Chapter 20

Allison

I couldn’t wait to see David and, more importantly, to have him all alone for the day. I’d gone over his schedule and knew he wouldn’t be stuck in meetings, and I was anxious to know what he had to talk to me about and to plan our Thanksgiving.

I waited for him to show, knowing I’d make it to work before him, but what I hadn’t expected was finding Greyson in his office, sipping coffee with his feet up. I walked in and felt a tad out of place when I saw him on the phone, but he waved me in.

“She’s here now. Do you need to talk to her?” He paused a second as I crossed the room, but then he hung up.

“Was that David? Is he on his way?”

“He’s not going to make it in today. He’s dealing with some personal family issues. I’ll let him call you and explain.”

“I knew he’d gone to help Blaine. I hope he’s okay.”

“He’s going to be, but David won’t be in today. If you need anything, I’ll be around. And in case you’re wondering, I usually grab a coffee in here in the mornings, and David is rarely on time.”

“Yeah, he told me he had a bad habit of getting to work late.” I smiled at him, trying to hide the disappointment on my face. I had wanted to talk to him so badly, and the curiosity of what he needed to talk to me about had eaten at me all night.

“You’ve known him longer than I have, so I’m sure you’re aware of a few other bad habits.” He chuckled. “I’ll be in here a minute or two longer while I look over the client file. I’ll most likely be seeing his clients tomorrow.”

“Oh? Will he be out tomorrow, too?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s possible. He wanted me to be warmed up to what’s going on.” He put his feet down off the desk and leaned forward to look at the computer.

“Okay, well, I’ll just be over here in my little nook if you need me.” I messed around for a while, waiting for him to finish with his work. When I was finally alone, I kicked my shoes off and put my feet up on the short sofa. I wished David had spoken to me, but it didn’t seem like he’d had time, not that he hadn’t wanted to. For this reason, I fought the urge to call him and see how he was.

It wasn’t the first time I’d had to be patient for David. I’d been patient with him my entire life; wishing for him to notice me the one minute, and then hoping for him to come back to me once he had.

Our first time had been so awkward that I thought he’d never want to be with me again. We’d stayed up late one night watching TV, and after Missy had gone to bed, he’d walked me home. When we got to the door, he’d kissed me goodnight. It wasn’t our first kiss. That one had happened years before in my backyard on the swing set, but this was much deeper, more passionate. We were older, our bodies alive with new urges, and kissing wasn’t enough.

When he asked me if I wanted to go somewhere, I knew the chances were likely something would happen between us. He’d gotten his license two years earlier, and his father had bought him a classic Mustang. With me not having a curfew as long as I was in the neighborhood, we’d hopped in his car and drove down the street to a house that had been on the market for months. He drove all the way up behind the house and parked. That night, both of us gave our virginity to one another in the backseat of his car. It had been awkward, but sweet, and he’d taken special care to be gentle and safe since our only condom had landed in the floorboard.

The ringing phone interrupted my memories, and I hurried to take it out of my purse, excited to see it was David. “Hello?” I must have sounded desperate because my breathy greeting earned a chuckle.

“Hey, it’s me. I’m sorry I couldn’t chat a minute ago. I was filling out paperwork for my brother.”

“Greyson said you’re still with him. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. When I got that call the other day, I went to get him out of jail, and I’ve been with him ever since. He’s having a hard time, but things are looking hopeful.”

“That’s great. I had no idea he was having problems.”

“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about the nature of those problems. With you being my assistant, and since I’m trusting you with my personal PR, we’ll need to know what to say when this leaks to the press. And it will leak if it hasn’t already.”

“I haven’t seen anything, and no one’s called.”

“Good, but it’s still early, and I just turned in the official paperwork for him to be admitted. He’s going to stay in a facility here upstate. I won’t disclose to you which, so keeping that secret won’t be tough, but he’s been struggling a bit with drugs and alcohol since the death of our father. He did get arrested for a DUI yesterday and was released. From there, we headed directly to the treatment facility. So, if anyone asks, you’ll know what’s going on. Now, what you tell them is that Blaine DeVant has been suffering from depression since the loss of his father and has checked himself into a treatment center. Nothing more; nothing less. You can say that the family doesn’t want to comment at this time, but that we are in full support of our youngest brother.”

