“You know she’s going to kill you when she finds out, right?” Syd says on the other end of the line.
I laugh. Because I’m almost certain she will.
“Does that mean you’re out?” I prod her, knowing she won’t be able to resist.
“Absolutely not,” she huffs. Even though we’re on the phone, I can see her hand on her hip as she puffs out her chest.
Damon walks into my office and sits down. I hold up my index finger. He nods, waiting for me to finish.
“You better not tell her, Syd.” Damon’s eyebrows go up when he hears her name.
I shake my head, covering the mouthpiece. I whisper to him, “That ship has sailed.” He flips me off. I still don’t know why he acted like he was dating someone when he wasn’t. It’s not like him to try and make a woman jealous.
“I promise, I won’t. You don’t know how many times I’ve tried to surprise her, so I’m invested as much as you are,” she says. “But you know Addie, she’s like a freaking bloodhound. She knows when things are amiss.”
“I’d say more like a German shepherd,” I chuckle, thinking about my gorgeous girlfriend. “She can kick some ass.”
We end our call after we go over a few more details. The place and date are set. Now all we need to do is keep it under wraps. Damon is sitting back with his foot over his other leg, his fingers tented against his lips.
“What’s up?” I ask him.
He takes a few moments before he answers. I narrow my eyes, surprised by his serious expression. He’s probably wondering the same thing as Syd. Can I actually get away with this? Fuck yes, I can. My job is lying, and I’m damn good at it. This is officially my next assignment.
But when he starts talking, I’m taken by surprise. “Do you really think that ship has sailed?”
I don’t even know how to answer that. He knows about Max so the fact that he’s asking this floors me.
“What?” I say, looking at him with utter shock.
“I was stupid for saying I was dating someone.” He sighs. “I thought she’d be jealous or something like that. I never would’ve thought she would have hooked up with Max.”
“But she did.”
“I don’t need the reminder, asshole.”
I sit back in my chair, crossing my arms. I look around the room because fuck, I’m at a loss for words. I don’t want to be part of this situation. They’re big boys. They can deal with it between themselves. I just hate that a girl is getting in between a friendship. In all the years we’ve been friends, we have never gone down this road.
“They both say it was a drunken night. It meant nothing,” he says, trying to justify the need to further pursue her.
It might have meant nothing to Syd, which I find hard to believe in the first place, but I know it meant more to Max. Unfortunately, he won’t act on it, especially knowing that Damon still likes her. And Syd made it pretty clear that it was just sex.
I run my hand through my hair. If Syd wasn’t Addison’s best friend …
“I know what you’re thinking,” Damon grunts, pulling me from my murderous thoughts.
No, buddy, I don’t think you do.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Syd like an annoying little sister. She definitely gives Katie a run for her money in that department. But she’s coming between two of my brothers. Which is why I have always had the rule: never date my fucking sister.
“I just can’t get her out of my mind. Every time I see her, there’s this connection.”
I get it. I know what that slap in the face—like your life is saying wake the fuck up and look at what’s in front you—feels like. I just don’t understand how he thinks Syd feels that connection, too, when she slept with one of his best friends.
I sigh. “Damon, I want to say she’s not worth it, but Addison would probably rip my nuts off if she heard me say that.” He chuckles and nods, automatically covering his groin with his hand. Yeah, I know firsthand how it feels to have your balls in a vise grip, literally. No, thanks. “I can’t tell you what to do. I don’t even know what you should do. I’ve had one relationship my entire life. And we’ve seen how smoothly that’s gone.”
He laughs out loud. “Smooth as a fucking roller coaster.”
“Exactly.” I smile, thinking about Addison. “But it’s about to be smooth sailing.”
“Aiden, for all that you’ve both been through, I wish nothing more than that to be true,” he says. My smile widens just thinking about our future. Together. It’s my job to make that happen.
“So what do you need me to do for the party?” he questions.
“Just make sure everyone gets there by seven o’clock. I’ll need you to do airport shuttles for everyone coming in,” I say, mentally checking off lists.
“Done.”
“Thanks,” I say, standing up. “Now get the hell out of here so I can go have lunch with my girlfriend.”
“Hey, Harper,” I say, walking off the elevator on Addison’s floor. Harper stops from getting on the elevator when she sees me. She looks around quickly and pulls me back on, hitting the lobby floor level button.
Guess I’m taking another elevator ride.
As soon as the doors shut she starts talking in a hushed voice. “Okay, so I have everything taken care of with the office people.”
I lean my head against the elevator wall. Thank God the party is just a week away. I don’t know how everyone is going to be able to keep this from Addison.
“Don’t worry, no one will say anything. I’ve threatened them.” I glance at her with a pointed look. Harper is attractive, smart, and fun. Lethal? Scary? Not by a long shot.
She giggles. “Obviously I didn’t threaten them that I would do something.” With a slight tilt to my head, I have a feeling this has something to do with me. “I told them that you’d sick Max Shaw on them,” she says proudly. “They won’t say a word. They’re scared of that man.”
I chuckle. “Don’t tell him that. His head is big enough.”
She bites her lip as her face flushes red. “Oh, fucking come on. I don’t want to know,” I say, pushing her out of the elevator as soon as the doors open. If another woman in Addison’s circle of friends starts fucking one of my best friends, I’m going to lose it.
I slam my finger down on the third level button, letting out a grunt. The man who got on as I was pushing Harper out looks at me through the corner of his eyes. He glances down to my gun and back up. His back straightens. I want to laugh at the suit-wearing stiff. I look to see what floor he pressed, seventh. Accounting. No surprise there. But he shouldn’t be surprised by my gun. That’s the norm around here.
