Hitched (Imperfect Love Book 1) (8 page)

A girl could get used to this . . .

Unfortunately, we’ve dawdled long enough. We need to get to the office soon. I stow my plate and mug in the dishwasher and start heading to the bathroom to put on my makeup.

But as I turn, Noah catches me by the shoulders and spins me around again. His strong arms wrap tight around me. Before I can think, he crushes our lips together.

I gasp. It’s nothing like last night’s kiss. That was soft and sweet, the lightest possible touch, like trying not to spook a skittish animal. This is a different kind of taming—hard, rough, fiery. The kid gloves have come off. Noah has caught me, claimed me, and arousal flares through my body like the heat of a brand.

Caught off guard, I can’t hold back a moan. I’m shocked to find my muscles turning to jelly. I cling to him just to stay on my feet.

Everything about Noah pours into my senses. I soak up his body heat, the rasp of stubble around my lips, the masculine scents of piney soap and spicy aftershave.

He devours my mouth and leaves me dizzy, panting for air. His teeth nip and scrape at my lips. His tongue licks deep, skating over mine, a tantalizing preview of how that hot, agile muscle might move over my clit. A vivid promise of the pleasure I could have . . . if I’d only let him give it to me.

I remember how he moaned my name in the bathroom last night. The memory of those dark, needy noises send another flood of heat through me. Maybe I’m not just another conquest to him; maybe he’s just as powerless in his own way.

Suddenly, I can’t figure out why I ever hesitated. I had a hot, willing man practically begging to blow my mind. What was the point of denying myself a good time? I arch up, pressing our hips together, and feel a twin flash of hunger and triumph at the long, thick hardness that pokes into my belly.

Then Noah steps back. All the touch I’m craving—the warm, muscled body and the hot, wet mouth—suddenly just disappears. It takes me a moment to register what happened.

Still dazed with lust, I blink up at him. “What . . . ?”

“It’s time to leave. We’re going to be late for work.”

“Work?” The word comes out as a disappointed whine.

He grins like he just won the Super Bowl. “You’re the one who set our limits at first base. Although, if you want more, I think the office could survive another hour without us. But you’ll have to ask nicely.”

As the fog of horniness clears away from my mind, I realize what’s going on here.
Oh, you son of a bitch . . .

Noah was playing with me this whole time. His plan all along was to tease me until I got desperate enough to loosen our agreement’s restrictions. He’s trying to tempt me into admitting that I want to be more than just friends. He thinks he can prove himself right and also get laid—two birds with one stone.

Well, he can just forget about it. Olivia Cane does not beg. Ever.

I’m almost more pissed off at myself than him. What the hell was I thinking? Not much, that’s for sure. My libido just totally ripped me out of the driver’s seat. I’ve never felt so out of control before. And if I have anything to say about it, this first time will also be the last.

Damn, my lips still tingle from his kiss. My face burns with embarrassment and the last stubborn traces of arousal.

Trying to collect myself, I give Noah the dirtiest look I can muster. “You’re the devil.”

“I’m pretty sure that would make you the queen of hell, then.” He pauses. “Actually, maybe that’s not so inaccurate . . .”

“Congratulations, smartass, you get to finish the dishes while I put on my makeup.” I turn on my heel and stalk away to the bathroom.

“As you wish,” he calls down the hall after me.

I set my jaw, trying to tamp down my irritation and lingering horniness. I know of only one sure way to shut him up. Unfortunately, as I just learned, he would only turn a kiss to his advantage again.

I can’t forget Noah’s boast about how I’d be begging by Day Four. At first, I thought there was no way I’d give in that easily. But now, only one day later, I’m not so sure.

Noah

When we reach the conference room, it’s filled to capacity with nearly all the office staff in the building. All the seats at the long conference table are taken, and it’s standing room only at the back of the room.

I see Rosita tucked into the far corner and she gives me a cheerful wave. She wasn’t on the invite for the meeting, but I texted her to be here. There’s no way I could let her miss out on hearing the big news. I know she’s as proud of me as my own mother would have been.

