I stared at Kyle, and he stared back at me with those beautiful blue eyes, a slow smile spreading across his face. I backed away, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. The image in my mind of this devastatingly sexy man standing almost naked in my hallway, my fingers wrapped around his erection, was enough to get me wet, and I felt my blush deepen.
“I – I’m sorry,” I stammered, looking helplessly at Walter Cline. When the manager for Parallel Destiny called to engage my services, he’d told me only the very briefest details about the job. If I’d known who I’d be working with, I would have declined on the spot. “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”
Kyle strolled across the room and grinned down at me. A few strands of wheat-blonde hair fell into his eyes, and I had an overpowering urge to push them away. “Oh, I think it’s a great idea,” he said smoothly.
That voice. Oh, god, that voice. I wanted to get completely naked and wrap myself up in its velvet darkness.
Accepting this job would be a profoundly bad idea.
Walter narrowed his eyes. “That’s a rather sudden change of heart, Kyle.” I looked frantically from one man to the other. “But I’m not going to ask you why, because quite frankly, I’m sick to the teeth of your bullshit.” Walter poked Kyle in the chest, then looked over at me. “The retainer’s been wired to your account, Miss Reid. As we discussed, you’ll be paid five hundred a day, plus expenses, for as long as we need you.”
I wasn’t sure I could be Kyle Chase’s PA for five thousand a day. I swallowed nervously. Kyle was still wearing that wicked grin, and I felt like a piece of cheese at a mouse convention.
“Are you sure I’m right for this job?” I asked Walter. I tried not to look at Kyle, but he was still as gorgeous as he’d been three months ago, and my eyes kept wandering back to him. “I’m not as familiar with the entertainment business as I probably could be.”
Walter shook his head. “You come very highly recommended, Miss Reid,” he said, dismissing my protests. “And you’ll learn on the job.” He studied me. “Your resumé said that you worked with a rock band for two years.”
“That was...” My voice was hoarse, and I cleared my throat. Worked might have been a bit of an exaggeration on my part. My ex-boyfriend was the front man for Kings of Denial, and I basically managed his life away from the band. “That was six months ago,” I said weakly. “I’m sure things have changed.”
“Not as much as you’d think,” Walter said, and shrugged. “Anything you don’t know, you’ll pick up quickly enough.”
“I’ll show her the ropes, Walt.” Kyle winked at me, and I looked away. The man had seen my naked ass, for Christ’s sake. He’d pushed me up against a wall – on my birthday, no less – and pounded into me with that amazing, beautiful, thick...
I squirmed under his gaze. I couldn’t work with him.
But I was broke; I’d been scratching for clients since I started freelancing, and five hundred a day would go a long way to getting me back on my feet. I kept telling myself that my job search was also the reason why I hadn’t found another boyfriend, but I was bullshitting myself. The real reason was standing in front of me, in those same tight jeans, and a t-shirt that did nothing to hide the muscles in his broad chest. He had tattoos snaking along his strong arms in black ink. There was a heart on the inside of his left forearm, with the name Wendy scrawled across it. How had I not noticed that before?
Probably because I’d been too busy letting him fuck me against a wall.
Get a hold of yourself, Charlie. You’re a professional, for god’s sake.
I lifted my chin and looked coolly at Kyle, doing my best to hide my embarrassment. I was not the one-night stand type, and I was more angry with myself for breaking that rule than I cared to admit. “I don’t need your help, Mr Chase,” I said primly, and his grin widened. “I can figure things out for myself.”
Walter clapped. “Good girl! That’s what I like to hear.” He nodded firmly. “You’ll whip this bastard into shape in no time.” He started digging into his pockets, and I gave him a weak smile.
“I’ll do my best,” I said, with more confidence than I felt.
“Here’s your keys.” He held them up. They were hanging on a gold split ring; the fob was a silver-plated slab with the band’s name and logo etched into it. “This one’s to the studio; this one’s to the rehearsal space; this one’s to the band’s lodgings. The guys usually stay there when they’re in town.” He looked thoughtful. “Except for Tasha and Kyle.”
