Chapter Fifteen
I looked up when the door to the office opened and watched as a courier came in.
“Hi, can I help you?” I said, forcing myself to smile even though I didn’t feel like it.
“Chelsea Archer?”
“Yes,” I replied, confused when he held out a tablet and a stylus.
“Delivery for you.” The courier was young, maybe in his early twenties, good looking, and he knew it because he grinned at me.
I ignored his flirty grin and scribbled my name on the screen. Once I pressed okay, he took a box out of his messenger bag and handed it to me.
“Have a nice day,” he said with a wink.
“You too,” I muttered. I didn’t bother to smile at him again because that would only encourage him to linger and flirt more. And I really wasn’t in the mood.
After dinner last night, Landen was true to his word. He lounged on my couch with me and watched Homicide Hunter. Then we made out for a little while, but he seemed distant, as though he wasn’t as into it as I was, which effectively killed my mood. I understood he was under a lot of stress and dealing with some major issues with his company and possible criminal charges against one of his employees. I’d never been in that position, so I didn’t know how that would affect me if I were in his shoes, so maybe I would have been just as distracted.
Still, it stung that he withdrew from me like that.
Vaguely, I heard the courier leave the office as I stared down at the box, unsure what it might be or who sent it. I reached into my desk for scissors and cut through the tape around the box.
When I opened it, I gaped. I reached inside and pulled out what appeared to be a t-shirt. When I shook it open, I laughed aloud.
On the front it said, “My, my, my.” One of Lt. Joe Kenda’s catchphrases that never failed to make me smile. And now it was on a shirt. For me.
A smile spread across my face as I dove back into the box and found two mugs. One said “Cup of Joe” on one side and had Joe Kenda’s picture on the back. The other cup had the same phrase as the t-shirt. Then I saw the other package. I ripped it open and laughed again when I saw that they were socks with what appeared to be hundreds of Joe Kenda heads printed all over them.
They were great. A little goofy and perfect for me. I could see myself curled up on my couch wearing the tee, cotton shorts, and the socks as I drank tea from my mug and watched a Homicide Hunter marathon.
Then I saw the white envelope in the bottom with my name scrawled across it in a familiar script and my heart actually skipped a beat. It was a new sensation for me, one that I’d never experienced before. Hell, I’d always rolled my eyes when I read that in a romance novel, thinking that was a stupid turn of phrase because it was impossible.
But Landen Weber proved me wrong because my heartbeat stuttered in my chest once again as I lifted the envelope and opened it.
Inside, on a single sheet of white paper, he’d written-
I thought that a devoted fan like you should have some official Joe Kenda merchandise. I hope you like it.
-Landen
Just like that, my worries about Landen’s withdrawal dissipated. I didn’t hesitate to pick up my phone and find his name in the contact list.
“Good morning, Chelsea,” he greeted me.
I could practically hear the smile in his voice, something that I wished I could see because I’d rarely seen a happy expression on his face before I’d started spending time with him away from the office.
“I love my present,” I responded without greeting him. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
He chuckled and the low, warm sound created a corresponding warmth in my chest. I’d heard him laugh more in the last two weeks than in the entire year since I started at Chris’ office.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“And I’m keeping one of the mugs at the office,” I stated.
This time his laughter was louder and freer. “Good.”
I paused. “How’s your day going?” I asked.
“Better than yesterday,” he replied. “Especially now.”
Gah. I almost wished he would go back to the overbearing, arrogant ass I was used to because I didn’t know what to do with this Landen Weber. He was thoughtful and almost…sweet.
“I don’t have much time, but I wanted to know if you’re free on Friday night.”
I didn’t tell him that I was always free on Fridays unless I was getting together with one of my girlfriends, so I merely said, “I’m free.”
“Then I’m taking you to dinner,” he declared. “7 o’clock. Wear a dress.”
Ah, there he was. “A dress?” I asked archly.
“Yes. Something short.”
I felt a buzz of irritation at his bossiness. “Where exactly do you intend to take me?”
The smile in his voice was back and I knew he could hear my annoyance. “It’s a surprise, but there’s a dress code.”
“And the rules requires me in a skirt?” I queried sarcastically, hiding the fact that I was excited he intended to take me somewhere nice enough to necessitate a dress code.
“No, that’s required by my plans for later.”
That statement sent heat straight from my nipples to between my thighs. Instead of acquiescing, I merely replied, “We’ll see.”
He chuckled again, but this time it was dark and hot. Sexy.
Shit, I was in deep, deep trouble because I really wanted to wear the dress he demanded but my own stubbornness meant it was imperative I assert my independence.
“I’m nothing if not flexible,” he stated.
I laughed because that was patently untrue. Landen Weber liked things his way, when he wanted, where he wanted.
“Well, in this case I will be,” he amended. It sounded more like a threat than a concession.
“Fine. I’ll see you on Friday.” I couldn’t resist giving him a hard time. “Are you picking me up?”
“Really?” he asked.
I snickered. “Okay, I’ll be ready at seven.”
“Good. I’m glad you like your present. You can show me how much on Friday. I’ll talk to you later.”
Before I could formulate a response to that outrageous statement, he disconnected the call. I stared at my phone, torn between amusement, arousal, and annoyance.
Then I texted him.
I changed my mind. I think we should wait a month instead of two weeks.
I knew he would catch my meaning though I didn’t state it outright. I laughed to myself, wondering what his response would be. There was no way in hell I was waiting a month, but I wasn’t going to let him know that.
A few seconds later, he answered.
We’ll see.
Oh, yes, we would. Landen thrived on a challenge. And I’d just thrown down the gauntlet for him to pick up.
The next night, I stood in front of my full-length mirror, turning from side to side to check the fit of the jumpsuit.
