“I’ll consider it.” Her tone was teasing, but by the light tremor in her body, I knew I’d already won the battle. I liked that every time we were together, she gave in to me more easily, that she was more open. “Go, before you’re too late.”
I was shocked to discover I wasn’t looking forward to performing as much as usual. In fact, I would’ve preferred to spend the evening right here. I’d never considered ditching a chance to perform for anyone except my family... until now.
***
The next week was brutal, full of ups and downs on the stock market. I kept my cool, as usual, which was one of the reasons I’d shot to the top as quickly as I did.
Whenever I had a spare moment, I messaged Heather, and even dropped by with dinner one evening on impulse. I barely kept from inviting myself over more often. I didn’t want to push too much, too soon. I had no idea how my life could change so drastically in just six weeks, since I’d first noticed Heather at the Northern Lights, but I liked being with them—both of them.
Friday had always been my favorite day. This one even more so, because Heather was inside the building for another round of interviews. But right now, I had one of the city’s heavy hitters sitting on the other side of my desk. He wanted reassurance. I was confident in my predictions, the advice I gave to clients.
“You know I’m right.”
“You always are. You made me a lot of money.”
“Then trust me on this one. The stock value will recover within a month. All indicators are in line with that prediction.”
I got to my feet, signaling that this meeting was over. Usually, I didn’t hurry clients, but I needed him out in the next few minutes. Heather had been here for a few hours. She was finishing the interviews in about ten minutes, and I didn’t want to miss the window of opportunity to see her.
“Okay. Okay. Let’s keep in touch next week.”
“Of course. My door is always open.”
Except now.
I showed him out, using the pretext to check where Heather was. Still in the meeting room. She had her back to me, but her interview partner, Melissa, waved when she saw me. That prompted Heather to look over her shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly. I didn’t do anything to give us away, just walked back to my office and texted her. I was craving her nearness. I’d thought it was hard to behave around her the first time she was here for interviews... but now, after I’d touched her, after I’d had a taste of her, I couldn’t be around her and not want to be near her.
I paced the office, smiling when I heard a knock. I went to open it right away. Heather stood there, looking sexy as hell in her little black suit.
I pulled her inside, locking the door.
“Did you just lock the door?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Don’t want anyone walking in on us.”
“And a locked door wouldn’t give them any reason to question what’s happening in here?”
She made a good point, only I didn’t particularly care. I walked her backward to the wall, cupping her head as I pushed my hips against hers, and kissed her the next second.
She tasted like coffee and chocolate, and I fucking loved it. She moaned when I coaxed her tongue, pushed her hips into me when I skimmed my hands down the sides of her body. I tugged at her shirt before remembering where we were. Damn. I was hard. I pushed myself into her, wanting her to know.
She moaned again, rubbing against me. I planted both hands on the wall to keep from just yanking away her clothes. “Wow, that’s a hell of a greeting,” she murmured, but then wiggled out of my grasp. I noticed my right sleeve was loose. Heather had dislodged one of my cuff links. We both saw it on the floor. She blushed when I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
“Don’t go. Stay just for a little while. We can make up a reason,” I said.
“I wish I could... but I need to drop Avery off at JFK. Mom is arriving from Phoenix at four o’clock to pick her up. Then their plane leaves for Phoenix one hour later.”
I wanted her to stay a while longer. What had I been thinking, imagining that a few minutes would be enough? Honestly, this was so new to me that anything I imagined was probably incorrect.
I stalked toward her, but she held up a finger. “No, no. I can already feel that my lips are swollen. Probably a bit red too. You can’t kiss me again.”
“Want to bet?”
She laughed, rubbing her neck with one hand. “When do you finish work?”
“Probably around seven.”
“Want to have dinner together? At my place?”
“Fuck, yes.”
“Okay. We’ve got a plan. Aaand I’m off before you try to kiss me again.”
“Hey, you’re the dangerous one.” I pointed to the cuff link on the floor. She laughed, but she scurried out the door the next second, closing it behind her as if afraid I might go after her if she didn’t. Well, there was a real risk I would. I couldn’t believe that I felt euphoric just because she wanted to catch up later. It meant that she couldn’t wait to be with me any more than I could wait to be with her.
***
Heather
The rest of the day was a marathon in the true sense of the word. Mom waited for Avery and me in front of the check-in counter, as usual.
“Hey!” I kissed her cheek, pulling her into a hug.
“My girls, I’ve missed you.” She hugged us both before pulling back and giving me what I liked to call the Mom-check. I was still wearing the black suit I’d conducted my interviews in, but my hair was in complete disarray. My mother never left the house looking anything short of perfect: coiffed hair, flawless makeup.
“Hon, why don’t you take some time off and join us?” Mom asked.
“I have a lot of deadlines coming up. I’ll visit soon, though. I promise.” I turned to Avery. “Be good, okay? And listen to Gran and Pops.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Okay, check-in all done. Say goodbye, girls, we need to go through security,” Mom said.
It always broke my heart just a little that Avery had no problems saying goodbye, while I just wanted to wrap my arms around her and not let her go, but this also meant that she was completely happy spending time with my parents. Whenever Mom picked her up, it was as if her life in New York didn’t exist. It was all about her room in Arizona, her toys there, her chickens, and her pony. Their bonfires and exploration trips. It made me miss home like crazy, and I was happy my daughter got to experience a piece of my childhood.
The moment they were out of sight, I went into a frenzy. I still had so much to do today!
I had two hours left until Ryker would come to my place. I wanted to prepare the perfect dinner. Not just the food, but the ambiance too. I had that last part down: romantic, but not too feminine. Diffuse lighting but no candles. It would take me no time at all to set it up.
But the food... I had no idea what Ryker liked to eat. I tried to recall what he’d had the few times we’d met up... and came up blank. Holy shit, and I prided myself in having an excellent memory. But I’d been so wrapped up in him that I didn’t even remember what I had eaten on those occasions.
I went to a shopping area near my place, but after entering and exiting the second store empty-handed, I decided that I needed a new plan. A better plan. I was going to call Skye.