Chapter 18 #3
I chuckled. "It is but in the best way. Let's eat." I motioned to our food and reached across the table to lift the lid from hers, then mine, before stacking them together on the side of the table. When she realized what her meal was, she laughed lightly.
"I don't know if I can trust Niama."
She leaned in to inhale the aroma of the food she had at Divine Wines which I was also advised she'd thoroughly enjoyed.
"She made the suggestion after advising me about the wine. I promise the only thing we discussed was your food and wine preferences. She didn't betray your trust."
"I don't know if I believe you."
"I only want what you're willing to offer, Scotlyn.
I'll never take more than you're willing to give.
But please understand, when you let me in, if you let me in, I'm going to fucking consume you in ways you never even imagined.
You will be mine to honor, protect, and pleasure-mind, body, and soul-but when that happens, it damn sure won't be a performance or a line item on a contract. It will be by choice."
Dinner with Scotlyn was perfect. After we both exposed our vulnerability with how our marriages damaged things we weren't sure could be repaired, I kept my promise and worked diligently and intently on seeing how many times I could make her cum before the sun came up.
I lost count but I was pretty sure we now had a solid fucking argument about overdosing on orgasms and, for the second night, she slept in my bed.
We had a mutual attraction that was stronger than either of us expected but that still didn’t make this anything more than a temporary agreement between the two of us.
I didn’t do relationships, had no interest in being married again and love was damn sure a foreign concept that I had no plans on attaching to my future.
Neither of us brought up the discussion again about wanting more but it lingered between us, weighted as hell.
I was cool with that as long as she didn't outright shut the idea down and so far she hadn't.
I was going to enjoy the moment for what it was and I assumed she was too.
Our night was proof that we worked but our morning was proof that the universe was intent on challenging us.
Scotlyn woke up to a text from James letting her know Justin scheduled a meeting with the planning commission about zoning restrictions.
The decision had been made late yesterday and we were just finding out at five in the morning.
I made some calls to try and get the meeting pushed back so we could prepare but they refused, stating Justin had already hinted to the bias that might exist and mentioned my name.
How the fuck he had my name annoyed me but I would deal with that at a later date.
As of now, Scotlyn and I were working on her argument to shut down what Justin submitted for review.
After reading the stack of papers I had been staring at for the past ten minutes, I raked my hand down my face and looked up at Scotlyn.
"The environmental impact study is solid. He doesn't have shit to stand on."
She nodded and reached for her coffee. We had been working on this for the past two hours and I could tell she was exhausted. We barely got any sleep but were determined to make this work.
"I really feel like this is a delay tactic. Whether it's him or my father, I believe the plan is to push me back a few months, hoping I'll get frustrated and ask for help or bring them in."
"That's a waste of time. You don't need their fucking help.
" I closed the folder and leaned back, staring at Scotlyn.
She looked a mess but a cute as hell mess in one of my T-shirts, hair clipped on top of her head but still all over the place, and a pair of my socks because she said the tile in the kitchen was cold.
"You're staring," she mumbled without looking up.
"You in strategy mode is sexy."
She kept her eyes on the document she was reading but rolled them at the same time she smiled. "Focus, please. This is important."
"I am focused. I can appreciate you while making sure you shut this shit down so I don't have to step to this muthafucker."
"This is personal on his end."
"I know." My jaw tightened.
"It honestly may not even be about my father. Justin never got over me ending things because he always felt inferior. A woman shouldn't be more successful than him in his opinion. Honestly, I believe he wanted a connection to me to try and micromanage my life."
"I want to say I'm surprised that these are your experiences but I'm not.
I am fucking pissed that your father hasn't protected you better, and before you say you don't need a man to save you, that's not what I mean.
He is your father. His priority should be establishing that he's the one man in your life you're always able to depend on. That's not the fucking case."
Her gaze met mine. "No, it's not." She dropped the papers and finished her coffee. "We should go. I want to get there before Justin arrives."
"Are we going together?"
I had to ask because assuming anything with Scotlyn wasn't smart.
"Together." She smiled softly just before she left the kitchen mumbling that she was going to get dressed.
An hour later we walked into the commission offices downtown. Justin was with his team in the corner but looked up the minute we walked in. His expression dropped when he noticed Scotlyn wasn't alone and I kept my eyes on him long enough to make him uncomfortable.
