Her Possessive Valentine (PROJECT VALENTINE)

Chapter 8

8

HANA

I t’s not every day that a well-dressed man bursts through the Hanging Gardens front door. For it to happen twice in one week is such a rare event that it catches my attention immediately every time. But there’s no surprise that the man storming through my lobby is Vance Valentine. Not after the night we shared and the subsequent days or teasing and tormenting through text during the day while laying waste to one another's bodies at night.

“Vance?” I smile at him, doing my best to keep a straight-faced smile. “What brings you here?”

I can think of a few good reasons he abandoned work in the middle of the morning. Making a mess of my office being the top on my list of reasons.

“I’m here for my mom. Isn’t she here?” I’d have believed him, too, if it weren’t for the sheepish smile accompanying his words.

“You just missed her.” I gesture with a single finger that he follow me, and we head for my office. As much fun as we could have in a room full of people, I have to remind myself that the Hanging Gardens is still my place of business. And if I want it to stay that way, we should keep our personal affairs locked behind closed doors.

“Ah, well, it’s a good thing you’re here to keep me company instead.” Vance lowers himself and pecks me on the cheek, somehow not missing or fumbling a single step.

I look around to make sure no one’s coming to speak with me before I slip into my office. Vance follows, seemingly oblivious to what I’m doing. Which is my first clue that this isn’t what I think it is, even though I really want it to be.

Then what? Why would he come all the way here if it isn’t for a repeat of last night’s fun?

“Company, huh?” I spin and take a seat on the edge of my desk.

“Yes. See, I’ve got some pretty big plans in the works. Some might even call it a gift or a surprise. So many words to describe it, I don’t even know where to begin.” He crosses the distance between us and throws his arms over my shoulders. “Most of it is to impress this girl. She’s pretty spectacular. Well, everything about her is pretty.”

My cheeks instantly set alight, but when I try to look away, Vance turns my face back to his.

“Not this time, Doll. I want to look into those eyes while I’m complimenting you.”

Clearing my throat and doing everything in my power to will away my blushing, I go back and play along with what he was saying before. “And what’s this thing you’re trying to impress her with?”

“See, that’s where I’m stuck. She’s very busy, but you know me—a man of grand gestures and the like.” He steps closer to me, lowering his face to mine until we’re on the verge of kissing. “And I’m gonna need to convince her to take two weeks off.”

“I’m sure it could be arranged.” I fight my urge to lean in and steal a kiss but fail and do it anyway. Vance doesn’t resist, meeting me head-on with feverish passion, but stops himself before things get carried away.

“Yeah, but the problem is it’s from Monday.”

I raise a brow at him. Two weeks from Monday? What the hell are you scheming, Mr. Valentine?

“Again, I’m sure it can be arranged.” I try for another kiss, but this time, Vance doesn’t indulge. Instead, he smirks wickedly and moves his lips to peck me above a brow.

“Good, because I wasn’t giving you a choice.” He pulls away and offers me a hand to help me up. “Monday morning. Seven sharp. I’ll pick you up at your place.”

“What?” I look at him with mock astonishment. “It was me this whole time? I would’ve never guessed it.”

“The way you rushed me in here like your dirty little secret, a straightforward approach didn’t seem viable,” he says, adjusting his tie.

“I’ll have you know. There’s nothing little about the reason I rushed you in here.” I wiggle my eyebrows toward his crotch, and Vance makes a perfect O with his lips to feign surprise.

“Did you really think all I’d come here for is sex? I should be offended.”

“But you’re not.”

He starts leading me back to the door, and with it, my hopes of having a quicky to get through the work day walk out too.

“How can you be so sure?” he asks, opening it for me like the perfect gentleman.

“Because we both know you want it just as much as I do.”

His hand slips down my back and rests on my ass. He gives it a firm squeeze before I’m fully out the door. “You’re damn fucking right I do. But sadly, I can’t stay long enough to indulge my impulses.”

“Ah, so that’s why it’s Monday?”

He nods. “I still plan on seeing you tonight, though. And tomorrow. Sunday, too, if you can squeeze me in.”

“You can squeeze in any time.” What’s wrong with me? I can’t even get through a normal conversation without my mind jumping to something naughty when he’s around.

“That’s what I like to hear. Until tonight, then?” He looks at me, then turns his attention to our surroundings and finally lowers for another kiss. Sweeter than in the seclusion of my office, but it still knocks the wind out of my lungs all the same.

“Until tonight,” I answer, and he starts walking back in the direction we came.

I watch him because I can’t seem to turn away from this man. Everything about him beckons me closer, steals all my attention, and leaves me desperate for more. The worst part, or maybe the best, is the goofy smile that takes hours to leave my face after spending time with Vance.

But my heart sinks into my guts when a woman steps through the doors before Vance can make his exit. It’s the same blonde from the day we met, with the same bubbly smile as she throws her arms around Vance’s shoulders to greet him. They chat in the doorway for a few minutes, and I feel my dread grow. He’s smiling and laughing with the same conviction he does with me.

Nothing to be jealous about yet. They’re just talking. Don’t get ? —

I can’t even finish my thought before she goes in for another hug, but this time, she finishes it by giving him a kiss on the cheek. Fear and dread immediately burn away behind red-hot fury.

It’s unbelievable.

I should’ve trusted my gut on the first interaction we had. There’s no way a man like Vance, so charming, chivalrous, and decent, is unclaimed by another. But I’m not going to let this bullshit stand.

Oh, no, he’s chosen the wrong chick to mess with.

I don’t even notice the blonde passing me as she walks to the back of the spa. My intentions are squarely focused on him.