Seduce (5 page)
George opened the door for
me, which was odd. I climbed out and scowled at him.
“We’
re home now, and I figured since you’ve been sitting in the back while I’ve been parked for five minutes already, you might need a reminder on how to open the door.”
I laugh
ed. “Well, thanks for that George. I’m a bit distracted.”
He looked
at me and then the light seemed to go on in that head of his. “Ah, a woman. I don’t think I’ve ever known you to be distracted with a woman before. Anyone I know?”
“No
. She’s my new assistant.” I growled out.
George seemed startled.
“Oh.”
I sigh
ed. “Exactly.”
“
I see the problem.” He chuckled and climbed back into the car. George lived on my land in a small two bedroom cabin about ten minutes walk from the main house. It was part and parcel of the job of being my chauffeur.
I walked inside
and placed everything on the table in the entrance hall, which included my jacket and tie, then walked into ‘the cave’, as my mother liked to call it. It had shelves of books, a large desk with the newest in Apple technology and what I desperately needed right now – alcohol.
With a whisk
ey poured, I sat at my desk in the dark and wondered what Lily was doing. I wondered if her bastard of a boyfriend was trying to worm his way back into her good graces or if he was still being an ass. I wanted nothing more than for Lily to be with me, which was stupid, considering I’d known her less than twenty-four hours. I found myself looking forward to tomorrow, and it actually had nothing to do with work.
My
cell started to ring as I was about to take a drink of the whiskey. I placed the glass into my left hand and answered on the third jingle. “Hello, McKenzie.”
“Mr McKenzie,
it’s Derek,” he said nervously.
Derek was the man I’
d asked to find out what he could about why Lily had lost her job and David hadn’t. “I know who you are. Have you found out anything?”
“I
overheard a conversation earlier today, which shed some light on why Lily was let go. At lunch, David and another man named Peter, were talking about Lily. Apparently, they had a meeting with you and discovered she was now working for you. David sounded really pissed, but the other guy asked him why he was bothered, since he was screwing the boss’s daughter.”
Fuck.
I sure as hell hadn’t been expecting that. “Are you sure?”
“David made a couple of crude comments abou
t her, and Lily for that matter, so yes. From what he was saying, it seemed that way and I think the boss’s daughter had something to do with Lily leaving.”
“Thanks
, Derek. You’ve been a great help. I’ll transfer you the money tonight.”
“Thank you
, Mr McKenzie. Have a good night.”
I slam
med my phone down onto the desk and drained my glass of whiskey, before I threw it into the fire, which I’d yet to set. What a fuckin’ mess. Did I tell Lily or let her find out for herself? If I told her, I’d be able to console her, providing she didn’t shoot the messenger. If she found out for herself, she might come to me on her own. What a damn position to be in.
The sooner she wa
s away from him the better. The thought of them together was driving me crazy.
I answer
ed my phone again. “Yes,” I said, still annoyed.
“What the hell is wron
g with you?” Lucien asked.
“Nothing. What’s wrong? Has Sebastian showed up yet?” I
sat back in my chair feeling the exhaustion settle in, which usually happened after a glass of whiskey.
“Yeah, he’s here. Just wanted
to let you know he’d arrived. Why are you fobbing me off?”
I laugh
ed. Trust Lucien to see through me. “No reason, just one of those days…. don’t forget the McKenzie picnic in a couple of weeks,” I reminded him.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there
. If I must.”
“You must,” I replied
. If I didn’t force him to be there, he’d stay holed up in Denver.
“
All right, Michael. I’ll see you in two weeks and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He laughed.
I hu
ng up the phone, only to have it ring not two minutes later.
“Ruben, now what?”
“Well you sound in a good mood.” Ruben laughed down the phone.
“Look, I’ve had a shit day, so just get on with it.”
“Okay, I was ringing to see if you wanted to come down to the club tonight for a couple of drinks….and to get laid.”
I growled. “If I wanted to get laid, I’m quite capable
of finding myself my own woman…. but a few drinks sounds good.”
“So you’ll come down then?”
“Yes.”
I hung up.
If I didn’t know better I’d say he was up to something. Fists might fly if he had a woman there, ready and waiting. I only wanted one woman.
Lily.
Chapter 11
~~
LILY ~~
I’
d been hiding in the bathroom for about forty-five minutes and my stomach was growling. I really needed some food. The best I could hope for was that he’d cleaned up and left the apartment. I really hoped he had, I wasn’t sure what the hell I was supposed to say to him after that little show.
Okay, I could
do this
. I plastered on a brave face and opened the bathroom door, only to get hit by the aroma of butter chicken. I followed the delicious smell to the kitchen and found David there, fully dressed –
thank god
– with an apron tied around his waist at the stove, stirring what I presumed was butter chicken. The only thing David seemed capable of cooking.
He turn
ed and caught me watching him. “I thought you were going to stay in there all night.”
I laugh
ed. “I wasn’t sure what exactly I’d be walking out into, after, you know.” I waved my arms around.
He looked
at me for the longest time. “I’d been horny all day after seeing you all business–like at McKenzie’s.”
My mouth drop
ped. Was he for real? He’d been pissed as hell.
“Are you sure about that? B
ecause that wasn’t the impression I got earlier.”
