Chapter 2
“L isa head’s up, the new boss is coming through today,” Tanya warned Tuesday morning slipping past her office door.
“Yippie,” she muttered under her breath before asking out loud, “Heard anything about him?”
“Nope, but I’d say we’ll find out at the meeting this afternoon. Seems that Mr. Cantwell is eager to get things moving now that he owns the place,” she stated, leaving her to finish the end of the month reports.
They were due at the end of the week, and she needed to make sure they were accurate. Her mind had been on more than work the last two weeks for certain. The moments work, her mother, and Jackie hadn’t taken up, chocolate eyes kept pulling her back to that night. She’d sent the shirt back after having it dry cleaned trying to put him in the past, but not even that fully worked. She shouldn’t have put the note in the pocket at all. It’d been impulsive and now she was regretting it.
The morning slid past them, and she checked her makeup in the bathroom before heading to the conference room for the meeting. She’d gotten the notice of it five minutes after Tanya had left her office and it’d stated it was mandatory that all included staff attend. She saw the others there and breathed a bit easier, unless the new owner was completely mental, he wouldn’t be getting rid of the group. The people who knew the ins and outs of the company were all in the room and she moved inside as Edward said her name, motioning her towards him and the tall man he was speaking to with James, the company’s head of HR.
“Mr. Cantwell, this is our gem in the finance department, Lisa Branson,” he said, and she pasted a polite smile on her face as the unknown man began to turn towards her. “She can find any discrepancy big or small.”
The moment his body turned, giving her his face, a full rush of shock went straight through her. It felt as if something was sitting on her chest suddenly, making thought and breath impossible. What the hell was he doing here as the new owner of the company? Oh god, this was not what she needed. It wasn’t bad enough that she hadn’t been able to get him out of her head but now he was here, right in front of her, tempting her, making her want far more than she already had. Was the universe trying to screw with her or what?
Corey turned, holding back a full smile seeing the Lisa being praised was his Lisa. The woman he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about for over two weeks now since she’d slipped out while he slept.
This was certainly an unexpected surprise , he mused as her smile only faltered a fraction. “A pleasure to meet you then, maybe you can show my accountants your trick so they can get the latest statements to match the previous ones…”
“Certainly Mr. Cantwell,” Lisa stated.
“Corey, I’m sure we’ll be working together far too much for such formality, but we’ll get to that in a bit,” he added when she looked a bit surprised. He motioned for the group to take a seat and began the meeting, wanting it over so much faster than originally intended.
It took most of his control to stay focused on the meeting instead of letting his gaze rest on Lisa. She’d been in his head since he’d woken up alone, missing his favorite shirt. He’d almost managed to keep her out of his mind for the day when the shirt showed up at the bar for him, cleaned. He’d been wishing she’d paid her bill with a credit card so he could find her already, but it increased tenfold with her little present.
She firmly planted herself in his head when he found the note in the pocket, and nothing had kept her at bay since. It didn’t hurt that every time he opened his PDA, it was right there reminding him that next time he had to do better. Now she was right in front of him, as the liaison for the two finance sections, and he wasn’t about to let her slip away again.
“I believe that will do it for today,” he said wrapping it up at four-fifteen as they started to grow restless. “I know everyone’s anxious about the status of their jobs but currently there are no plans either way. I will be working with both finance departments to see what is possible for us going forward.”
“And for us we’ve tasked the job of liaison to Lisa,” Donald added as she began to stand, making her hold back a groan while the others seemed relieved.
“Please go about things as usual and we’ll get back with you once we have more news,” Corey stated. “Lisa, a few moments please?”
“Of course,” she agreed letting the rest of the room clear as she held onto her need to run. She’d hardly heard a word of what had been discussed trying to keep herself from thinking about him and their night together. Her stomach muscles tightened when he closed the door behind the last person and turned back towards her.
“Lisa…” he began but paused before pushing a hand through his hair the way she’d been wanting to since she saw him. “I’d say this is as awkward for you as it is for me.”
“I might have the upper hand on that one. After all, until two hours ago I thought you were just a bartender,” she replied as he moved over to the chair beside her.
“Is that why you disappeared that morning?”
