Chapter 22
Colin
I bite hard on my bottom lip to stop groaning, but a small sound eeks out. She’s bending over the table, gesturing at and explaining her reasoning for the design she’ll present to the clients in just one short hour. The top three buttons of her blouse are undone, and I get a nice peak of the top of her brown breasts.
That last night we were together flashes through my mind. I couldn’t stop touching, kissing, and sucking those breasts. The evidence was right on her skin then, and when she noticed them, she teased me by calling me insatiable.
At the time, all I could think about was how much I would miss her and how I could not wait to see her again. It didn’t matter where she lived. I was going to do everything in my power to make things work. It was like fate handed me a gift when I found out we would be in the same city.
Unfortunately, fate is a fickle bitch.
“Everything will be eco-friendly, of course,” her soft voice says. I nod right before I take a quick glance at her ass in her perfectly tailored pants. She’s always so immaculately dressed. From her pantsuits to her hair and her nails. Everything is in place. I wonder if that’s how she tries to lead her life. I bet she’s one of those who has a place for everything. If I were a betting man, I’d bet she can’t stand having anything disrupt her life. I was a disruption that she believes blew up in her face. The so-called former stepbrother is another, and I wish she’d tell me more about him.
“There are so many doors in this project. It’s going to be a killer reviewing them all. I’ll also need to travel to this project sometime next month.” She looks down, mumbles something, and uses one of her pencils to modify the sketch. She stands straight and looks at me. After looking into her eyes, I forget what the hell we’re supposed to be talking about. All I want to do is sweep the papers off the table, put her on top of it, and have my way with her for the next ten hours. “I’ll be sure to put it on the calendar.”
My eyes narrow. She’s way too accommodating, and I almost miss her combative side. I shake my head. That was my experience with Esme, and I don’t want that again. I want this version. This is the version I met when we were on vacation.
“You’re being very accommodating. To what do I owe this sudden change of attitude?” I love this side of her, but she doesn’t know that I also have come to admire the fiery side she’s shown me since fate threw a monkey wrench in our plans.
She looks away and bites her lip. A na?ve part of me thinks she will tell me she was wrong about me and wants to pick up where we left off. She looks at the door, walks, and closes it. She comes back and stands a few feet in front of me.
“I need a favor,” she says.
I raise my brows and wait for her to say more. “You’re only being nice because you need something from me?” That hurts more than it should. After all the horrible things she’s said to me, this one hurts the most because I can understand why she said the other things. She was operating from a place of hurt and anger, but her using me to get what she wants is like a punch in the gut.
“Look, I want to apologize for how I’ve been acting.” She speaks slowly. “I’m not like that. I’m sure if you were promised something and a stranger snatched it from you, you would not react well.”
I inch closer and say, “I’m hardly a stranger, and you know it.”
“Anyway,” she says, clearing her throat, “this fighting is beneath me.” She eyes me up and down. “Unlike some people.”
“Unlike me?” I ask. “Even your apology is an insult. For the record, it must not be that beneath you since you’ve been fighting with me. You’re the one with the attitude. You’re the one acting like a spoiled child.” I didn’t mean to say all that, but the words just spilled out.
She flips her hair and says, “As I was saying, I planned to promote Ernestine after—”
She stops talking when I let out a loud bark of laughter. “Please, don’t tell me this favor,” I put the word favor in air quotes, “is for Ernestine.” When she doesn’t answer, I say, “You can’t possibly be serious. Why the hell would I do anything for her?”
“Ernestine Gunner is an excellent employee. She’s on time. She’s efficient and knows this office's workings inside and out.”
Oh, I have no doubt she knows how to do her job. She also spends half the day gossiping with other employees and making up stories about me.
“Excellent at spreading gossip and lies.” She stares and bats her pretty eyelashes. “She’s extremely efficient at being the source of rumors in this office. Like my hairpiece.” I take her hand and put it on my head. “Give it a good yank,” I whisper. She tries to move her hand, but I hold it in place. “Oh, don’t be shy. You spent several nights pulling my hair and screaming my name.”
She manages to pull her hand out of mine.
“You’re being unprofessional,” she says.
“ I’m being unprofessional? Sure.” She takes a deep breath and stares at the ceiling. “What about last week when Ernestine told everyone I spent time in a mental institution and that part of her duties is to schedule my weekly appointments with my psychiatrist? Is that in her job description?” She opens her mouth, but no words come out. The door opens, and Brynne jumps away from me, picking up the sketch as Ernestine pops her head in.
“They’re here,” she whispers. “Everything’s set up in the smaller conference room, and I’ve ordered refreshments for after the meeting. I’ll set them up in here when they arrive.”
“Thank you, Ernestine,” Brynne says.
Ernestine turns to leave but almost collides with Heath, who has come into the room. “I set up the clients, and the food will arrive shortly.”
Brynne stares at me and widens her eyes. Ernestine looks at Heath as if he committed a felony instead of doing his job.
“Excuse me, but that’s my job,” Ernestine says, pointing at Heath. “I work for Brynne. These are her clients.”
“Well, Pa—” Heath clears his throat. “Mr. Kincaid told me to do it, so I did.” He turns and gives her his back. “I’m going to make café au lait for everyone in my French press.” He turns his head over his shoulder and looks at Ernestine. “Not for you,” he says before he walks out.
The meeting was uneventful, but it was amazing watching Brynne work. Her presentation was flawless. She understood the client’s needs and was prepared for their questions. When they asked for changes, she explained why it wasn’t possible. She not only told them but showed them.
Afterward, we adjourned to the other conference room, where Ernestine and Heath fought for dominance. She ordered meats and cheeses, and he ordered bite-sized desserts. It ended up being a perfect combination. Heath kept his word and brought everyone but Ernestine a café au lait.
I check the time and quickly shut down my computer for the day. No one but me wears a tie to the office, but I remove mine and undo a couple of buttons. My plans to run home and change have blown up in my face. The favor Brynne needs remains a mystery as I have not seen her since the clients left. After grabbing my coat and bag, I head to the elevator. And that’s where I see her. She gives me an absentminded smile and a dismissive nod as she types something into her phone.
We get in the elevator, and she hits the button for the lobby instead of the garage, where she typically goes. Moments later, we spill onto the first floor.
Francesca is waiting by the front desk. She smiles when she sees me and flips her hair as she crosses the lobby. Brynne’s steps come to an abrupt halt as she watches. She looks from Francesca and back to me as if she can’t believe what she’s seeing. The other woman hugs me, and I pull her close. She smells good, and her body is warm and tight. She pulls away and smiles broadly. Usually, I’d be a sucker for her blue eyes, but while I return the smile, I know I’m only going through the motions. I promised myself I would try, though, because when an attractive, single, and successful woman shows interest in you, you show it back. I pull away and offer her my arm.
That’s when I notice that Brynne is still watching. Her eyes are wide, and her cute little nostrils have flared. Even her full, kissable lips are pursed tight.
“See you tomorrow, Brynne,” I throw back and get no response. “Ready for some drinks?” I ask Francesca. “I’ve been looking forward to this since we talked.”
“So ready,” she says with a flirtatious giggle.
I don’t look back until we get outside, and I find Brynne is still standing in the same spot.