Mistletoe & Kisses (5 page)

“Now I’m calling bullshit. You don’t even know me.” I threw my hands to my hips and met his eyes. “Hell I wasn’t even interesting enough to come back and talk to after your phone call.”

“Your name is Olive Harper. You live here in this house, alone,” he raised an eyebrow. “You were either kind enough or insane enough to allow a drunk stranger to sleep one off on your couch. You have your cell phone tucked into the back pocket of those very nice fitting jeans.” He smiled devilishly while his eyes roved over my body. “You are a paralegal for the...the firm my brother just became a partner at. You work under Monica Durbin. You’ve worked under her for eight years. You have your business degree and your paralegal certification. You’ve never been married. You don’t have any children and your last boyfriend was over six months ago,” this time he wiggled both of his eyebrows. “Long time,” he smirked, still wiggling his eyebrows. “You are one of the highest paid paralegals at the firm, just under those who work for the original three partners. That says a lot about you.”

“And you seem to know a lot about me. Why and how?”
I’m kind of freaking out that he seems to know a lot about me. Not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing. Why would he have checked me out?

“You’d be surprised at what other women will say about each other when a man asks the right way.”

“You seem very proud of yourself and your information gathering.” I crossed my arms over my chest pushing my breast up and together, his eyes lit up at the site. “And here I am with no information about you.”

“Ask me anything.” He threw his hands up in the air. “Funny no one asked me a single thing about myself last night except my name and if I was married.” He laughed. “One even asked flat out if I’d take her home and fuck her senseless.” He shook his head laughing. “She was hanging on me most of the night.”

“Billie.” I said disgusted.

“Yup that was her name. She slipped me her number I think. I handed it to Malone and told him she was probably the firm mattress back, before you had told me and probably a future problem that we both needed to stay away from.”

“Good read on her.”

“Now you on the other hand...”

“Am not the firm mattress back. Nor do I mix business with pleasure.”

“Well I don’t work for the same business so pleasure it is.” Murphy rubbed both his palms together then grabbed me by both arms, pulled me to him and had my mouth covered with his before I could answer and all thought was momentarily gone from my brain.

Oh my. He can kiss. Maybe it’s just been a really long time. I mean it’s been almost eight months, not six like he had been told.
His lips were soft, yet intent on their mission. There was just the right amount of pressure of just kissing my lips, not asking for entrance or even permission. It was not demanding, but I could feel it down to my toes. He moved his hands from my arms up to cup his hands to my jaw. His palms were soft to my skin, but his fingers tips a bit rougher. I felt myself almost melting against him.

Just as a moan was about to escape my lips he pulled back enough to lean his forehead to mine. “Holy shit woman.” He laughed out of breath. “That was…” he started then there was knock at the door. “I so want to continue this, but that’s my ride and I do believe your exact words were ‘Get yourself cleaned up then use the phone to call whoever you have to and get the fuck out of my house’.” He beamed at me. “I certainly hope we can do this again sometime. I would love to see where this would have gone.” He moved around her.

“I … ah…”
Speak idiot you sound like a moron. Don’t let him think he got to you as much as he may or may not have.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t know that that would be a good idea. I mean your brother …”

“My brother has nothing to do with my personal life just as I have nothing to do with his. We learned that lesson long ago. Business is business and personal is personal. We are really good at separating the two.” He grabbed my hand and led me toward my front door. “I will call you.” He swept a stray hair back behind my ear. “I really do want to see you again.”

“Well, that will be tough to do from Chicago.” I stated.

“Chicago? How do you know I live in Chicago?” His head snapped up in surprise.

“Last night at the country club you were… well you … Suzanne, the woman who works there, checked your pockets for your identification and apparently your license said Chicago. We would have called someone to pick you up, but you didn’t have a phone on you.”

“I think I chucked it and it smashed into pieces.” He shrugged. There was another knock at the door. He reached back and turned the lock and the knob, opening the door without turning away from me. “I’ll be right out.” He said to the driver standing on my porch then he closed the door. “I really do want to see you again.”

“Well, when you move to New Jersey give me a call.”

“Whoa. You just said you don’t even know me and now you want me to move my whole life here for you? Pushy and a bit too fast for me, woman.” He laughed and I smacked him on the chest. “How about I call you and you answer and we talk and get to know each other. Maybe a little phone sex here and there and see where that takes us.”

“Well, that comment right there just took you a step closer to my porch.” I shoved at him.

“Hey, we can use Skype for those moments if you are more comfortable that way. I’m game.” He laughed, which made me laugh. “Seriously, I really do want to see you again.”

“Then seriously, the next time you are in Jersey give me a call.” I opened the door and he stepped backward onto the porch.

“I’ll need your number.”

“You found out a lot about me by just asking around a room full of people, I’m sure you can find out my number just as easily.” I leaned up on my toes and pressed my lips to his. This time I controlled the kiss and just for good measure I licked the seam between his lips and just as he parted his lips to allow me entrance I nipped at his bottom lip and pulled away with a smile. “And next time don’t be so fucking rude when you wake me up.” I winked and spread a smile across my face. Just as he took a step forward toward me I closed the door.
I’m such a bitch, but I’m not going to make it easy for him.

“I’ll be calling you, Olive.” He tapped the door I was presently leaning against, still holding the stupid smile on my face.

* * *

“So you just let him leave? Just like that?” Monica sat behind her desk with her jaw dropped and her hands spread out in front of her.