Smiling, I bite my lip, looking straight ahead. I could easily mess with this guy. I glance down at my watch and notice I’m already five minutes late. I guess not today. The elevator dings and doors open to the most magnificent sight ever. My smile is huge as Addison steps onto the elevator.
“Agent Roberts,” she addresses me formally, standing at my side but looking forward. She reaches out and presses the lobby button. I inhale her scent as she reaches in front of me. It’s always cherry with a touch of vanilla. It has to be her pheromones because I have smelled every lotion, hair product, and perfume in her entire bathroom so I could steal some to have at my place. Unfortunately, nothing smells as good as her.
“Oh. I thought this was going down.” She glances at the guy standing in the opposite corner as me. He smiles at her and then quickly looks forward when our eyes meet.
“Hey, beautiful,” I say into her hair, kissing the top of her head. I notice suit-boy stiffen again. His lips purse together.
What the hell? Not into public affection? Well, keep watching then, asshole. I slide my hand down her arm. She shivers as I slip my hand in hers. I see her back rise, her breath catch from just my touch. My fucking touch.
I lean down and dig my face into her neck. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper. Her other hand grabs my thigh and squeezes. I flex my thigh and her head shakes. I chuckle into her neck. She’s trying to act unaffected, but she’s failing. I stand taller and suit-boy is staring at us. With disgust on his face.
I jerk back a little, confused by his expression. He seems to really not like me. I search my memories trying to place him. Nope, not a clue.
When the elevator doors open to his floor, he pushes off the wall. He leans in Addison’s direction when he passes her and says in a tight voice, “He’s not worth it.” Excuse me?
Addison puts her arm out in front of me, stopping me from moving forward. She turns to me when the doors close. “What in the world?”
“Who the fuck was that guy?” I ask, fuming, seeing myself in the reflection of the closed doors. I’m not worth it? Who says that to someone they don’t even know?
“I don’t know him personally, but he works with Bryn, the accountant assigned to our department,” she says, looking up at me. “I’m guessing you don’t know him?”
I finally look away from the closed doors down to her face. “No, I don’t know him.”
“He must be jealous,” she says, running her hand up my chest and into my hair, obviously trying to distract me. I moan a little as her fingers comb through my hair. “Because you are definitely worth it.”
She lifts up on her toes and her lips brush mine before she presses into me. I lean against the wall, pulling her with me. I savor her taste with my tongue, taking it slow as I explore her mouth. The ding of the elevator makes Addison jump.
She whips around, quickly running her hands down her body, making sure her clothes are straight. A man joins us on the second floor. He glances between us and smirks as he turns around. I look down to Addison and see her face flushed red. She doesn’t say anything though, just looks straight ahead. A chuckle escapes my lips.
I grunt as an elbow makes contact with my ribs. So I grab her ass. Hard.
“Aiden,” she warns, looking back to me. I put my hands up in the air and wink. In no time the door opens and we step off. I grab her hand, linking our fingers as we walk outside.
“You look hot,” she says, dragging her eyes down my body. “Court?”
“No. I just thought you’d like to see me in a tie,” I say, wagging my eyebrows. I did have court this morning. It’s my least favorite thing to do. Lots of sitting and waiting. It sucks. Of course dressing up in August is a beating, so I left the jacket at the office and rolled up my sleeves. Right now, I’m glad as fuck I left my tie on. I think I’ll be wearing a tie more often just to see that gleam in her eyes right now.
“I have a few ideas that you can do with that tie,” she says and bites her lip.
“Care to share?” I ask, stopping her in the middle of the sidewalk. I hear people cursing under their breath as they walk around us. Fuck if I care. I want to hear these ideas.
She laughs out loud. Is she serious? There is nothing funny about this. My dick is listening intently, too. Inquiring minds want to know.
“It’s more of show rather than tell,” she says softly.
I look up to the cloudless sky. “Why, God? Why is she trying to kill me when she knows…” I pause to look her directly in the eyes, “…when she knows I’ll think of nothing other than her naked body and this tie. All. Day. Long.”
She swallows hard. I swear I can feel the swells of her breast, her hardened nipples under her purple shirt against my chest.
“Feel like taking the rest of the day off?” I ask, struggling not to sound desperate.
She puts her hand on my chest. “I wish I could,” she says, regretful. “But we’re working on an important case right now. I have to go back.” She sticks out her bottom lip.
I let out a heavy sigh. “I have stuff I need to do, too, but I’ll have shit for brains now thanks to you,” I chuckle.
“I’ll make it up to you later.” She stands on her toes and presses those beautiful lips to mine.
“My tie and I will be looking forward to it,” I say. “Or should I bring a gray one?” Her brows furrow as she tilts her head slightly. “So we can Fifty Shades of Grey it.”
She giggles, shaking her head. “Do you have a red room of pain that I’m not aware of?”
“I can,” I say quickly. My dick is hard and my balls are bordering on painful just thinking about stuff we could do. I’m not into BDSM, but I’m all for a good slap on the ass. Or toys.
She grabs my hand and starts walking. “Come on, Mr. Grey. We can explore that room later. I’m hungry.”
“Thanks to you and your tie fetish, I’m a different kind of hungry. Starving,” I groan, loosening my tie. I can feel sweat beading along my forehead, and it’s not from the weather.
When we turn down the street headed to her apartment, I look at her, wondering where we are going.
When she smiles up at me, her eyes shine with mischief. She licks her lips and says, “I’m pretty sure I have stuff to eat at my apartment.”
Words escape me at the moment since I can’t seem to think past the feeling in my pants, so I just nod. Instead, I pick up our pace. She laughs out loud as I practically drag her. My mouth waters thinking about what I’m about to eat. She’s like a saint, ready to feed a starving man.