18. Olivia
OLIVIA
H elen was going to receive a stern phone call from me as soon as I got a moment alone. One room Helen? Seriously? She was either insanely absentminded or deviously evil. Either way, she was getting an ear full.
How the hell was I supposed to sit on the other side of a door while a naked Lucas Alessi showered twenty feet away? Remembering how he’d felt pressed against me. How my fingers felt running through his thick hair. Imagining it slick with little droplets falling over his scruff lined face.
We had about an hour until the first event of the weekend, a welcome cocktail hour, started. The main dinner we came for wasn’t until tomorrow night. Sitting on the end of the bed, I watched as Lucas slowly paced the room.
He seemed extremely agitated by the situation. I wasn’t thrilled, but my concerns were dulled by how amazing he looked in the t-shirt, work pants, and boots he was wearing. He hadn’t said a word to me about our kiss, so I figured his issue was having no desire to be this close to me.
“I’m planning to go to the welcome event like this, so I can take a walk through the hotel now to give you some privacy. I’ll look at the interiors Helen wanted us to see,” I offered.
“What?” Lucas looked confused.
“Um. So you can change or freshen up. Whatever you need to do before the welcome thing.”
He raised an eyebrow in response. “I don’t think I’ve ever freshened up in my entire life, Liv.”
“You know what I mean. Get ready. In private.”
“You’re not walking aimlessly around a fully booked hotel alone.”
“Worried about some sort of Labor Day bandit here to steal from unsuspecting tourists?”
“No. Worried about drunk assholes that don’t know their limits or appropriate behavior around women.”
Oh. I had no response to that one.
“I’m going to grab a quick shower. I’ll be out in twenty and then we’ll take a look around before the event.”
Shit.
We’d only been in the room for ten minutes and he was already getting naked. I was so insanely screwed. My stupid face that showed every one of my stupid emotions was probably broadcasting, “I would like to join in the nakedness.”
Lucas wore a neutral mask, but his body looked tense, muscles corded.
I watched as he pulled a toiletry bag from his luggage, as well as a change of clothes. Then he bent down and began the process of untying his work boots.
On all things holy, I didn’t think I’d ever find shoe removal so attractive. He slowly pulled laces from one side, then the other. Then toed out of each boot before gathering them and stashing them beside the sofa he’d be sleeping on.
Lucas Alessi was standing in front of me in socks. It felt positively scandalous. More intimate than some actual physical encounters I’d had. I needed to get a grip.
But then, as he made his way to the bathroom, he offered me one final look. This one wasn’t neutral at all. It was stark, plain desire. Written there as clearly as I’d ever seen.
Goosebumps pebbled my entire body.
“Give me twenty minutes, Angel.”
Oh. I would love to give him twenty minutes.
In an effort to occupy my mind, I sat on the bed and took out my phone, pulling up my email as I heard the water turn on. I responded to a potential client as I heard the shower door close. I answered a question from Callie as the sound of water began to rain down.
I was trying desperately to picture anything but Lucas’ naked body when a text appeared.
Callie
Why are you responding to emails? Are you still working? It’s Friday night…
Just answering a few emails quick. I’m actually on a work trip this weekend.
Callie
For what and with who? Somewhere good I hope?
Helen’s project. Here with Lucas Alessi. It’s a hotel upstate that she wants us to pull inspiration from.
Callie
Olivia fucking Dawson. Are you boning Lucas Alessi?
What was that noise? Like a muffled grunting. I couldn’t tell exactly, but it sounded like someone working out.
We agreed you’d stop saying bone.
Callie
That wasn’t a no. You little liar! You are up there boning the eldest Alessi!
Jesus. No, I'm not boning him. Goodbye Callie.
Callie
Well let’s change that. You have all weekend. Get on it. Literally .
Deciding to ignore Callie for at least forty-eight hours, I spent the next ten minutes editing a post for my social media accounts.
By the time Lucas emerged from the bathroom, I had edited exactly five seconds of the clip and pictured way more seconds of him in that shower.
He filled the doorway of the bathroom with his large frame. Fully clothed, thank god, in a light, muted blue short sleeve button up and fitted gray pants.
I was definitely staring and doing a terrible job hiding it.
Lucas watched me, looking beyond me and clocking the fact that I was currently sitting on a bed. His gaze was nearly ravenous. Almost as if he wanted to stride across the room and pin me to the giant bed.
Then, with a tick of his jaw, that flash of need quickly disappeared, his neutral mask back in place. Though his jaw continued to tense as he spoke.
“You want to take a lap around the property before the event?”
I nodded, needing a second to gain my voice after being on the receiving end of that look.
Stepping out of our room, we left the stifling tension behind and began walking the property. We kept the conversation work-centered. Observing building materials and special touches that we could add further along in our build.
When the time came, we moved to an outdoor patio that was set up with high top tables and a bar. The event was a casual cocktail hour. Just a way to mingle with some of the other guests before the big family style dinner the next night.
