Chapter 1 #2
“Sorry, you’re right. How about we start over, and you tell me what it would take for you to let your hair down…
” He leans toward me and whispers close to my ear, “Because there’s nothing sexier than thinking about bending the teacher over her desk, or you could play the librarian up against the stacks.
I could get behind either.” He winks as he rises back up.
The shiver in response to his words comes unbidden, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing his effect on me.
“Can we be done talking now? You obviously have a one-track mind, and I’m not sorry to say you won’t be reaching the finish line, so you might as well quit now.”
“The word quit isn’t in my vocabulary, sugar. But I’ll give you some time to sit with the vision I planted and check in with you later. Enjoy your drink,” I raise my glass in a mock toast.
The nerve…
Braden
The first thing I noticed was her smell. It was sweet and... cute. That’s the only way to describe it. Initially, I thought it must have been a kid who sat down next to me, but when I saw the fine set of legs from the corner of my eye, it was apparent they certainly didn’t belong to a child.
Working my way up the impeccable body, inch by inch, I decided it was my lucky day when I met the eyes of the little librarian who was checking me out while waiting to board.
That’s what I’m calling her anyway, with the bun, the glasses, and that air about her that screams prim and proper.
Although if her fiery red hair is anything to go by, she must have a wild streak, which is my kind of woman.
Man, I’d love to know what she’s like in the sack.
Would she keep up this innocent act, or would she become a hellcat in the bedroom?
I could be wrong about the wild streak. It might be a rumor, though I wouldn’t know since I’ve never been with a redhead—something I’d love to check off my list, especially if it’s the one next to me. Hell yeah.
I noticed her at the gate immediately and was hoping she’d end up sitting closer, but she took a seat near the boarding door instead.
Luckily, she was in my line of sight, so I could at least check her out.
She’s understatedly gorgeous. All I could think about was unpinning that hair and wrapping it around my fist while directing her naturally plump lips wherever I wanted them.
Now that she’s right in front of me, not only are those lips perfect, but everything else about her is too.
She has beautiful green eyes, hidden behind her glasses, an adorable button nose with freckles lining it, and fuck, that neck.
It’s begging to be explored to find each and every spot that makes her whimper.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t appear to be on the same page as she aims a deadly scowl at me before turning her attention away. She’s definitely feistier than she looks.
With my parting statement, I refocus and pick up where I left off with Warren, whose five unanswered texts have become increasingly impatient.
Me: Dude, I’ve got a hottie sitting next to me. I’m hoping for a BJ in the bathroom.
Warren: You get laid more than a bitch in heat. We need this deposition filed, quit fucking around.
Me: You know the case inside and out. Do what you do best and finish the damn thing.
Warren: Remind me why I work for you.
Me: Because you love my acquisitions.
Warren: You’re an ass.
Me: I know. And I’m busy trying to get some ass, so leave me alone. This one’s being difficult.
Warren: Oh boy, I almost feel sorry for her. Going up against the BUTCHER? She doesn’t stand a chance.
Me: Damn right she doesn’t. Now back to work.
Warren: Fucker
Me: Hopefully…
Warren and I have an interesting relationship. Yes, he’s my assistant, and a damn good one at that, but he’s also a partner of sorts. We make a great team in the courtroom and an even better one in the bedroom.
We’ve shared quite a few women over the past couple of years, in addition to passing on the best of the best when we can’t enjoy them together. We’re not attracted to each other in the slightest, nor do we ever cross swords, but we sure know how to please a woman with four hands and two dicks.
However, this chick doesn’t seem the type to play outside the box.
Usually when a woman shuts me down, I don’t give a fuck.
I’d walk away and not think twice, knowing the next one to grab my attention won’t say no.
This girl, though, is appealing to my competitive nature, and no isn’t an answer I’m ready to take.
Partly because I sense there’s more to her than meets the eye and because she’s too tempting to resist. She’s like a timid little mouse, and I’d like to unleash whatever’s holding her back since her body is certainly speaking a different language than her mouth.
She could be in a relationship, I suppose. Some vanilla guy who only fucks missionary. She probably has no clue what she’s missing. Or, given her reaction to the scene I described, she might. This girl needs someone who can give her what she wants—what she’s been craving.
An hour after takeoff and two refills of champagne later, I turn, unable to refrain.
“Do you have a boyfriend? Is that the problem here?”
She lowers the device she’s been reading and faces me with a dropped jaw.
“Oh my God, seriously? You honestly assume the only reason I’m not falling at your feet is because I have a boyfriend and not because you’re an absolute ass?”
“That’s a no then. So what will it take to loosen up? I’d offer you a drink, but you’ve had two. You need a name? We should introduce ourselves. I’m—”
She covers my mouth with her hand.
Man, would I like that hand to be somewhere else.
“Stop,” she says, removing it as quickly as she placed it, embarrassed. “I’d rather not do names.” When I raise an eyebrow in question, she adds, “Seriously.”
“All right, how about this? Ask me anything you want to know, and I’ll ask you something in return. We’ll go back and forth until you’re comfortable enough to slip into the bathroom with me so I can see about that carpet myself. You might even enjoy it.”
“Un-fricking believable. You don’t quit.” She shakes her head and sighs. “Listen, I appreciate your tenacity, but this is a no-win situation. I’m not interested in guys like you. You may be good-looking, which I’m sure you know, but you are not my type in the slightest, I can assure you.”
“What is your type then?”
She appears exasperated, like she can’t believe I’m still talking.
Which, in a way, I can’t either, because what the fuck?
