“I don’t even want to hear it. You risked everything for Emery after only knowing her a few weeks, and now, you’re lecturing me?” I asked in disbelief. “I came to you for help as my brother. Don’t fucking judge me, man.”
Jensen held up his hands. “You’re right. I just worry. I thought you had enough on your plate without adding something else to the mix. It took four weeks to make this position for you. So, I’ll look into it, but stay away from her until then.”
I swallowed hard. “Fine.”
Even though I knew that I wouldn’t.
When I got home, I didn’t share my conversation with Heidi. I wanted to tell her that I was working on fixing the problem that kept us apart, but Jensen had made no promises. I didn’t want to get her hopes up, only for them to be dashed if he couldn’t come up with a solution.
The next morning, I went into physical therapy bright and early. Anjee greeted me with a friendly smile and started me on my warm-ups and stretches. Moving home to start physical therapy and getting a job with the company was supposed to help me de-stress, yet I was more stressed than ever. That meant my mental state was totally fucked up right now, destroying my whole reason for moving here in the first place. But Anjee always calmed me down, reminded me to keep my head in the game, and to heal right the first time so I could get back on my feet.
I knew she was right. In more than one way. I needed time, and it was the only thing I couldn’t actually rush.
I finished therapy at exactly the right time, feeling worn out and achy all over. Monday mornings were the worst because I had taken the weekends off. But I was glad that I’d gotten it out of the way. Then, I could play catch-up at work before everyone got there.
I slumped over in my chair when I finally made it to my office. My back was throbbing. I had really worked hard today. Harder than I had before. Something Anjee had said made me really want to do everything I could every minute I was with her to get my back to start improving. And, now, I was hating myself for it.
I popped a few Tylenol and then went through my emails. When I found the one that most interested me, I stopped and stared at the subject line.
Lead Engineer Job Offer
This was the job Heidi had applied for. I would know before she did whether or not she’d gotten it. My mouse hovered over the email. I wanted to read it. I wanted to find out if she had gotten the spot. I wanted to be the one to tell her and congratulate her and hold her.
But I couldn’t do it.
If she’d gotten the job, then she needed to hear it from someone else. Even if no one else knew that we were seeing each other, I knew, and it would feel like favoritism.
I forwarded the email over to Julia and Dennis, the head of engineering, and asked them to inform whoever had gotten the job. They probably thought I was being a dick by delegating out one of my tasks, but I didn’t care. Everyone thought that the Wright family were all dicks anyway. I didn’t mind feeding into our reputation a little bit if it saved my integrity.
Twenty-Nine
Landon
Heidi appeared in the office an hour later. We tried not to talk to each other or look at each other when she was here. But I caught myself doing it anyway. No matter how troublesome it was, it was impossible to look away from her. Especially when all I could think about was getting her back to my place and stripping her out of all those sexy work clothes she strutted around here in. Though today, of course, I was excited to find out about the promotion.
And I was glad that I didn’t know. If she had gotten it, I couldn’t spoil it, and if she hadn’t, I couldn’t ruin her day.
Julia rushed over to Heidi’s desk as soon as she showed up, and they chattered away. I caught a glimpse of them together as I headed for the restroom. My stomach was actually cramping. I was so nervous for her. I knew what this meant to her. I knew all too well.
When I stepped back out of the restroom though, I was shocked to find Heidi waiting for me.
“I got it!” she cried, biting her lip and looking like all she wanted to do was throw her arms around me and make out with me.
“You got it?” I said, playing dumb.
“The job! You’re looking at your new lead engineer!”
Her eyes darted back and forth, as if waiting for someone else to come around the corner and find us talking to each other.
“Congratulations!” I said. I wanted nothing more than to grab her around the middle and swing her around.
“Did you know?” she asked, beaming. “Did you already know? Had you known all weekend?”
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have been able to keep it a secret all weekend.”
“Oh my God, Landon, I just…you know how much this means to me.”
“I do,” I said, taking a small step forward. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
“You can’t.”
But her eyes were bright, and her fingers curled into fists at her sides. I imagined them curling into my suit jacket, and I took another step forward.
“Just one.”
God, I knew I was supposed to stay away. I knew that I should step back and not take advantage of this situation, but I wanted to. I wanted to run my hands through her long hair and knot it in my fist as I fucked her from behind. I wanted to kiss her perfect pink lips—both sets—until they were swollen. I wanted to taste every inch of her body and then let her taste herself on my lips.
I wanted everything in that moment. And I could have nothing.
She could see the desire written plainly on my face, and she released a breathy gasp that only made me want to re-create it.
“Landon,” she whispered.
I tilted my head toward the empty restroom. She shook her head, eyes wide. I grinned as I dragged her inside and locked the door.
“What are you doing?” she panted as I pressed her back into the wall.
“Celebrating you.”
My lips crashed down onto hers, and she returned the kiss with fervor. As if we hadn’t just been together last night. As if we hadn’t been together all weekend. Yet I couldn’t get enough.
Patience flew out the window. Jensen’s warnings flittered out of my mind. All my thoughts about integrity disappeared entirely.
“Landon, we can’t,” she said as she grabbed on to my suit and tugged me closer.
“I know.”
My hand slid up her bare thigh and shoved her pencil skirt up to her waist. I thrust her thong aside, and she whimpered at my touch. My fingers delved in between her folds and felt her slick need.
She was already wet for me. Fuck.
“Oh God, I want you right now,” I told her.
She closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing as my dick hardened uncomfortably in my suit pants. I moved my wet fingers to circle her clit. She tensed all around me as she tried not to whimper, and I knew it must be difficult because she was very vocal. But I kept circling her sensitive center until she was biting down on her own hand to keep from crying out. Then, I shoved two fingers up inside her.
“Congratulations,” I growled into her ear as she came on my fingers.