As soon as she stepped off the elevator, Molly heard raised voices emanating from her fiancé’s office.
“I’m telling you, amigo, if you just added a little color to this office, it would sooth that savage beast inside you,” an accented Hispanic voice whined from within Devil’s lair. “It’d be fabulous. Add a few throw pillows….maybe some track lighting…. some nice soothing candles. You’d be a brand new hombre, papi!”
“I thought Molly said you were a model, not a fucking interior designer,” Devil groused, his voice obviously strained and agitated.
“Me llamo Armando. I am a man of many talents,” the model informed Devil with a passionate hiss, stomping his foot just as Molly appeared in the doorway. “I could teach you many things, Papi!” Armando insisted, propping one hand against his lean hip and lifting his chin dramatically. “I have skills you can not imagine.”
“Hello, boys,” Molly greeted them sweetly as she stepped inside the carpeted office. “Are we playing nicely together? I don’t think those were inside voices I heard when I walked into the lobby,” she chided with a smile.
“I’m going to kill you,” Devil growled as he stood behind his desk and glared at his fiancée. “Slowly and with a great deal of satisfaction,” he warned in a velvety voice.
“Molly! You in danger, chica!” Armando clucked, tossing his head as he turned from Devil. “This one’s aura…it is dark. So very dark! And he’s so tense.”
“I wonder why,” Devil drawled, glaring at the lanky stud Molly had hired.
“Why, honey, you look positively stressed,” Molly chided, fighting the urge to laugh out loud at the aggrieved look on his handsome face.
“I asked him when the last time was that he cleansed his chakra, but he just snarled at me. I hope you have better luck than I did.” Armando sniffed disdainfully. “Personally, I think he should try some yoga. It might help his mind, body, and spirit. Downward dog would do miracles for that body of his. Not that his body could use much improvement,” the model murmured, eyeing Devil’s muscular physique appreciatively. “I offered to show him some positions, but he refused. For such an intense, self-assured personality, he’s pretty squeamish when it comes to another man touching him. He’s given me three lectures on personal space,” he informed her, using air quotes for emphasis.
“Molly….” Devil intoned in a voice laced with warning.
Molly’s lips twitched as she met Devil’s darkening blue eyes. His tie was pulled halfway open, twisted sideways as if it had been clutched in desperation, while his shirtsleeves were pushed haphazardly up his toned arms. Oh, yes, there was definitely some chakra cleansing needed! Clearing her throat, she winked at Armando. “I think you’ve had a rather challenging first day, Mannie,” she said, using the nickname that he’d invited her to use this morning. “And, if I’m not mistaken, I think I’ve made my point to Devil. Tomorrow, I think we can drop the theatrics.”
“Oh, but I hadn’t even pulled out any of my best material yet,” Armando pouted, winking at Devil. “I never got around to offering him a massage.”
Molly did laugh then as Devil’s jaw dropped. Molly decided it was time to rescue him before he actually had a stroke. “Going to push me into changing my look again, Devil? It’s not so much fun when somebody is pushing you to make yourself over, is it?” she asked, tilting her head as she stared at her future husband… at least her future husband for now, she mentally amended.
“You are diabolical. Between two phone calls from the good people at American Express regarding a hundred plus furs and three hundred PlayStations…and my new office assistant – and I use that term loosely considering the only thing he’s assisted with this afternoon is nearly helping me into an early grave – I think you’ve indeed made your point, woman,” Devil growled, clenching his jaw.
“Well, then, I think my work here is done,” Armando said cheerfully, looking between the couple he now worked for. “Same time tomorrow, Molly?” he asked hopefully.
“Yes,” Molly agreed with a smile, “I think tomorrow, however, should be more Lance Bass and less Liberace,” she said with a pointed look at his clothes.
“Note taken,” Armando replied with a grin, his cocoa-colored eyes twinkling merrily. “Mr. Delancy, it’s been a pleasure. I look forward to working for you,” he said to Devil as he extended a hand to the man behind the desk.
Warily shaking the outstretched hand, Devil nodded slowly. “I assume that my makeover is now complete, Mannie?”
“Yes, sir,” Armando acquiesced with an easy tilt of his head. “Tomorrow, you’ll meet professional Armando… the homosexual model who happens to have a degree in business administration from Penn.”
Releasing a relieved sigh, Devil’s shoulders relaxed. “I look forward to it. Have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Devil waited until the good looking model had departed his office to circle the desk and jerk Molly against him. “You, darlin’, have earned yourself one hell of a spanking tonight,” he promised darkly just seconds before he lowered his mouth to hers.