Olivia’s father is standing at the head of the room, chatting casually with Prescott and the few members of the board who opted to show. I know they’re less than optimistic about the results Olivia and I are promising.

As we wait for the big announcement to begin, people are talking in small groups. Some chat about the work they’re so passionate about, while others are just making small talk with the workplace friends they’ve developed over the years. These are all the people who’ll lose their jobs if we’re not successful. Real people. With real problems and real lives. And all of that is on the line.

My stomach tightens.

“I need a drink,” Olivia grumbles beside me.

“Good idea,” I murmur.

I wonder if she’s still pissed at me for leaving her high and dry this morning. Probably. But after the way she rolled her tight little ass over in bed last night after giving me a hard-on with her soft, wet kisses and little groans of encouragement? Forcing me to go tend to the beast if I wanted any hope of falling asleep? Yeah, payback’s a bitch.

Her gaze wanders to the side table near the windows, where carafes of coffee and trays of Danishes have been placed.

“I don’t see any tea. You want coffee?” she asks, already starting toward it.

I shake my head. “Thanks for asking, but I’m good.”

Moments later, Olivia returns with a paper cup of steaming black coffee.

“Let’s begin,” Fred announces in a booming voice. Silence settles over the room, and all eyes focus on him.

He takes a step forward. “I’ve called this meeting today to share a special announcement.” He looks over at me and Olivia and smiles briefly before turning his attention back out onto the crowd. “It is with great honor that I announce the next generation of Tate & Cane . . . my daughter, Olivia, and Bill’s son, Noah, are taking over operations as co-CEOs.”

A murmur of whispers erupts all around us.

“I know, I know.” Fred silences the crowd with a wave of his hand. “The family decided to reject the board’s proposal, at least for now, and prove to you that we can turn this company profitable under their leadership by the end of this financial quarter.”

We see a few heads nodding, but most people still look uncertain. I don’t blame them. Their jobs are at stake, and what proof do they have that Olivia and I can actually pull this off—and so fast? None.

“Please put your hands together and welcome your new co-CEOs.” He claps enthusiastically and everyone follows suit, treating us to a round of applause.

After the noise dies down, Olivia steps forward with a short but eloquent speech about how devoted we are to succeeding, and how we’ll need the cooperation and hard work of everyone in this room to win together. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly what she says because I see Harrison eye-fucking Olivia from where he stands in the back of the room, and blood thunders in my ears.

As Olivia finishes, I step forward and take her hand in mine. That prick from accounting is about to know for certain who she belongs to.

“I have a related announcement, actually. Might as well get it all out in the open, since I have nothing to hide.” I grin at Olivia, who looks like she’s ready to murder me. “The rumors are true. Olivia and I are dating.”

“But it won’t detract from our business focus,” she says, interrupting me.

Damn.
Everything about this woman is stiff and unrelenting. What I need is to get her to loosen up and relax. She’s wound too tight. She needs to learn to stop and smell the roses once in a while. Work aside, that becomes my next priority.

Plus, I still have to figure out how I’m going to win the bet we’ve made. Only three more days to get her wet and naked and begging for me . . . And just like that, it moves up to the top of my agenda.

I fight off the wave of arousal that hits me and smile as we field questions from the employees.

• • •

As soon as the meeting ends and the entire company isn’t watching us, Olivia storms away without a word and refuses to answer my knock on her office door. I guess my little impromptu announcement pissed her off even more than I thought.

But why? We
are
dating, aren’t we? Damn it . . . if I ever want to win her over, I need to figure out what makes her tick. I’m not above asking for help. And who knows a woman better than her best friend?

I already know Camryn works in the marketing department. Tracking down her cubicle is easy from there. When I find it, I see it’s a mess of papers and folders, one of those chaotic systems where I’m sure she’d try to convince me she knows where everything is.

