Tilting my head, I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his, feather light. His breath came hot out of his mouth. He smelled like fresh mint. Tentatively, I slid my tongue along his bottom lip. He opened his mouth, and I darted my tongue inside to meet his.
His resolve to let me lead the way broke, and he pulled me against his body. I could feel the intensity of his desire against my lower stomach. Lava spread across my body at every spot it touched his.
By the time he finished kissing me, I was a quivering mess in his arms. He pulled away, chest heaving. “They’ll be waiting for us.” I wanted to lock the door and let the world be damned, but I closed my eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.
Arch held out his elbow, and I placed my hand in the crook of his arm. I snatched my lint roller from beside the door and ran it over my dress to capture the stray cat hairs already permeating my home before we joined Wes and Gray at the elevator. “Let’s do this. It’s probably going to get a little bit ugly tonight,” I said with a nervous laugh.
Gray turned and stared at my lips. He knew what we’d done. I waited for an outburst, or at least a glare, but he took my hand and walked into the elevator. On the way down, I pulled a mirror out of my purse and repaired the damage Arch did to my hair and makeup.
The ride over to the Asche Publishing headquarters was tense. We all anticipated the worst from my stepfamily. Arch passed out flutes of champagne. “We shouldn’t become drunk tonight, but a little bubbly won’t hurt.”
“My nerves certainly need it,” I murmured.
I finished my champagne as we pulled up to my childhood home-away-from-home. An elderly porter in full formal uniform, including tails, opened the limo door. “Good evening Ms. Asche. I trust you’re well.”
“I’m wonderful, Reg. How’s your wife?” I’d known Reginald for most of my life. He took care of the lobby of our publishing house for as long as I could remember. I received a Christmas card from his family a few days before.
“She’s excited about Christmas with the family. They’ll be spending the entire holiday with us.” He beamed at me.
I grabbed Reg’s hand and pressed a small envelope into it. I’d prepared dozens of the envelopes and stuffed my small bronze bag with them. “I hope your holiday is wonderful, Reg. We must get in now.”
“Of course, Miss Asche. I hope yours is, as well.” He squeezed my hand, and I moved out of the way to allow my dates to exit the limo.
Reg walked ahead of me and held the door open. “Give her hell,” he whispered as I passed by. I replied with an exaggerated wink.
“I guess the entire company knows about our battle,” I murmured to Arch.
“Ithasbeen in all the papers,” he said as he took my arm.
I led the way to the elevators, and we rose to the event area on the seventh floor reserved for functions: large corporate meetings, company parties, and training events.
The enormous conference room was transformed into a semblance of a winter wonderland. It looked like a high school prom threw up.
Every employee in the company was invited, but we rewarded any employee who needed to work the party a substantial bonus and an extra paid floating holiday for the next year.
“Next year I’ll be running this joint, and we can decorate a little better,” I said out of the corner of my mouth.
Gray laughed. “You need to put Todd on it.”
“That’s the truth,” came Todd’s unmistakable voice from behind us. “Good man. You’re already learning to let me take care of things.”
Once we greeted one another, we moved as one unit toward the center of the room. I spied my stepsister across the room and strategically placed myself behind Arch and Gray. Wes stood with me. “Now what?”
“Now, I need to go find members of the board and schmooze a little. Would any of you like to join me?”
Arch responded first. We left Gray and Wes with Todd and Rick at our shared table. I approached the acting CEO first. “Scott, it’s nice to see you this evening. Where’s your lovely wife?” I asked.
“She’s a bit under the weather tonight.” He smiled and shook my hand with a limp grip.
“This is my friend, Arch Beaumont. Arch, this is the interim CEO of Asche, Scott Allen.”
The two men shook hands. “What do you do, Arch?” Scott affected a jovial tone, which I knew to be a lie. The man was incapable of anything but a foul expression on his face.
“I work in a law office,” he replied evasively.
“I see.” Scott sounded disinterested. He probably expected Arch to respond with some impressive career—which, ironically, he did have—but Arch wouldn’t give him any information about himself.
Scott cleared his throat importantly. “Ellie, how's the mess with your mother going? Have either of you come to your senses yet?”
