Part 6 (1/2)

He laughed, the low rasp reverberating through me. I bit my lip too hard, replacing the tingle he'd left there with a twinge of pain.

”The feeling is mutual. That still doesn't fix our current predicament, however. I want to spread you out over this desk and f.u.c.k you 'til you scream, but as you once aptly noted, some of us have work to do.”

”Shut up.”

I caught a fistful of his s.h.i.+rt and pulled him back down to me, forcing his mouth onto mine, m.u.f.fling a quiet growl that rumbled through him. He gave my a.s.s a hard squeeze, pressing our bodies together and reminding me of last night's endeavors. His body, his presence, overwhelmed me so easily. A rush of desire intoxicated my senses, making me forget everything but the way he felt wrapped around me, his hands on me, his tongue inside me. I wanted more. I always did.

I vaguely heard the click of heels approaching. I tore myself away from his kiss and caught Risa gaping at us. A wave of pure female confidence surged through me. Eat your heart out, honey. Blake was mine, and I couldn't have made that more clear outside of the present moment. If she wanted to crush on him, she'd have to get in line.

Blake seemed to be waiting for my reaction. I smiled and gave him a quick kiss before pus.h.i.+ng back slightly. ”Bye, baby.”

A twinkle of acknowledgement pa.s.sed over his features. He was calculating to a fault, and he knew how jealous I could be. Sure, I was completely overreacting, but Risa got the picture.

He returned my knowing smile and stepped away slowly, giving her a polite nod on his way past.

”I'm so sorry. I didn't-” Risa was wide-eyed, her jaw agape.

I immediately regretted the choice. This was her first day, after all. ”Don't be. I wanted to ask you something actually.”

”Sure, what is it?”

”We've got tickets to the Spirit Gala on Friday night. Would you be interested in going and representing the company? You could bring a date, of course.”

”I'd rather not.”

I lifted my eyebrows.

”I mean, I'd love to go. I'd rather not bring a date. Networking is easier that way.”

”Oh, right. That's fine. Let me know if you change your mind.”

”Great, I can't wait.” She smiled broadly and glanced down at the notebook she was holding. ”Alli and I got through most of my questions, but she wanted me to run a few things by you that she wasn't sure about. Do you have a minute?”

”Sure. Have a seat here. I'll be back in a minute.”

I left her there to find Alli, who was looking as restless as she had this morning, checking her phone at the conference table.

”You guys done?”

She nodded. ”I think so. If you don't mind, I might head back to the apartment. I need to pack and catch up on some things for work.”

”You're on vacation, you know.”

”Not with this gig, unfortunately.”

”All right, I'll see you tonight. We can grab dinner with Blake later if you're up for it.”

”Sounds good.” She rose to give me a quick hug, waved goodbye to Sid, and left.

Alli and I sat at a c.o.c.ktail table in the open air bar, sipping pear martinis while we waited for Blake to join us. The weather was perfectly mild. The sun was setting and a warm breeze blew over us. Days like today made the long winter worth enduring. Everything felt possible. I only wished Alli felt the same way. She looked better, a little more rested, but something was still off.

”I can't believe you're leaving already. I feel like you just got here.”

Alli had made the choice to work in New York while I chose to stay in Boston. Now our lives were taking root. I wanted to urge her to come back. With the business funded, she could. She knew that as well as I did, but I kept those thoughts to myself. She didn't need any more confusion, or worse, guilt, on top of everything else she was dealing with right now.

”I know. I don't feel ready to go back either.”

”Maybe I can visit soon.”

She brightened. ”I would love that. I want you to see my new place.”

”Me too. We'll see how things go, I guess. Work will probably be intense for a little while until everyone gets settled and we get into a routine.”

”Right.”

”What do you think of Risa?” We hadn't had a chance to catch up about her replacement at the company since the marketing powwow that morning.

She took another sip of her drink. ”She's smart. She seems driven, like you. I think she'll do well.”

Her matter-of-fact description made me wonder if she might be a little jealous. I had antic.i.p.ated that she might be, but Alli was good-natured, and at the end of the day, she'd support any decision that was good for the business.

”I'm glad you think so. She's no Alli Malloy, but she seems pa.s.sionate. I'm hoping after her crash course this afternoon she'll hit the ground running and take us to the next level.”

”Hopefully. How do you like her?”

I caught her grin and knew immediately what she was aiming for. ”I know what you're thinking, and no, I'm not going to freak out on her for ogling Blake. I'd be in for a lifetime of misery if I started doing that now. I swear, if I had a dollar for every time some woman stared a little too long, I wouldn't need angel funding.”

”A lifetime, eh?”

I frowned. ”Whatever. It's an expression, Alli.”

She started laughing, then stopped abruptly. Her focus had s.h.i.+fted away from me. She paled.

”What's wrong?”

”Oh my G.o.d,” she breathed.

I twisted in my seat, and my gaze quickly fixed on Blake walking side by side with none other than his brother.

Alli looked like she was seeing a ghost, except Heath was healthier than I'd ever seen him, with ruddy cheeks and bright eyes that never left hers. Something in the air s.h.i.+fted. I became as transfixed on the two of them as they were on each other.

Alli's color returned. She slid off the stool and pushed her hair back behind her ear with a shaky hand. She took a few cautious steps in his direction, and he took two long lunges in hers, scooping her up and into his arms. She squealed, and a broad smile crossed his face as he lifted her off the ground and into his embrace.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling him there as he held her close. They stayed like that for what seemed like several minutes. When Alli pulled back, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She pulled Heath close for a kiss, and he met her with equal fervor, as if he had been starved.

We shouldn't have been there-or they shouldn't have been there-but the fact that we all were didn't seem to matter to either of them. I nudged Blake and he nodded.

”Let's go see if the table's ready,” he murmured.