I raised my eyebrows and glanced at Kyle. Did he have two girlfriends? I should have expected that. In my experience, musicians were nothing but trouble. Especially when it came to women.
“She has her own flat,” Walter was saying, “but you won’t need to deal with her.” He stared pointedly at Kyle. “This gormless oik will have to give you the key to his place, because he won’t even give me a copy.” He poked Kyle in the chest again. “And you’ll bloody well do it, you berk, because if you don’t, you’re out on your arse.”
Kyle pursed his lips and gazed innocently at the ceiling. “Whatever you say, Walt.”
“Too fucking right, it’s whatever I say.” Walter handed me the keys and I clutched them tightly. He turned to a small metal table and picked up a thin binder. “Here’s his schedule. We’ve got a concert in three weeks.” He slapped the binder into my outstretched hand. “I expect you’re going to need a bloody miracle to get him going.”
Kyle coughed, and I did my best not to blush. Been there. Done that.
Not happening again.
“Thank you, Mr Cline,” I said, inclining my head. “I won’t disappoint you.”
Kyle coughed again, and I had to grip the binder with both hands to keep from turning around and slapping him.
“I’m sure you won’t,” Walter said. “You’ll find addresses and phone numbers on the last page.” He nodded at the binder. “You start first thing tomorrow. I’ll need you to make sure Kyle is up at eight every day.” Wake him up in the mornings? I was a personal assistant, not his mother. No wonder Walter was so annoyed with him. “He’s got an interview next Monday at ten, and I don’t want a repeat of the last one.” His face flushed with anger, and he glared at Kyle, who merely shrugged.
“Yes, sir,” I said, backing up into the doorway. I didn’t want to get between these two, and it looked like Walter was about to have an aneurysm. “I’ll have him up by eight.”
Kyle grinned wolfishly at me, and I immediately regretted my choice of words. This was going to be more than just a challenge – it was shaping up to be a complete nightmare. Five hundred a day, I reminded myself. You can do this, Charlie. Just keep things professional.
I lifted my hand in a wave and left as quickly as I could. Halfway down the hall, Kyle caught up to me, dropping a huge hand on my shoulder and turning me. I backed up and narrowed my eyes at him.
“Did you need something?” I asked.
He leaned over me, caging me against the wall, and my heart started pounding so hard, I thought it would pop the buttons on my blouse. He smelled like a spicy combination of bergamot, cinnamon, and cedar, and my knees felt weak. His eyes were fixed on mine, and the intense look he was giving me was making it hard to focus.
“How about a goodbye kiss? The last one was phenomenal.” He grinned again, and I swallowed nervously.
“This is a professional arrangement, Kyle,” I said sharply. “I’m not a groupie, and we’re not going to be having sex.”
“Again,” he added, and winked.
I took a slow, deep breath, trying to ignore the images that were flashing through my mind. His strong hands at the piano. The feel of his mouth on mine. His powerful, muscled body, and his thick, hard cock. The way I’d moaned his name as he slid into me. I felt like a school girl with a crush on the star football player.
“I’m leaving now,” I said hoarsely, clutching the binder to my chest like a shield. “You can get out of my way, or I can call your manager and have him read you the riot act.” I smiled sweetly. “Again,” I added, and he winced, shifting his weight to the side and leaning against the wall. I straightened and turned away.
“I’m looking forward to you getting me up,” he called after me, and chuckled. “Again.”
I pushed my way out of the building and headed to my car, throwing the binder onto the passenger seat and burying my face in my hands. I could still smell his cologne, and I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. Arrogant, impossible, sexy Kyle Chase would drive me crazy – if my own body didn’t betray me first. I could feel that familiar ache between my legs, and I rammed my key into the ignition.
I’d be earning every last cent of that five hundred a day.