13. Shane
It’s been three days since Lex visited our place, but I still feel her presence like a physical thing. I can’t sit on the couch without thinking of Linc’s expression as he looked down at her, then up to me. Can’t be at our dining table without Dec’s eyes lingering on the chair she used, his brows drawing down as his gaze unfocused. Can’t stand at the sink without the ghost of her touch whispering against my hand, heat washing through me.
The satisfaction in Linc’s eyes is dangerous. He told me about Lex’s rules and seemed happy enough with them, but I suspect that won’t be the case in three months. He and Lex are tiptoeing through a minefield of potential heartbreak, and Linc is too caught up to realize it.
He isn’t the only one. Declan is spending more time in the basement than ever before, his fuse short and volatile. The war he’s waging internally is fueled by Linc’s moon-eyed focus on Lex. Whether Dec’s surliness is because of concern for his brother or jealousy is a mystery I’ve yet to solve.
“Welcome to Athena Ventures,” the same perky blonde from before greets me as I walk into Lex’s lobby. She’s standing, purse in hand, her day almost done. “I’m afraid the office is closing. Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but Miles said I could come up.”
“Oh, excellent. He mentioned you’d be along. You know where her office is?”
“I do.”
“Great, I’ll buzz you back.”
“Thanks, have a good night,” I call over my shoulder, mentally mapping the path to Lex’s office based on the diagram Miles sent over.
To say Lex’s assistant was surprised to receive my call is an understatement. He’d been speechless, which seems to be a rare occurrence, when I announced my intent. Once he gathered his wits, he immediately sent me all the information I needed.
Reaching her office, I peer in for a moment. Lex sits at her desk, focused intently on her computer monitor. Her jaw-length hair, cut blunt and angled toward her face, is done in light waves today, parted precisely down the center as always. I can see she’s kicked off her black stilettos under her desk, and I wonder how she’d feel if I crawled under there and gave her another foot rub. Focus, Kelly.
I shift to tap on the doorframe, and she looks up in surprise.
“Shane.” She straightens, pushing her chair back smoothly. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“I know.” I step into the room, pointing at her couch and raising a brow in askance.
“By all means,” she gestures toward the couch and stands, walking over barefoot to join me and fold herself into one plush corner. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m your ride.”
She blinks. “I have a driver.”
“Do you ever give her a night off?”
“Of course I do.” She shakes her head, one hand raised. “I’m sorry, am I in the Twilight Zone? Are you seriously in my office on a Thursday just to drive me home?”
I cough a laugh. “No Twilight Zone. And I might have an ulterior motive, but let’s save that for later.”
She studies me for a long moment. “Suspense and I aren’t friends, Shane. Best you share what’s on your mind if you want me to come with you willingly.”
Ignoring the way my cock twitches at the thought of tossing her over my shoulder, I pause and meet her gaze. There’s an amused tilt to her lips, but I don’t miss the demand in her tone.
“You’re different here, in your domain, you know. I can see why Linc’s drawn to you.”
Understanding flickers in her eyes. “I see. I was wondering when this would come up.”
She gets elegantly to her feet, walking over to her desk to toe her shoes on and snatch her phone. She’s silent, despite the office’s employees having long since left. In response to my teasing expression, she tsks.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that reputation is everything in this town. Mine is exceptional. I intend to keep it that way.”
Nodding, I rise and meet her by the door, pulling her bag off the hook beside it, leaning close as I do. “I can understand that. And I didn’t come here to cause a scene, Lex. Just wanted to talk.”
“And drive me home.” Her eyes sparkle as she ushers me through the door.
“Yes, well, Linc’s mentioned your hectic schedule a few times. Figured this would be a good time to catch you.”
Her eyes widen a bit as she leads me through the deserted office, surprised at the information. “Has he, now?” She swallows thickly. “Are you out front?”
“I am.” I hold the door open for her, waiting as she checks to be sure it’s locked before she guides us to the staircase behind the elevator bank. “All he talks about lately is work, and you.”
Linc had practically shoved me out the door on my way here, his eyes bright. He’s sent three texts already to check in, and I’ve ignored every one.
She sighs as we traipse down the stairs, pausing on the final landing and meeting my gaze. “I see. Are you here as a client or Lincoln’s friend?”
“He’s more brother than friend, and I think you know the answer to that.” I step out into the cool evening air, pointing to my black Jeep at the nearby curb as she follows me through the door.
“He seems to think you’re supportive of…our arrangement.”
“I’m supportive of Linc and whatever makes him happy, and you’re fitting that bill. For now. But keep using words like ‘arrangement’ and you might find that changes.”
Her brows press together as she walks beside me, her heels tapping a staccato on the concrete. “We’ve been very clear about what’s between us. No strings.”
“I know. And I get it. Two attractive people, two consenting adults. It all makes sense, on paper.”
She crosses her arms as we reach my car, waiting for me to unlock it. “It’s only been a week, Shane. I can’t imagine Linc’s made any confessions that warrant an intervention.”
I face her as I open the passenger door. “You’re right, he hasn’t. But I know him better than I know myself, and I’m asking you to be thoughtful. And gentle.”
