Seducing Peaches (2 page)

    
“Come on!”  Lois was beyond annoyed and hot as hell.  Not from anger.  From Mr. Sexy Mouth.

Chapter One

     Five miles into her trip, her truck went to clinking and banging out from under the hood. 1957 Chevy was the only piece of her family she had left now.  It had belonged to her grandfather long ago.

    
Smoke rolled from under the hood.  

    
“Come on girl, please.”  The truck didn’t respond.  Lois had known it was in need of repairs but she just couldn’t afford them right now.  In fact, if the truck hadn’t belonged to her grandfather, she would have ditched it a long time ago.

    
Damn it what am I going to do now?

    
Only four miles to go she shrugged to herself as she started to walk the rest of the way to her new start in life.  She hadn’t made it a mile and rain came pouring from the skies above.

    
She kept walking. 
I’ll make it.
  Then she heard music behind her and a slight rumble of an engine.  Lois just kept eyes forward and walking. 
Dear God whoever or whatever is behind me, please make it go away.  I can do this on my own.  Why bother helping me now?  Please just get rid of them, and ignore my rumbling.

    
When she heard the sound of a horn behind her she turned.  The car pulled up next to her.             

    
“Ma’am, do you want a ride?”  That voice.  Immediately she remembered it.

    
“Lady did you hear me?  Are you ok?”  She stopped. 
Shit.
  If she turned around would he recognize her?  It only took his voice and she knew it was him.  She didn’t turn.

     “
No thank you, I don’t have far to go.”  Lois picked up her pace.

    
“You do know it’s raining right?” 

    
And there it is.  Mr. Sexy mouth is just like the rest of them.  Another asshole who thinks women don’t know jack shit.  Hmm
.  She spun around quickly.  “You’re very observant. You must work for like special intelligence somewhere. No I don’t want a ride.”  She was giving it her best to be stern with her voice. She hadn’t intended to sound like a complete smart ass.

    
He stared at her for a moment. “I didn’t know lips like yours could be such a smart ass.  You always like this?”

    
Shit.  Shit.  Damn.
  “Look, I’m sorry, it was the alcohol.  I’m never that bold and I usually don’t drink so it don’t take much.”  Her head tilted down totally embarrassed.

    
“Alcohol?  Do you always drink this early?”

    
“What?  No!  I mean.  You don’t……”  And her words drifted off.

    
“Come on get in.” 

    
There was something about the way he said those words that made Lois want to reply with ‘Yes Sir.’  Very authorative.  Powerful.  But instead she went with a question.  “You don’t take ‘No’ very well do you Sir?”

    
“No, not really.  I’m used to getting what I want.” 

    
Lois stood there weighing out her options.  She could stand there arguing or she could get in on good faith and hope this was the last decent guy on earth.  Maybe then she wouldn’t be as late. She desperately needed this job.

    
“Will you take me straight to work?  No questions asked!”  She raised an eyebrow with her question to prove she was quite serious and trying to give off some of that ‘I’ll kick your ass if you so much as even think about it’ attitude.  She wanted to give the appearance that she was not a woman to be played with in any fashion.

    
“No I plan to take you to the airport, force you on my jet and have my way with you on our way to Paris. Yes, I’ll take you to work.”  Lois just stood there staring at him.  She felt her cheeks warm.  Remembering how bad last night she had wanted to have her way with him. 

    
“Look you can stand there and think this through all day if you want to but I don’t have time, I’m on my way to work myself.  So, what’s the verdict?  Nice dry car or soaking wet rain?” She watched as he impatiently tapped his thumb on the steering wheel. 

    
“The ride please.”  Something in her body wouldn’t let her move.  She just kept standing there. 

    
“You do know you will have to actually get in the car don’t you?  I’m not gonna get soaked in the rain opening the door for you?”  He stared at her.  She stared back.  Looking only at his lips.

    
Finally she forced herself to open the door.  She got in drenched literally, rain dripping from her.  “Won’t this ruin your seats?”  The look on his face told her he had no idea what she meant.  “I’m soaked.  Your seats are leather, won’t it ruin them?”

    
“I’m not worried about my seats.  It’s just a little rain. Where are you headed on this not so pretty and glorious morning?”

     
“To work?” 
Idiot he has to know where if you expect him to get you there.
  She turned to look at him to tell him the address but was sidetracked when she seen him smiling at her.  “What’s so funny?”

    
“You don’t take rides often do you, or even talk to men?”

    
“No I don’t take rides, and I don’t talk to men.  I am headed to Hasting Hotel Inc.  Do you know where it is?”

    
He hesitated for a moment.  “I believe I do.  Why don’t you talk to men?”  She noted a sense of arrogance in his voice.

    
“Because men are pigs, they are rude immature violent creatures that should have never of been created.” 
Oh shit.  Did I just say that out loud?  I didn’t mean that.  I meant kiss me again.  No I didn’t!  Damn it.  Shut up Lois.

    
She slowly looked over at him half expecting to see anger and rage.  His eyebrows were twisted
. 
“I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to take my anger out on you.  I just don’t.  Talk to men like this.  It’s nothing against you.  I have no excuse to talk that way to you.  You are doing me such a huge favor and I sincerely appreciate it.”

    
His expression softened and relief was felt in Lois.  “Well you are talking to a man like this now and for future reference without men there wouldn’t be women.  Do you mind if I turn the radio back up?”

