“Huxley?”
“We’ll be right there. Go set up.” I let her know with my eyes that I mean business.
Without arguing, she leads Kelsey into the conference room, but I can feel her eyes on me the entire time.
I turn to Dave and say, “Man, you know I’d love to have this conversation with you more than anything, but I promised Kelsey and Lottie I’d listen to their pitch.”
“Pitch?” Dave asks. “You make your fiancée pitch to you?”
I smirk. “She wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Pardon my intrusion, but can I ask what they’re pitching?”
I stick my hands in my suit pockets and say, “They own an organizational business that focuses on using sustainable and earth-friendly organizing products. We’re thinking of having them go through our properties, especially this office, to make our spaces more efficient.”
“Wow.” Dave blinks a few times and glances toward the conference room. “I had no idea Lottie was a hustler.” He slowly nods. “With all the money you have, she doesn’t want to just sit around and enjoy it, she wants to make something of herself. I respect that, a lot.” He keeps his eyes on her and a spike of jealousy . . . possession . . . pulses through me.
“I’m a lucky man. It’s really sexy seeing her work as hard as she does.”
“I can imagine.” Dave rocks on his heels and says, “Well, how about I set up a time with Karla to speak so we don’t have a run-in like this again?”
“Great, and I’m sorry about today.”
Dave waves me off. “It actually makes me respect you even more, sticking to your prior commitments, realizing when something is important.” Dave nods. “You’re a good man, Huxley Cane.”
Hell, if he only knew.
I turn to Breaker and ask, “Can you help Dave find Karla to set up that meeting?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Breaker says as he guides Dave to the back of the office. When they’re out of earshot, JP turns toward me, mimicking my stance.
“You’re fucked.”
“What do you mean?” I ask. “Dave said he respected me more.”
JP shakes his head. “Nah, man, not with Dave. You’re just fucked, because that girl in there, the one in the blue dress—yeah, she has you by the balls. The Huxley I know never would’ve passed up on the opportunity to meet with the guy he’s trying to strike a deal with. As a matter of fact, he’d drop pretty much anything to make it happen.” He glances behind him. “Who knew a girl in a blue dress would be your kryptonite?”
“I made a promise to her,” I say, my jaw clenched tight. “I’m not about to walk back on that promise.”
JP pats me on the shoulder. “Keep telling yourself that, man.”
He heads toward the conference room, and when he opens the door, both girls look up, but Lottie doesn’t say anything to JP. Her eyes stray to mine through the glass windows. There it is, plain as day—she’s grateful.
The surge of pride that pummels me in the chest from that one simple look is scary.
Terrifying.
Exhausted, I flop onto my large bed and let out a deep sigh. From the lack of sleep this week to the tension-filled moments I’ve shared with Lottie, I’ve never felt more tired in my entire life.
When I got home, I sat at the kitchen island and scarfed down the sandwich Reign made for me, and then I spent a good ten minutes in the shower, washing the week away, then slipped into a pair of boxer briefs and lay on top of my bed.
Lottie and Kelsey delivered today. There didn’t seem to be an ounce of nerves when they were presenting. They were confident, knowledgeable, and when we drilled them with questions, they had an answer for every single one of them. But not just answers, answers that were well-thought-out and informative.
There was no question. After they finished, I looked at the boys, they gave me the nod, and we told them they were hired. We’d start with the main office and then work our way out from there. It’s a huge contract for them. A contract that’s going to put them at the next level.
They held their composure as they packed up their things and thanked us, but after we left, Lottie sent me a text message full of emojis and said she and Kelsey were going to celebrate. She asked if it was okay if she missed dinner.
As if she needs to ask my permission. I told her to have fun.
Which leaves me here, alone, in my bedroom, contemplating my decisions.
Knock. Knock.
My eyes glance over to the door.
I sit up on my bed, hands gripping the edge as I say, “It’s open.”
The door cracks and Lottie pokes her head inside. “Can I come in?”
“Yes,” I answer as my eyes drag over her body in that dress. What I wouldn’t give to peel it off her body right now and celebrate her victory with her, the only way I know how—by worshipping her body.
“Hey.” She waves shyly.
“Hey,” I say as I wet my lips. Lottie looks like a juicy piece of meat, standing there in front of me, waiting to be devoured.
“I just thought I’d stop by before I went to take a bath. I wanted to personally thank you again.”
“No need to thank me, Lottie. You and Kelsey put on one hell of a presentation. It was an easy yes for all of us.”
She shakes her head. “No, I mean, thank you for the sacrifice you made. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Do what?” I ask, confused.
Her head tilts to the side. “Huxley, I know you’ve been waiting to talk to Dave about business for a while now, but when the opportunity presented itself, you didn’t back down on your promise to us.”
“I told you, I can be an honest man. Dave could wait.”
“Well, I know what a sacrifice it was and I’m really grateful.”
“You’re welcome,” I say simply. And when she doesn’t leave, I ask, “Did you have fun with your sister? You’re home sooner than I thought.”
“We went for celebratory drinks. Some guys bought us a few drinks.” My jealousies rise, my anger taking root. “Kelsey was vibing with one of them, and the other guy was trying to get my number.”
My jaw tenses, my fingers grip the side of the mattress tightly.
“But I told him I was engaged.” Lottie smirks and holds up her hand, showing off her ring. “When he saw the size of the diamond, he knew there was no competition.”
Damn fucking right.
“He doesn’t need to see the size of the ring to realize there’s no competition. Especially when I’m the man who gave you the ring.”
She folds her arms over her chest. “Am I sensing a hint of jealousy, Huxley?”
“Not jealousy, just protecting what’s mine.”
“I’m yours now?”
“Until we’ve fulfilled our duties spelled out in the contract,” I say, my fingers itching to let go of this mattress and bury themselves in Lottie’s long, dark locks.
“Well, you have nothing to worry about, my loyalty lies with you.” She walks toward me, those mile-high heels of hers clicking across the floor. My eyes fix on her toned legs, and when she stops in front of me, her chest rests just at eye level. And then she squats to her knees, right between my legs.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my body erupting in excitement from her position.
Her hands fall to my thighs. “Thanking you.”
Her hands slide up to my already stiff cock, but I stop her before she can touch anything. “I don’t need your thanks. I told you, you earned everything you got today. It has nothing to do with our situation and everything to do with your ideas and merit.”
Her eyes match up to mine. “Do you not want me to suck you off?”
“Not like this,” I say, offended. “Not with the thought in your mind that you’re thanking me for hiring you. I don’t want your mouth like that.”
I move my hand to her cheek and caress her lips with my thumb. She opens her mouth, capturing my thumb, and she sucks on it, hard. Her cheeks hollow out, and fuck, what I wouldn’t give to have my dick replace my thumb.
But not like this.
Not when there’s the possibility that she thinks she’s repaying me.