Erica

 

 

After dropping Matt off at the airport, I wanted to go home and face plant in my bed, but unfortunately, I'd set up a meeting with my staff to go over some new ad specs that morning.

I glanced in the rear-view mirror to see Matt stop by the stairs of the plane and glance back. My heart filled with a warmth I didn't know if I would ever have. Being raised by a loving father and hateful mother made for a less than steady experience.

Tears burned my eyes as memories washed over me. The one that stuck in my mind's eye as I drove through the city was being at the opening night of Matt's showing.

Fucking Mitch Roberson.

 

"Goddammit," I growled and turned to face the studio. What was Mitch doing? Why was he messing up the one thing Matt had going for him? This night meant everything to him.

Everything.

I pulled out my phone and texted Mitch, grateful that we exchanged numbers the week before.

 

Me: What the fuck are you doing? You're messing up this night.

Mitch: So ask me to stop. Offer me a reason to.

Me: Stop. Please. You don't want this painting.

Mitch: Yes, I do. I want it, and I want you. I hadn't wanted anyone since Carolyn died in my arms, but I want you something horrible. Offer me something and I'll retract my offers, and the bidding will resume. He just doesn't want me to have the picture.

Me: You're driving the price up.

Mitch: Damn straight I am. You need to see what I see, and yet you're not willing to. Why? Because he makes your heart flutter? Your body wet?

Me: Stop it. Leave him be. I'm serious.

Mitch: No. You'll thank me later.

 

I growled in anger and glanced up at the sky. "What do you want from me? How do I stop this? He's going to ruin the evening and steal Matt's dreams and what little bit of progress he's made. What the hell?

The phone buzzed, and I pulled it out and almost swallowed my tongue.

 

Mitch: One night. Dinner. Wine. Sex. Nothing more if that's what you decide. No one has to know. Not ever.

Me: I can't. I love him.

Mitch: Do you? His pride is about to steal everything from him but you, which is sweet, but you're not a girl, Erica. You're a woman. What wouldn't you be willing to do for the man you love?

Me: Dinner and Wine. Nothing else.

Mitch: You have my offer. Take it, and I'll walk out of here and never bother him again. Deny me, and this will only be the beginning.

 

Tears burned my eyes as I glanced down at our string of messages. I couldn't cheat on Matt, but I couldn't let him walk into this shit without doing something to save him. If I were willing to jump in front of a gun for him, why wasn't I willing to let someone use me for a night?

Mitch turned and faced me, his handsome face filled with question. He mouthed, "Yes or No."

I swallowed hard and glanced over at Matt, who was practically shaking with fury. I couldn't see him fail. I just couldn't. I turned my attention back toward Mitch and gave him my answer, though it broke me to do it. What choice did I have?

"Yes."

 

And in that moment, I'd damned myself to hell. How in the world was I ever going to get out of the sticky situation I was in? I could quit McKenzie and Bryant. I could talk with Damon and Kent and pray that they would believe me.

I could simply tell Mitch no, right? What could he do?

"Ruin me," I whispered and pulled into the parking lot just outside the office. I parked in my normal spot, turned the engine off and leaned my head back. "What am I gonna do?"

My father would have told me to be honest and open with Matt, letting him know exactly what I'd done, but my mother would have scoffed at us both. There was no reason to show your card. Not ever.

I got out of the car a few minutes later, resolved to let it go. Maybe Mitch was calling my bluff. Maybe he wouldn't want anything from me.

A large group of stiff-shouldered people walked into the building ahead of me and moved toward the elevator. Parts of my soul screamed for release. To not be in a perfectly pressed dark blue suit, but in a red dress that blew up around my legs as I walked down the street. I wanted freedom so damn bad, and I knew without a doubt that part of the reason that Matthew Bryant had me captivated was because of his courage to go after his dreams.

I wasn't there yet, but I knew he would help me find myself again if I hung out long enough. That was the plan unless Mitch unraveled all of it somehow.

"Erica." Mandy, one of my senior advertising managers, moved up beside me as I walked out of the elevator. "How are you?"

"I'm good." I pulled my watch toward my face. "I'm running a little bit behind though. Can you get the group talking about the Traydeck account and I'll be in there shortly."

"Absolutely. You want me to grab you a cup of coffee?"

"No, but thanks." I turned and walked into my office to find Joan, my secretary setting a vase of flowers on my round table. "Morning, Joan."

"Oh!" She jumped and turned, her cheeks burning pink. "Sorry about that. You scared me."

"It's okay." I offered her a warm smile. "I didn't mean to scare you." I nodded toward the flowers. "Who are these from?"

"Mr. Roberson. He said that you needed something to cheer you up."

"And how would he know?" I walked around to the other side of my desk as my stomach sank. Mitch wasn't going to give up. He was all in for some odd reason. I wanted to know why. I wasn't all that, and he was a gorgeous older man with more money and energy than God. He could have any woman he wanted.

"Um, no clue. I'm just the messenger."

"Right. Sorry." I set my stuff down and let out a soft sigh. "Give me some advice. I need to shake him. He's becoming a little more than work friendly."

"Why on earth would you want to shake him?" She tilted her head to the side, her eyes piercing me as if she could somehow see into my future.

"Because I'm dating Matthew Bryant, and I'm quite happy with him."