I never work this hard for a chick. Hell, if I were smart, I would’ve taken the flight attendant up on her blatant offer and gone behind the curtain for a quick blow job.
I could’ve at least imagined it was my little mouse with her pouty lips around my cock.
The problem in taking the easy route with the stewardess is that it’s been a while since I’ve been challenged, and the thrill of the chase is egging me on. The poor girl next to me has no idea what she’s in for.
She finally answers after pondering the question. “Nice. Kind. Considerate. Not condescending or sexist. And interested in more than just sex.”
“Hm. Sounds boring.”
“Not that you would know.”
“I know that I’m anything but boring,” I smirk and wiggle my brows.
“You’re obnoxious, is what you are.”
“Obnoxiously handsome?”
She scoffs in reply, quickly returning her attention to her device.
Curious, I glance down without angling my head to take a peek, and it doesn’t take me long to figure out it’s a romance. The explicit sex scene gives it away because I’m only one page in, and holy shit, it’s basically porn on pages. No wonder she was annoyed by the interruption.
I’m literally getting hard from reading over her shoulder, and don’t notice her staring at me as I’m impatiently waiting for the page to turn. When it doesn’t, I look up to find her smirking.
“Enjoying yourself, are you?” She casts her eyes toward the bulge in my pants and back up with raised brows.
“Well, shit, can you blame me? You’re practically waving porn in my face.”
“No. I’m reading, and you’re snooping.”
“It started that way, but now I’m reading along with you, so could you hurry and flip the page?”
She scowls before tilting her head in contemplation. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll let you read over my shoulder the rest of the flight if you stop talking or trying to hit on me.”
I lean close and whisper, “There was no trying about it—I was hitting on you.”
“Fine, no deal.” She passes the tablet to the hand closest to me and angles it away. But not before I caught her telltale shudder.
“Okay, okay, I’ll behave.” I give in, holding my hands up in defeat.
“No more talking?”
Without another word, I make the motion of zipping my lips, and she smiles in triumph. Damn. She’s something else.
I’m fully entrenched in the story by the time the wheels touch down at LAX, so I’m not happy when Mouse exits the book to make a grab for her phone.
“Hey, I was reading that,” I protest.
“I need to send a text. You won’t have time to finish it anyway,” she says while typing.
I’m tempted to ask the name of the book so I can download it myself. I’ll have plenty of time between the layover and one more flight.
The quick visit to Bozeman was to meet with a potential client at his second home in Big Sky.
We’re talking big money. But I’m used to it.
I’d say 95% of my clients are the ten percenters, and about 50% are the one percenters.
I’m a sought-after divorce attorney who’s not called the Butcher simply because it’s my last name.
I’m as fierce in the courtroom as out of it, cutting my opponents to shreds.
Hence the nickname and the reason I became the youngest partner in the law firm I’ve been at since college.
Starting as an intern, I was offered a full-time position after passing my bar exam four years ago, and have worked my ass off since, proving myself tenfold with the amount of money I’ve brought in.
It’s why clients like Jim Marlow call me specifically.
They only attain me, however, if I believe them worthy.
In this instance, Jim’s wife decided she was ready for a younger version.
The proof was undeniable in the pictures he provided from a private investigator, and was all I needed to accept his case.
With the contract signed, it’ll be weeks of gathering records and data, which I gratefully have Warren for.
“Is this your destination, then?” I ask, assuming she’s informing someone she landed.
She never did answer whether she had a boyfriend or tell me her name.
“No. I’m here long enough to grab food before the next flight,” she says dismissively, not even glancing from her phone.
“Where are you headed?”
She hesitates, causing me to laugh.
“What? It’s not like I can stalk you or anything. I don’t even know your name.”
She huffs but ends up answering. “Thank God for that. I’m on my way to San Diego.”
My eyes widen. “No shit. That’s where I’m going. I live there. Do you?” It’s like fate put her in my lap, or at least that’s where she’ll be later if I’m lucky.
“No,” she quickly states. “Just visiting.”
“Ah, so Bozeman’s home then.”
“I’m not giving you that information. Then you could stalk me.”
I laugh again. “No name, remember? Although you could fix that and introduce yourself. And since you’ll be around,” I lean in and lower my voice.
“I’d be happy to add you to my list of things to do tonight so we can bring those fantasies I mentioned to life.
” I inhale her scent once more, then sit back, wiggling my brows.
Her lips purse as she takes a deep breath. “I’ll be too busy, and if I weren’t, you would be the last thing I’d be doing.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“For you maybe.”
“I promise it’s just as unfortunate for you.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
We’re coming up to the gate, but I’m not finished with her yet. “Well, hopefully we’ll be next to each other again so we can read some more.”
She shrugs. “We won’t be. I was randomly upgraded, so I’ll be with the commoners.”
The plane stops, and when the ding signals it’s safe to rise, she quickly stands to grab her bags, ready to bolt. I can’t let her escape so easily, especially knowing she’ll be in my city. Fuck, I need something to go on. I’m not about to throw in the towel so soon.
“How about I buy you a meal on the way to the next gate, and we can get to know each other. Maybe you’ll reconsider seeing me while you’re in town.” I suggest, hoping she’ll take the bait so I can keep working her.
“I’ll pass. I meant it earlier when I said you weren’t my type. Plus, I need to make a call. Sorry.”
The ‘Not sorry’ comes out loud and clear with the tight-lipped smile she delivers. Damn, this girl is a hard nut to crack. It’s a good thing that’s my specialty.
“Well, my sexy librarian, it was nice to meet you. Hopefully, I’ll see you on the next flight.”
“Doubtful,” she delivers with a sardonic smile and walks away.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that.