As we made our way to the bar, Lucas directed me with his hand at the small of my back, just like he’d done in the past. Except tonight, his fingers made contact. Their impact rippled through every muscle in my body.
Tingles spread, making my steps to the bar falter.
“What can I get you?” A young man with auburn facial hair whose face bore a striking resemblance to the woman from the front desk asked from behind the bar.
Lucas watched me, patiently waiting for my answer. It was just a drink order, but I could feel the anticipation rolling off his body. Like whatever I said next was going to dictate how the evening proceeded.
“Can I have a tequila and soda, please?”
Lucas closed his eyes and dropped his head slightly, which made me laugh. What did he think I was going to do? Get tequila drunk and jump him in our shared hotel room?
Actually. Not a terrible idea.
“I’ll take the lager.”
We took our newly acquired beverages to a high top table to observe the rest of the guests.
“How’s your dad doing?” I asked. That seemed like a safe topic.
“He’s good. He’s in Briartown this weekend helping with their firework display.”
“You weren’t kidding? Towns actually hire him to help with their firework displays?”
“Oh yeah. He’s got a waitlist.”
That made me smile. Mr. Alessi had been so warm and welcoming to me at his party. It was nice he had something like that to keep him busy.
“And your brothers?”
Lucas chuckled. “What about my brothers?” He watched me over his pint glass with a smug smirk. He was enjoying watching me try to make casual conversation.
“How are they?”
“They’re good, Angel.”
“Good. That’s good. Glad to hear it.”
Lucas just continued casually sipping his beer and watching me flounder.
I puffed out a huge breath. “Come on, Lucas! I’m trying here.”
His body shook with silent laughter.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. My brothers. Adrian is Adrian. He has a million hobbies and he’s good at all of them. Between that and work, he stays busy. And Leo is basically a recluse. So I don’t see him as much, but he’s good, I think. That’s what he likes, so I guess that means he’s happy.”
“Neither of them are married? I didn’t meet any wives, so I assumed…”
“Nope. No wives.” His features darkened a bit. “Why do you ask?”
Oh, come on. Was he serious?
“No reason. They’re both very attractive men.”
“Olivia,” he warned.
I just smiled sweetly, like I had no idea what he meant. But we both knew.
Lucas shook his head and turned to the bar. “I’m going to grab another drink. ”
“Get me one?” He looked at my half full cocktail before shaking his head again and heading toward the bar.
I watched as he approached and calmly waited for the bartender to become available.
His stance was so confident, containing none of the awkward fidgeting most people resorted to in a situation with nothing to do but wait.
He didn’t pull out his phone to busy his hands. He was just still.
I was so wrapped up in observing him; I didn’t notice the tall stranger that approached our little table.
“Hi there.”
His sudden greeting caused me to jump a bit.
“Oh! Hi.”
“Sorry to startle you. I’m Gabriel.” I took the hand he was offering.
“Olivia.”
“Are you from nearby, Olivia?”
“A few hours. This is my first time here. It’s a beautiful property.”
“It definitely is. A group of friends and I came for the weekend. Olivia, do you mind me asking if you’re here alone this weekend?”
This man wasn’t very observant if he hadn’t noticed me practically drooling while watching Lucas from across the room.
Suddenly there was a drink in front of me and a strong arm wrapping around my waist from behind. I was being pulled against a wall of solid muscle.
“She’s not here alone,” Lucas nearly growled from behind me. Then he leaned down, placing a kiss on my temple. My heart was beating at an unhealthy speed .
Gabriel's eyes darted from me to Lucas’s arm around my torso, then up to Lucas’ face hovering above mine. I couldn’t see, but judging by Gabriel’s expression, Lucas wasn’t showcasing friendliness. Gabriel cleared his throat.
“Right. Well, it was great to meet you, Olivia. Have a lovely weekend.”
When he walked away, I assumed Lucas would release me, but he kept his hold firm.
“What did you think you were doing?”
“Me? What exactly are you doing right now, Lucas?”
His fingers dug into my side and spun me to face him. With one hand on my hip, the other reached up to cup my face.
“Lucas? What are you doing?” I whispered my question again.
His eyes tracked over my face. Looking into my eyes, down to my mouth, and back.
“I’m not sure anymore Angel.”
Then he leaned down, his lips so close, but not quite touching mine. He stayed there for a moment, the two of us just sharing breaths.
I felt the exact moment his resolve snapped.
“Screw it.”
His lips met mine with urgency, but somehow gentleness at the same time. Slowly, he worked me over until he kissed me so thoroughly; I struggled to catch my breath.
His grip on my face tightened as his hand at my waist pulled me closer. I reached up on my toes to meld our bodies together as much as possible. When my leg lifted slightly in an effort to wrap around his, he pulled away. I looked up at him, dazed.
“Lucas,” I muttered, “I’ve had enough of the cocktail hour.”
“Yeah, me too.” He roamed over my body, then back up to my face. He lingered on my lips, which I knew were puffy and swollen from our kiss. When our eyes connected, a heavy anticipation hung in the space of our stare. Finally, he broke the weighted silence.
“Let’s go.”