"He knows who you are. I can tell from the way he looked at you, but he wasn't expecting you to be here," she said quietly while we found our seats.
"Good."
The commission members came in right after us and the chairman called the meeting to order by motioning for Harrington to present his concerns.
He spent a good thirty minutes handing over arguments about environmental impacts, water concerns, and wildlife habitat disruption.
If I hadn't known it was strategic bullshit to delay Scotlyn's project, I might have been impressed.
When he was done I curled my fingers into my palm to curb the urge to punch him in his fucking face before the chairman turned to Scotlyn. "Ms. Whitney, your response?"
"I appreciate Mr. Harrington's environmental consciousness, especially given his track record on similar developments.
Although I'm confused as to why he's so concerned about a project he tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain a year ago.
Seems to me he should have presented these arguments then but I suppose that would have been shooting himself in the foot.
" Scotlyn smirked at Justin and I chuckled.
She spent the next half hour dismantling his arguments and embarrassed him by referencing his own projects that had worse environmental impacts.
She kept it professional while exposing that his sudden environmental concerns were personal.
By the time she was done, Justin looked like he wanted to run the fuck up out of here. When questions opened, it was clear the commission favored Scotlyn.
"Mr. Harrington, given how comprehensive Ms. Whitney's environmental plan is, what additional measures would you recommend?"
Justin stumbled through vague bullshit ass comments about more studies and assessments. His intentions to delay the project were transparent as hell, which the commission recognized. After a brief break on their part, they came back with their answer.
"I believe we have sufficient information to make our decision. Unless there are any more concerns you can present…" They all looked at Justin who locked his jaw and shook his head.
They voted and it was unanimous. All of Scotlyn's permits were approved with no additional studies required. She looked at me, smiling big as hell before addressing the commission.
"Thank you for your time."
She collected her things. His team walked out but Justin stayed back. He was about to be on some bullshit. Right before we made it to the door, he jumped in her way.
"This is interesting teamwork, Scotlyn. I'm guessing that presentation was more of Devereaux than you. I'm not surprised you latched onto such a convenient partnership."
His emphasis on convenient pissed me the fuck off…
"This is professional, Justin. Something you wouldn't understand."
His eyes bounced between us but lingered on Scotlyn in a way I wasn't feeling. "Even after all these years, you still know how to pick strategic allies." He smirked and his eyes were on me before he added, "She'll get what she wants then move on. That's her thing."
Scotlyn stiffened beside me. I stepped closer and made him back up. "Take the gotdamn L and move the fuck on because if you come at her project again I'm going to take it personal. Test me if you want."
Justin's jaw tightened and I really hoped he was smart enough not to test me.
"Fucking her doesn't?—"
I dropped his ass before he could finish the sentence. He was out cold and I glanced at the security guard who had approached seconds before because our voices were louder than necessary. When I had his attention, he shrugged. "Justified as far as I'm concerned. I witnessed the whole thing."
I nodded, grabbed Scotlyn's hand, and we left the building.
"Was that necessary?" she asked but her tone was light and she was smiling.
"Very. Men like him will never show respect without being forced. If you show anything less, then he'll keep coming."
"Well I appreciate you shutting him down for me."
We entered the parking garage and I was grateful we'd parked in a corner away from the cameras because ever since this morning I had been wanting my hands and mouth on Scotlyn.
That only got progressively worse watching her do her thing in that commission hearing.
When we made it to the car-my Aston Martin she'd demanded to drive-I backed her against the side and cuffed her face seconds before my lips were on hers and my tongue was in her mouth. When I pulled back, she smiled.
"I take it you were impressed."
"Very fucking impressed. Celebratory lunch?"
"I can think of something better."
"Like?"
She smiled sexily, pressed her hands into my chest, and moved me back before she slowly worked her skirt up enough to slide her panties down and off. She stepped out of them then tapped the door. I reached into my pocket and hit the button to unlock the door, which she opened then waited.
I chuckled, kneeled down, and lifted her panties, white lace, which I shoved in my pocket and got in the driver's seat.
Scotlyn climbed in my lap and her mouth was on mine before I could get the door shut.
While she kissed me, she unbuckled my pants and had my dick in her hand before she sank down, making both of us moan.
"Celebration sex is a much better option," she said before she began riding me with the same attention to detail she showed in that damn commission meeting. But this time I was going to be the one walking away with a win.