She’s typing away, and when I stroll up, her fingers suddenly stop and her eyes lift to mine.

“How can I help you?”

I almost laugh. She’s so formal. She and Olivia are definitely cut from the same cloth; I can see why they’re such good friends.

“I need to talk to you about Olivia,” I say, and Camryn’s brow furrows.

It crosses my mind that maybe she won’t want to help me. I decide to lay all my cards on the table and see if my candor will make her bite.

I lower my voice and lean in closer. “You know about the whole marriage contract, right?”

“Yes, and I’m not going to help you try to convince her, if that’s why you’re here. Olivia’s a big girl, and she can make up her own mind.”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“Fine. What do you need? I’m not exactly
Team Noah
, you know?”

“That’s fine, because we’re both Team Olivia.”

She swivels her chair away from the keyboard and faces me. “You have five minutes.”

“Why is Olivia so opposed to this? I hate to be so cocksure, but most women drop their panties at my slightest interest.”

“Olivia is
not
most women.”

“Believe me, I’ve noticed.”

“So, what seems to be the problem, lover boy?” She shifts her weight in her seat, looking me over with an amused expression. She’s enjoying my desperation way too much. “I never imagined that Noah Tate, the legendary sex god, would have any problem seducing a woman.”

“Sex god, eh?”

She shrugs. “Are the rumors true or not?”

“Depends on which rumors you’re referring to.”

“That you have a magical nine-inch dick that tastes like strawberries?”

I burst out laughing despite myself. We’re in a crowded work area with people sitting well within earshot, and she’s discussing my cock like we’re picking out carpet samples.

“As much as it pains me to say this, let’s get off my dick and onto the topic at hand.”

She squares her shoulders. “Right. Olivia.”

“Tell me what she likes. Hobbies. Interests. Things she enjoys.”

Camryn takes a second to think it over. “She works her ass off all week, which I’m sure you know. So if you’re referring to the weekends, she likes watching rom-coms and has a secret romantic side. She buys herself a bouquet of peonies at the farmers’ market every Saturday.”

“That’s good.” I pull out my phone and type
peonies
into the notes app. “What else? Favorite color? Food?” I already know she likes dirty martinis and red wine, but charming Olivia will take a lot more than just liquoring her up.

“Green. Like money.” Camryn grins. Olivia always was an overachieving powerhouse. “And she loves tapas.”

“Isn’t that just appetizers for dinner?”

“Basically,” Camryn says with a shrug.

“Got it. Anything else?”

She looks away for a moment. “Well, there is one thing, but I don’t think you’re going to want to hear this.”

“Lay it on me.”

“She has this scrapbook of her dream wedding. She’s been adding to it since she was a little girl.”

“Olivia?” My eyes widen. “The same Olivia Cane who protested getting married has dreams of a grand wedding?”

“Exactly. She’s always dreamed of a big, beautiful wedding. She’s actually really mushy underneath that hard shell. What her mom and dad shared was special, and she’s ultimately looking for the same thing. The perfect wedding. The perfect husband.”

It all hits me at once. “And this arrangement crushes her lifelong dream.”

“Well, yes.”

Camryn seems oblivious of the huge bombshell she just dropped on me. It doesn’t matter if I know Olivia’s favorite color or dinner spot. She wants the one thing I can never give her—a real happily-ever-after.

My heart sinks a little. No matter how well we’re getting along, I’m not foolish enough to think I could fill in for her soul mate.
Unless
. . . I swallow as a wave of nerves hits. Holy freaking matrimony. Am I ready for that?

“One more thing,” I ask Camryn. “Why doesn’t she ever date?” Not since that douche of an ex in college have I seen Olivia with another man.

“Basically? She’s a picky bitch,” Camryn says with a fond smile.

“She’s waiting for her Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet.”

“Something like that.”

“Thanks, this has been really helpful.”

“Good luck,” Camryn calls as I head toward my office. She lets the
you’re going to need it
go unspoken.

Fuck . . . I’ve got my work cut out for me.