Chapter 14
Hunter
I ’ve tried and failed miserably to put Jade out of my mind. I’ve had my most unproductive day ever as memories of her flood my mind: on her knees, head thrown back in ecstasy as I ate her perfect pussy, tucked into my side in bed with a sated smile on her face. And if she was going to be coming into the office in those tight dresses that show her fuckable body I wasn’t going to last with her working for me.
I need to get a handle on this.
My phone chimes while I reread the same email I’ve been staring at for the past hour. I bark down the line without checking to see who’s calling. “Hunter Stone.”
“Woah. Is that how we’re greeting each other now? Noted.” Leo’s carefree tone comes through the line.
I run my fingers through my hair for what must be the thousandth time today. God knows what I must look like. “Sorry, I’m just under a lot at the moment.”
“I’m dragging you away from that desk to get you out of this funk. You sound like someone just ran over your dog. Maybe this has something to do with our smoking hot new associate? I’m thinking I might ask her out. She seems like she could be fun.”
“Hands off, asshole.”
“Ah, there he is. So, it is to do with the delectable Miss Wilde?” Dragging my hand over my face, I pinch the bridge of my nose, “Fine, yes, it has something to do with Jade.” Looking up to the ceiling I release a breath. “She’s Tink.”
“Tink? As in… Tink, the woman who you now compare every other woman to? Tink, the woman you made me try and find, made me have sleepless nights while coming up with nothing? Tink, the woman who left you without a trace and the reason you’ve been a grumpy bastard for the last six months?”
“One and the same.”
“Priceless.” He chuckles at my expense. “So, when’s the wedding?”
“Fuck off.”
“But you’ve asked her out?”
“No. Why would I?”
“Because you’re obsessed with her. After spending five minutes with her I can see why. Fuck’s sake, Hunter, get your grumpy ass downstairs.”
Hanging up, I slip into my jacket while letting Jenny know I’ll be back shortly. Spotting the elevator about to close, I shout for them to hold it. Once inside, there stands the woman who has taken up my entire headspace.
Greeting Ted, I can’t help but let my mask slip when I turn to Jade. Her scent surrounds me in the confined space. It’s intoxicating.
When the elevator opens I rush out, relieved that Leo’s already here. “Not a fucking word,” I warn him.
“What? I said nothing.” My best friend’s a clown who’s enjoying my dilemma a little too much.
We push through the doors onto the busy street.
“You’ve got to work in close proximity with the woman who blew your mind, made you question your whole life choices. You were going to finally put your past behind you and take that leap into a relationship, but before you could even ask her name, she upped and left. How’s that going for you?”
I put my hands in my suit pockets, clenching them into tight fists around that damn pin that I foolishly always keep with me. “Glad you find this funny.”
“I am. Karma’s being a bitch to you.”
“No, karma was a bitch when Maddison showed up in my life again. That woman just won’t get the hint. Ever since Halloween, she’s been lingering around. She was even in my office the other day when I got back from a meeting, sat there in nothing but her fucking underwear.”
“You didn’t tell me that. That’s hilarious.”
“For you maybe, I had to burn it when I finally got rid of her. I loved that chair.”
“I did tell you not to go there with her. There was always something about her that made me shiver. I didn’t give her the name The Viper for no reason. She’s sneaky. I hope you were careful with her.”
“Of course I was. What do you take me for? I’m done with her, but she doesn’t seem to get it. I don’t know how to get rid of her.”
“Oh, poor little Hunter, having women throwing themselves at you. The cross you bear.”
“It’s only one woman and not the one I want.” We stop at a coffee cart “Two black coffees to go please.” I slightly turn to side-eye my best friend. “Anyway, you were late this morning.’
“Mmm Hmm. Was fucking worth it.”
“I bet it was. God, it’s been too long. My right hand has seen my cock more than when I was a teenager these past six months.” I cringe at my words as the elderly lady puts our drinks in front of us and huffs disapprovingly.
Leo swipes his coffee as I tap my card. “You tried using your left? You know, mix it up a bit?” Jesus Christ, I need better friends . I mumble an apology to her as I walk away.
“But seriously, you need to sort your head out. Ask the woman out, for fuck’s sake. She’s here right in front of you. It’s what you’ve wanted for months.”
“It isn’t that simple. She now works for me.”
“That just sounds like an excuse, Stone. Lots of people meet their partners at work.”
As the office comes back into view I start to think about the meeting I have with her in less than an hour. I have to pull my head out of my ass.
“It isn’t an excuse. I have to make this office work. This is my opportunity to show Dad that I can do this. Jade will just be a distraction that I can’t afford. Now’s not the time for me to be wrapped up in a woman.”
“Your dad knows you can do this, and so do you. This is where you were meant to be and Jade or any other woman wouldn’t be a distraction if she’s the right woman. She would only support you.”
I look over at my best friend, someone who I’ve never heard get so sentimental. “Who are you right now? Please go back to being weird and funny. Not sure I like this Leo.”
“You asked for my opinion. I gave it. I can’t win with you can I?” He huffs out a laugh.
