Six
Max
I met the enigmatic Leonie at Gabriel’s house party on Friday night and now knew what all the fuss was about.
Asher, Gabriel’s brother had introduced us when she’d arrived late due to having to work that night.
She was small and had blond hair and blue eyes and was stunningly pretty. The girl would make most men weak at the knees. Next to my build, she was terrifyingly delicate, the type you’d probably fuck through the wall rather than against it.
I’d brushed my mouth over hers in greeting, not being able to resist a peck but had felt nothing . No spark, not that I’d expected to, I’d kissed her to piss Gabriel off if anything. I still flirted with her though, a must when speaking with a pretty female. I mentioned Gabriel a few times to gauge her reaction and as expected, she wasn’t indifferent to him. No doubt he was being a dick to her to keep his distance. The dude was more of a commitment-phobe than me.
Leonie was also incredibly young and irrespective of winding Gabriel up about making a play for her, I didn’t find her sexually attractive, more like a little sister or niece. I preferred women with more fire and Leonie Smith was much too vanilla for the stuff I liked in the bedroom. I pushed thoughts of a particular redhead from my mind, I would not go there.
Before Leonie had appeared at the party, Gabe had kept eyeballing the lift doors in his apartment. Almost like he was looking for her. He and his brother lived on the penthouse floor which was accessed by a privately coded lift. I had never seen him so agitated and the daggers he gave Luca who pounced on Leonie seconds into her arrival were priceless. If Luca had seen that look, he would probably have shit himself; it wasn’t common knowledge, but everyone in our tight friendship group knew Gabriel owned a gun.
Yep, Leonie had my friend’s balls in her hand and she didn’t even know it. Their situation would be one to watch, I just hoped he didn’t continue to be a dick about her presence. Gabriel Knight could be a nasty bastard when he sets his mind to something.
I wondered if he’d invited Lisa that night to try and make Leonie jealous. As I’d stood talking to Luca about the football, I saw how sad Leonie had appeared when she’d seen Gabriel and Lisa going to his room. So, there must have been something there on both sides.
Batting off the thoughts, I pulled back the covers and slid my feet to the floor, having laid in for a change. It was almost lunchtime and I needed a shower before work. The previous night I’d received an email from Amber with her thousand words attached and to be fair, she’d done a good job. Each of her arguments had been backed up by evidence. If I hadn’t still been pissed off that she was ignoring me, I’d have felt proud of her.
During the last part of the week, I’d had meetings coming out of my ears and so had only seen Amber a couple of times; both of which she’d ignored me. That snooty little nose of hers high in the air.
After showering and dressing in my usual work clothes minus a checked shirt (for obvious reasons) I took the lift to the basement and got into one of my cars. I was a petrolhead and owned two sports cars, a four-by-four which I used for off-roading and a Ford Ranger pickup which I used for work.
As I pulled out of the basement car park, I grimaced, looking up at the sky. More rain had been forecast. That meant the guys may not get the footings for the bar done in time and I couldn’t afford any more delays.
When I got to the site, everyone was busy beavering away which pleased me. There was nothing that pissed me off more than the fuckers I paid well to be sat around. As I made my way to the office, with a head nod here and there to greet my staff, I saw Amber through the window into the office she was using beneath mine. She was sitting at her desk on her phone as fucking usual.
I decided to leave the fight for another time, I had shit to deal with and wasn’t in the mood to chew her arse out again. We also hadn’t spoken about the kiss. Maybe it was that unforgettable to her, that she’d not thought about it. As I took the steps up to my office, I decided that was crap due to how she’d responded. Amber had lit up like a firework.
My dick twitched at the memory.
“Good morning, Max,” Annie greeted. She was efficient and unfazed by me, even when I was in a pissy mood. The pushing seventy-year-old could roast a man within an inch of his life if she wanted to. I’d never met a ballsier woman her age.
“Morning. Anything urgent I should know about?”
“Not really. Well, apart from Rory Hopton was sniffing around downstairs again. You said to let you know if he started hounding Lady Swift,” she declared, her intelligent eyes narrowing as she settled back into her seat.
Casting her a wry smile, I nodded in acknowledgement of the update and walked into the office I was using.
Pulling out my phone I thumbed in a text to Amber. If Hopton starts bothering you, let me know. M.
