Part 9 (1/2)

I had no idea how I made it through the rest of the workday. I remembered nothing of it until I found myself home, alone in my apartment; the outside sounds of the street and world a small hum in the distance.

With my lips still burning and body still aching, I opened my laptop and started typing. My mother was right, and so was Mandy. I needed a man. One to go out with, and have fun with, maybe even have meaningless s.e.x with. I needed to forget about Kevin and being married and everything I might have had if it weren't for his stupid infidelity.

20 something years young, pet.i.te, curvaceous - intelligent woman seeking a gentlemen with... That makes me sound like I have a stick up my bottom. Okay, more honest.

20 something, loves long walks... Now I sound like a freaking greeting card.

27-year-old bitter b.i.t.c.h that just found her fiance banging a younger, hotter model needs a well-endowed man not afraid to hammer her till the break of f.u.c.king dawn.

Yeah. That's perfect. I'll email Mandy and ask for input on it tomorrow.

Yes. Tomorrow. There's going to be a new and improved Lexa around.

11.

Jameson

”I've been making way too many sober decisions. I'm gonna need a beer as cold as my ex's heart.” @Kavon #Brrrr I put more chocolate on her desk. I didn't even think she knew it had been me putting it there the whole time, but she ate it all the same. The kiss...I messed up. Christ, she's all I think about. G.o.d only knew what was going on in that head of hers. I knew it was too soon for her to want someone else. h.e.l.l, she was probably still going to end up marrying that jacka.s.s.

What the? There was something on her desk.

A singles profile?

I had five minutes to get to our content conference. I fisted the stupid singles ad in my hand and stormed into the meeting, utterly outraged. She was going to brush off that kiss? For some computerized matchmaking adventure? h.e.l.l no. Not happening.

She was dressed for work in one h.e.l.l of a s.e.xy outfit. It wasn't even the outfit that was s.e.xy. It was her making the outfit look s.e.xy. Jesus. This woman was tearing me up with that body.

The papers fluttered out of my grasp and my hands itched to touch her. I tried to get her attention as I bent down and yanked them up off the floor in a fury. I was fuming inside. Livid. I called her last night-she never called me back. Apparently, I gave her the s.h.i.+ttiest kiss in history and she'd rather find some serial killer from a dating website. I walked up to her and shoved the papers into her hands. ”What the h.e.l.l is this?” I hissed in her ear.

Her eyes just about popped out of her skull. ”You went through my desk? First you say c.r.a.p to that a.s.shole, now this?” She jammed her hands on her hips like she was just about to throw down with me.

”Oh stop. I came to see you this morning. It was right on top of your little calendar thingy and I read it.” She stood there giving me the stink eye as if my excuse wasn't good enough for her. ”f.u.c.k yes I looked at your s.h.i.+t. G.o.d, you stand there and look like...I can't even make something up, you're all distracting looking. Anyway, what is this?” I demanded, flicking the paper an inch away from her face.

”Are you illiterate?” she asked, eyes darting around the room to see who was listening.

I moved in closer and growled, ”It's a FindingLove website application. Lexa, you don't need this c.r.a.p.”

”Everybody thinks it's a good idea. They match your personalities with people who are like you,” she whispered.

”Where the h.e.l.l is the fun in that? There's no way you should be doing that. I can't in good faith sit back and watch this atrocity unfold. No way. I will not be held responsible if one of those suitors turns out to be an axe-wielding thumb-sucking monster, or another Trager, or some rambling incoherent bore who would never kiss you the way I kissed you yesterday.”

Her eyes almost defied the laws of biology they bulged so far out of her skull.

”Stop. It's scary enough, okay. Just talking about going back to the dating scene is terrifying. Why people feel the need to be with someone is beyond me. I had nightmares last night of huge c.o.c.ked mutants dragging me to dates at my almost mother-in-law's house. And you are my boss. We will never mention that silly little kiss again.”

”What?” I growled.