Molly allowed herself a moment to luxuriate in the warmth of his kiss, parting her mouth when his tongue swept against her lower lip, licking gently and coaxing hers open with tender insistence. Lord, he could kiss, she thought as his tongue stroked and explored, dominating her mouth in a way that made her want to crawl up his body and surrender herself to him despite the open door of his office.
“You are so damn lucky I needed a taste of your sweet mouth,” he growled against her mouth, nipping her upper lip before lifting his mouth from hers. “Otherwise, I’d already be paddling this lovely round ass of yours.”
“Devil, the door is open,” she moaned when his hands moved from her hips to cup her ass possessively through the short skirt she wore and pulled her against his, pressing her mound against the growing hardness between his thighs. “Anybody could walk in here,” she pointed out weakly when his lips assaulted the curve of her neck, nibbling and sucking at the vulnerable flesh. “Stop punishing me. You had Armando coming and you know it.”
Shuddering, Devil grimaced. “Please do not say things like that. My mind interprets things you say quite literally and that image is enough to put me off sex for life.”
“It doesn’t feel like it,” Molly purred, rubbing her hips against his, cuddling his erection between her thighs. “It feels like sex is very much in the forefront of your thoughts right now.”
“Of course it is,” he muttered, licking the shell of her ear with a flick of his tongue. “You made me sleep on the couch last night with the feline from hell and her snarling sidekick, Cujo,” he reminded her. “Even after I made things right with Pastor Martin. This new mandate of ‘no sex before marriage’ is sorta like trying to shove the pin back in the grenade, honey. It just can’t be done,” he groaned, staring at her breasts and licking his lips.
“You, Coco, and Chanel needed the bonding time,” Molly decreed shakily, patting his chest as she forced herself to take a step back from him. Her body protested the distance, but her mind knew there were important things she needed to share with him in the interest of full disclosure. If she stayed in his arms, she was self-aware enough to know that the only words she’d be uttering would be in the form of the oh-touch-me-harder-faster variety. Shaking her head when he reached for her again, she held up a hand. “Devil, we need to talk. Really talk,” she clarified solemnly.
“No.”
Blinking, she stared at him. “What?”
“I said no. Whenever you say things like ‘we need to talk’ in that tone, usually you’re trying to back out of our wedding. And I swear to God, if you try to do that after the day I’ve had, I really will bend you across my knee,” he threatened, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at her.
“I’m not trying to back out of anything, Devil. I promise,” Molly replied truthfully, her eyes softening on his hard face. “But, I’ve learned some things today that could change your mind about going through with the marriage.”
“No, you haven’t,” Devil returned sharply as he shook his head. “Nothing you could tell me will make me believe that either of us should not show up at the front of the church on Saturday. Nothing, Molly. I’m marrying you, damn it. Period. Full fucking stop.”
Obviously, the only way to get him to listen to reason was to move forward at breakneck speed. Molly squared her shoulders and said quickly, “Devil, I went to see Nana this morning. She’s been holding out on us.”
His forehead crinkled as he attempted to comprehend her words. “What are you talking about?”
“She knew. She knew all along that we weren’t involved before that day she was admitted to the hospital. Not only that, but she’s going to be okay. They’ve adjusted her medications. Her prognosis…it’s good. God willing, we won’t be losing her for a very long time. The cardiologist thinks she might just outlive us all,” Molly explained as she watched his obvious relief war with confusion. “In short, she played us, Devil. I think she had noble intentions, but I couldn’t walk down any aisle with you without you knowing the entire truth. We don’t have to do this. You’ve got an out if you want one,” she whispered, watching his face. Oh, why did she have to be so freaking honorable? Why couldn’t she have been like every other woman on the face of God’s green earth and just taken the man and ran?
The feeling of elation over his grandmother’s turnaround toward good health was overshadowed mightily by the sudden flash of raw anger that threatened to overtake him as his agile mind comprehended what Molly was saying. His jaw clenched as he stared down into her green gaze. “Have you even been paying attention at all to what’s been happening between us for these past few weeks, Molly? I’ve got zero intention of letting you go now that I have you where I want you. I think I’ve made my position extremely clear.”
She could hear the angry bite in every word he spoke, although she categorically disagreed with him. His position was as clear as mud. “Devil, it’s a logical question for me to ask. You announced that you were marrying me because of Nana. Now that Nana is better, why....”