“I think it’d be best if we don’t talk about that…forget it happened even,” she suggested despite it being the last thing that she actually wanted right this moment. She wanted his mouth on hers, his hands on her, his body on hers. It was absolute madness but every part of her was craving another taste of him.
“That will be impossible because you’ve been on my mind for the last two weeks.”
“Look that wasn’t typical behavior for me…”
His smile stopped her attempt to explain, lie perhaps to keep him at arm’s length. Fuck that smile had to have magic powers, leaving her tongue tied. “Which part, the sleeping with a man you don’t know or the running away?”
“I’ve only ever had one other night like that in my entire life. I left that morning because I didn’t want to deal with the awkward morning after bit or worry that I’d overstayed my welcome. I had it in my mind that you were some playboy bartender that did it on a regular basis and wasn’t up for those conversations because I really don’t do that kind of thing,” she admitted as his eyes bore into her. “I don’t want you thinking that I do if we’re going to have any chance of working together.”
“The same can be said for me, beautiful. The bar was the first thing I owned. I started it in college and while I moved on into other business ventures, I still own it as a reminder of the hard work it’s taken to get me here. The daytime bartender called to say Tony hadn’t shown and he had to get out to pick up his daughter from daycare but didn’t want to leave the place short-staffed. I was in the area and stopped in to lend a hand since Friday nights are usually busy. It’d been the most boring night until you walked in,” he told her, his smile growing making her warm. “When your friend moved away, and those guys came over to you, I wanted to knock them back because I knew you didn’t want their attention. It irritated me though because it meant you also didn’t want mine.”
“I didn’t…still don’t,” she said, and his smile fell, making her want it back.
“But you feel it too, don’t you?” Corey asked, wanting to pull her into his arms and kiss her until they were back at his place in bed again. He knew she felt the attraction between them, the way the air sizzled when they were near. She couldn’t begin to deny their night together was incredible. If she even began to try, it would be a complete lie.
“Yes, but we shouldn’t let it get in our way if we’re going to work together. I’m good at my job, really good at it and I don’t want to lose it because we…”
“Can’t keep our hands off each other?” he suggested knowing it was going to happen despite her words. The look in her eyes, the slight husk of her voice, told him what they felt that night was still there.
“Or when it goes bad,” she said and he wasn’t about to let her worry about that, not when he needed them to have a beginning before even thinking of something not working out with them.
“Your job is safe. I’ve seen your work and you’re more than good, but do you honestly think it’s wise to fight this? We’re both adults. We can agree to enjoy this until or if it goes away, we get bored, or…who knows what happens.”
“No hard feelings that it’s just sex?” she asked, making him glad he’d held off from mentioning things going well with them as a possibility. Clearly there was something keeping her from diving straight in with him the way he wanted to with her. He’d take what she was willing to give right now and let whatever came next happen.
“None,” he lied brushing a strand of hair from her shoulder with a smile. “What do you say we take the files you’ll need over to my office?”
“What if I have plans?” she asked, a grin slipping onto her lips that he wanted to claim the way he wanted to claim her.
“Do you?”
“No.”
“Then you shouldn’t have any objections when we don’t get those files to my office until tomorrow morning and this time when you steal my favorite shirt, I’d better get to see you in it,” he stated, relieved that she didn’t try to claim she did.
“I can’t wear the same thing to work tomorrow because how likely is it that I’ll be at your office all day?”
“Then how about we stop by your place before we head to mine and you can stay the night?”
“No arguments here,” Lisa agreed then gathered herself as she moved to the door with him. It was stupid to do this, but her body was speaking louder than her mind and she was going to give it what it wanted.
She spent ten minutes getting the files together as she grabbed her laptop and sent the last statement to Donald. At least she’d gotten them done and didn’t still have them on her plate to finish this week.
Donald met them in the hallway and Lisa could tell Corey saw the way Donald’s gaze lingered on her chest. She didn’t like it either and normally could ignore it, not wanting to deal with the hassle of it. The man had never attempted to touch her, so she wasn’t going to rock the boat without more of a reason. If that ever changed, then she’d sure as hell put a stop to it.
Corey gave Donald a veiled look as he informed him, “Lisa will be at my office reviewing the files we discussed with my accounting staff. If you need her just call the number for my office and someone will get the message to her.”
“Of course, Mr. Cantwell,” he stated. “We’ll see you later Lisa.”
