Authors: Tamsyn Bester
“You’re going make me proud.” He smiles at me like I’m the four year old kid
who rode his bike without training wheels for the first time. With pride. I nod
once, unable to find words. I feel the weight of his expectation resting on my
broad shoulders. God, I hope I don’t let him down. He turns to leave but stops
short to look back at me.
“Oh, I almost forgot, I want you to help Cassey get her presentation ready for
the executives next week.” My brows furrow.
“She’s the Publishing Assistant, and if she pulls off her presentation half as
well as I think she will, she has a very bright future here,” he pauses. “Just don’t
sleep with her.”
I laugh, waiting for my father to laugh with me. When he doesn’t, I realize
that he’s being serious. “What makes you think I’ll sleep with her?” I ask, incredulous.
“Because I know you, Ky. You can’t resist a beautiful woman,” my father sighs.
“I’m just warning you.” His assumption isn’t entirely wrong, but it still irritates
me nonetheless.
“Thanks for the warning, Dad, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m aware of the ‘no
fraternizing’ rule amongst colleagues.”
“Good,” he says over his shoulder as he leaves my office, leaving me alone. I
fight the urge to go find her and see exactly what my father is warning me
away from. I got a good glimpse of her in the elevator and she’s by no means
ugly. Her gray pencil skirt hugged her curves, showing off a small waist and
wide hips. I caught sight of the white lace bra she had on under her white button down blouse. It made me hard.
And then when I saw her again in the boardroom, I couldn’t resist the pull I
felt towards her green eyes. They screamed innocence, and purity, two things
that have never been so alluring to me before. I don’t particularly have an inclination to go for ‘good girls’ but I’ve never been afraid to bend or even break
the rules, especially if they’re mine.
But now I’m intrigued. My father never warns me against women, not even
when I got ‘involved’ with Jessa.
I’ll just have to find out for myself.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I put the last manuscript of the day down on my
desk. When I switch off my office light, I see that everyone else has gone home
already. Glancing at my watch, it reads 7:00pm. I didn’t even realize it was so
late. My phone starts ringing in my purse and I start digging for it when the
elevator opens. I step in, find my phone, Quinn’s name flashing on the screen,
and answer.
“Hi Quinny. Are you still in the office?” Music and shouting comes from the
background before Quinn’s voice breaks through the noise.
“I’m at the bar. Hurry your cute little ass and come join us,” she half shouts.
“Okay, I’ve just left. I’ll see you in ten,” I reply, grinning, before the line goes
dead. The elevator chimes again and opens when it reaches the lobby. I throw
my phone back in my purse and look up, feeling my feet slow on their own
accord when I spot Kyler and the redhead standing to one side.
Quinn said her name is Jessa. I watch in fascination as she slides her hands up
his arms, remembering the image of his muscles my mind conjured up in my
dream. Kyler’s hands grip Jessa’s waist and he pushes her away from his body,
earning him a frown, which quickly morphs into a scowl. He says something
to her, leaning into her ear, and seconds later she’s storming off.
My feet pick up speed and I shuffle across the marble floors quickly, hoping
Kyler doesn’t see me watching them. I make it outside, stepping onto the busy
sidewalk unnoticed and turn in the direction of the bar where I’m meeting
Quinn. Taking in the sounds and the smell of the city, I breathe in the energy
pulsating around me. I can’t help but compare the life I have now to the life
I ran away from, this little slice of the city a sharp contrast to the trailer park
I grew up in back in Georgia. I wish I could say I miss it, that I miss my parents and the so-called friends I left behind. But after five years, I hardly think
about them. The only time I look back is to remind myself how far I’ve come.
I’m so absorbed in the unwelcome thoughts about my ghosts that I lose track
of time and soon find myself outside ‘The Iron Maiden’, the bar we frequent
during the week. It’s an upmarket bar that is known as the ‘watering hole’ for
the young, wealthy working class in the city. I walk in, scanning the crowd until I spot Quinn’s blonde hair. Weaving my way through the throng of people,
I finally make it to our usual table.