“I swear to God, Molly, if you finish that sentence, I will wrap my hands around your pretty neck and throttle you!” Devil promised, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Molly opened her mouth to respond, only to hear a sudden angry argument develop outside the office. She couldn’t distinguish the voices, but she recognized pissed off when she heard it. Seconds later, the melee spilled into the room with them as Devil’s already open door slammed against the wall, and a shapely woman with wavy, ebony hair sauntered into the office as though she owned the building. “Devil, darling, there you are! Do me a favor, love, and call off your rabid Chihuahua, please!” she demanded, dropping her leather coat on the floor by the door as she threw her leopard-skin purse onto the nearest chair.
Armando rushed in a step behind the classically beautiful woman, flapping his arms, his cheeks flushed a bright red color that either indicated an incredibly bad temper or an oncoming heart attack. “Chihuahua? Who you calling a little rat dog, chica? I’ll have you know that I’m all Doberman and more than ready to bite your skanky ass!” Turning quickly in the direction of Molly and Devil, he added, forehead wrinkled, “Excuse me, but Little Miss Tightass here INSISTED on barging in, even AFTER I informed her that she was not on the list of approved visitors. Please tell me I can evict her sorry botox-infused face from the premises,” he begged.
Flicking her perfectly manicured hand in the air in Armando’s general direction, the newcomer hissed, “Go away, little man. Just as I told you, I am here for my date with Devil.” Turning to meet Devil’s eyes, she added, her voice sultry and low, “Lover, now is the time you tell your little lapdog that you are all mine for the weekend, don’t you think? There’s a Jacuzzi and a bottle of champagne waiting for us at the W.”
“Amanda?” Devil questioned blankly, staring at the Australian model that he’d socially seen on and off for years. Why in the hell was that woman suddenly standing in his office?
“You have a date?” Molly asked, her eyes widening as they moved from Devil to the beautiful, willowy woman standing in the middle of the room with one hand perched on her hip. “A date? In a five-star hotel. For this weekend with a Jacuzzi and champagne,” she bit out almost monotonously, every word condemning him.
“Molly, it’s not what you think,” Devil said quickly. Fuck, he wasn’t sure what this was himself, he thought taking another quick look at the foreign woman pouting at him across the room. He could see that Molly had already drawn her own faulty conclusions, and Amanda Morgan certainly wasn’t helping matters. “I don’t even know what she’s talking about,” he growled, sweeping a hand toward the other woman.
“Which is exactly why you should let me bounce this brittle bitch out the door,” Armando interjected behind Molly.
“Devil, are you going to let him speak to me like that?” Amanda snapped, her golden brown eyes flashing as she shot Armando a haughty look. “We’re going to be late for the Autism Speaks benefit, damn it. I’m not a woman that likes to be kept waiting, darling. For anything. I’ve been dreaming of licking that sexy tattoo of yours the entire flight here, love,” she added with a wink as she licked her lips seductively.
“Oh, my God,” Molly breathed, her eyes widening in horror as she stared up at Devil.
Devil’s face flushed guiltily as he watched Molly pale. What the fuck was happening?!
Memory flashed as Devil gripped Molly’s arm when she would have turned and fled. The fucking benefit! He’d refused those plans with Amanda months ago when she’d called him out of the blue. He’d forgotten all about it. Leave it to the black-haired witch staring at him to think she was irresistible. Ignoring the preening woman entirely, he focused his attention on the only person in the room that mattered. Holding Molly’s trembling arm, he could see she was barely hanging on to her control. “It’s not what you think, Molly,” he said in a low, urgent voice. “Just hear me out.”
Jerking her arm from his grip, Molly’s eyes narrowed. “Go play Down Under, Devil. I’ve got a wedding to cancel!” she threw furiously over her shoulder as she stomped toward the door.
“Molly, wait, damn it!” Devil shouted, starting after her as Amanda stepped in his path.
“Let the pathetic little girl go, Devil. Some women just aren’t as good at sharing you as I am.”
Armando stared at Devil with pure malice in his over bright eyes. “You know, I’m outta here. I’ll wait tables before I work for a philandering dick like you. I’ve known Molly for like fifteen seconds and I can already tell you’re nowhere near good enough for somebody like her! I think I’m gonna enjoy watching Sami rip off your tiny polla and roast it over an open flame. I’ll help her by sharpening the knife myself, pendejo,” he shouted, his accent growing thicker by the second. “Me rindo! I quit!” He then stormed out the door behind Molly.
