Tamed By You (Always & Forever #2)

18. Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Harry

I needed that, needed her more than I realized. After I see her, everything just feels different, better even. Our books have not been balancing and I need to figure out why and it's frying my brain, plus add in the knowledge that I need to go back to London soon to check on things and the wedding next week, I am stressed.

Seeing Ali has eased my tension and I feel like I can battle through these statements to figure out what the hell is going on.

I look up at the sound of my office door opening, hoping Ali has come back for another round, but disappointment hits me when Brad walks in.

“Hey,” I say before looking back down at my paperwork.

“I just bumped into Ali. What was she doing here?”

I don't look up. “Erm, she just stopped by to sort something for the wedding.”

“Really, she said she left something here.” Not liking where this is going, I do my best to fob him off.

“Errr, yeah she did,” I say, my tone vague as I turn the pages and pray, he ends this game of twenty-one questions.

“What did she forget?” I look up to find he’s grinning from ear to ear. “I can't remember, what's with the detective work, Inspector Gadget.”

He lets out a low chuckle. “Well, it’s just that she had some lipstick smudged around her face and she was missing an earring. Thought it was odd.”

“She, erm, ate her lunch here. It was quick, so she must have made a mess.”

Yeah, good one, Haz.

“Yeah, that's what she said, and judging by the earring that’s on the floor over there and the same color lipstick that smudged round your mouth, I assume you were the lunch.”

I swipe my hand over my mouth, finding red lipstick smeared on my fingertips, and glance over to where he’s looking, noticing the small, silver earring.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“Well, well, well. I was right. You were her lunch.”

“Actually, she was mine,” I say just loud enough for him to hear, still not meeting his gaze.

He sits on the chair across from me, putting his boot-clad feet up on my desk. “You dirty dog. About fucking time, you two banged each other.”

I swipe an anxious hand over my face letting out a breath. “You can't tell anyone, especially Jack. Ali is convinced he will have us walking up the aisle behind him.”

“She's not wrong,” he replies, shaking his head. He’s usually one to mind his business but he’s clearly enjoying my torment and pushing for gossip. “So, how long has this been going on.”

“In total or the most recent stint.”

“Excuse me,” he splutters.

“We hooked up at Chris and Nancy’s wedding, then we hooked up at the engagement party, in Vegas and we've been doing it ever since. It’s nothing, its casual, just sex,” I ramble.

“It can’t just be sex with you two, you could tell from the start there’s this chemistry between you both,” he says adamantly.

“Well, it is just sex, and don't make it weird by making it a thing, and don't tell her you know till I tell her, okay?”

“Okay, okay, my lips are sealed, but you are weirdly protective of a fuck buddy. Why does it matter if people know?”

“Because she's more than that,” I bite, shocked at my admission and Brad gives me a knowing look.

“I mean, she’s my friend, our friend, part of our group, but what we are doing is just sex, nothing more, so no one needs to know, we don’t want peoples’ opinions.” I’m not sure who I am trying to convince here, him or me.

“Live in denial, brother. I support you and you know, I'll be here when it all ends in tears or you need me to be best man at the wedding.”

I grab a handful of pens from my pot and throw them at him. He raises a hand to block them, letting out a deep laugh as I let out a huff.

“Now do me a favor and be useful. Help me figure out where the fuck this missing money has gone.”

My phone vibrates and practically launch myself across the desk to get it.

“Is that the wifey, missing you already, is she?” he teases.

I give him the middle finger, swiping the message open.

Ali

Thanks for lunch *winking face* Pretty sure Brad knows FYI. He caught me coming out your office x

Harry

You're welcome. I can still taste you on my lips. *Tongue emoji* Yeah, the fucker knows, but he won’t say a word. I hope you make it to Nordstrom in time x

She sends a photo of her holding a Nordstrom bag, a New York bagel bag, and a tray of coffee cups.

Ali

Got the goods and an orgasm with 10 minutes to spare. I’d say that was a successful lunch *winking face* x

Harry

I’d have to agree. Laters, Ali Cat x

Ali

*blow kiss gif*

“What’s that face?” Brad scoffs.

I place my phone down and pick up my statements and my pen. “What face?”

“That goofy smile and the heart eyes,” he mocks, fluttering his eyelashes and doing a creepy grin.

“I don’t have heart eyes,” I protest, scrunching my nose.

“She is either the best damn fuck of your life or you are falling for her.”

I ignore his comment. “Find the money,” I demand tapping the pen on the paper.

He’s wrong, it’s just sex. Sure, the desire to set her on fire has lessened the more time I spend with her, but it’s just sex. Hot, mind-blowing, hot as hell sex… isn’t it?