Chapter Five
My hands shook as I got out of the car and retrieved my bag. There were three cars on the drive, which meant the owner of the plush four bedroomed house was inside. Okay, I had to be on my best behaviour.
“Lola.”
Joseph’s voice made me jump and I dropped my phone. Bending as it clattered to the floor, I swore under my breath, flustered and annoyed that I’d been such a klutz in front of my boss. A hand appeared in front of mine, swiping the phone up and handing it to me. His other hand landed on the small of my back as he looked into my eyes, his eyebrows pulled low in a frown.
“Are you okay? You almost hit your head on the car.”
Laughing awkwardly, I waved a hand in dismissal and tried to flick my hair behind my shoulder. The gesture was clunky at best, ridiculous at worst. Luckily, I’d worn my smart black skirt, a few inches above the knees, and a simple strap top that hugged my curves. The denim jacket might not have made the cut had I known that I’d be seeing the boss. Still, I was presented as best as I could be at such short notice.
“Here,” I said, shoving the small tub of chocolates into his chest.
He took my hand and trapped it against him, a small smile creeping onto his face. The sun shone straight into his azure-coloured eyes, highlighting the slight tinge of yellow around his iris. I’d never seen such an unusual shade of blue.
“That’s very kind,” he said, releasing my hand when I swallowed, “I’ll eat them later.”
Nodding, I cleared my throat and adjusted my bag, tucking my phone away. He watched me, his intense gaze tracing every movement as if he were memorising it.
“So…” Looking over to the house, I blinked rapidly. “…is this the place? What’s the job? I’ve got my measuring tape.”
He tore his gaze away and eyed the pretty property, admiring the wisteria that hung over the door. The Georgian home had a brick wall and tall iron gates surrounding it. I’d left my car on the road, too embarrassed to bring the old vehicle up to the house.
“It’s okay,” he said, crouching to retrieve a bag that had been sitting by his feet, “I’ve got my tools.”
I stared as he set off, slightly shocked that he had tools. In the past, I’d been the one to check the measurements, it had been my job. I’d just assumed that the client had given him rough estimates and I’d gone along to confirm. Maybe Joe actually did some work, after all.
Studying him as he walked through the gates, I traced my gaze down his frame. His broad shoulders were square and his head held high. His mostly dark hair was cut short at the sides and styled longer at the top. His corduroys were grey and grazed the firm roundness of his buttocks perfectly. He wore a white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing his tanned brown arms that were smattered with dark hair.
“Are you coming, Lola?” he called without turning.
I smiled and followed him, keeping my gaze above the waistband of his corduroys, just in case he looked around to see me admiring his arse. I wasn’t going to lie, a jolt of excitement slipped through me as I caught up to him, walking alongside him with my most confident stride .
“Today’s job is a bedroom for,” he glanced down at me, “a baby.”
My breath hitched and my ankle bent, propelling me forward. He caught me just before I fell flat on my face, holding me close as I righted my legs.
“Woah there.” His smile was kind as I mumbled an apology. “You’re nervous, I understand.”
“No,” I said, hurriedly pushing away from him, “I’m just clumsy, it’s in my nature. I’m ready for this job. It’s an honour, actually.”
“It is?”
Humming an affirmative, I nodded towards the door. “Of course. I didn’t just randomly pick you to work with. I’d seen your designs in an after-college class I took two years ago. I fell in love with the shapes of your creations.”
“The shapes?” The corner of his lip quirked into his cheek. “That’s the first time someone’s said that to me. I’m flattered.”
My cheeks flared with warmth and I ducked my gaze. “Shall we get on?”
Okay, Mr Bighead, no need to get all smug before we went into a job. Although, he was a talented guy, I couldn’t deny it. Still, I didn’t want to come across as buttering him up. Just because I wanted to be as good as him one day, didn’t mean that I would get the experience by sucking up… or down .
Straightening his expression, he turned away and knocked on the door. I ran a quick hand through my hair and my fingers under my eyes, just in case any mascara had run from my unprofessional make-up.
“Good morning!” Joseph greeted a woman when she opened the door.
Her smile beamed and her cheeks glowed. The hand that caressed her protruding pregnancy bump was slow and calm, happily making its way up and over her belly. A sting of something made me flinch deep inside. I kept my expression calm as she glanced over Joseph’s shoulder and saw me.
“Hello,” she said kindly, “please do come in.”
My insides were churning as she led us through her pristine home with its wooden banistered staircase and tall ceilings. Once we reached the top of the stairs, she guided us down a corridor and into a bright double bedroom with bay windows. The walls were stark white and the carpet a soft cream. The quality of the fibres was evident in the bounce under my kitten heels.
“This is where the baby will sleep during her naps,” the woman, who had been chattering to Joseph, announced. “And she’ll officially move in here at six months. We’re just next door.”
The room was a blank canvas with nothing in it. I almost squealed, already imagining what I would put and where. The crib would swing gently from the warm breeze that flowed through the open window. A baby bath, built into the top of a unit, would be a lilac purple and white marbled effect with a gripped wedge bottom so baby didn’t slip. When the girl was older, the wedge could be removed so she could sit on her own, splashing around and enjoying the water.
“Lola?” Joseph interrupted my thoughts.
Shaking myself, I blinked and smiled. “Sorry, what can I do first?”
A sadness enveloped me as I realised that firstly, I wasn’t the one designing the room, and secondly, I had never been loved enough for anyone to bath me as a child. I’d had to run my own bath from the age of six in order to clean myself after several kids at school had called me Smelly Lola. Alas, the water had been too hot and I’d scalded my feet. The scars were still noticeable when I was barefoot.