“Motherfucker!” Devil cursed, pushing Amanda away from him and glaring at her. “Do you have any idea what the fuck you’ve done, you vacuous bitch?”
Fluttering her eyes, Amanda smiled. “Cleared your calendar for much more stimulating company?” she asked coyly.
“Get out, Amanda,” Devil snarled, stomping toward his desk and snatching his keys into his hand. “Get out before I forget that gentlemen do not hit women no matter how much of a callous bitch they are.”
“Is that any way to talk to a lover, darling?” she huffed, tossing her silky hair over one rounded shoulder.
“We had a one-night fling three fucking years ago. We weren’t lovers. We were fuck buddies for a goddamn night! Why? Why the fuck would you do this?” he asked angrily, closing his fist around his keys so tightly that the metal cut into his skin. “You can’t tell me that you haven’t read the papers! I’m news – even in the fucking Outback! You knew I was getting married this weekend, didn’t you? Christ, Amanda! I thought we were friends!”
“Yes, we are, Devil. You made a date with me months ago. One which you evidently forgot to mention to little Miss Nobody. How is that my fault?”
“You know what you walked in here and let her believe. I told you no, Amanda,” Devil retorted, lowering his voice as an icy calm descended on him. He knew how to deal with leeches like Amanda. You squashed them. Narrowing his gaze as he walked toward her, he smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile; it was cold… ruthless.
“I was hurt. Maybe a little jealous, and I thought I could change your mind,” Amanda admitted with a delicate shrug of her shoulders.
“You were hurt?” Devil laughed without humor. “Not yet, Amanda. You haven’t begun to hurt yet. But if I lose the best thing that ever happened because you decided to exact a little feminine vengeance on me, you will feel pain in a way that you’ve never experienced before in your life. I’ll make sure of it. You just signed a new deal with Revlon here in the States, didn’t you?”
“Y-yes,” she replied, her former poise flagging as his eyes glittered ominously at her.
“If I lose Molly, you won’t have that deal long, Amanda. I guarantee it. I know the president of the company. I bought one of his lesser holdings just last year. I gave him a good deal on it. He owes me a favor. You hurt me, and I promise that I’ll hurt you worse,” he threatened.
Swallowing hard, Amanda’s chin wobbled. “Dev, love, I missed you. I thought that if I surprised you and you saw me again…”
“You were trying to get even because I gave you the brush off months ago,” Devil interrupted harshly. “Save the fake tears, Mandy. We both know you have ice running through your veins.”
Inhaling sharply, Amanda’s eyes hardened. “Fine,” she snapped. “What do you want me to do? Go to your weepy little fiancée and set the story straight?”
Devil smirked, his eyes narrowing darkly. “Go near Molly and there’s a better chance she’ll scratch your eyes out than cry, Amanda. Unlike you, she’s not afraid to break a nail.”
“Then, what?” Amanda snapped waspishly.
“Stay away from me. Get out of Atlanta and stay off my radar, Amanda. If we cross paths again, I won’t be as gentlemanly,” he warned, reaching down to snag the model’s coat off the floor and shove it at her. “Leave,” he ordered, snatching her couture satchel from the chair and tossing it at her, “Or, would you rather I have security escort you from the building?”
Tightening her fingers around the expensive coat and bag, the woman lifted her chin. “You’re missing a really good thing, Devil.”
“I have a really good thing. You were – what would I call it? A very ill-advised miscalculation I made several years ago. Plus, you were boring in bed, love,” he sneered as he wondered how someone so pretty on the outside could be so truly ugly where it counted. “Disappear, Amanda. Now.”
Devil waited until Amanda swept out of his office, leaving a trail of her expensive perfume in her wake. Rubbing his hand vigorously over his face, he shook his head as he heard the elevator close behind the bitch that had ruined his day. Of all the things that could have happened, having Molly come face to face with a former bad choice in one night stands was the worst. The fact that she now assumed that it had been an ongoing affair that he’d intended to continue at the very hotel where their wedding reception was to be held… that took things from bad to damn near catastrophic.
In order to avert his personal Apocalypse, he first needed to find Molly and find a way to make her listen to him. Thanks to Amanda’s unforeseen intrusion, he knew she’d validated every fear about him Molly possessed, putting his young fiancée’s heart on high alert.
It was definitely an obstacle he hadn’t suspected he’d need to overcome again. Fortunately for him, he was accustomed to deals often heading South at the eleventh hour.
His upcoming marriage wouldn’t be the first merger he’d ever pulled out of the fire, but it was definitely the most important he’d ever saved.