“Goodnight Donald,” she said letting Corey take the files as they headed out. She paused when they reached the parking garage not sure what Corey was thinking right now with the way he held himself.
“Do you drive?” he asked, surprising her slightly with the question.
“Not usually, my apartment is only four blocks away and there’s a grocery store just around the corner.”
“Convenient,” he said as he settled the files into the backseat.
“Lets me go home and escape this place easily during lunch.”
“And to refuse rides home from your boss?” he asked, his tone a bit harder and the last thing she wanted was to start the night off with a subject like Donald.
“Why would I refuse a ride from you?” she teased, giving him a little grin.
“I meant Donald.”
“You picked up on it, huh?”
“I take it he’s one of the issues you have regarding men?”
“Only a minor part of them, the others are mostly the same but at least with them I don’t have to worry that what I say will possibly affect my job.”
“And what would you like to say to Donald?” he questioned opening the passenger door for her.
“To stop staring at my chest unless he’d like my foot up his ass,” she said with a light smile and a little nose crinkle that pulled a laugh from him.
“Some men might be into that,” he teased as he backed out of the spot and let her direct him to her place. He pulled into the visitor’s lot and reached out for her when he parked the car. She couldn’t help the slight startle of surprise that pulled a gasp from her when his hands pulled her face towards him, but she quickly relaxed fitting her lips to his, letting the kiss take her straight back to their night. He let out a deep groan and stopped the kiss before it went further, making her sigh at the shortness of it. “I see the warning label’s not just for when you’re drinking.”
“It’s simply more noticeable and combustible then,” she teased, liking their even footing now far better than the way it’d felt at the office. “Want to come up?”
“Yes, but if I do, we’re likely to end up in bed and I’d rather not have to drive all the way across town in the morning. Especially if it means getting to stay in bed with you a bit longer,” he said sliding his hand into her hair kissing her again.
This one was soft and slow, leaving her breathless. “Mmm…let me grab a couple things and I’ll be back down.”
“Pack enough for the week, I don’t think this will fade out that quickly,” he suggested as she pushed open the door and headed inside with a smile.
“Okay what’s going on? You’re home early and that grin is not something I’ve seen in a long time,” Jackie said as they hit the floor at the same time from the different elevators.
“Remember Mr. Bartender?”
“Tall, dark, chocolate eye dreamboat? Yeah, why? Ooohh,” Jackie hummed happily clapping a bit, “you went back to the bar and found him, didn’t you?”
“No, he sort of found me. He’s the new owner of the company.”
“What?” she gasped, her jaw dropping wide open.
“I know,” Lisa said, giving her friend a nod at the shock. She’d have likely responded the same way if they weren’t in front of the others earlier. “He owns the bar along with about a third of the town.”
“So now that he’s rich you’re going after him?” Jackie said, her brows knitting together a bit. “I mean, that’s not like you at all.”
“No, I’m not going after him period. It does mean that he’s not a playboy bartender that sleeps with anything though. He’s a businessman who claims he doesn’t so I’m not about to fight this attraction right now,” she offered her friend pulling a slow nod from her.
“Yet you scurried home the second work was over…before that even if you’re here now.”
“He’s down in his car in the visitor’s lot waiting for me.”
That sent Jackie’s eyes wide again, shaking her head a bit. “Wait, you’re going out with him tonight ?”
“No, I’m going over to his place because if I don’t sleep with him now, we’ll likely end up doing it tomorrow and that would lead to some very bad things if we’re at the office.”
“True, you never go in for office romance, so you don’t know the trick to hiding it,” Jackie mused making her shake her head at her friend.
“It’s not romance. It’s just sex,” she countered before going into her place to grab some things. Her weekender bag would do she figured, and she gathered some items for work along with some of her nicer lingerie pieces. She was glad she’d dressed up a bit more today than normal knowing the new owner was coming through at some point this week.
That didn’t mean she had to put on some of her nicer lingerie, but she had, which was good. There were no giant panties hiding under her clothes right now. Not that she had giant panties, but she did have some that were just for being comfortable in, particularly during that time of the month.
“Have fun and let me know you’re alive if you’re planning on taking that much with you,” Jackie said giving her a hug at the door.
