hand.
I surged forward and pushed him until we toppled to the bed.
“Does this feel like I’m messing with you?” I demanded as I punched my hips forward. I wasn’t the only one who was frustrated and needed to fuck. “Your cock is on board with my idea.”
“This is fucked up,” he moaned and grabbed my ass, pulling me in tighter.
“We’re fucked up. And now I want you to fuck me.”
Harrison rolled us over, pinning me to the mattress. The move was so fast, so powerful, that my dick jerked hard in my briefs.
“You asked for it.”