She considers my words as I round the hood and let myself into the driver’s seat. I’m grateful she’s taking the conversation seriously, though I expected nothing less.
Lex drops into the seat with a huff. “Are you asking me not to see Lincoln…recreationally?”
An amused grunt escapes, and I shake my head as I start the engine. “You can ‘recreate’ all you want. I’m just asking you to take care. This might be all over for you in three months, but if the last week is any indication, we’ll all be feeling your presence long past the launch.”
“I see. Are you worried about Solum?”
Her eyes are on me as I drive toward her swanky neighborhood. I wish I could look at her, but I’m far more concerned with her safety than solid eye contact.
“Not a bit. We’re all professionals. I know we’ll make the right calls for the business, no matter what else happens.”
She doesn’t look away as she mulls over my words. I appreciate her calm and measured response, especially since it’s not what I’m used to from Dec or Linc. The older Wilde tends to react first, ask questions later, and his brother only has one energy level: high.
After a few minutes of silence, she turns to me. The air between us shifts, the warm sense of welcome slipping away.
“You clearly care about Lincoln, and that’s the frame I’m using for this highly inappropriate conversation that crosses all sorts of boundaries. I don’t need to make excuses for myself or him, but to match your energy and openness, I will share that there is nothing about what’s happening between me and Linc that I would call normal.”
I can feel her fierce gaze burning into me, her relaxed posture against the seat in direct contrast to the firmness of her tone.
“I have never taken up with a client before,” she continues, “and I don’t do relationships. I have no interest in long-term. Lincoln and I are enjoying each other, but it’s new territory for me.”
Her voice sharpens, and my cock stirs. I understand why Linc is smitten. I’m not blind, nor am I immune to her power. Her confidence and control are both admirable and sexy as fuck, and the sheer suggestion a woman like her could be on her knees for either of us is an undeniable aphrodisiac.
“You should also know, Shane, that I am always thoughtful. You don’t know me, so I’m sharing this with you plainly to make a point. I do not make decisions lightly. I am not a spontaneous person, and I don’t do things on a whim. I understand you’re concerned about your brother, and I respect it. But please don’t come into my place of business and suggest I am anything other than considerate in the decisions I make, professional or otherwise.”
She looks out the windshield, giving me her profile as I pull into her neighborhood. “I appreciate the ride, but it wasn’t necessary. I’m fully capable of taking care of myself. I’ve been doing it just fine for the better part of forty years.”
I let the silence thicken as I turn into her driveway, then park by her front door. She drops her hand to the handle immediately, but I chuckle and lock the doors. “I think you misunderstood my message.”
“Oh? Please, set me right.” She twists in her seat, folding her arms.
I’m inordinately pleased she doesn’t shrink away. But I can see the subtle markers of a woman with her defenses raised. I lean into her space and plant my hands on either side of her–one on the dash and the other on the center console. She doesn’t flinch, her pupils dilating as she inhales sharply, and arousal flashes through me. Oh, you like that, don’t you? It’s always the strong ones who want to succumb.
“You have no idea the effect you have on him, do you?” My voice is low, intimate. “No idea your mere presence calls to him–to all of us–like a fucking beacon. You walk in the room with your own gravity, drawing us toward you the moment we’re close enough to feel pull.”
I cock my head to the side as her breathing quickens, wanting desperately to get lost in the building tension.
“You think it’s normal for Declan to be tied up in knots, or for Lincoln to give a shit about what his flavor of the month eats for dinner? You said what’s between you and Linc isn’t normal for you. News flash, Lex, nothing is normal for any of us right now. And the common denominator is you.”
Her pulse throbs at the side of her neck, her lips parted as she looks up at me. My nostrils flare as I stare her down, then lean closer.
“I picked you up tonight to make sure you know the power you wield, and I’m glad I did. It’s clear you have no idea the havoc you could wreak on Lincoln, the destruction you could cause our family.” I take a deep breath through my nose, trying to calm myself. It’s a mistake, because her fucking floral scent makes me almost feral. “And you need to realize Lincoln will walk into that destruction willingly, if only for one. More. Taste.”
Her eyelids flutter as I growl out the last three words, her eyes nearly black with desire.
“And the most ridiculous part?” I lean another inch closer, struggling to keep my eyes from her lips as I drop my voice to a harsh whisper. “He’s not the only fucking one. You have us and our future in the palm of your hand, and you don’t even realize it. One week, one fucking dinner at our house, and we’re already revolving around you.”
We’re both vibrating, bodies taut and breathing shallow. Pushing forcefully away, I nearly slam into my seat, the Jeep rocking with my movement. No good can come of giving in to my lust tonight. I need to gather my wits, and she needs to decide what to do with everything I dumped on her.
“Have all the fun you want with Linc. Just don’t forget how powerful you are.”
The shuddering sound of her slow exhale is the perfect exit music as I step out of the car to get her door, my cock hard and my heart beating double time. I didn’t intend to give so much of myself away, but I don’t regret a word. Your move, Lex. Let’s see what you’re made of.