Huxley: I recall it differently. I had my fill of dinner.
Fuck, I can’t help myself. I can’t stop myself from reminding her of how I make her feel, hell, how she makes me feel.
Satisfied.
Lottie: Question—have you always been this dirty?
Huxley: When you know what you want, you go after it. There’s nothing dirty involved, just the truth.
Lottie: Well, that was a scapegoat answer that worked really well for you. Now ask me a question. Distract me while Kelsey fetches us lunch.
Huxley: Do you feel as though you know me a little better?
Lottie: I do, but I’m not sure I would’ve without these questions. I’m glad you’ve been open to them.
Huxley: Your turn.
Lottie: That’s all you’re going to say on the matter?
Huxley: Yes.
Lottie: Okay, I see that I’m getting the closed-off Huxley today, that’s fine. Hmm, question—when was the last time you had sex, and with who?
Huxley: That’s two questions.
Lottie: It’s a two-parter, linked together. It passes.
Huxley: Why do you want to know?
Lottie: Is that your question?
Huxley: Consider it linked as well.
Lottie: Just interested in what your life was like before I rolled in.
Huxley: Last time I had sex, probably three months ago, with a girl I’ve known for a few years. Occasionally we get together just for the hell of it, no strings attached. Don’t have time for anything else.
Lottie: A booty call. I wouldn’t have expected anything less. But three months seems like a long time. I would’ve thought once a week for you.
Huxley: No time. Plus, I told you, when we’re in contract, I don’t seek out anyone else but you.
Lottie: I don’t know how to respond to that.
Huxley: No need. My last question before I go—are you nervous about the pitch today?
Lottie: Honestly?
Huxley: Always.
Lottie: I am. I’m nervous because we’ve been working hard on this. I know we offer a great service, I know a lot is riding on this, and I know you’re not going to just give us something for the hell of it, you’re going to make us earn it.
Huxley: That’s correct.
Lottie: This means a lot to us. Even the opportunity to pitch means a lot. We’ve been practicing, making sure everything is perfect, and when the time comes, I really hope we can show you how beneficial we’d be for Cane Enterprises.
I already know they’re perfect for the job. I’ve done my research on Kelsey, but I’m going to make them pitch anyway, because I’m not the only one who makes the decisions. Breaker and JP have to be a yes as well. More so, this is good practice for Kelsey and an excellent boost in confidence for Lottie. She needs to find her niche in business, given it’s what she’s studied. I see the potential in her. She needs to prove it to herself more than to me.
Huxley: We look forward to your presentation. We’ll see you then.
I set down my phone and turn back to my computer. I look through my emails, but the letters become all jumbled and mashed together. Nothing makes sense.
My mind is unfocused.
Because even though I don’t want to admit it, the only thing I can think about is this: will I be able to go down on Lottie again and . . . when?
“They should be here any minute, right?” JP asks, adjusting his suit.
“Yes,” I say. I can see one of the elevators climbing toward our floor. That has to be them.
“Do we know if the sister is single?” JP asks. “She’s really hot.”
“No idea, but if we sign a contract with her, it wouldn’t be a good idea to pursue her,” I say.
“Uh, says the guy who ate out Lottie on the dining room table last night.”
“What?” Breaker leans in. “Why the hell did I not know about that?”
“I conned him into telling me,” JP says. “I could tell he was in a good mood when he came in this morning, so I needled him until he told me.”
“Dude, what the hell are you doing?” Breaker asks.
“Not the place or time,” I say to Breaker as the elevator dings with their arrival. I set my shoulders back and prepare to lay my eyes on Lottie and whatever dress she chose to wear today.
But when the elevator doors open, it isn’t Lottie and Kelsey I see, but rather Dave.
“Wow, what a greeting,” Dave says as he steps off the elevator, taking us all in. “I wasn’t expecting to see all three of the Cane brothers waiting on the other side of the elevator.”
What’s he doing here?
Better yet, where are Lottie and Kelsey—
The elevator on the far left dings and the doors slide open, revealing Kelsey and Lottie, both with feminine briefcases in hand. Kelsey is wearing a deep purple dress that shapes to her torso and flares ever so slightly at the hips, while Lottie—hell, is she trying to distract me? She’s wearing a navy-blue dress that hits her midthigh, fits like a glove, and cuts just low enough on her chest to make me want to rip the dress right off her with my bare hands. And then those heels.
My teeth wander over my bottom lip as my eyes stay fixed on her. On her . . . confused face.
“Would you look at that? Lottie, how nice to see you,” Dave says, pulling me out of my daze. “You look fantastic.”
Shit, should she be showing?
Hopefully not.
I had no idea Dave was going to come to the office. I thought he couldn’t work anything into his schedule and that’s why we never heard from him. I guess I was wrong.
“Thank you,” Lottie says. “Nice tie, Dave.” Smoothly, she walks toward me, and I watch her every step in those heels as she marches right up to me, places her hand on the back of my neck and says, “Hey, handsome.” Then, before I can catch my breath, she’s bringing my mouth toward her. It feels like hours as she closes the space between us, but when her lips meet mine, something possessive runs deep through my veins.
Life.
Her lips on mine are giving me life.
My hand snags around her back and I pull her in close to anchor her against me. Her other hand holding her modern briefcase falls to my chest as she steadies herself. My lips get lost in hers.
The fact that we’re in the office fades to black.
The peering eyes are non-existent.
And the meeting we have planned goes on the back-burner as I taste Lottie’s lips for the first time.
Smooth.
Interested.
Passionate.
I knew, just from the way she gets lost in my touch, that she’d be a good kisser, but this reaction, this press of her body against mine, fuck . . . it’s so much better than I ever expected.
When she finally pulls away and looks up at me with searching eyes, she slowly swallows and says, “Hey, you.”
I pinch her chin with my forefinger and thumb. “Hey.” When I finally look away from her, I catch Kelsey’s look of total disbelief, followed by Dave’s excited response.
“I love you two together,” Dave says, as if he’s known us for years and finally got us to hook up. The man is kind of weird, I’ve grown to find out as we’ve spent more time with him. He claps his hands together. “I’m sorry to interrupt, though. Huxley, are you ready for our meeting?”
“Meeting?” Lottie asks quietly. I glance at her. There’s a confused look in her eyes and I know how this might seem.
Like once again I’m skipping out on her and her sister.
“I wasn’t aware you set up a meeting with Dave as well,” Lottie says and there’s defeat in her shoulders. She knows how hard I’ve been trying to get Dave to talk to me about the properties.
“We didn’t,” Dave says. “I was hoping to sneak in before the weekend. You know how I don’t like to talk business after hours.”
Didn’t know that, but now I do.
“Oh.” Lottie pats me on the chest. “Then I won’t keep you waiting, Dave.” Lottie steps away. I see the protest on Kelsey’s lips as Lottie slowly shakes her head and moves her sister toward the elevator. “It was great seeing you, Dave.” She gives him a gentle wave and presses the down button on the elevator. The doors open right away.
But, before they can step on, I say, “Lottie, Kelsey, meet us in the boardroom. We’ll be right with you.”
The look of surprise on Lottie’s face gives me all the confirmation I need. I just did the right fucking thing.