Chapter 13
thirteen
. . .
Jensen
I walkinside the building that houses not only the entire operation of Webster Enterprises, but also several other businesses. The building is also owned by Brynn’s father; he rents out several floors.
Approaching the elevator, I look at the large plated sign next to them searching for the name I want.
The top floor makes sense. I tap the up button and wait for the doors to open.
A few women approach, standing at my side and I hear them whispering, but don’t look in their direction. I already feel like a fool and my entire focus is on the words rolling around in my head. Words I’ve rehearsed, changed, and rehearsed over and over trying to make it right.
The car arrives and I step inside tapping the number seven then I turn and lean back against the back wall as more people pile inside. As the doors slide shut and we start to ascend, my nerves kick up a notch and I do my best to maintain them.
We manage to stop four times before I finally arrive on the seventh floor and step out of the elevators. There’s marble flooring and pale gray walls with the words Webster Enterprises in chrome reflective lettering mounted on the wall behind a sprawling receptionist desk.
The two women look up simultaneously as I approach and offer me a smile.
“Can I help you?” the blonde closest to me asks.
“Yes, I’m here to see Brynnlee Webster.”
“Do you have an appointment?” she asks, tapping on her keyboard.
I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. But calling her wasn’t an option. I needed to see her in person. “No, but I worked with her on a case recently and was hoping I could talk to her.” I grab a card out of the pocket of my jacket and pass it to her. “Can you tell her Detective Steele is here to see her?”
I should feel guilty using my position to get through to Brynn, but I don’t. After our last interaction I feel a face to face will be more effective. Though I”m not quite sure of everything I said to her on the phone, from what Connor told me, what I am sure of is that I made a fool of myself.
“There is a Detective Steele here to see you.” I don’t notice her even dialing the phone before she places it back on the receiver and stands from the desk.
“Right this way.” She rounds the desk and leads me down the long hallway. I take the opportunity to look around and am very impressed by the set up. Offices line the hall on both sides with nameplates on the doors. At the end of the hall is one very large office I assume belongs to her father.
The receptionist stops and lightly taps on a door. As I glance toward it I see Brynnlee Webster embossed in the plate. The woman pauses for only a moment before she turns the knob and pushes inside.
“Good morning,” she says with a smile before stepping aside motioning for me to enter.
When I do, my eyes instantly lock with Brynn’s as she sits behind her desk with a pile of paperwork before her.
As I move in deeper the door clicks shut behind me but I don’t look away from her.
She has her long dark hair pulled back and piled atop her head, a pen sticking in the mess of hair and a pair of glasses I’d never imagined her wearing. She’s beautiful and I smile, feeling that familiar pull in my chest that I manage to get every single time I’ve been near her.
“Feeling better?” she asks with a smirk and I continue to hold her stare. All the words I’ve rehearsed are gone. “After last night I would have guessed you’d be down and out for at least twenty-four hours.”
It’s then she stands and starts to walk around her desk. My pulse quickens and my throat grows tight. Damn if the woman isn’t wearing a skirt, showing off her gorgeous long legs and the hottest pair of heels I’ve ever seen. Her blouse is tucked in, but unbuttoned a few at the top and when she sits back on her desk it gapes slightly.
Black lacy bra, of course it had to be black.
Moving closer without words I crowd her, and she doesn’t move away.
“It’s been a week,” I say in explanation, as if she’d understand. Brynn raises a brow and stares back at me without words. “I don’t do well with a brush-off.”
“What brush-off?” she challenges me.
Fuck, this is not how I envisioned this taking place. I had it planned out. I knew what I wanted to say and I told myself that I’d walk out of here and things would be clear. There would be no more confusion, no more questions left unanswered. But here I am, staring at her, Brynn staring back at me and my heart is fucking racing uncontrollably, unable to understand how she can get me into this state with one word, or one sultry look in her eyes. A look I’m not even sure she knows she’s offering.
Unable to stop myself I shift my body closer to hers and cage her in, placing one hand on either side of her and flexing my palms over the edge of her desk.
“You said you felt this too.” I control my tone, or at least attempt to. “This pull between us.”
She takes a deep breath and nods.
“We parted that day with the promise of getting together soon.”
Again she nods.
“A week.” She licks her lower lip and the movement has me instantly growing hard. I want nothing more than to taste that sweet tongue. “Connor had me convinced you were ghosting me.”
The corner of her mouth tips up in a smile.
“Is that where the redhead came into play?” Brynn finally speaks and for a moment I’m thrown by her words. “I heard all about her and her theories.”
“I don’t care about what the redhead thinks.” I move in closer, our lips only inches apart. “I do however care very much about what you think.”
I pause, watching her and waiting for her to make the next move. It hardly seems fair that she’s got me so tied up inside and she’s still so held together.
“I think any hookup can be successful in any amount of time if the two people hooking up have chemistry. It’s not really about the amount of time you take, it’s about what you do in the allotted time your gifted.”
“Is that so?” My pulse is racing.
“Yes,” she says breathily. “You should know I wasn’t giving you the brush-off, or ghosting you. My father acquired two more businesses this week and Taylor and I have been responsible for revamping and setting up designers for a reopening under new management. It’s been an insane week.”
“A really long week,” I add and her smile grows. Suddenly she stands and I move with her, our chests now pressing together.
“Good news is, we’ve finally gotten through everything and I should be able to free up some time.”
“That is really great news.” Fuck her mouth is incredible.
Reaching out I link my fingers with hers and her body presses to mine a little more. Repositioning our now joined hands behind her back, I hold her tight and dip my chin, brushing my lips over hers.
When she whimpers, the tension I felt coming here fades.
“Are you free tonight?”
“What did you have in mind?” Her words tickle my lips when she drags hers over mine as she responds.
“Right now to be honest I can barely think.” I chuckle, realizing I can’t walk out of here in my current state. “But I’m sure we can come up with something.”
Brynn bites at my lip making me growl.
“My place, at seven?” I’m nodding before she finishes the sentence.
Cupping the back of her neck I pull her in once more and this time I give all I have to the kiss. My entire body is alive from the feeling of her pressing to mine. She whimpers and I swallow the sounds, losing myself in the feel of her.