High Strung (Power Station Book 1) (32 page)

I blinked, dumbfounded. This five-foot-six, hundred-thirty pound redhead just knocked me on my ass. I’d just fucked her. In my car. The windows still fogged up from our heavy breathing. Her dress still hiked up around her waist. My semi-hard cock still inside her. There was nothing romantic or gentle about it, and she told me she loved me? This was not how I ever imagined this moment would go down if it ever happened for real. I’d never felt like a bigger asshole than I did at that moment.

“You don’t have to say it back.” She moved her mouth on me before I had a chance to answer. “I just wanted you to know.”

“Ash.” I closed my eyes and rested them against the headrest. “I love you, too.”

“Please don’t say it just because I did.” Ash grabbed my chin forcing my face forward. “I’d rather you didn’t say it, than say it just because you
think
you should.”

My eyes flung open. She had no idea. No clue as to how far gone I was, and whether I said it or not it wouldn’t change the fact I’d do anything for this girl. I’d walk through fire for her, and it wasn’t ’cause she said three words to me. It was ’cause of what was going on in the blood-pumping organ in my chest. I guess I hadn’t looped it back to the whole love thing, not in a serious way. I’ve been in love before. Or at least I thought I had. But it never felt like this. Nothing like this.

I pulled her head closer, resting her forehead against mine. “I’m not saying it because you did. I’m saying it because it’s what I feel. I do love you, Ash. I fucking love you.”

“Then let’s do this. I mean seriously do this.” She wrapped her arms around the back of my neck.

“You’re mine, babe, and I’m yours. It’s already done.”

The street outside was dark. Not a fucking a car or person insight. The inside of the car was another story; it was a mess. Bodily fluids spilling all over the place and I just handed this woman my fucking balls. And, I regretted neither of them.

First days usually brought
a jumble of nerves, but I was more excited than anything else. Exciting to be starting this amazing new chapter.

I had just had the most amazing weekend. My twenty-eighth birthday had been so much more than I could have ever hoped for. Ever since I’d left Boston, I’d dreaded birthdays, celebrating them more for everyone else’s benefit than my own. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the occasion but I missed my family. We spoke on the phone, emailed, Skyped, you name it, but it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t the same as having your workaholic dad take the time to hug you, wish you happy birthday, and tell you were always going to be his little girl. I’d never really thought about how much I had missed home, not wanting to derail my plan, but I guess if I was honest, I missed it a lot. And Dan and his crazy surprise concert reminded me of that. Of pushing everything aside for a few moments to wish someone you loved a happy birthday. He had orchestrated the whole thing, dinner, Megs, the show. All for me. Then he told the world I was his girlfriend. Not just the room, literally the world. Dan’s little speech had already been uploaded to twitter and YouTube and the number of hits just kept climbing. Then we’d had unprotected sex in his car and I’d told him I loved him. I’m not sure why I picked that moment. I guess I got caught up in the fact I truly trusted him. Letting myself be completely bare with him. Literally and figuratively. Not that I planned it that way. He had accidently slid in. Into my vagina and into my life. That, or I’d been moved by the totally hot car sex. In any case, the road map for my plan just got a reroute. I was now happily part of a pair.

“Your first day?” A smiling good-looking stranger watched as I wrestled with the swipe pass I had been given only a few hours before. He was wearing the typical suit. His hair just a little longer than unspoken corporate regulation. Clearly a rebel.

It
was
my first day. My first day as an analyst at JenCorp. Starting a new chapter in my life with a kick-ass boyfriend and kick-ass new job.

“That obvious?” I laughed, as I pressed the errant plastic card against the white scanner. Maybe they haven’t activated it yet?

“The trick is a light touch.” He gently removed the card from my hand. “May I?” He looked at me for permission.

There was a look I hadn’t seen in the work place in a long time. I almost had to grab a wall to stop myself from fainting. Someone who actually wanted to help me? And not holler at me for a beer, or try to touch my ass? Wow. I had the best life. No, I wasn’t being dramatic; these little things rocked my world.

“Please.” I nodded my head to the scanner that refused to
scan
me.

“See if you just tap it like that,” he gently touched my pass to the wall and it lit up green, “it works first time.” He handed my swipe pass, a pleased grin on his face.

“Thanks for the tip.” I held out my hand, wondering what else was an appropriate form of greeting. Handshakes seemed a little out dated and honestly I felt kind of lame but yeah. I was still going with it. “I’m Ashlyn Murphy and you already know it’s my first day.”

“Rob Sawyer. The new analyst?” He took my hand without hesitation. If he was thinking I was a loser he wasn’t showing it. Maybe he was too polite or he wore a killer poker face.

“Yes. Am I wearing a sign?” I was only half-joking, wondering if it was written all over my face I was fresh meat. It usually only took a day or two until I found my feet in a new job but I would hate to think I looked like I didn’t belong. Not after it took me so long to get here. This is exactly where I should be.

“No. I am going to be working with you.” Rob laughed. “I was told you were starting today. I had meetings this morning so I missed your induction, but by all accounts you had no issues.” He had a nice smile and seemed genuine but I was cautious. Was he fishing? Or just being friendly?

The corporate world could be brutal; it had spat me out the first time without a second thought. If Rob was sizing me up as competition, I wasn’t going to make it easy for him. “It was a lot to take in, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“Good, then you’ll do well here.” He was so collected and well put together. It wasn’t just the way he looked it was his whole vibe. This was his world and he was comfortable in it. It was like the Discovery channel. He was a tiger in his native environment, just wearing a different kind of striped suit. I wanted to be that majestic.

