Damage Control

“Don’t ever do that to me here again.”

Stunned, I face him and he laughs, those gray eyes filled with mischief. “That was the biggest joke I’ve ever told. Well delivered, if you believed it.”

“I did and it wasn’t funny.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was sure you knew I couldn’t be serious.” He reaches down and runs his hand down the material of my dress. “One side was still halfway up your hip.”

My eyes go wide. “Oh God. That would have been bad.”

“Yes. It would have. And now, you can go to work, Ms. Stevens. But buzz me if my father is in.”

“I will,” I say, and this time when I turn, he flattens his hand on my belly, and says, “You are so damn sexy,” before he releases me and steps away.

Smiling, I open the door and exit, while Jessica gives me an arched eyebrow, which turns into a huge grin. “How about lunch?” she asks.

“Yes I … ah no. I forgot I’m having lunch with Shane’s mother.” I lean on the desk. “I didn’t tell him. Can you mention it? I don’t want to go back in there.”

“Of course, and be careful. She’s—”

“I know. You warned me and you were right. I can handle her.”

Approval lights her pretty blue eyes. “Yes. I believe you can. I’ll tell him. Coffee later though.”

“Yes. Good.”

I push off the desk and start toward the hallway at the same moment Derek appears in his doorway, his tie once again red, his eyes once again hard. They are also inappropriately honed in on me, following my every move in a far too intimate way, making it nearly impossible for me to keep a steady pace. Nearing him, I am forced to acknowledge him, and I wave. “Good morning.” But just as I would turn to my escape, he stops me.

“Wait just one moment,” he says, stopping me in my tracks, my heart suddenly thundering in my chest.

“Yes?”

“I’d like you to come join me in my office, Ms. Stevens.”

My heart falls to my feet with the use of my formal name emphasized, when Shane just teased me with it. Shane’s office must be bugged. “I really need to go check in with your father.”

“You had time for my brother. Make time for me.”

I am officially trapped but Shane’s warning plays in my mind: Don’t take risks with Derek. I cannot go in his office. I will not run to Shane for help. I need to just handle this man.

“Well, Ms. Stevens?” Derek presses. “Are you coming or not?”

“Get to your desk, Ms. Stevens.”

At the sound of Brandon Senior’s voice, I look right to find him standing in the hallway I wish I’d already traveled down. “Mr. Brandon,” I say in shock.

“Get to work,” he snaps, and when I don’t immediately move, he adds, “Now, Ms. Stevens.”

For once, his cranky commands are welcome, and I dart past him, all but running to the lobby, where I force myself to slow, and greet the receptionist. From there, I welcome the hallway leading to the private alcove that is my desk in front of Brandon Senior’s office. Nearly collapsing into my chair, I feel as if I’ve run a marathon and the day is barely starting. I press my hand to my face, angry at myself for not having a comeback to manage Derek. I knew he could pull a stunt like that. I should have worked through scenarios in my mind, like I had when preparing for mock trials in school, and been ready with solutions. I can’t be this unprepared ever again because I saw the look in Derek’s eyes. He has me in his sights. I am a target.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SHANE

The minute my father heads for Derek’s office, I follow, and the ways I want to get Derek the fuck out of this company, and Emily’s life, are too many to count. Standing in my doorway and giving her room to deal with him, as I know she would want, rather than rescue her, had about killed me. But that would have also made her look weak and set her up as more of a target for brother dearest.

My father disappears into Derek’s office and shuts the door. I pass Derek’s secretary, wondering if she knows he’s fucking Adrian’s sister as well as her, probably in the same day. I don’t look at her. I walk on by and open my brother’s door and enter, shutting it behind me. Derek laughs. “Did I offend your little girlfriend? Are you here to protect her like my father?”

The surprise in his taunt isn’t the taunt itself, but the reference to my father, who I look at now, arching a brow.

“I don’t have time to hire a new secretary and Emily has a mind of her own,” he snaps. “I’m not counting on your bedroom skills to keep my secretary.” He cuts a look at Derek. “Leave her the fuck alone.”

Derek gives me an amused look. “Your turn. Defend her honor. Get it over with.”

“Actually, Emily’s the kind of woman who’ll grab you by the ball sack and get a hammer. Please. Keep agitating her. I want to watch.”

“I do like it rough,” he says, successfully making me want to punch him, but that would empower him, not me.

“We need to move past getting laid to staying out of jail,” I say, leaning against the door and crossing my arms in front of me. “Not only did Brody Matthews die, but he did so with our pill bottles in his medicine chest.”

“And you know this how?” Derek demands.

“Because I know a hell of a lot more than you think, Derek. Brody’s ex ran her mouth at Eric’s plastic surgery office. I did damage control, but it might not be enough. The Feds are looking into a connection between a drug they call Sub-Zero and professional athletes. If he has a bottle left over, with pills in it—”