The Hourglass (17 page)

“Brooke, I just…. I just can’t.” Savannah’s lip trembled and then she rushed off.

And the Oscar goes to Savannah Prescott and Brooke
Reid!

Hanging my head, I dashed away a few invisible tears just as Lucas rubbed my arm. “Brooke, honey, are you okay?”

Turning, I fell into his arms. “Oh Lucas, I’m sorry; I’m just all over the place.”

Awkwardly rubbing my back Lucas scanned the lobby with his eyes, seeking out the other piece of this crazy triangle.

“Well,” I said, wiping my face once more. Tossing my cup in the trash can in front of the coffee stand, I locked eyes with a very confused looking barista. Once I was facing Lucas again, I smiled brightly “I best get back upstairs. Spring is going to press and it must be perfect.” Patting Lucas on the shoulder, I pecked him on the lips before he could even react. “I’ll see you tonight right? Want to do dinner at my place, say six o’clock?”

Lucas shook his head as I started walking away. “No, umm,” I could see his hesitation probably as he tried to decide which place would be safer to dine at. “Let’s go out I know this great place about an hour from here, I’ve been dying to take you,” his charm coming out in full force I just stared in awe.

Dinner was uneventful. Lucas and I mostly discussed the upcoming auction and plans I had in place. I gave him the rundown of how it would go, and told him it was sure to be a night to remember. Back in my parking garage Lucas kissed me passionately as his hands caressed my bare back, making my body hum with sexual deprivation. Letting Savannah’s voice replay in my mind, I backed away scolding myself before putting a halt to his game. “Lucas, I don’t think we should tonight. I have to be up early for work, I’m sorry. Maybe I can sneak up to your office at lunch tomorrow, show my
appreciation
.”

Hopping in the elevator, I literally shook from the feeling of my skin crawling. I wasn’t sure how long I could do this. Hating that Lucas had made me bitter toward men. I just don’t understand how he could have played me like this. Why would he? He said he cared, claimed to love me. Yet he was destroying my friendship and sleeping with both me and my best friend. This was one of those times I wished I wasn’t an only child and could call a brother in to teach him a lesson. But nope, this one was up to me to dish out and I intended to make him pay.

Quite frankly, I wanted to destroy him. Sweet, innocent Brooke he called me. But he was going to learn that only went until someone crossed me. I hated to be a spiteful person, but Lucas Wellington had to learn. Looking in the glossy mirrored doors of the elevator, I saw the woman I was becoming. She was so angry, so hostile. I promised myself then and there, that after Lucas was annihilated I would let it go. Be open to finding love again, holding on to my faith that it did exist.

The elevator doors opened to my floor and I stood on the threshold, I wasn’t ready to be alone tonight. My brain was going a mile a minute and I just needed to vent and talk with someone. Pressing the button for Savannah’s floor I was in her condo, wine in hand and ready to unwind in a flash. Thank God for best friends. Just as we settled into the couch and threw the blanket over us both, a firm knock at the door startled us.

“What the—? I’m not expecting anyone,” Savannah began, untangling herself from her seat on the couch. Peeking out the peep hole, she spun around in a flurry, flailing her arms to gain my attention. “It’s Luke!” she mouthed at me.

Oh Shit!
Jumping up, I grabbed my heels and my purse and scurried off to the bedroom, closing the door gently, leaving all but a crack that allowed me to peek out and watch.

“Luke, what a wonderful surprise. Sadly though, I was just turning in for the night. Early morning with the spring issue going to press,” Savannah’s sultry voice tormented him as she ran her hands along his chest, placing a kiss on his cheek.

As she tried to shut the front door on him, Lucas roared, “Jesus!” and threw his hands up in the air with frustration. “If I hear spring issue one more time- I just want some alone time with my girl to get laid. My dick is literally going to fall off. I even held a funeral for my balls after last night.” Stomping into the condo, he plopped on the couch and buried his head in his hands.

“Umm, Luke, I’m really sorry,” Savannah apologized, still standing at the front door but looking at the bedroom door where I was hiding.

Lucas nodded his head, not even bothering to lift it as he spoke to Savannah. “Don’t worry about it, I’m out,” he muttered as he forced himself back up and trudged out the door.

Skipping back out to Savannah, I couldn’t hide the glee and excitement bubbling out of me. “Oh my God, we are doing it! He is crumbling!”

Savannah shook her head. “He may murder us at this rate, did you see the frustration and anger coming off of him. I thought he might combust.”

Falling to the couch, we clinked our wine glasses together. “To the destruction of Lucas Wellington, may his dick join his balls six feet under,” I called as we both began laughing wildly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Savannah

WHEN I AWOKE
the next morning, I felt as if I should have slept at the office. I rushed through my morning routine as fast as possible before I made the drive to my building, cringing at the thought of dealing with all the last minute photos everyone would want before finalizing the spring issue. Walking past my assistant I called her into my office. “I need edits from Monday’s shoot back on my desk in thirty minutes. Monica is going to have my head if they aren’t in her office by nine.”

Nodding, my assistant rushed off toward the editing department and I made my way into Brooke’s office.