I felt like I should be taking notes, but I did my best to listen. Matters like this set us apart in social class. Although we grew up just across the street from one another, no one would give a shit if I had a brother fighting addiction. Where the DeVants were concerned, it would be spread all over every society page still in print and go viral by lunchtime. They didn’t have their father around to keep their personal and business lives separate.

“Got it,” I said. “When will you be back?”

“I’m going to stick around a bit. I’m going to try and get Missy to come, but to be honest, she and my brother haven’t had the best relationship lately. That is a little tidbit that is for your ears only as well. I don’t need anyone printing that my family isn’t getting along, and I’ve never told anyone else about that.”

“Right. You know me, David. I’ll be discreet.”

He let out a long breath of frustration. “I know, Allison. You’re so good to me and my family. That’s what makes you perfect for the job. I hate to say it, but I’m probably going to miss your Thanksgiving as well. I’d like my brother to know that he’s important. He needs a reason to sober up. But my heart will be with you and yours. I’ll call Sierra and explain. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by not showing up.”

It was sweet of him to say he’d call and explain. Her own father didn’t care if she got upset over such things. “She’ll be upset, but she’ll understand. Which reminds me, today is a half-day at school, and she’s getting out early. So, I’m leaving at lunch to get her.”

“Okay, I’ll try and call her later. I’d rather be there with you, you know?”

“I know. Maybe next year.” I didn’t want him to sweat it when he had other things to worry about.

“No. I’m sorry about that, too, but I meant I wish I were there with you now. I wish I could see you.”

The vibrations of his voice tickled my ear and sent chills down my spine.

“You miss me?” My heart beat a little faster knowing that.

“Don’t you miss me?” He seemed a tad offended, and I hurried to remedy my mistake.

“I do. It’s just nice to know that you miss me, too.”

“Are you behaving at my desk today?”

“I’m not using your desk. Greyson was though.”

“Yeah? Coffee? He’s always doing that. It’s because I’m late and he keeps his special blend in my office, so no one else drinks it. Don’t tell me you’re lying on that sofa with your shoes off and your feet up again. That image would be too much for me right now.”

I looked around, getting an odd feeling that I was being watched. “How did you know?”

“Well, you did it all last week, so it wasn’t a hard guess. It’s as distracting hearing about it now, as it was seeing you in person.”

“I had no idea it bothered you,” I said.

“Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t a bother at all. I quite like seeing you, but it does other things to me. I think you learned just what I mean on Friday, didn’t you?”

“I did.” Warmth blossomed between my legs as my voice dropped an octave.

“And have you thought about it much since?” he asked.

“All the time. Haven’t you?” I had thought about it too much.

“You know I have, baby. I hate that I have to go, but I’m going to leave you with a thought for the day, okay.”

“Okay.” I could hardly wait to hear what he had to say.

“If I were there with you right now, I’d have you in that same position. Let that sink in, and try not to miss me too bad.” He gave a devilish chuckle and then hung up the phone.

The thought of him having me in that same position was hot, but I’d had other fantasies since, and I liked a bit of variety.

I settled back into my place on the sofa and tried to focus on work, but images of me and him danced around in my head, causing my pulse to race. I imagined him spread out on his boardroom table. His thick erection standing proudly as I crawled up between his strong thighs and kissed his heavy sack, up his shaft, to his thick, bell-shaped head which I’d take into my mouth.

I loved sucking him, and the taste of his saltiness was so erotic that my own wetness tingled between my legs. My clit was pulsing, throbbing with need for attention, and although I didn’t touch myself, I closed my eyes and imagined him touching me. Suddenly, it was me spread out on that table, his mouth trailing up my thighs and licking my slit. My clit was swollen and ached for my touch, but I fought the urges, my pulse quickening, my chest heaving up and down as I panted.

The office door swung open, and I jumped out of my skin as Greyson entered the room.

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” He gave me a deer in headlights look and held his heart. “I didn’t know I’d scare you. I’ll knock if it will help.”

“I’m so sorry. I was so focused on this, and it was quiet.” I wasn’t sure he believed me. My chest was heaving, and I was flushed with a slight glisten across my forehead.

“I just came in to get another cup of coffee. I keep the good stuff in here.” He gave me a wink, and I got up to grab a cup for myself. I was so glad I’d fought my urges to be naughty, or there was no telling what Greyson would have caught me doing.

With half my morning lost to fantasy, I sipped coffee and read over reports until noon.