“That’s the plan.”

I figured I’d probably filled my quota for awkward conversations for the day so best move on. Besides, I should probably head back to my office. That’s right. I had an office. I was still pinching myself this was real and if it wasn’t, I didn’t ever want to wake up.

“Well, I better get back. Thanks again.” I waved my swipe card over the sensor lightly and it immediately flicked green. I actually stepped through the doorway this time. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”

“You sure will be.” Rob smiled as the automatic door closed between us.

Was he hitting on me? No. What was I thinking? This wasn’t a bar where people just hit on some random person they just met. This was a work place. I was just out of practice and reading way more into his kindness. Right? Right. Geez I’m beginning to think being with Dan was giving me his ego as well. It’s not like every man who sees me wants to sleep with me. It sounded so conceited in my head; thank god I wasn’t repeating it to anyone else. I laughed at myself as I walked to the elevator and pressed the button for my floor. The metal doors opened immediately and I stepped inside. It was empty, giving me the opportunity to take a few extra moments to collect myself and get my head out of my ass.

My phone vibrated silently in my purse. I said a silent prayer of thanks I had switched off the volume when I saw who was calling. I didn’t need explicit lyrics announcing my arrival.

I didn’t answer. I wanted to, but taking personal calls on company time was the easiest way to get fired. It killed me to let it go to voice mail, but the last thing I needed was Dan getting me into a hot mess. He did that often and usually I liked it but now wasn’t the time. Which kind of sucked. We would make up for it no doubt tonight. I sure as hell was going to need it.

I had spent the morning in the conference room with Mitch, my new supervisor, getting the run down. It was typical, very dry, but necessary. There was no easing into the position, it was very much a sink or swim kind of deal. They didn’t have time to handhold and I hated to be micromanaged so it seemed like a perfect situation, albeit intense. The afternoon was an overload of information. Account names, departments, and clientele listings. It was made marginally easier by the fact I had my own office, something I hadn’t had in very long time. It had a door too, it wasn’t just a cubbyhole or cubical. It was a real office. Little things obviously excited me, and this was one.

I had tried to contain my excitement when Mitch had showed me where I would be working. Breaking into over enthusiastic squealing seemed so inappropriate. So I squealed on the inside and gave a reserved nod instead in response. It was a compromise.

Rob’s office was right next to mine so it seemed I would be seeing him quite a bit. Seeing as there was only the two of us in the department we would be working closely together. Mitch, our boss and the CFO’s right-hand man, made it clear they expected me to hit the ground running and I wasn’t going to give them an opportunity to be disappointed.

I was mentally exhausted by the end of day. Parts of my brain I hadn’t used in months had to limber up and get back into the game. It was scary and exhilarating all at the same time and five o’clock didn’t come a moment too soon.

The minute I stepped out from the revolving glass doorway of JenCorp and onto the sidewalk, I saw Dan’s Mercedes. We’d never discussed him giving me a ride home, but I was glad I wasn’t going to have to brave the subway in peak hour. I couldn’t help smiling knowing he had cared enough to come. The whole relationship was so new; the fact he seemed as invested as I was, floored me.

He was out of the car the minute he saw me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me up against his body while his mouth attacked mine. There was nothing sweet about his kiss, it was desperate and heated, and obviously I’d been missed.

“Dan, not on the street.” I half-heartedly pulled away not wanting anyone I worked with catching me making out in front of the building.

“You seemed to have no problems with public displays of affection on the street last Saturday.” His satisfied grin leaving no doubt he was remembering my birthday celebrations. His hand snaked around behind me and opened the car door.

“True but there wasn’t the possibility of my boss seeing me either. Keep it in your pants long enough to get me back to my apartment and I’ll make it worth your while.” I unwrapped myself from Dan’s grasp and slid into the car. He didn’t miss a beat as he stalked around the driver’s side and jumped in. The car roared to life as we pulled away from curb.

I laughed like a five-year-old, throwing my head back against the headrest as Dan tore onto the street. He then had to jam on the brakes not soon after when he realized we were in downtown Manhattan and not the interstate.

“You want me to pull over so we can reminisce?” Dan shot me a grin that did crazy things to my body. The tingling parts thought pulling over was a good idea.

“Just keep your eyes on the road and get me home in one piece.” I reached over and squeezed his thigh. I had never been this into a guy. It was intoxicating. Made me dizzy. I loved it.

“I wanted to talk to you about that.” Dan grabbed my hand in his lap and gave it a little squeeze. “I had a key cut for you today. Figured it makes more sense for you to stay at my place ’cause it’s closer to your work. Plus, your place. Well, it ain’t great.”

“Dan Evans, you are such a diva. My place not flashy enough for you?” I laughed. Not that I blamed him. Given the choice; I wouldn’t want to stay at my place either.

“Babe, if the only thing wrong with it was
no flash
, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I’m pretty sure I saw a rat running across the kitchen floor. Son of a bitch even had the nerve to stare me down.”

“I’ll call the Super and get an exterminator organized.” Rats happened from time to time. I wasn’t proud of it, but the drainage in the building probably predated Christianity, so rats unfortunately found their way into apartment.

“Ash, you don’t need an exterminator, you need an exorcist for that place.”