I could tell she’d already been there for a few hours. Her desk was a mess and design boards were set up everywhere. “Messy Brooke, I like it. I don’t think my office has ever been more organized than yours until now.” Peering up at me, she rolled her eyes, and I went on. “So, I think we are playing with fire. I feel like Luke is going to physically combust if he doesn’t get laid soon. Not to mention, this is Luke Wellington we are talking about, he is one of the most eligible bachelors in all of Denver, if he’s not getting laid by one of us, he’s going to get it from someone else and we are too close to pulling this off to let him dump us for some hussy.”

Brooke pulled her attention from her computer and glared at me. “What are you trying to say, Sav?” Flopping down on her leather couch I made myself comfortable. “One of us needs to sleep with him, I don’t care which one it is, but we’ve got to keep him holding on just a bit longer. I’m okay with either of us taking one for the team, so I’ll let you decide, but we’ve got to make a decision. I really thought he was going to lose it last night. So what do you say, you or me? Who’s it going to be?”

Bringing her hands to her face to cover her eyes, Brooke shook her head. “I can’t, Savannah. I’m not like you; sex isn’t just sex for me. I don’t have an on and off switch like you do.”

Standing off of the couch I walked closer toward her desk. “I get it, trust me, I do. When I came to this conclusion I figured I’d be the one to do the deed, so I’m fully prepared. I just want to know that we are both on the same page when it comes down to it. I don’t want you to think I’m going to be getting any enjoyment out of this. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it won’t be miserable, but my feelings for Luke are gone. So for me it will be exactly what it is, just sex.”

Brooke pulled in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, do it. If this is what it takes to keep him from ditching both of us, just do it. But I don’t want the details. I just need to know the job’s been done, and he’s still holding onto hope that he has the both of us wrapped around his finger.”

Monica approved the edits, and I was completely done when it came to deadlines for the spring issue. Brooke hadn’t left her office all day as she was putting the finishing touches on things and preparing for the charity auction. I picked up my phone and dialed her assistant. “Lisa, what does Brooke’s calendar look like for the afternoon?”

The banging of her finger against her mouse echoed through the speaker before coming to a stop. “It looks like she has a conference with Monica and the design team in five minutes, which should last at least an hour, but after that she’s open.”

Figuring now was the best time for me to pull one over on Luke, I thanked Lisa and mentally prepared myself for the task at hand. I sat in my office touching up my makeup until I saw Monica, Brooke and their team head into the conference room. As they closed the door I stood up and put on my best game face.
It’s now or never, Savannah.

Sitting in the Nike lobby I waited for Luke to finish his meeting. The receptionist assured me it wouldn’t be long before he was available, and she was positive that he’d see me. When the conference room door opened I stood as men in suits filed out. Luke was the last one through the door, and I was thankful that he’d worn his black power suit, I’d need all the help I could get to forge through with our plan. A grin tugged on his lips when he glanced in my direction. “Savannah, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

He shot me a quick wink before he crossed the room and hooked an arm around my waist, placing a light kiss on my cheek.

Gazing up at him, I placed a hand on his bulging bicep and whispered so only the two of us could hear. “I think it’s best if we discuss this in your office.” I inhaled deeply, allowing my breasts to rise and fall slowly, sure to catch Luke’s attention.

With his hand on the small of my back, Luke ushered me toward his office, relaying a message to the receptionist on our way. “Please hold all of my calls and push my next meeting to four o’clock.”

When we stepped into Luke’s office, he closed the door behind us and in that moment I was so very thankful that passing people couldn’t see into the offices like they could at Hourglass. Walking over to his chair he loosened his tie and then turned to face me, completely defeated. “I hope you aren’t here to criticize my manhood, trust me when I say I’ve criticized myself enough for the both of us over the past few days.”

Sauntering over to him, I laughed lightly. “Oh Luke, you know I’d never do that, I know firsthand how wonderful your manhood is. I’d never criticize it.” I stood behind his chair and ran my hands over his broad shoulders, firmly using my fingers to massage them. “I just wanted to come up and see if by chance we could try again.”

His muscles were tight and I knew he needed this, I knew playing this card was the right decision, and would ensure we were back in the game. Luke rested his head back against his chair, closing his eyes. “You have no idea how good that feels.”

Grinning, I crooned back softly, “Just relax, baby. Work has been so busy these past few weeks, but I met all of my deadlines and now, finally, I’m all yours.” Opening his eyes he stared up at me as I decided on my next move.
This is it Savannah, your turn to take one for the team.

Slowly, I turned his chair so that he was facing me and then climbed into his lap, straddling him. My hands trailed up his chest and into his hair as I leaned in and nibbled at his earlobe, a low moan escaping his throat. Luke’s hands left the arms of his chair and made their way down my sides and onto my ass, gripping it tightly. Releasing his hair from my hands, I looked into his blazing green eyes. I loosened his tie even further until I was able to slip it over his head, discarding it onto his desk. Luke’s hands were all over my body, and I could feel him growing underneath me. Taking the top button of his perfectly pressed shirt between my fingers I began undoing each button, one by one until his bare chest was fully exposed.

Mesmerized by his looks, but keeping myself focused on the goal, I stared at this imperfectly perfect man, I smiled to myself.
Oh,
this is going to be fun.
As I leaned down closer to him, I lightly trailed kisses across his chiseled chest, giving every inch of his muscled body my undivided attention before making my way toward his belt loop with my wandering hands. Within a few seconds his belt was undone and his frame was squirming underneath mine.