Chapter 19
Nineteen
As I navigate through the crowd of business suits and office-appropriate dresses cluttering the hotel lobby, I see Lawson right where I left him, arguing with someone on the phone.
His attention is laser-focused on grilling whoever is on the other end of the line, so he pays no attention to the appreciative glances he receives from random women as they pass—women his age who probably know exactly how to please him.
His navy suit is impeccable, clinging to every muscle without looking ill-fitted. He’s clean-shaven, and though I prefer him with a short beard, the new grooming routine shaves years off his appearance.
Rumor around the office is that everyone hooks up with everyone at these conferences. Is that why he cleaned up? Is he trying to look more desirable so he can spend his weekend evenings shacking up with a pretty face?
Irritated with my self-imposed spiral, I patiently wait for him to finish his call, pasting on a smile for anyone who bothers to make eye contact with me.
Chadwick never attended these conferences, and I want to make a good impression.
I like the industry, and if I don’t stay with M.I.G.
, this will be a good networking opportunity for me.
“Sorry about that.” Lawson shakes his phone in frustration before pocketing it. “Charlotte is up to her usual bullshit.”
Typically, I would ask what she did, but I’ve been doing exceptionally well all week in keeping our relationship strictly professional.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I extend my hand to give him his room key.
“A suite, as requested. Since the welcome party is tonight, I didn’t make you a dinner reservation, but if you’d like to message me which restaurant you’d prefer for dinner tomorrow, I can set that up right away.
I’m a few floors down from you on the other side of the hotel, but if you need anything tonight, let me know.
Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“In the morning? You’re not going to the welcome party?”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach at the way he looks at me. It’s wholly innocent, yet sensual, as he steps into my personal space. “I wasn’t aware you wanted me to attend.”
His lips curl up in a smile, and my insides melt despite my every silent wish for them to remain very much intact.
“Did you think I wanted you to come away for the weekend only to make you sit in your room the whole time? Did you bring a dress?” I nod, not trusting my mouth.
“Good. Meet me back down here at seven.”
After another silent nod from me, he strides toward the elevators for his side of the hotel without another word, greeting various people and even shaking hands with a few of them as he stops and talks for a few seconds.
I glance at my phone and realize it’s already five-thirty.
That barely leaves me any time to get ready.
I hightail it to my room to get started on hair and makeup, incredibly thankful that I packed my travel steamer.
The welcome party’s dress code is cocktail attire, and though I wasn’t expecting to go, I did pack a dress.
You know, just in case.
Lawson
Lucy’s late.
To be fair, I know most women take a long time to get ready for an event like this, and I didn’t exactly give her a heads-up that I wanted her to attend. So that’s on me.
Even among people I’ve known from the industry for years, though, it feels wrong knowing she’s somewhere in the hotel and not here by my side.
“So, Lawson, back to Chicago, eh? Missing New York yet?” Richard Dorsen asks, clapping a hand on my shoulder as he and a group of guys from the Minneapolis branch gather around.
Richard is a few years younger than I am and damn good at his job, though I’d never tell him that.
Humble isn’t in his vocabulary, and he’ll tell anyone who listens that he’s their branch’s top executive.
“Bet you’re missing Jules, aren’t ya? She’s a fine piece of ass. Too bad she didn’t come this time,” Luke Pierce, a man as greasy as his slicked-back hair, states with a smarmy smirk.
I ignore his taunt, addressing Dorsen instead. “Chicago is more welcoming than I remember. The office has been great. I’m in no hurry to return to the city.”
“I can’t believe you turned down Danvers’ position, man. That would have been one hell of a raise.”
I’m about to tell him I don’t need the money when he chokes on his drink. “Jesus fucking Christ. Who’s the lucky bastard that landed that piece of artwork?”
The entire group glances toward what’s caught his attention, and my blood warms in my veins as I see Lucy walking through the door.
Her late arrival is well the fuck worth it.
She’s styled her hair in glamorous waves and darkened her makeup slightly.
The only bright color she wears is a ruby red shade of lipstick, and I feel the slightest twinge of disappointment seeing her without her typical color palette.
The black silk of her one-sleeve, asymmetric dress hugs her curves, and the slit in the skirt borders on indecent, making me imagine all the ways I can peel the dress off her body later.
Our gazes connect across the giant space, and her lips widen just a bit with an unsure smile as she takes a step toward our group.
“Please tell me she’s single. Does anyone know who she is?” Dorsen asks.
Numerous murmurs break out, signaling that none of the men saw us arrive together earlier. Swinging my gaze his way, I frown as he watches Lucy with a predatory glint in his eyes, every protective instinct in me firing off at once.
“She’s min—” I catch myself before finishing my abrupt response, “My assistant.”
“Hook a guy up, why don’t you?” Dorsen mutters before Lucy reaches us .
“Everyone, this is Lucy Bradee. Lucy, this is Luke, Richard, Brant, and Tyson.” I introduce her and point to everyone in the group.
“Hello.” She looks fucking adorable as she gives a little wave. “I’m Lucy.” She’s nervous, and it probably doesn’t help that all of them are salivating over her like a hungry pack of hyenas.
