Anything To Be With You

9. Hello Gorgeous

Hello Gorgeous

Luke

I get to the office at quarter to eight, unlocking the door and turn on the lights. I walk into my office, placing my messenger bag on my desk when the main door open.

"Lucas?" a voice like razor blades calls.

A voice I used to find sweet. A voice I used to loved hearing.

I step out of my office. "Why are you here?" I demand.

She rushes over to me. "I haven't been able to get a hold of you. Every time I called, it went straight to voicemail. I started getting worried." Sarah says, putting her hands on my chest.

Her touch doesn’t give me the same thrill as it once did. Instead, it makes my skin crawl as if I'm covered with thousands of ants.

"Did it ever occur to you that I don’t want to talk to you?" I say, removing her hands and backing up.

"I thought something horrible happened to you. You need to keep in touch with me, Lucas."

"No, I don't. You lost that privilege when you left me for someone else."

The main door opens, and Dani storms in, heading straight for me. She squeezes between Sarah and me.

"I have a bone to pick with you," she pokes my chest. "I spent the whole evening with you, only to have you wake me up in the middle of the night because you needed something that could’ve waited until I got in today." She pokes me again, harder this time. "But oh no , when Luke Archer wants it, you must give it to him right away. Well, don’t get pissed off at me if I fall asleep at my desk. I am exhausted. You’re exhausting." Dani gives my chest one last poke before heading towards the break room.

Rage contorts Sarah’s face. " You and her! Is she the reason you’re not returning my calls? Because you’re with her!" she shrieks.

Dani walks out with my mug and shoves it into my hand. "I hope you choke on it." Dani seethes and brushes past me, siting at her desk.

Sarah looks between us, the sharp sting of flesh connecting with flesh takes me by surprise. " How could you Lucas! Don’t I mean anything to you!" she cries, stomping out and slamming the door behind her.

I turn to find Dani checking her nails. "Looks like I’m not the only woman who’s pissed at you," she deadpans. Dani opens her email and shoots a nasty look over the monitor. I might have sent her seven emails last night for her to work on today.

I raise my mug in salute and head into my office, shutting the door behind me. I sit behind my desk and place my cell in front of me.

"5…4…3…2…1…" my cell rings. "Gabe."

"Duuuuuuuuude!" he roars. "You and Dani?"

"There’s nothing going on between Daniella and myself," I inform him.

"Then why did Sarah call me in tears saying you were screwing your assistant?"

"Because when Daniella was chewing me out, she made it sound like we fucked last night."

Gabe starts laughing. "I’m in love."

Dani walks in and turns her tablet towards me. "Sign." She demands and holds out the stylist pen.

I hold the phone between my ear and shoulder.

"Is she there?" Gabe asks.

"Yes." I hum.

"Let me talk to her."

"Goodbye, Gabe."

"Wait!" Gabe yells. "I want to hear what she said to Sarah."

I drop the phone on the desk and hit the end button. I finish signing and hand the tablet back.

"Anything else, Mr. Archer?" Dani asks picking up the pile of papers.

I stare up at her. Dani’s hair is in a high ponytail, and her face is clear of makeup. Dani has a natural beauty that could never be replicated. Sweat gathers under my collar and my dick perks up when her beautiful eyes meet mine.

I clear my throat and say, "I see you dressed down today." I grimace at my words; however, they are needed to put distance between us.

Dani slams the tablet back on the desk and leans forward. "You’re joking right?"

I make a show of giving her a once over. "Do I look like I’m joking?"

Exhaling loudly through her nose, she straightens. Her cheeks flush and not from embarrassment.

"Well, excuse me, Mr. Archer. I slept in this morning and had no time to get ready. I didn’t even get the chance to shower. So, my greasy hair is pulled back into a ponytail, showing off scars that you have probably already seen, and I grabbed the first thing out of my closet which just happened to be this," she gestures to her white dress shirt and black slacks. "So, this is what you get for today. I look like I’m heading to a funeral. Enjoy. Is there anything else you need?"

"No."

"Good." Dani hisses, spins on her heels and sways that marvelous ass of hers out of my office.

Gabe

I am not one to poach women from anyone, but fuck me into next week, that Dani is amazing. She’s utterly stunning, and her curves should be illegal. I was floored when I saw her standing on that chair yesterday. Those legs of hers go on for miles and they are as soft as they look. She makes me want to have a relationship that’s longer than one night.