“Cassey!” Quinn’s excited squeal catches almost everyone’s attention, resulting
in a chorus of ‘Cassey’s!’ from Jarred and his friends. She pulls me into a hug
and I realize that she is already well on her way to being tipsy.
“Hi Quinny,” I greet, returning her smile. Jarred looks at me, wrapping his arm
around Quinn’s waist.
“Hey Cass. How’s it going?” he asks. I haven’t known him long, but I like him,
especially because he’s always treated Quinn like a princess.
“Hi Jarred. It’s all good, thanks. You guys been here long?” I eye Quinn up and
down, noting how she’s leaning into Jarred for support. Okay, she’s obviously
a little past tipsy.
“No,” he chuckles, pulling Quinn onto his lap. “But Quinn was thirsty.” She
smiles at him and his eyes twinkle with the perfect combination of love and
adoration. I just wish she wouldn’t be so stubborn and admit that she feels
more for him too.
“You like me tipsy,” she quips playfully. “I’m easier to manhandle that way.”
Jarred’s eyes dart to mine and I hold back a grin when he blushes. I’ve heard
them going at it too many times for him to be modest all of a sudden. He
clears his throat, a soft smile caressing his lips as he looks up at Quinn from
his bar stool.
“I think you need to slow down, baby, before you tell Cass all our dirty little
secrets.” Quinn giggles but doesn’t say anything to argue, which is strange because she hardly ever backs down for any man, not even her father. “So, Cass,”
Jarred looks at me again.
“What would you like to drink?”
I just hope she stays tight-lipped about my lack of those in the last year. Unfortunately, that hope is shot to hell when Quinn opens her mouth again. “We
need to get Cass laid.” Her tone is serious with an air of finality, as if I have no
say in the matter.
“Quinn,” I grind through my teeth. “We already spoke about this. I’m not interested in a one night stand.”
Her response is an eye roll and I can feel a lecture coming. Fortunately, Jarred
being the gentleman he is, deposits Quinn into his bar stool and disappears
into the crowd, stopping at the bar to order me a drink. “Cass, you need to
learn to let go a little and have some fun. Maybe one night of hot, crazy bunny
sex is just what you need.”
Quinn’s suggestion triggers a flashback of images, all of which include a very
naked Kyler hovering above me, sliding in and out unbearably slowly until I’m
crazy with lust. That stupid dream has really fucked with my head, good and
proper.
“But I’ve never done that. Ever. What if it goes wrong and I end up an emotional wreck?”I throw back. Quinn places her empty Martini glass on the table
a little too forcefully.
“That is why you don’t get emotions involved. It’s just sex, no strings attached,”
she replies. Could I ever do that? Have one night of sex and not get attached?
I don’t know. I feel like a hussy just considering it.
“No,” she grins. “Because he just walked through the door and he’s walking
towards our table.”
Oh. Crap.
“Good evening, ladies.” His deep voice meets my ears and I fight the urge
to shiver. I squeeze my eyes shut. He’s standing next to me. I can feel it, the
warmth radiating from his muscular form.
I open my eyes and slowly turn my gaze to him, plastering on a fake smile.
“One ‘Screaming Orgasm’,” Jarred announces, placing my cocktail in front of
me. Kyler lifts an eyebrow, his mouth pulling up at the side, and I duck my
head to hide my blush. Jarred has impeccable timing. Bless his heart, I think
to myself. Quinn giggles and Jarred looks at her quizzically, placing her Martini on the table alongside his whiskey. He looks up and finds Kyler staring at
me. “Uh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were expecting company, Cass,” Jarred says.
Kyler turns to face Jarred and sticks his hand out.
“Kyler Knight,” he greets. “Forgive me. I hope I’m not intruding. I saw Cassey
and Quinn and decided to come say hello.” Jarred shakes his hand, puffing out
his chest a little more.
“Jarred Blake. It’s nice to meet you,” he replies, somewhat stiffly. “Join us for a
drink.” I shift in my seat at Jarred’s request. I can almost smell the testosterone
bouncing between the two of them. It’s ridiculous.