Dorsen steps toward her, hand outstretched as a charming smile takes over his face. “Richard Dorsen. Nice to meet you.”
Lucy blushes a pretty rose under his attention, making my insides roil with disgust. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“A beautiful lady like yourself shouldn’t be empty-handed. Would you like a drink?”
I inwardly kick myself for not being the first to offer because now I’m going to be worried about her drinking around these wolves all night.
“Oh!” Her eyes dart to me. “I would love one, actually.”
As he offers her his arm, someone behind us yells out his name. A wave of relief washes over me. Turning, I see his boss and silently thank the old man for unknowingly keeping my rainbow out of trouble.
“Come on, I’ll take you.” My hand settles on the small of her back. “Better run along, Dorsen.”
He laughs awkwardly, still showering Lucy with all his attention and his stupid, charming smile. “Duty calls. Maybe I’ll see you around this weekend?”
To my displeasure, she returns his smile and flirtatiously replies, “Maybe.”
As I lead her away, she peers up at me. “He was nice.”
“They’re all nice when they want something.
” I refuse to look at her for longer than a second.
I don’t want to get wrapped up in her hazel irises.
They’re glowing with mirth and drawing me in like a moth to a flame.
“A few of the higher-ups brought their assistants, too. I figured I could introduce you, and maybe you could mingle with them.”
“That would be great, actually. I know you have other things to do, and while I normally don’t have any problems making friends, for some reason, I’m really nervous,” she admits as we step up to the bar.
She orders a shot, but I shake my head and tell the bartender, “No shots for this one tonight. Get her a Paloma.”
Lucy flattens her brows. “Thanks, Dad.”
My cock twitches at the same time she realizes her mistake, and horror crosses her face. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” After a few moments of silence while we wait for her drink, I say, “You look beautiful.”
She doesn’t look at me. No, she keeps staring at the bar top, fingers playing with the edge of a drink napkin. “Thank you.” Her voice is filled with so much self-control that I have to applaud her.
Lucy’s trying not to trigger me—to start something between us that I keep saying I don’t want but still continue pursuing her for.
And not once, until now, have I realized how hard it might be for her—to have to dull herself down so our playful natures don’t tempt and tangle the way they naturally do so easily.
After the bartender hands her a pastel peach drink, I lead her to a group of people I recognize as assistants from past conferences. With them, she seems much more like herself .
And she doesn’t even blink when I’m called away to talk to someone else.
Lucy’s laughter rings out through the room as she parts ways with a few other women, and I catch the tail end of their conversation—something about meeting up at the spa tomorrow.
“You seem like you had a good time tonight.” I brush my fingers against the small of her back as I lead her out of the conference hall. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”
“I had a great time! The girls and I are going to have a spa day tomorrow while you are stuck in stuffy forums all day.” She shoves a finger into my chest while we wait for the elevator, and her traitorous lilt gives away the fact that Lucy is, at least, a little buzzed.
Snatching her finger before she can pull away, I slip into the elevator with her and slam my hand against the close button before anyone else can grab this one with us. With my fragile hold, I back her up against the side of the compartment.
“Whatever you want, charge it to my room.”
Wide hazel irises gaze up at me in awe as pink spreads from her cheeks to her neck. “I’m not going to argue with that.”
Unfairly, I whisper, “Good girl.”
A small whimper escapes from between her lips. Her eyes drop to my mouth, and I so badly just want to say, “ Fuck it.” Slowly, I brush some hair off her shoulder, lightly running my fingertips against her bare skin. She shudders, and my cock hardens.
Something unrecognizable flashes over her face as the elevator dings and the doors open—something that makes her remember that we shouldn’t be in this position. Yanking away from me, she storms out and down the hall toward her room.
I calmly watch as she fumbles with her purse to retrieve her key card, and just as the green light flashes after she swipes it, I catch her around the waist, forcing her to turn and look at me.
“Hey.”
When she refuses to look at me, I bring my fingers under her chin to lift her gaze to mine. “Lucy?”
She swallows, batting those thick lashes of hers up at me, and her ruby-painted lips part as she breathes, “Yes?”
I allow my eyes to drift down her body slowly, taking in every single inch of her that I want to devour—want to lay claim to like the monster I am. “I don’t ever want to see you wear black again. While you look beautiful, it’s not you . Do you understand?”
Her pretty blush deepens to a cherry red, breaking out along her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. “Y-yes, sir.”
Flashing her a fiendish smile, I slide my hands into my pockets to keep myself from backing her into the hotel room and painting every inch of her flesh with me.
“Such a good girl,” I whisper, loving the way her breath hitches and her breasts heave against the tight fabric encasing them.
With every ounce of strength I possess, I turn away and don’t look back as I wait for the elevator to take me far away from the tempting woman.
Heaving a sigh, I step into the metal box and wait to turn around until the doors shut behind me. One thing is very clear: This weekend will either end with my balls as blue as a Smurf or as deep inside her as possible while my resolve goes on an extended vacation.