Si
tting at the table in the kitchen, I waited for him to respond. He’d heard me, as his shoulders stiffened briefly. I watched him while he served the chicken dish with rice and after placing my plate on the table he took his seat opposite me.
He poured
us both a glass of wine and looked at me, offering a toast. “To your new job.”
Okay, I
could play along.
“To my new job.” I agreed and placed my wine back on the table as he continued to watch me.
“
I reacted badly today at McKenzie’s. It was a shock to see you there with Michael McKenzie. The guy couldn’t keep his eyes off you, which got my back up.”
I started to eat
, thinking carefully, about how to respond. “David, you where an ass and acted very unprofessionally. There’s no way you expected me to just sit at home all day, doing nothing. I’ve always worked, even through college. I can’t believe you wouldn’t expect me to find another job.” I glared at him for a few minutes before continuing to eat. I really was hungry, which didn’t surprise me, as I’d missed lunch.
He sighed and placed his fork back on his plate.
“Okay, I was pissed, because I couldn’t believe you hadn’t told me about working there. Not only that, but when you stopped in the doorway and your boss walked into you, there was no need for him to keep his hands on you like he did.”
It
had felt damn good being held against Michael, feeling his arousal against my backside, and then when I turned to ask him to release me, our faces were mere inches apart. He made me so damn hot.
“Look, I’
m sorry I didn’t tell you about the job.” He raised an eyebrow at me, wanting me to continue, but all I wanted to do was eat, then head to bed and forget all about going out later. “I didn’t tell you, because I didn’t want a lecture from you. There, I’ve said it.” Having finished eating I pushed my plate away and glared at him, waiting for his response.
He sat
back in his chair and looked into his wine. “I’m sorry too, Lily. I really am. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and I guess I’ve been taking it out on you. Will you forgive me? We’ve been together a long time, and I don’t want to lose you.”
What
could I say to that? I really didn’t want to be in this relationship anymore and I hoped he didn’t either. Although Michael was stuck in my head, I’d actually been feeling like that for a while now. I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to say anything yet, especially since I had nowhere else to go.
“What was
going on when I came home? You’ve never done anything like that before,” I asked, feeling rather embarrassed, and by the blush on his face, he was too.
“I thought if you saw me doing someth
ing like that, then perhaps you would be more interested. I thought you might find it hot.”
Flabbergasted, I just stare
d at him. “I think I need to go and get ready to go out, although I would prefer to go to bed. I’m really tired after my first day at work.” I just wanted this conversation over with.
“We could blow Daniel and Val off
and stay here if you wanted to. I’m not opposed to an early night.”
That wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want him to touch m
e if I was totally honest. “No, I’ve been looking forward to seeing Val.”
“Okay.” He didn’t look too bothered with my rejection.
“We’re still meeting them at the wine bar, right?” I shouted back to him on my way to the bedroom.
“Club Kenza. It only opened last week, but Daniel rang earlier today and said Val had managed to get four priority tickets. Hope you don’t mind go
ing to a club rather than a bar,” David said as he started to follow me to the bedroom.
“No, that’s fine.”
At least I’d be able to get lost in the music for a while, instead of having to make small talk with David in the wine bar.
~~ MICHAEL ~~
I only
planned on having a couple of beers tonight, so I threw on some jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt with my leather jacket, then dragged my Harley out of the garage and let her roar into town towards Ruben’s new business venture, Club Kenza.
When I
talked on the phone with Ruben earlier, it sounded like he had something up his sleeve, which worried me. He mentioned getting laid, but I hoped to hell he took me seriously when I’d said I wasn’t interested. The last thing I was in the mood for tonight was to fight off some woman who Ruben thought I’d like. The only woman I wanted was out with her boyfriend.
I parked the bike directly
in front of the club knowing Keith, the security guard at the door, would keep a close eye on it.
When I
climbed from the bike, I shook Keith’s hand and he opened the door for me. As soon as I walked inside I was pulled into the beat of whatever the DJ had playing. Everyone seemed to love it, if the gyrating and screaming was anything to go by. It wasn’t that bad, at least for a club. I actually preferred quieter music, with less shouting.
The music
was just what I needed to bring the headache that had been hovering for most of the day to front and center. I knew this was a really bad idea and just as I was about to go in search of my brother to tell him that I was heading home, he found me with a woman on his arm.
I was going to kill him
.
“Michael, I was wondering when you’d get here
. I’d like you to meet Michelle.”
I held my hand out to shake hers and found her in my arms.
What the hell
. Ruben made a quick getaway.
“Hello
, Michael. Your brother has told me you’re in need of some female company.”
“Well, I’m afraid my brother has been misinformed,” I replied
, while trying to untangle from her. Christ, she was like a bloody octopus. “Look, Michelle, I’m sure you’re a nice young woman, but I really just want to be alone tonight.”
She started crying
.
What the hell?
Why me?
Ruben was in deep shit when I got my hands on him.
I could be polite for a short time and then hopefully, someone more willing would come along. “Let’s go and find a table, then have a drink.” She perked up at that, obviously being able to turn the water works on and off when she wanted.
I took
hold of her by the elbow and led her through the throng of dancers to a table and then placed our drinks order.