My desk was cluttered with files and rolled-up blueprints. As I lowered myself into the leather chair behind my desk, Annie appeared at the doorway. “Do you want to see him?” she questioned, her eyes looking huge behind her glasses. Her prescription must have been strong for that level of magnification.
Anne looked exactly like you’d expect an elderly Secretary to look. Grey hair, the bun and horn-rimmed glasses, the lot.
“No, I’ll deal with him later,” I replied with a slight smirk. He had more balls than I thought, going against my wishes when I’d warned him twice; once in the restaurant and the other in the locker room .
My phone vibrated on the desk.
“Fair enough. Do you want anything from the canteen?” Annie said with a chuckle.
“No thanks, I’m good.”
“You should have something. A coffee maybe, calm your nerves.” The on-site canteen made the shittest coffee I had ever tasted but then I liked it strong. My coffee usually resembled jet fuel.
“My nerves are fine,” I replied with a dark look before glancing down at my phone.
“You should tell your face that.”
I raised my chin to glare across at her. “Another barney with her ladyship by any chance?” Annie said with a smarmy look. I hated that the woman was always right. I refrained from answering, too worried that my voice would give me away.
“I could get you an espresso?”
I rolled my eyes before stating, “I’ll survive.”
On her way out I heard Annie say, “But will the rest of us,” under her breath. The woman was a battleaxe and God help anyone who attempted to cross her.
Plucking my phone from the desk I swiped to open the message. No. It’s fine. Fuck me, a woman of not so many words, Amber broke the mould. Most of the females I knew lived for text messaging. Their phones beeping every two seconds.
Taking a deep breath, I messaged Good. If he gives you any shit. I will deal with him .
OK, boss.
Her use of the word boss made me smile but I didn’t respond. At least she’d replied .
I spent the rest of the morning answering emails and taking calls. I spoke briefly to Gabriel about two parking tickets he was getting me out of, then made myself a black coffee and slid back behind my desk.
After signing off yesterday’s progress report, I checked the weather for the rest of the week. Fingers crossed it didn’t hinder the project’s timeline as we were already behind. Gabriel was still working on the liquor licences with the affronted Roger, which was taking ages . And he called himself a pro who got things done, fucking amateur.
Thankfully it was expected to be dry with low-level winds. No rain meant the rest of the scaffolding work could be completed. The climate in the UK was a bitch.
Annie was still at lunch. I rarely ate when I was working, too much to do.
As I deleted some random emails, there was a knock on the open door of my office. As I lifted my head, I saw Wes Buchanan standing just outside the doorway in the section Annie used.
Why was he lurking? We had worked together for years and were more like friends than colleagues. I’d promoted him to foreman a couple of years ago after he had helped deliver several successful projects. Why he didn’t just walk in as he usually did was weird.
Leaning back in my chair, I scowled and waved him over. “Get in here.”
“Boss,” he replied as he shuffled forward.
“What’s up?” Wes only came to see me when there was a problem.
He strolled over and lowered himself into the chair on the opposite side of my desk. He was tall and broad with almost as many tattoos as me, but his hair and skin were fair. The blonde mop always looked like he’d been dragging his hands through it. Wes looked like a younger version of the guy in the Rocky films, Dolph Lundgren. He was in his early thirties, happily married (whatever the hell that looked like) and his wife Stella was expecting twins .
“So, spill it,” I said, staring at him down my nose. His body language suggested he was tense.
“You’re not going to like it,” Wes announced, his cockney twang more apparent. I placed my screen lock on and gave him my full attention, watching as he took his hard hat off and placed it on my desk.
I stretched my arms out and threaded my hands behind my head. Here we go. What now? I swear the project was jinxed.
He shot me a suspicious look. “Just heard the lads talking.”
I raised my eyebrows. “And?”
After a short pause he said, “And, rumour has it that you are dipping your wick in the company’s ink.”
My eyes narrowed. Wes was ex-army and loved talking in code. “What the fuck does that mean?” I knew exactly what it meant but he’d surprised me. Plus, even if I was, it was my fucking ink.
He shifted on the chair and rested his hands on his jean-clad knees. Wes’s clothing was, as usual, peppered with concrete dust, and I noticed he wasn’t wearing a high-vis waistcoat.