”I said silly little kiss,” she whispered through gritted teeth.

”I wasn't asking what because I'm deaf. I'm asking it so you have another chance to change that dumba.s.s answer. Silly kiss, my a.s.s,” I snapped, crumpling up the singles ad in her face and tossing it. Her face blanched white. s.h.i.+t. I stepped back, utterly horrified by the way I just acted toward her. I was...I was growling.

People filed in, talking and laughing. Sophia rolled her eyes in Lexa's direction. ”h.e.l.lo, James. You look awful. What happened? Haven't been sleeping well?” she smirked as she walked past us.

”I spent the night thinking about something silly,” I growled. Jesus. I was still growling. Clenching my teeth together, eyes boring into Lexa's, and answering the wh.o.r.e at the same time, ”G.o.dd.a.m.n silliest thing that ever happened to me. I couldn't stop thinking about it.” Lexa stared at me, biting down on her lip so she didn't smile. She stumbled back, taking the first seat she could grab onto at the conference table.

I watched her move. Listened to her talk. Listened as my father ranted about ratings, advertis.e.m.e.nt, and marketing. Sophia tried to take over the conference with ideas about the elusive Alex Kavon and I realized that was the exact reason she was s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g Trager. She was trying to climb up the ladder here, trying to use Trager to get to Alex. She really acted as if she thought Trager was Alex. Maybe Lexa wouldn't even know if Kevin was Alex.

Lexa interrupted her as if she wasn't even there, ”Mr. Holt I would really appreciate the chance to show you a column or two of what I've been working on. I think...”

”I don't need anymore fluffy woman's c.r.a.p. I want strength and character, brawn, and to h.e.l.l with being politically correct. I want funny and well-you're just a fact checker. That's all we need you to be,” my father continued his tirade, slamming his palms down on the conference table, making everyone around him stutter and jump. Everyone save me. I sat and stared at Lexa. I was still growling.

I have no idea what the rest of the meeting was about. None.

All I know is Lexa was p.i.s.sed off at me. Was it the kiss? s.h.i.+t, I needed to find out.

12.

Lexa

”The best way to get over your ex is probably going at least 100 in the vehicle of your choice.” @Kavon #WhereCanIBuyATank He's late. It was probably the eleventy-hundredth time I checked my watch. We'd been drinking and talking for an hour. I sat there and moped with Mandy and Leslie with their fruity martinis and Frank and Thomas with their shots of Tequila. Frank with his hands on my shoulders, pecking kisses on my cheek, telling me I looked incredibly beautiful to him. Men are all idiots. Especially taken ones.

Then James and Evan walked in. He'd changed out of his suit into a pair of faded jeans and a fitted t-s.h.i.+rt. He was one of those men that didn't walk-he sauntered. Confidence and power followed him. He was captivating and alluring. And I needed to remember he was one of my bosses and forget he'd given me the most heated kissed I'd ever had in my life.

Stop. Don't think about it.

Everything beneath my waist ignored my pleas and started throbbing immediately. I couldn't blame my girl parts-they'd been underappreciated for so long.

The minute he made it to our table, Mandy blurted out, ”G.o.d, you're gorgeous. How do you not want to touch yourself all the time?”

”That's exactly what I think about most women!” Evan barked, sliding into the seat next to Mandy, completely undressing her with his pervy eyes. ”And my G.o.d, are you beautiful. What are you drinking?”

”Watermelon martini,” she smiled, eye-undressing him right back. I fanned myself and wiggled uncomfortably in my seat. It was as if someone turned on the mating season episode on the Discovery channel.

Evan snapped his fingers in Thomas's face. ”Thomas! Thomas? Here's some cash,” he threw a hundred dollar bill down in front of him. ”Go get another round. Be gone man. Be gone!”

”Evan Peterson! Do you think you can charm me into bed with your smooth talking, your good looks, and free martinis?” Mandy teased, flipping her hair behind her.

”Definitely,” he smirked.