“We have a visitor,” Rainey says to her partner.
Kaylee turns. “Hi, Lucas.”
I nod at her. “Hi.”
“Your arrival is my cue to leave.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Why?” I ask.
“Because Rainey has some things to discuss with you, and I’d like to make myself scarce.”
Beside me, Rainey snickers.
Despite Kaylee gesturing to the closed folding doors leading to the back room which are muffling the sound of the men working on the windows, I’ve already caught on to the problem. Rainey’s upset with me and no doubt thinks I overstepped. I knew I’d have to face her irritation at some point. Might as well do it now.
Kaylee reaches for her purse in her desk drawer and rises to her feet. “Good luck,” she says to me with a smirk on her face. “Bye, Rainey.”
“Bye!” Rainey waves her fingers, an amused grin on her face.
Once her partner leaves, Rainey turns to me, her smile gone, but I’m determined to get ahead of the situation. “Before you say anything, I just wanted to make sure the job was done right, so I hired a crew I knew I could trust.” Courtesy of the work on the club, I have a lot of connections for various construction-related jobs.
Rainey lets out a long breath. “Look, I appreciate you calling someone in to replace the windows. That’s not the issue. Themoney is. Are they going to bill Golden Palm Events for the work?”
I rub a hand against the back of my neck. “I didn’t tell them to, no.”
She nods, then walks farther into the office, her high ponytail swaying behind her. Once there’s physical distance between us, she turns to face me. “When I started this company with Kaylee, I had one goal and that was to do this on my own. I admit, I used trust fund money for the start-up, but we took out a small business loan and built the business ourselves.”
I sense how important this is to her and I’m listening. Carefully, because the last thing I want to do is to step on her toes, and somehow, I think that’s what I’ve done.
“My parents and family offered to spread the word about us to their corporate associates and friends, but that’s not what I wanted. And Kaylee agreed. So as much as I appreciate the fact that you want to help by covering the cost, I can’t let you do that. I have to contact the landlord.” she says. “So instead of insisting, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell them to bill us when they’re finished and I’ll handle it.”
I can’t imagine the man will mind someone paying for the fix but I remain silent. I know when I’m beat. I can’t take away the independence she’s tried so hard to achieve. No matter how much I want to look out for her. “I respect what you’re saying. No problem. I’ll have them bill the business.”
The tightness in her face eases, her jaw unclenching. “Thank you, Lucas. It really means the world to me. I’ve argued this point with my family for so long. I appreciate you respecting what I want.”
I nod. “I’ll always respect you,” I assure her. “And support whatever you need.”
She steps closer and when she reaches me, she pulls me into a grateful hug. I feel her softness press against my chest and mywillpower to keep my distance begins to dissolve. I’m hanging on by a thread until she tilts her head and that thread breaks. I seal my mouth over hers. And if I thought the sparks we created were a one-time thing, I was wrong. Together, we’re an explosion waiting to happen.
Her mouth is soft but determined and when I coax her lips open, she lets me in, sliding her tongue against mine. She tastes like a combination of spice and willing female, and I groan, wanting her with everything in my being. My cock is hard and desire rushes through my veins. She inspires a need in me that is beyond reason, and I can’t bring myself to question it or hold back.
I cup her chin in my hand and—
“Rainey, I… Oh! I’m so sorry!”
I don’t have to look to know her assistant walked into the room and caught us making out like teenagers. Rainey draws a breath and we pause, giving her a second before I take a step back, facing the wall. My obvious erection is the last thing Ashlynn needs to see.
Rainey looks past me. “She’s gone, probably back at her desk. I can’t believe I let us get so carried away in my office.” She steps around me and groans, placing her hands over her face.
Without meeting my gaze, she walks to her desk, pulls a compact from her bag and looks in the mirror, rubbing her fingers over her kiss-swollen lips. With a shake of her head, she turns, and strides toward the entrance to her business, no doubt to talk to Ashlynn.
I know how much she prides herself on decorum and professionalism, and I hate that I’ve put her in a compromising position at work. Protecting her reputation means everything to her after what happened with that client in the past.
I shove my hands into the front of my slacks just as she walks back into the room. “Is everything okay?” I ask.
Cheeks flushed, she nods. “Ashlynn said she needed to leave early today. I told her to go. She’s been calling out more often, which is odd because she’s always mentioning how she needs money.” Rainey shrugs.
I study her, trying to gauge her mood. “Look, I—”