While I had several nice dresses that were both short and sexy, I’d ignored them in favor of the black halter neck jumpsuit. The front featured a narrow, plunging neckline that revealed a thin swathe of skin from my collarbones to the base of my sternum. It was sexy without baring too much. But the back…that was a different story.
There was no back. Other than the dangling straps that I’d tied at the nape of my neck, there was nothing covering me. It was a daring look, one that I hadn’t had the courage to wear before now.
But Landen’s challenge made me brave.
I wore no jewelry except the diamond studs my parents bought me when I graduated from college and a few thin silver bangles on my left wrist. I’d also dabbed perfume between my breasts, behind my ears, and on my wrists. It was a subtle scent that never failed to make me feel sexy.
I’d kept my make-up minimal with the exception of my lipstick. It was a special brand that claimed it would stay put for twelve hours or more and it was a vibrant, deep red, reminiscent of the color worn by women in the 1940’s.
I glanced at the clock and saw that it was five to seven. I slid my feet into a pair of black peep-toe pumps that revealed my toes were painted the same shade of red as my lips. Then I tossed a few things into a black, beaded clutch that I usually carried when I had a formal event to attend, which was rarely. I also included a few condoms because, as much as I wanted to resist Landen on principle, it was better to be prepared than to have to stop whatever we were doing for an emergency condom run.
I took one last look in the mirror and ran a hand over my blonde curls. There wasn’t much I could do with my hair unless I wanted to spend an hour blowing it out with a round brush and straightening it with a flat iron. An hour I hadn’t had tonight since I’d gotten off work at five-fifteen.
I’d barely had time for a shower and to shave my legs as it was.
A knock came from the living room and I shook my head. I wasn’t going to waste energy trying to figure out how Landen kept bypassing the buzzer at the lobby. I took a deep breath before I turned away from my reflection. I grabbed the black pashmina from the bed and draped it over my arm. Though the days were warm, the evenings could still get chilly.
Once again, my stomach was jumping with nerves and excitement and I focused on making the short distance between my bedroom and the front door without tripping. I took a moment to steady myself before I put my eye to the peephole and saw Landen standing on the other side, once again dressed in head-to-toe black and looking way too sexy.
I opened the door and grinned at him, determined not to reveal how nervous I was. Especially since I didn’t know why.
Okay, so I was in denial. I knew exactly why I was nervous and that was because tonight would probably be the night I had sex with Landen Weber for the first time. Especially considering the way he looked at me when I opened the door.
His dark blue eyes stared at the top of my head before they locked on my lips. Then his gaze moved down to my shoulders, torso, and legs before returning. When his eyes lifted back to mine, they were heated and appreciative.
“You look amazing,” he murmured.
“Thank you. You look handsome too.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up as I stepped out of my apartment and turned to lock the door behind me.
“We have a reservation,” he stated, his voice low and rough.
I glanced over my shoulder at him as I tried to fit the key into my deadbolt. “Excuse me?”
His eyes were glued to my back when he answered, “I’m reminding myself.”
The expression on his face was intent and hungry, as though he wanted to take a bite out of me, starting with the curve of my shoulder. My legs felt weak as I locked the deadbolt and turned to face him. I leaned my hips back against my door so that I wouldn’t sway.
“Why would you need to remind yourself?” I asked.
He stared at my lips for a long moment. “Because I want to say fuck the reservation, go back into your apartment, and figure out how to get you out of that outfit.”
I couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through me at his words and he saw it. Then he grinned. “But I think I can multi-task. I’ll figure it out while we eat and take action later.”
Yep, the condoms currently burning a hole in my bag were an excellent idea.
He reached out, took my hand, and tugged me away from the door. “And you’ll definitely need fuel for later.”
I stumbled on my heels at his words but quickly righted myself and shot him a hard glance. “You’re taking a lot for granted.” Never mind that I’d been the one pushing to have sex before now. The fact that he was behaving in a high-handed fashion again made me want to push back. It was just my nature. Even if I wanted to do whatever he told me to, I wouldn’t without some sort of fight. That facet of my character had driven my mother insane during my childhood and teenage years.
As he pulled me to a stop in front of the elevator, he reached out and tapped the button before he looked over at me. Then he used his hold on my hand to pull me against his side and he kissed me.
It was quick and rough, ending with a nip of his teeth on my bottom lip. I was breathing hard when he finally lifted his head and looked down at me.
There was no smirk on his face, only complete seriousness, when he said, “If you want me, you can have me. If you’re not ready, I still want you to sleep in my bed. Even if that’s all we do.”
There was nothing I could say to that because I did want him. Badly. Though I seriously doubted we could sleep in the same bed without having sex. It would be impossible.
He must have read my thoughts on my face because he did smile then. “So you do want me,” he stated.
I stared up at him and knew that I couldn’t hide my thoughts, even if I wanted to, so I didn’t bother to try. And he saw everything because his smile faded. His free hand came up to trace the inside edge of the plunging neckline, skating dangerously close to my breast.
“I wouldn’t take anything for granted, not when it comes to you,” he murmured. “I told you, I’ll take what I can get, whatever you want to give me.”
And just like that, the fight went out of me. I wanted everything he was offering me—the romantic dinner, the sex, and sleeping in his bed tonight. It was my decision. He would never be the kind of man who asked politely when he wanted something, but he wouldn’t hold a grudge when I pushed back and said no, either.
In fact, I was becoming more and more certain that he enjoyed it more when I smarted off and asserted my independence.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Instead of using his hold on my hand to pull me inside with him, Landen released my fingers and placed his palm at the base of my spine.
Without another word, I stepped into the elevator with him and leaned into his side as we descended.
Something had shifted between us in those few moments, but I wouldn’t understand what it was until much later.