    
“Really?  I hadn’t noticed.  And no, by all means this is your car.”   She tried not to look at him, but she was curious. Curious as to his smell.  He smelled so good.  Damn Good.  His scent pulled against her, urging her closer.  Like a heroin addict reaching for their syringe.

    
“Oh Sweetheart, you noticed.”  Then a flick of his thumb the radio was up.

    
She noticed how handsome he was.  No how gorgeous.  Dark brown hair.  Dark brown eyes.  Dressed well.  Dark blue blazer, tie, dark jeans.  Long muscular looking legs.  She was finding him very odd. 

    
He’s driving a black shiny Camaro but he is dressed very nice.  He must be a business man of some type.  No a lawyer, hotshot, must be corporate.  I would have assumed the whole bad boy image.  Damn Lois quit talking to yourself and quit gaulking at the guy.

     
Lois tried to keep her eyes to herself.  But it didn’t happen.  She had to keep looking at him.  She had to study him.  What could it hurt?  It wasn’t like she was ever going to see this guy again.  So what if he caught her staring at him.

    
His hands were large gripping the steering wheel. 
Very nice, well put together man
.  She stirred in her seat and again made herself look out the window.

    
He listens to country music.  Again odd.  I have always assumed sports car equals like hard rock or something.   I would have guessed he would be younger to.  He looks like he is in his early to mid-thirties.  Hmm. 

     
“So, how long have you been working for Hasting Hotel?”
Damn his voice.  He could tell me to do anything right now and I would do it.  Shit.  I got to get the hell out of this car.

    
“Um, I start today actually.” 
Let’s skip the small talk and fuck.  Shit! What the hell are you doing to me?

    
“What will you be doing there?”  His voice unlike hers, confident sounding, like he didn’t have a worry in the world.  As if he was used to speaking and everyone doing what he wanted.  Hell, Lois was ready to do things she wanted and he hadn’t said a word about doing them.  But she didn’t care.  There was something about the way his voice demanded attention. 
     “My title is first assistance, but I think that is just fancy for secretary.”

    
She watched him as his expression changed and hardened.  It looked like he was going to be sick but at the same time like what she had said had either just pissed him off or totally shocked the shit out of him.

    
“Are you ok?”  Lois looked at him not concerned, not studying, only questioning.

    
“Yes, I’m fine.”  He shifted in his seat as if he were uncomfortable while clearing his throat.

    
“Ok, well I don’t know how long I will get to keep my job.  I’m soaked, don’t really look like I’m ready to work.  And I doubt my new boss will believe what kind of morning I have had.  He probably won’t even take the time to listen.  I don’t have the best of luck these days.  Really I have never had good luck.  And there I go with rambling.  Sorry.”

    
“Oh, I think he might believe you.  After all, you never really know do you?  You have to try anyways.”  He smiled at her leaving her to further question what the hell he had to be smiling about.

    
What is the deal with this man?  What does he think is so funny?  Asshole.  Prolly some rich punk, everything handed to him on a silver platter his entire life.  Go figure.  That’s it.

    
“Well I’m glad to be able to amuse you this morning.”  Lois crossed her arms almost pouting.

    
“Me to.  Usually I don’t get this much entertainment.”

    
“Asshole.”  Lois thought she had said it low enough under her breath that he wouldn’t be able to hear her but again that was not in her luck. At this point, she didn’t know what was harder, picking her jaw up or trying to remove the foot from her mouth.

    
“Well, I guess opinions vary about that Miss?”

    
“Brown, Lois Brown.  And you are?” 
Just keep going Lois like you never said it.

    
“Bond, James Bond.”  When he turned and found she wasn’t finding his comment amusing he answered her.  “Tom, just call me Tom.”

    
“Ok, well just Tom, what is it about my morning that you find so amusing?  Please enlighten me.”

    
“Oh, you’ll see.”

    
She didn’t have time for this kind of game this morning.  As they pulled up, she attempted to politely thank him for the ride but he didn’t say anything.

    
“Do I owe you anything for the ride then?”

    
“No.”

    
“Ok, well thank you again and have a good one.”

Chapter T
wo

     She jumped out of the car and practically ran into the building.  She couldn’t be late.  She took the elevator to the 15
th
floor.  Just one from the top, as she had been instructed to do so.  The doors opened and she ran out only to knock down the man that had interviewed her for the job.

    
“I am so sorry.”  Lois reached out to offer him a hand and help up but he didn’t take it.

    
“Miss. Brown, I can assume you won’t be letting this happen again.  Follow me.”

    
“Mr. Ranker I am truly sorry Sir, this won’t happen again.  My truck broke down, I was running late, and then I had to ride into work with this mean arrogant asshole I didn’t even know.”

    
“Look, I’m sure you have quite the story to tell this morning, but I don’t have time to listen to it, nor do I want to.”  Lois cowered down in his footsteps and followed him.  He stopped abruptly. 

    
“There is a bathroom just there, you should probably go freshen up.  Mr. Hasting’s likes his staff to look presentable.”  His look was dull as annoyed her with his words. 

    
Great, arrogant ass number one, gorgeous, smells good, oh did he smell good.  Arrogant ass number two, nice looking, smells ok.  Hmm, I think I’ll take arrogant ass number one.  At least I know he knows how to kiss.