“Where’s your safety jacket?” I questioned abruptly, staff health and safety were a high priority of mine.
Wes rolled his eyes and leaned towards my desk. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes. But it made as much sense to me as you not wearing the appropriate PPE. It doesn’t send the right message to the lads. You know that,” I explained, not bothered about whatever site gossip he was about to share. Wes enjoyed keeping me up to date with all the bullshit that went off in the ranks.
I eyed his torso moodily, “Go put it on.”
“For fucks sake, Max. It’s in my office. I literally just took it off. Can we focus on the issue at hand?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say there’s an issue. The lads are bigger gossips than the women.” I exclaimed with exasperation .
“So, you don’t think it’s an issue that the guys think you’re shagging someone who works for you? That you’re a hypocrite?”
“So? There’s no truth in it.” I deadpanned as if that would magically make that shit go away. “Who is the lucky girl?” I knew I sounded like an arrogant cock, but Wes just smiled.
“Still an egotistical dick I see.”
“ Blow me. Who am I supposed to be screwing?” If it was one of the women in the office, I barely remembered their names. Linda, my office manager, sorted out the temporary office workers for site duties. That amounted to typing, answering emails, filing and shit like that.
And then he socked me with it.
“Her ladyship.”
What the actual fuck? His revelation was like a punch in the nuts. Shit! Why couldn’t it have been one of the office girls? I could have just let it slide then and ignored it. The fact that the gossip involved Amber released a flutter of concern. Surely no one had seen our kiss and I couldn’t imagine she’d tell anyone about it.
The thought of someone talking shit behind Amber’s back also pissed me off. Yes, she was uptight and bitchy and a pain in my arse, but I was responsible for her. I didn’t want anyone fucking with her as that was my job. Plus, her father was my partner on the project and my men should treat her with respect. Our private war was no one else’s business. I wondered if Hopton had been shooting his mouth off after what had happened at the restaurant.
“Go on,” I encouraged, dragging my arms down and placing my elbows on the desk. I was now all ears and then some.
“That’s it. Some of the men think something is going on between you. I would say it’s just locker room rubbish, but I must admit, I’ve thought the same myself.”
“About what? ”
“That you and Amber— could be a thing,” he sniffed.
“We are not a thing.”
Wes huffed out a breath, “Well, you can’t say there isn’t a spark there.”
A mixture of raw emotions slapped me. “The woman aggravates the hell out of me.”
“Clearly but have you ever asked yourself why ?”
“This is nuts. Because she’s an entitled brat, that’s why.” I didn’t feel bad slagging her off to Wes as I trusted him implicitly.
“ Bollocks. I’m from Brixton mate, I was taught to recognise bullshit from birth. I’ve seen the way you look at her. You can’t say there’s no attraction there.”
“Even if I did fancy her, I wouldn’t go there. Her father is a partner in this project and she works for me. Who was talking shit?”
“I’d prefer to keep their identity out of this. I’ve had words. You don’t need to get involved.”
“What’s so wrong with me getting involved?”
“Well, the guys who had the discussion need to be able to use their hands to work,” he pointed out with a dry twist to his lips.
“What? I’d only break the fingers on one hand, surely , they don’t need both.”
“Exactly,” he deadpanned.
“I imagine Hopton is one of them.” That massive piece of shit. He either had a death wish or was naturally stupid. I decided to go for the latter.
“No—actually. He isn’t.”
I stood corrected. Interesting. “So, what exactly has been said?”
“Just the usual stuff. They’re jealous I suppose; you’re getting your end away under their very noses, and yet they’ve been told to keep it in their pants.”
“My company, my rules,” I stated firmly.
“Why did you bring up Hopton’s name? ”
My chair creaked as I changed position. “I saw him out with Amber one evening last week.”
Wes nodded his head in understanding. “Up to his old tricks maybe?”
“Something like that. I’ve had words with him myself since then.”
“Did you get involved personally due to policy or because you were jealous?”
“You’re a great foreman Wes, and a friend but I’ll treat you the same as anyone else if you step out of line. What are you suggesting?”
“You want her, Lady Swift. Even if you’re not tapping that now, it’s only a matter of time. And I’d say she wants you too.”
My ears pricked up and I dropped my arms, “She does? What makes you say that?” His perception had sparked my interest, making me forget about him speaking out of turn.
