25. Rian
Twenty Five
Rian
“I’ll need you starting at eleven a.m. tomorrow.”
Since announcing the weekend work, I’ve been busy planning every detail of what I’ll do to Catriona.
Only to scrap it and come up with another scenario.
Only to scrap that one as well. I have enough material for a whole book and a couple of movies with all the scenes I’ve dreamed up.
All involving a naked Catriona in my office and ample metres of rope.
From the sultry look in her eyes, I have no doubt she’s dreamed up a few scenes herself.
Knowing what Dad would think of me, and remembering my conversation with Trevor, I’ve tried to quell my desire.
But my lust for Catriona is too strong. The only way to get her out of my system is to go all the way.
Fight fire with fire. Once I’ve tasted what she has to offer, I’ll grow tired of her.
Her allure is the illicit, almost taboo, element of being with her.
But once I’ve conquered her, she’ll become just another woman.
One more day, and the wait is over. I shift to a more comfortable position in my office chair and rake my gaze down her body, imagining her standing there without a scrap of fabric.
My pleasant fantasies are rudely interrupted when the office door slams against the wall and a voice roars, “Get your lazy arse off the seat, buddy, we have a flight to catch!”
“Jesus, Leo, did you never learn to knock?” I quickly change my facial expression to that of a bored, over-privileged young man as my best friend saunters into the office, his colourful sleeveless shirt something you’d think you’d only see in the Caribbean.
“No time to knock! We’re going to work on your pasty tan.”
“What are you talking about?”
Leo puts on a thick Italian accent and some big arm movements. “I’m talking-e about-e sun, sea and uh, limoncello.”
I snort. “Some of us actually have to work…”
“Work hard, play harder – and I’m sure you’ve worked hard all week.
Hasn’t he?” Leo directs the question and a flirty smile at Catriona.
His grin freezes as he takes in her ice-cold appearance, with her hair in the tight bun and her grey unfitted suit hiding her body.
She just stands there looking at him, making no secret of being unamused by his intrusion.
“Leo, I am not going anywhere—”
“Yes, you are! Everyone is going. You’re the last one we’re picking up.
Anastasia is being stocked in the port of Marbella as we speak, and the crew on the Harringtons’ jet are in the middle of prepping take-off martinis.
So, get moving! Pronto!” Leo flashes a rack of white teeth, and it’s hard not to be affected by his enthusiasm.
“I’m sorry, Leo, but I have some meetings scheduled this weekend.” A sideways glance at Catriona, and her eyes momentarily burst with warmth, only to lock down to her usual ice as feminine laughter flows through the door. And with the laughter come Jennifer and Alexandra.
Alexandra is a sight in her tight white capri pants and loose, black, long-sleeved top with a deep narrow slit down the front, tied together with a small bow at the neck. Sparkly bangles complete her classy outfit.
“Guys, what are you doing chatting? We have a flight to catch!” Jennifer calls out.
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry, Jennie, but I can’t join you. I have work to do this weekend.” I don’t sound as determined as a minute ago, and this time I avoid looking at Catriona.
“Of course you’re coming, Ri.”
Alexandra rounds the desk and places her small delicate hand on my shoulder. She has never been a woman of many words. She doesn’t need to be. Half her conversation is normally done with body language. The way she tilts her head to the side or slowly blinks.
“Dad has freed Anastasia for the weekend for a little Mediterranean cruise for us.” Alexandra’s mouth forms a small kissable pout, and her tone is low and husky. “We couldn’t go without you.”
“Your brother, Padraig and his fiancée, and Dylan – they’re all meeting us at Dublin airport. This is the only weekend Dylan doesn’t have a game for a while,” Leo explains.
I adjust my watch, the thick leader strap seems too tight around my wrist. “When did you cook up this trip?”
“Yesterday, when we went to Vogue for cocktails. We missed you.” Worry flickers in Alexandra’s green eyes, but it’s gone as soon as it appears.
She doesn’t ask me why I didn’t show after calling her at the beginning of the week.
I hadn’t felt like going. My head had been a horny mess of Catriona fantasies.
“So, we came up with this plan of kidnapping you for the weekend.” Jennifer snickers.
“You just can’t say no, Rian.”
God, what am I doing? The woman I’m to marry is holding my gaze, wanting me to go with her, and what do I do?
Try to avoid it so I can fuck my assistant?
As much as I want Catriona, I need to get my act together.
This is Alexandra, my destiny, my future wife, with whom I’m supposed to build a Kearney-Harrington empire.
If there ever was divine intervention, then this is probably it.
“Well, if you put it that way…”
“Excellent!” Jennifer squeals. “We have to go now. I am dying for my afternoon cocktail!” We all laugh, accustomed to Jennifer’s dramatics.
Alexandra steps away, leaving me room to breathe.
“Um, uh, yes… Miss Taylor, can you make sure my three o’clock meeting gets re-scheduled?” I find it difficult to meet Catriona’s eyes.
“Certainly, sir.” Her voice is devoid of emotion, all business-like.
“And his weekend meetings as well,” Leo adds.
“Consider it done.” There’s a hint of sarcasm, and she walks out of my office not looking at me, her back ramrod straight. I swallow. A knot has formed in my stomach, but I try to ignore it while shutting down my laptop and locking documents in the drawers.
“I thought even lesbians needed some personality to get laid, but maybe I’m wrong?”
“Huh?” I glance up at Leo.
“Your secretary,” he explains. “She has the personality of a brick.”
“She’s my assistant, not secretary. And just because your charm doesn’t work on her doesn’t mean she’s a lesbian, which, by the way, she is not.” I’m not sure why I’m defending Catriona, but it really annoys me that Leo is criticising her.
“Oh, she’s a lesbian all right,” Leo counters. “If you’re judging her sexual orientation on the fact that she’s trying to sleep with you, then I want you to know she’s only faking it to climb the corporate ladder.”
Catriona’s ragged breath, parted lips, her wetness… She is so not faking it! My shoulders widen on a deep, calming inhale.
“Sexual orientation or not, she’s so not my type.
And either way, I don’t sleep with my colleagues.
” The last comment is for Alexandra’s benefit.
Dad’s remark hasn’t been sitting easy with me.
She knows I’ve not been celibate all these years, but this is me trying to reassure her that I don’t have an office full of ex affairs.
Well, I had every intention of sleeping with a colleague this weekend!
“Hope you don’t mind me sleeping with your colleagues,” Leo comments.
I freeze. “What?”
“Think Anika would join us this weekend?”
“Hell no,” Jennifer cries. “I’m not spending a weekend on a super yacht watching Dylan sulking in a corner from his lost bet while you make out with Anika.”
“That reminds me,” I grin, “Dylan owes me three hundred euro.”