“Absolutely,” she promised before skipping down to the car. She refrained from the actual act, but her insides were doing it.
Corey got out when he saw her and put the bag into the backseat kissing her before opening the door for her to get into the car. It made her smile as he took the driver’s seat back.
“What’s that grin for?”
“Just thinking that you’re not exactly the typical male,” she mused, certain she shouldn’t enjoy it as much as she was.
“How’s that?”
“You know, opening a door for a woman, carrying the heavy boxes, getting the bag…”
“Let’s just say my mother made sure I knew the proper way to treat a woman. I got worse than an earful when she saw me honking the horn for my girlfriend in high school to come out for our date once.”
“Mothers…can’t live with them and can’t kill them,” she said with a laugh, watching him as they made their way across town.
“Yours still on your case I take it?”
“More now than ever since I didn’t go home for Thanksgiving. I can’t stand that she thinks I have to have a man to be happy. I was perfectly content without one and without you screwing with my desires.”
“Join the club Lisa,” he stated as they pulled into the garage for the condo. He left the files in the car as he took out her bag and opened the door for her. He couldn’t help himself from backing her into the corner of the elevator and kissing her as they made their way up to the top floor.
The second the doors opened into the penthouse, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom tossing her bag onto the side chair as he pushed her jacket from her shoulders. He started on the buttons of her blouse, but they were taking far too long, and he grabbed the sides of her top, letting out a groan when she stepped away from him. “Lisa…”
“You’ve already ripped one of my shirts I don’t need you to bust the buttons off this one,” she warned as she quickly slid the buttons out of their holes and tossed the blouse aside.
“So that’s why you stole my shirt?”
“I returned it,” she countered with a grin as she helped him shed his shirt.
“True but it was cleaned and didn’t smell like you…unlike the pillow and I missed that when I got back here.”
“Guess we’ll have to see what we can do to fix that, won’t we?” She sighed when he lifted her onto the bed, his hands trailing down her body. He slid her skirt down her hips and joined her as his hands strayed back up her thighs. “I take it we’re going for fast right now?”
“For now…then it’ll be slow until you’re begging for more,” he promised kissing her as they quickly built each other up. He reached for the nightstand and realized he didn’t have anything here. The ones at the bar hadn’t even been his. They were there from his brother who’d been using the apartment until he’d moved in with his girlfriend. “Shit…”
“What?” she said as he rolled aside, cursing himself for not remembering.
“I don’t have any protection with me.”
“Promise me you’re clean, that you don’t actually take any girl up to the apartment or here,” she said moving over onto him.
“You’re the first person I’ve been with in over two years, baby.”
“Then we’re good,” she said as she slid over his hard length, letting him feel every inch of her sweetness.
“Yeah?” he moaned trying to get his brain to think of anything to keep from coming instantly now. So last time you insisted because?”
“I thought you were a sleazy bartender who tried to sleep with anyone, and I wasn’t going to risk that. It’s been over two years since I’ve been with anyone and I’m on the pill, so unless you have a problem with it…” she suggested, her hips moving up a hint, and he grabbed her tightly, pulling her back to him.
“Then it seems we’ve both got things to make up for,” he warned rolling her underneath him to show her just how much they did. Over and over until they were both exhausted.
Lisa stood looking out the window wearing his shirt later that night as they waited for the takeout to get there, wondering what had possessed her to do what she had with him. He was her boss for Pete’s sake—worse, her boss’ boss’ boss or something. Could they really be adult about this if things didn’t work out well? Sure, the sex was fantastic but what would happen if something happened and one of them fell for the other?
She knew after tonight that she could let herself if she didn’t watch it. She didn’t need a man telling her what to do. She liked her independence, the ability to do what she wanted when she wanted. To not have someone asking her questions she didn’t want to answer. To not have someone trying to get her to open up with them.
She didn’t want to give that up. Then again, how did you give up the most incredible sex you’d ever discovered, she wondered as he slid up behind her and pulled her back against him.
“Do you know how sexy you are in my shirt?” he asked kissing the side of her neck.
“Mmm…” she sighed turning around letting him lift her up into his arms. “What about the food?”
“It can wait…I can’t,” he stated, and she knew this was going to be incredibly dangerous, but she might as well enjoy it. If she was going to get burnt, it’d better be worth it.