I should really stop staring at her, but I can’t. She’s wearing a simple white dress shirt and black slacks with her hair pulled back. She’s sitting six tables away from me, scrolling through her phone. She must be on lunch, but she has been here for over forty-five minutes.

I wave my server over and tell her to bring my food to Dani’s table. I stand and swagger over. Dani doesn’t notice me walk up and I use it to my advantage. I lean over her shoulder and say, "hello gorgeous."

Dani shrieks, her hand flies to her chest. "Damnit, Gabe. You almost made me piss myself." She barks out.

I straighten and smile down at her. "May I join you?"

Dani blinks at me before nodding to the other chair. I sit just as our food arrives. "So, tell me Daniella, what is a fine-looking woman like yourself doing eating alone?" I inquire, digging into my Western wrap.

"Carrie was supposed to join, but Elle was in the neighbourhood for an appointment," she says and stabs at her fries. "They invited me, but I declined. Third wheel and all that."

"And what does my brother think about you being on a long lunch?"

She glances up at me from under her lashes. "One: how do you know I’m on a long lunch and two: are you going to tattle on me?"

I smile. "I would never do such a thing. And I got here just before you."

Her beautiful eyes narrow. "I don’t care what he thinks. He pissed me off this morning," Dani shoves the fork full of fries in her mouth.

"How so?" I question.

She leans back in her chair. "He had something to say about what I’m wearing."

I give her a once over. "I think you look amazing."

She snorts and takes a bite of her burger. "I look like a hot mess."

I point a fry at her. "My point. You look hot."

Her lip tips up as she chews. "Charmer."

I can’t tear my eyes away from her. She’s everything I want in a woman. Sassy, beautiful, funny. Before my brain decides to stop me, I blurt out, "are you free for dinner tonight?"

Dani chokes on her food. "I’m sorry?"

"You heard me," I lean on the table, "but I’ll ask again. Are you free for dinner tonight?"

Dani sits back and gawks at me. "Um…" she scrubs her face. "Look Gabe, it’s sweet of you to ask but…" she trails off, looking anywhere but my face.

"Is it because of Luke?" I question.

Her eyes snap to mine. "What I do is none of his business."

"That’s not what I mean, and you know it." I state.

Dani blows a couple of stray hairs off her face with a sigh. "Is it that obvious?"

I take her hand and turn it over. "To everyone but him," I kiss over the scar there.

Panic takes over Dani’s features as pulls her hand back. "Please don’t say anything. I really need this job."

I smile wide at her. "He will not fire you because you have a crush."

"And how do you know that?" Dani asks.

"Because he feels the same."

Her eyes widen. "Does not."

I wink at her. "Does too."

"You lie," Dani challenges.

"There are two things I don’t do. Relationships and lying." I take a huge bite out of my wrap and try not to laugh at the look on Dani’s face.

"He treats me like shit. He’s not interested."

"I’m going to fill you in on something," I say, waiting for her eyes to meet mine. "Luke has a huge heart, and he loves hard. Harder than anyone I know. Including myself." I take her hand in mine again. "But he was burned badly four years ago, and he’s scared that it’ll happen again if he opens himself up."

"I would never hurt him." Dani whispers.

I kiss her hand. "I know you wouldn’t. However, after what his ex did, he has a tough time trusting women with his heart. And because of that, he’s keeping you at arms length. Even though he would rather hold you close."

Dani blinks at me for a moment, before shoving a forkful of fries into her mouth. Her cheeks flush and a small smile forms on her lips.

We finish lunch in silence. When our bills come, I pay both and walk her out to her car.

"You really didn’t need to pay for my lunch but thank you." Dani says. She stretches up on her tip toes then huffs. "Bend."

I smirk and bend my knees so she can kiss my cheek. "Anytime, Dani girl."

She smiles brightly at me and my heart skids to a stop. I’ve never had a woman smile at me the way Dani is without wanting something more.

I open her car door and she slides in. Closing the door, I hold my hand out. "Phone."

Dani pulls it from her purse, and I enter my number, texting myself so I would have hers. "If you ever need anything, I’m only a call or text away."

Dani takes her phone back and smiles up at me. "Thanks Gabe."

I knock on the roof of her car. "Bye gorgeous."

"Bye handsome."

I stand on the sidewalk as she drives away.