“You can see it in her body language when you’re around. You make her hot and flustered. You’re a lucky bastard. I must admit, if I wasn’t happily married, I’d be all over that like a rash and policy could go screw itself. And that’s what worries me.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you don’t make a move, someone else will.”
“So, your advice is to go for it ?” The thought of doing just that sent a tingle of anticipation through me. WTF?
“Why the hell not? There’s chemistry there. Why not take her out? Meet up on neutral ground?”
I said the opposite of what I felt, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Stop fucking around and try something new. You know, a real relationship. You could do worse. She’s quite nice when you get to know her.”
“ Nice and Amber don’t orbit the same space mate. And anyway, when did you become a relationship guru?”
“I’m just saying.”
“Well, you can save it. Are we done? ”
“You don’t have to be a moody twat about it,” Wes stated with a grimace. Why did I promote him again?
“I’m not, I’m pissed off. It’s more masculine.”
Wes pushed to his feet and held his hands up in surrender. “I’ve said my piece. And if you aren’t going to do anything about whatever the fuck is going on with you and her, could I suggest you set up a few more fights. It would help to release all that pent-up frustration. The men have been complaining about your moods for weeks.”
“What moods?” I was annoyed now.
“This new you. Brooding and aggressive.”
“I was always brooding and aggressive.”
“Not to the degree you have been over the last month. But then we both know what changed it.”
“What?”
“You’ve been like a bear with a sore head, ever since Amber joined the team.”
Releasing a huff of air, I shot him a scornful look. “Piss off. Go and do some work and don’t forget your high-vis. If I see you in the yard without it, I’ll dock you a day’s pay.”
“As I said, brooding and aggressive,” he chuckled back.
“Out!” I shouted, pushing to my feet, and pointing at the door. The need to smash someone’s face in, powered through me.
As Wes made his way out of my office, I replayed his words in my head. He was right, there was chemistry between Amber and me. The way she had reacted when I’d kissed her had been electric, no doubt about it and yes, I wanted to sleep with her but considering an actual relationship was insanity encapsulated. The woman hated my guts for a start, we were like night and day. Opposites .
Although her reaction to me was refreshing, I couldn’t remember the last time a woman challenged me. Fuck, why was I suddenly so interested in the prissy little rich girl.
When I’d kissed her, she had responded with a wild primitive need and I knew she enjoyed it. When she’d given me her tongue, I’d wanted to pin her against that door. All the dark and dirty things I could do to her twisted around my head like a fucking tsunami.
The thought of sex with Amber now roared through me like a war cry. Why not have a brief shag? Yes, she was working for me and I had that bloody policy in place. But rules were meant to be broken and I was the boss at the end of the day. From the sounds of things, staff already thought we were screwing so why not make that fiction a fact?
Shaking my head, I logged back into my computer and checked my emails. Lady Swift had yet to receive a reply to her report. The woman had hidden depths and wasn’t the spoiled rich princess I’d assumed her to be.
Before she’d started working on-site, I’d googled the fuck out of her and although the media had left her arse alone for the past two years, the old pictures they had of her partying and shopping no longer fit with her current image.
I thought long and hard about what feedback to give her on her report. I could be nice with the possibility of getting on her good side (if she had one). And sleeping with her would get her out of my system and give me my sanity back?
The thrill of the challenge warmed my blood. She’d make me work for it too. Amber’s sharp tongue, which I’d originally hated, now turned me on.
Thoughts of all the different ways of punishing her kept swimming into my mind and anticipation punched me in the gut. Holy shit, Wes, had awakened a tiger, one that felt an overwhelming urge to hunt.
After pulling myself together, I realised I needed to keep my distance. She was Jonny’s daughter and if he found out I’d fucked her without the hint of a wedding ring, he’d probably pull the deal. I couldn’t afford that. Keeping her at arm's length was best, for now.
Within the text of her email with her attached essay, she requested a couple of days leave and I decided to allow it. The space would be a good thing and would keep Amber away from me and work. I certainly didn’t want her to hear the gossip about us.
Yep. I would keep my distance until this thing between us ran its course.
It didn’t mean I couldn’t be a cock to her though. Winding Amber up was entertaining.
An evil smile tugged at my lips as I keyed in my response to her essay, mischief roaring through my fingers.