"They make the announcement in a week," Hunter said. "You need to make a decision. We're not paying for that conference center if McKenna isn't going to part with the land. Has she mentioned at all how much she wants for it?"
"Not a how much, but a who," I said. "She wants me."
Hunter sniffed. "That's not going to happen. As much as you annoy me, in no universe would I consider swapping my little brother for an abandoned strip mall."
"Aw, Hunter," I said, flopping on the large chair next to him. "You really like me!"
Hunter grunted. "If you're just going to lie there and suck up oxygen, the kids could use someone to play games with outside."
"Andthere it is."
* * *
Though I neededto figure out what I was going to do about the strip mall site, all I really wanted to do was spend time with Hazel. During the day, I stayed in Mace's extra office, periodically moving his stuff around in between conference calls.
"Are you going to come back to Manhattan anytime soon?" Mike asked, annoyance clearly broadcasted over the phone. "And don't use the conference center as an excuse. Hunter told me that you weren't even doing anything about the strip mall site until after the Art Zurich search committee announces their decision."
"Why do you need me when you have all the Mini-Mes over there?"
"You have barely helped train them! And besides, Eli and Tristan are going back to college in the fall. They can't pick up your slack forever."
"Crackle crackle, you're breaking up."
As much as I liked hotels and making money off of hotels, I really liked Hazel. If I was able to build the conference centers and hotels, then I would have an excuse to spend more time in Harrogate. Or maybe I could convince Hazel to spend some time with me in Manhattan. She did seem to be all in with Harrogate. Maybe I just needed to show her how much fun we could have in Manhattan.
* * *
I hungout at Hazel's café in the evenings. She was furiously working on more paintings. She had several canvases up and went from one to the next.
"You're a machine," I told her.
"Just have to send these paintings out before the award ceremony," she said. "I can't stand the waiting."
I turned her around, kissing her hard. "You need something else to take your mind off it. It will be hot, fast, and dirty," I promised. "You've been working hard. You deserve a reward. That's what your painting says."
The lust was clear in her eyes. Hazel reached up and grabbed me by the shirt collar. "You talk too much," she said, returning the favor and kissing me hard.
"Really? I thought you liked it when I talk like this and tell you how much I want to fuck that tight wet pussy with my rock-hard cock." She shrieked as I quickly turned her around then moaned as I stroked her while unzipping my pants.
"Fuck, Hazel, you're so wet."
"I'm ready for your hard cock."
I pushed into her with a curse. "Fuck, you're so tight," I whispered in her ear.
She bent over the little table. I grabbed her breasts, running my fingertips over her rock-hard nipples, pinching and teasing them as I fucked her. I moved one hand down to tease and rub her clit. She was slick and wet, and she bucked into my hand then back against my cock.
Her breath came out in little half cries, half moans that drove me crazy. She trembled and tightened around me and came with a cry, sending me over the edge.
"Did that distract you?" I asked after she caught her breath.
"I think that went beyond distracting and into I'm-not-going-to-get-much-done-the-rest-of-the-day."
* * *
Hazel finishedher paintings a few days before the awards ceremony. The ceremony was going to be during a Friday luncheon.
"Pack up your stuff," I told her Thursday after she made a whole stack of sandwiches for Ida.
