I walk to the coat rack and grab my jacket. “Yeah, Stuart can give you my address.”
“Your address?” she repeats, as if she’s checking that she heard me right.
Throwing her one last grin, I kind of enjoy that I’ve thrown her off. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite… at least not at breakfast, anyway.”
Her eyes blaze with slight fear. And that’s fair enough, because a vision of bending her over my desk just flashed into my brain.
Tomorrow. I’ll be on my best behavior. For sure, it’s possible… I mean, impossible.
Shit, tomorrow.
2
LEXI
Please don’t let Holden wear a tight button-down, and his eyes that probably pop with a forest-green shirt with jeans.
I stare up at the clouds in the sky at seven in the morning, as if someone is listening and can save me.Please just do that, I wish. Nor can he wear that cologne that is crisp to the nose. And as an extra hope, maybe he got rid of that wave of brown hair that I want to rake my hands through.
Anyone in the sky, please. I beg of you.
Holden must know that I’m here, as the security guard of the subdivision let me past the gate to a street with gorgeous lake houses. I raise my finger to press the doorbell, but before I can touch the button, the door soars open, catching me by surprise.
My eyes drop to a little boy that is the spitting image of Holden. His face is soft as he stares at me, then the corners of his mouth hitch up. He’s a lot taller than I last saw him when he was maybe two or three.
“You’re pretty.” He smiles.
“Uh… thanks.” I return his smile, as he is cute.
“Don’t throw your charm at our guest.” Holden arrives behind his son and sets his hands on Harry’s shoulders, and oh no, it’s a white t-shirt today, giving me a glimpse of the muscles on his arms. “Hey, Lexi, come on in.”
I follow and take in my surroundings of a big modern house with an open staircase. It’s all industrial feel and clean, with the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. Holden continues to walk toward the kitchen, and I seem to follow in tow.
I’m always up for spontaneous adventures. It’s why I’ve spent time traveling and going where life takes me. If there is something I like, then I make a point not to hide it. I’m not a shy person in the slightest, nor am I afraid of many things.
Walking into Holden’s house after he got my pussy excited yesterday? This has me slightly nervous.
“Are you sure this a good time to talk about the Dizzy Duck?” I ask, skeptical, as Harry hops up onto the stool at the kitchen island.
Holden opens a cupboard to pull out a box of cereal. “I don’t have many options today. I need to head down to Bluetop to sample new wines at the Blisswood winery for our new cellar at the Dizzy Duck,” he explains as he hands Harry the box of chocolate cereal. “Besides, I lost a nanny last week, so I need to get the kids to school.”
I blink a few times, attempting to absorb the situation happening around me.
“Lori, on the double,” he calls upstairs.
“You’ll have more luck calling her on her cell,” Harry says with a full mouth.
Holden drags a hand through his hair. “Except, she lost phone privileges due to yesterday’s little stunt.” Holden looks in my direction, as if it’s normal that I’m here. “Coffee?” He points to the machine.
I haven’t even taken my coat off. “Uh, no, thanks. Again, are you sure about right now?”
His chuckle is low, humorous, and sexy as hell. “No choice, remember? Now tell me the game plan.” He grabs a carton of juice. “Lori!”
I shake my head, accepting that this is how this is going to go. “So, uhm, I need a room to keep samples to compare to the existing fabrics and colors. I’m thinking we need to minimalize the use of carpet and focus on area rugs and use bright wood for the walls.”
Holden checks on his son who is chomping away. “Lori, seriously, we have twenty minutes!” His attention returns to me. “Timeline?”
I survey the scene of chaos then question the thought in my head about why Dad Holden makes my stomach tighten below my navel. “Right, timeline. We will start with the lobby, which could take a week if we have the right team of contractors. It’s just that furniture orders can take a while.”