I’m staring at my to-go cup like it can give me all the answers. “Do you think I’m being too cautious?”
“It’s your call, but if you both have this connection you spoke so much about and the fact that six months down the line you’re still only having dates with your right hand, I think you need to at least talk to her.”
Making our way back into the building we take the elevator up to our floor. “She told me she left a note.”
“You said she just vanished?” He frowns.
“She did. There was no note. She has to be lying. Covering herself now she works with me. I bet she didn’t expect to see me again.” The words leave a sour taste in my mouth.
“Do you honestly believe that?”
“No.” I sigh. “She genuinely looked shocked that I had no idea about the note.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“There’s no plan. I’m not going to ask her out and I’m also not going to let her take up any more of my headspace. The job’s all I’ve got time for at the moment.”
Stepping out of the elevator, Leo gives me a slight nod. “Just as long as you’ll be able to cope with seeing her with other men, then you’ve got this all figured out.”
My blood boils at the thought. Leo shakes his head and claps me on the back. “Didn’t think so, Stone. Talk to her. Ask her out. Before someone else does. A woman who looks like her and has the brains to match doesn’t stay single for long.” He turns on his heel and disappears to his office.
My thoughts run away with me as I sit back at my desk.
Do I talk to her?
Can I really see her with someone else? Because if I can’t have her, then she will find someone else. A woman like Jade is someone you make your wife. She’s a happily ever after, not a one night stand.
Fuck.
I’ve been going through the proposal when there’s a knock on my door. “Come in.” The door opens and in walks every man's office fantasy.
She’s now wearing fucking glasses and my mouth goes dry as a vision of her bent over my desk with that dress up around her hips flood my brain. Her looking over her shoulder at me, while I take her from behind, her ponytail wrapped around my fist— Fuck, Hunter get a fucking grip . Shaking myself out of my fantasy, I signal for her to take a seat. “Good afternoon, Jade. I hope you’ve settled in well. Ted's been looking after you?”
“Yes, thank you. He’s great. Honestly, couldn’t have asked for a better PA.”
Shit, she’s still as sweet as she was on Halloween. I can’t be angry at her. Blowing out a breath and running my hand over my jaw, I continue, “I realize I’ve been a little short with you today and I have to apologize. That isn’t me. I was just a little shocked to see you again, and it caught me off guard.” I say gently and she tucks an errant hair behind her ear.
“It’s okay. You kind of caught me off guard too. I didn’t know whether to be happy that I’ve seen you again or worried because you wouldn’t want me to work for you after you never called or were thinking that I tracked you down and become some kind of type A stalker. Which I’m not, let's clarify that. Fuck, I’m making an idiot of myself with my word vomit, and now I’ve said fuck in front of my new boss. Gah! I’ve done it again.” She grimaces as she puts her head in her hands. God, this woman is adorable. It settles something inside of me, the rage of her not leaving her number or letting me know she was leaving disappearing. Moving around the desk, I take the other chair next to her, pulling her hands away from her face, trying to ignore the instant warmth I get from her touch. “Jade, look at me.”
She pulls her icy blue eyes up to mine, and for a moment I’m mesmerized.
“I don’t think you’re a stalker. I also don’t want you to leave. I’m hoping we can work together well. I was excited to work with the infamous Jade Wilde that Ann was so enthusiastically telling me was and I quote “ born to do this job ”.”
“I really didn’t know who you were, Hunter. I hope you know that. I’m not some gold digger or someone who sleeps around to get what she wants. That night was my first and only one night stand, I don’t do that. I’ve worked so damn hard for everything I have and I won't stop now. This job means everything to me.”
I stroke my thumb over her knuckles. Shit, so much for being professional. I let go of her hands, instantly missing her touch and clearing my throat to try and regain some composure.
“Have you had a chance to look over the proposal?” Professional. See, I can do this .
“Yes, I spent most of the day going through it. This is what I’ve come up with.” She passes the folder over to me. “I’ve done a few different angles we can go with, depending on how much of a risk the client’s willing to take, but I’ve done a section for each.”
Flicking through the folder she’s given me, I’m impressed. “So, what do you think?” She fidgets in her seat, chewing on her thumbnail. She’s nervous and wants my approval. I like that.
Putting the papers down, I run my forefinger across my bottom lip. She follows the movement but quickly snaps her eyes back up to mine. “I’m impressed, Jade. If I’m being honest, I don’t think I could have done it better myself.” She visibly relaxes.
"In fact, I think you’ve done such a good job, you should present it to the client.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Her eyes are glued to me, a bemused look on her face. I can't help the smile that crosses mine.
“Mr. Baker is coming in tomorrow and I want you to lead the meeting. You’ll be better equipped to answer the questions. I don’t want to amend or change anything you’ve done here. This report is perfect. If this is the kind of work I can expect from you, I think I need to be careful because you’ll be after my job next.”
“I mean, that’s my dream.” She sighs dreamily.
“What? To have my job?” I chuckle.
“Not your job exactly, but yeah, run my own company.”
“First step then, is to lead this meeting. Might as well throw you in at the deep end.”
“Let’s hope I float.”