“Yup he just walked out my front door. He said he’d call, but he didn’t and hasn’t.” I shrugged a shoulder. If I was honest with myself, hell yes, I was totally disappointed that he left Saturday morning and it was now mid-day Monday and he hadn’t called, but I also hadn’t given him my phone number. Of course, all he had to do was ask his brother to contact someone here at the office to get it. Then I remembered what he said about them keeping their business and personal lives separate. But still… “I really don’t think he would call anyway. It was a spontaneously weird thing and … whatever. What did you need to see me about?” I asked taking a sip of my water and popping a forkful of salad into my mouth.

“Well, it would seem that word got to Mr. Malone Scott that you are the most awesome of the awesome paralegals and he tried to steal you from me.” She towered her fingers in front of her and raised an eyebrow at me.

“What? When? Why?”
Okay, who spiked the Kool-Aid? What the hell! I’ve been with Monica from the beginning why would anyone think I would even consider leaving her.

“I was called into Chelle’s office this morning.” Chelle is one of the top partners, one of the decision makers. If someone is to be promoted, demoted, fired, hired or what have you, Chelle calls HR, they don’t call her. “Apparently, Malone was asking around looking to add staff his new branch of the firm and your name came up
a lot
. Which, of course, is great for you, but…”

“But…I’m not leaving you Monica. I love my job. I love you. We are going to grow old and die at our desks together.” I laughed and she smiled at me. “Come on.” I looked at her again. “Unless you want me to go.” Now it was my turn to be unsure.
Did she want me to go work for Malone? Was she not happy with me anymore? Why hadn’t she freakin’ said something? Why wait until…

“Of course I want you to stay with me. You have to stay and grow old with me, but I don’t want to hold you back either. He was offering you more money and a chance to travel. He would like to meet with you to discuss the option.”
Shit! Travel for work? Oh, where would I travel? He is an entertainment attorney. He probably has clients all over the world. And more money, ah, more money for the retirement funds. But do I want more money? More work for more clients? Clients who are celebrities and think you are at their beckon call.

“I’m good where I am, thank you. When he calls to meet with me I’ll thank him for the offer and opportunity, but I’m good here. Who knows maybe after you get married and pop out a few kids, I’ll head for the hills.” I laughed and waited for the nanny comment that I knew was coming, it always did.

“Bullshit, you will be adding nanny services to your job description.” She threw her head back laughing.
See, told ya.
“Thanks for staying. I would hate to lose you. I can offer you more money after the new year though.” She winked when I gasped and covered my mouth.

“Thanks for keeping me and not telling me to go.” We finished out lunch as we always did, chatting about this, that, everything in between and nothing.

Wednesday night was veg on the couch night for me. I had worked late the night before with Monica until almost nine o’clock. We had cut out at six tonight and were headed back into one of our longest lasting cases. The couple had been arguing for the past three months about a piece of property that the husband wanted to sell and the wife wanted to keep. We had offered to buy husband out, but he refused to sell to the wife. The wife said she would offer him double his asking price, but we would not allow that.

My couch night was made up of my coziest pajama boxer shorts, my softest button down pajama shirt, my softy soft knee high socks and my hair thrown up in a messy bun on top of my head. I settled in to start reading my newest Kindle download. I was reaching for my mug of hot chocolate from the side table when my phone buzzed. I looked toward it and debated on whether or not to even check it, but it might have been Monica. She had told me she would be working late tonight from home and might be calling…ugh

M: Well it took me five fucking days to finally get your number, but I got it. I had to do a couple of things I’m not proud of and will have flashing before my eyes at my final moments, but they were worth it. How about a little pic to make up for my acts?

O: Who in the hell is this?

M: Wow, you’ve forgotten me already. Well, how about I give you a reminder of your body pressed up against mine in your hallway with you only wearing a flimsy pajama shirt that barely covered the little boxer shorts that barely covered your ass. Your braless tits rubbing up against me causing my morning wood to get even more painfully hard.

O: Holy shit! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

M: I kissed your mouth with this mouth and I’d love to do it again and again and again. Then kiss even more places on you.

O: Seriously, who is this?

M: Woman, you had better fucking know who this is. Grrrr

O: Did you just Grrr at me?

M: I did and if you don’t type my name in your next response I’m getting on a plane and I’m going to remind you exactly who I am.

O: Oh Merick. How are you? It has been forever.

M: Woman!!! I have the phone in my hands

O: Oh sorry M… what was it again.

M: I’m dialing the airport…

O: Good! And when you get a hold of them you can tell them that the WOMAN you are coming out here to see is presently wearing another pajama shirt as well as an even smaller pair of boxer shorts and knee high socks. Murphy :p

M: Damn I was hoping to be on the plane by the time you ‘said’ my name.

O: And what would you have done when you got here?

M: Open your front door and find out

O: What? Are you really… stop

M: Olive?

M: Olive?

M: Woman!!

O: They are beautiful thank you :/

M: What is the :/ for? What you don’t like Gerbera daisies and Asters? You have a bunch of pictures of them around your house.

O: No, no. I do I love them, thank you.

M: Then why the :/ not the :D

M: Hello?

O: I’m here. I was just putting them in a vase. They are now up on my mantel. Pic attached

M: Holy Shit! I miss those lips. Did I really just meet you six days ago?

O: Yup. At a wonderful beautifully decorated country club that you drank yourself into a stupor at that required me to bring you home with me. Are you going to tell me what that was about BTW?

M: I had just lost a major deal and was pissed. Then I was dragged by my older brother to his new firm’s holiday party which was held in an awesomely decorated winter wonderland by a lady who has great legs that I would love to have …