"Erica. Can I speak freely?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Of course." I sat down in my chair, knowing that she wasn't going to have anything nice to say about Matt. The whole office saw him as a playboy child with a pipe dream of being a great artist. To the business types, it was laughable.

"I think you're much better matched with someone like Mitch. You're beautiful and so incredibly talented." Her expression grew almost sad. "You need a man who can provide for you and help you build a strong, solid future."

"I understand how you could want that, but what if I didn't want security?" I leaned back in my chair and made sure to keep my tone conversational. I wasn't trying to debate Joan on whether Matthew was good for me or not. He was my lover and would eventually be my husband if one of us didn't fuck it up royally.

"I'm not sure I understand." She turned as someone moved into the doorway behind her.

Mitch.

He lifted his hand and smiled over at me. "You got the flowers."

"I got them." I turned my attention back to Joan as she paled. "What if I wanted adventure, fun, intensely hot sex, and wild passion that left me racing after the next high, the next time, the unknown?"

"Um... I'll come back later." Mitch chuckled as if the bastard was oblivious to what our conversation was about. "Actually, just come see me when you're done here."

"I will." I turned my gaze back on Joan. "You see what I'm saying? It's not always about security."

"I guess I do." Her lips turned up in a smile. "I hope you know that I support you in anything you do. I've watched you grow over the last two years here, but I know this is just a stop on the map in front of you, Erica."

"Thank you for that. You've been great." I stood and walked over to the flowers, plucking the card from them. "Please put these in the foyer to make the place pretty and let's not tell anyone who they're for or from. I have a lot of stuff to clean up in my life. I'd like to start that today."

She nodded. "Of course. Let me know how I can help." Joan picked up the vase and carried the flowers away, leaving me in my office alone. I had to go see Mitch and tell him that I wasn't playing his game. Not now, not ever.

I pulled every bit of excess courage I had and walked down the hallway. A silent prayer ran through my head that I could get resolution on the situation and somehow we could work together in a professional manner and nothing else.

His door was open when I walked up to it. I paused just inside the doorframe to find him standing with his back to me, his hands in his pockets as he looked out across the city. He was beyond handsome with his salt and pepper hair and strong shoulders. His eyes were filled with fierce determination, and his smile seductive. If I hadn't have been in love with Matt the way I was, I would have longed for the attention of a man like him.

Every woman would.

"I know you've come to change my mind," he glanced over his shoulder, "but you're wasting your time."

"Mitch." I walked into the room.

"Close the door." It wasn't a request.

I hesitated for a moment but decided that he wasn't stupid enough to try anything on me in the office in the middle of the morning.

"You don't understand." I walked toward him as he moved to the other side of his desk. His dark eyes moved along my body, the dominance radiating off of him forcing me to stop in my tracks.

"No. You're right, Erica. I don't understand." He nodded to the chair in front of his desk. "Take a seat and explain it all to me."

I let out a tight sigh, frustrated as hell. I wasn't sure how to gain control of the conversation, but I needed to figure it out. If he led me through our discussion, I would end up where I'd started. Under his thumb.

"I'm in love with Matt." I sat down and leaned back, crossing my legs tightly. "He's all I want in my life, and if we're being honest, I'm not the woman you want in yours. You need someone who's a little more conducive to your personality."

He chuckled. "I see you're pulling out big words on me this morning. I like it."

"Mitch. I'm not sleeping with you." I glanced down at my hands, which rested in my lap. "I'm in love, and I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt Matt."

"Make sure your calendar is clear tonight, Erica. I've waited over a week for you to make good on your promise." He watched me like a hawk, his handsome face expressionless. "And wear something beautiful for me, hm?"

"I'm not going to dinner with you." I moved up to the edge of my seat as panic raced through me. What the fuck was it about this guy.

"Yes. You are." He leaned forward and gave me a cocky half-smile. "You don't get to pull the strings on this thing between you and me."

"There is nothing between us. I'm in a committed relationship."

"And if you weren't?" He stood and walked around the desk as I stiffened.

"I am. That's the end result here." I stood up and face him, ready to scream bloody murder if I needed to.

"I'm not the bad guy, Erica. I'm simply going after someone I want in my life." He reached out and ran his fingers down a lock of my hair. "Don't fight me. I don't want to put any undue pressure on you. Dinner. Wine. A long night of fucking each other."

"No." I turned and walked around to the other side of the room to the door. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Because you're scared of what you might feel if you do?" His tone was taunting. "That you might realize that the little boy you've fallen in love with is nothing more than a child dressed up in his daddy's clothing."

"Fuck you, Mitch. Stay away from me." I walked out and slammed the door as terror raced through me. I had to talk to Matt about everything.

He could help me figure it out.

No. He would freak out and blame me. Get angry and walk out again.

He'd leave me just like Tanner had after all those years together.

Like my dad did.

Tears blurred my vision, but I held myself together until I closed my office door behind me. I couldn't see a way out of it, and Mitch was right...

I wasn't scared of being repulsed by him over dinner. I was scared that somewhere inside of me I knew the truth.

Matt was immature and youthful. Maybe too much at times.

What if he wasn't the one I needed in my future?

What if security mattered to me? If it were my top desire in life, then what?

Then I would be with Mitch and not Matt.

No. I would never let that happen. My heart wouldn’t allow it. No matter what.