“Well, it was nice seeing you Mr. Knight,” I intercede a little too eagerly. “Better not keep your date waiting.” I chance a look at Kyler’s face. Did he just
frown? If he did, it’s no longer there. In fact, he has no expression whatsoever.
“Have a good night,” he responds tightly, all traces of humor gone.
“Oh I plan to,” I quip. I look away and find Quinn staring at me like I crawled
of a block of cheese. Her eyes are big and I’m guessing it’s because I just totally
sassed my new boss. Kyler walks away and I visibly sag on my barstool. I close
my eyes and take the biggest gulp of my cocktail that this stupidly small straw
will allow. When my eyes open again, Quinn is still staring at me.
“What was what about?” I retort quickly. I’m evading. That much is obvious.
But the truth is, I don’t know what just happened.
Quinn snorts and rolls her eyes at me, clearly exasperated with my attempts at
avoiding her interrogation.
“Whatever,” she mumbles. She starts whispering something in Jarred’s ear and
follows it with a slow, seductive lick down his neck. I can’t turn away from their
display of intimate affection. It’s so out of place here, in this public bar, but
they don’t seem to care.
I feel a pang of jealousy blossom in my chest, watching the way Jarred’s fingers
hold Quinn’s waist, and the way her eyes light up when he smiles at her. I want
that. The tender embraces, heated gazes, secret smiles, whispered promises. I
want all of it.
A throat clears next to me, and I’m not sure if I jump higher or if Quinn does.
I was so busy watching her get lost in Jarred that I got lost in them.
I look up and see a tall, muscular guy standing next to our table.
His midnight black hair that matches Jarred’s is cut short and styled so that it
stands up on the top. I can’t see his whole face but his profile is confirmation
that it’s perfect.
“Drew!” Jarred exclaims. He places Quinn in his seat and hugs the guy who I
now know is Drew. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he asks excitedly. He
reminds me of a kid who’s just woken up to a room full of presents on Christmas morning.
“You look good, little brother,” he praises. Jarred beams at the term of endearment, and then turns to introduce Quinn. “Drew,” he says, wrapping his arm
around Quinn’s hips. “This is Quinn Avery. Quinn, this is my older brother,
Drew.” Quinn stands taller and seems to sober in an instant. Her hand stretches out, looking every bit as demure as the expression on her face.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says. I’m sure there’s a quiver in her voice but
she hides it well. For the first time since I’ve known her, she looks nervous.
Drew takes her hand and smiles at her. “The pleasure is all mine.”
Jarred bristles, his eyes hard. There’s a silent message exchange between the
two brothers and Drew drops Quinn’s hand quickly. Jarred might as well whip
it out and cock his leg up against Quinn.That would be less territorial than the
look he just gave his brother. When Drew turns to fix his gaze on me Jarred
visibly relaxes and so does Quinn. What is up with them tonight?
“This is Cassey,” Jarred gestures towards me. His hand flies up over-enthusiastically and it’s obvious he’s trying to direct his brother’s attention anywhere
that’s not Quinn. Drew’s face is as perfect as I suspected. He looks exactly like
the type of guy I would date.
A safe choice. Not like Kyler. Quinn chuckles and I realize I’m staring, quite
rudely, I might add.
“Nice to meet you too, Cassey.” Drew smiles, revealing a perfect set of white
teeth. I wait for the butterflies to take flight in my belly. Nothing. Drew’s eyes
rove my body but the warm, tingling sensation I expect to come with it is noticeably absent. But when Kyler looks at you… I shake away my thoughts.
Am I flirting with him? So what if I am. I’m single and even if having a onenight stand is not on my agenda tonight, nothing is stopping me from having
a good time with a hot, available man. Drew cocks an eyebrow, like he was just
thinking the exact same thing. “I’ll be right back.”
I look at Quinn and Jarred, who both look slightly uncomfortable. When
Quinn’s eyes meet mine, something unfamiliar sparks to life and I frown.
There’s something very strange going on.
Jarred clears his throat, dragging my attention away from what I see in Quinn’s
panicky eyes.