Joseph watched me, his eyes narrowed as the woman started to explain what she would like. I quickly fumbled to get my notepad out, jotting down her ideas. I knew full well that Joseph would go ahead and do what he wanted, hence why he’d asked me to take notes. He was going to do what he wished .
“What do you think?” the woman asked Joseph, breaking him out of his reverie.
I instantly breathed out silently, grateful that she’d taken his attention away from me. Why had he been so interested in my response? Had he wanted to see how I would act as a designer? Maybe he imagined that I would, I dunno, burst into flames at the idea of him doing a nursery. He had done one or two since I’d joined him, but his forte had been adult bedrooms.
Joseph turned to the woman and pointed to a corner of the room. “You say that you’d like an understated princess theme. How about we incorporate a castle?”
He carried on talking, his ideas flowing and his mind ticking. I listened intently as I wrote it all down, mesmerised by how his brain worked. It wasn’t too dissimilar to mine, which was a first. I hadn’t ever met anyone who could see a room kitted out before anything was inside it. I’d seen his designs, a fair few times, over the last few months, but I had never seen him at work. His eyes were bright, his hands gesturing and making shapes in order to help the client visualise his vision. I could see it perfectly, and shit, his world was clear in my mind .
“What do you think, Lola? Any input?” Joseph caught me staring and his expression dulled slightly.
I shook my head quickly, clearing my throat and trying not to cough. “No, I agree with everything, it sounds perfect.”
His eyebrows pulled low as the woman smiled at me and clapped her hands. As soon as her gaze returned to Joe, he lifted his expression again. Wait, what had happened? He’d looked disappointed in me for agreeing with his ideas.
“I’ll let you measure up.” The woman clasped Joseph’s arm before leaving the room.
“Now then,” Joe said, his cheeriness vanishing. “Let me show you how it’s done. Please,” he said softly, “take these measurements.”
Dropping to my bag, I dug around, searching for my tape measure. Joseph crouched beside me and slipped a hand under my armpit, accidently brushing the side of my breast as he tugged me to my feet.
“No, I'll do the work.” His eyes glistened. “Please just jot them down.”
His hand was still pressed against the underside of my armpit, his thumb barely below my breast. He smiled and looked down, slowly pulling his hand away. Shit, he'd had to put some effort in because I'd unconsciously clenched my arm against myself, trapping him. My cheeks warmed as his expression turned serious and something flashed across his eyes.
“Sorry,” I said, clearing my throat, “I'm just used to doing all the work when it comes to you.”
The corner of his lip quirked slightly and he bent down right in front of me, his face in line with my you know what. I gasped, not moving until he nudged my foot.
“I need to start here...”
He looked up at me, his eyebrows raised, and the tape measure clasped tightly in his palm... really tightly. Was he feeling the tension as much as me? Or was I being a blathering fool, reading into his little looks and soft touches too much?
Skipping back, I went to the window and looked out, making sure to jot down the measurements he gave me. He was very precise, noting every single place where the wall was slightly different, or a floorboard didn't quite meet the end of the room. I kept my gaze off him when he was facing in my direction but as soon as he turned away, I studied him from top to bottom, admiring the strength in his arms and thighs when he crouched. His muscles bulged as he leant over and knocked on the wall, checking what material it was made from.
I could hear the client downstairs, bashing pots and pans as she played her role perfectly. That would probably never be me, I hadn't even found someone I wanted to have sex with, let alone procreate.
My thighs tightened when Joseph came close and put his arm on the window frame, just by my head. His head moved forward, his face barely an inch from my left cheek. Heat exploded through my body when he paused and turned his mouth towards me, his warm breath fanning my face.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered, as if he could tell that I'd been imagining all sorts of naughtiness with him.
I gulped before turning my face so our lips collided, just for a brief second. His nostrils flared as I pulled back, my insides doing a funny quivery dance. Shit, I'd just accidentally kissed my boss... on a job.
His hand came up to grip my elbow, stopping me from moving away. I looked into his eyes, afraid of what I would see. Instead of the fury that I expected, a fierce scowl lined his features. A fierce scowl that looked strangely conflicted.
“You're playing with fire, little one,” he whispered, his gaze softening when I pulled myself up to my tallest height.
“Fire is meant to hurt, but I've been burned too many times. I've become numb to the searing heat. In fact...” Swallowing, I stared straight into his azure blue eyes, “...I quite like the pain now. At least it makes me feel.”
His blink was slow as the air rushed from his lungs. My body reacted to his as he leaned closer, his head briefly lowering to my hair, where he buried his nose and moved his mouth near to my ear.
“My girl.” I shuddered at the tormented strangulation of his tone, unsure whether he was enjoying my words or saddened by them. “I need to know your pain. Will you... Will you tell me?”
My heartbeat vibrated in my chest as a strange erotic pull made me nod. Something about our exchange made my pussy wet and hungry. What the fuck was that all about?
“Not here.” He pulled away and stroked a finger down my cheek before tapping my nose. “Another time. Soon.”
The sound of our client’s footsteps made us pull apart. My insides were still shaking, making it hard for me to concentrate as she came into the room and proceeded to have a perfectly normal conversation with Joseph.
I licked my lips and tried to follow their sentences, but they blurred into only one... the one that Joseph had whispered so tenderly into my ear. I need to know your pain. And for some fucked up reason, I needed him to know it too. I needed him to soothe that pain or add to it. Either way, I knew something had just started between us and the anticipation made me orgasmic.