Authors: Heather Thurmeier
Chapter Six
Sawyer ordered a pint of the beer on tap and closed his menu. Tonight was definitely a steak kind of night. He needed the spike of energy the red meat would give him after the long day at work.
“I wonder where Aidan is,” Olivia said setting her menu on top of his.
“It’s not like him to be late. Maybe he got held up at work.”
“Or maybe he’s ditched us for better company.” Olivia’s smile told him she was joking.
He liked hanging out with someone who wasn’t serious all the time. So many of the girls he’d been with in the past were pretty lackluster once the alcohol stopped flowing. Olivia was one of the few who could hold up her end of the conversation and do it with style, smarts, and sarcasm. The combo was a definite turn-on.
“Better company than his best friend and his adoring little sister? Never.” Little sister hung in the air between them. No matter how much he enjoyed her company, or how attracted he was to her, she was still a fake date.
No real relationship. No real ties. No real feelings.
If only it wasn’t so exhausting trying to remember that all the time. He shifted in the booth. His whole body ached from tension, as if he’d run a marathon instead of having an average day at work. But maybe that’s because it wasn’t exactly average.
Not with Olivia around.
He’d expended more energy trying not to watch her all day than he had on actually accomplishing work. It had been exhausting, staring at a computer screen but not seeing a single idea through to fruition. Olivia in work clothes could definitely be considered a distraction. There was something so sexy about her business attire. The whole boss/secretary fantasy flitted through his mind—her lying across his desk, skirt pushed up her thighs, blouse open, and breasts exposed.
He stifled a groan. Tomorrow, he’d get back into his normal work groove. Now was not the time to let his work slide, or his entire company would suffer. He wanted nothing more than to leave work at work, but he couldn’t. “Listen, about what happened in my office today—”
“I never should have bothered you about not eating or about working too much. How you spend your day is your business, not mine.”
“If you’d let me finish, I was going to say thank you for playing along and fetching me lunch. I would never normally ask you to, but when I saw Matt walk up, it was the first thing I thought of that sounded sort of boyfriend-y.”
“I didn’t mind. I was just happy to know you got something to eat and had more than just coffee to drink.” She bit her lower lip, looking guilty. And sexy. “Did you enjoy your spinach salad and kale chips?”
“They were awful and not nearly coffee-flavored enough.” Seriously, kale and chips should never be combined in any form.
“You’re welcome.” She laughed and her energy lit up her eyes, making them sparkle.
Leaning across the corner of the table, he slipped his hand around the nape of her neck and peered into her eyes. This time, her concern didn’t aggravate him. It was kind of sweet, endearing—it triggered something unfamiliar inside him.
He’d let his stubbornness take the front seat, and as a result, Olivia had left his office feeling chastised for wanting to do something good for him. Had he ever done that to other employees without knowing it? Maybe his business was failing because he was a shitty boss.
If he’d done this to anyone else at work, made anyone else feel this way, he would be annoyed at himself. But the fact that it was Olivia ate at his insides. Maybe it was because she was his friend’s little sister and he felt the need to protect her.
He feared it was something more.
Kissing her had sparked something deep in his soul and he hadn’t felt right since. And the way she’d looked at him afterward had spoiled him for any other expression. He’d seen happiness and desire in her eyes, and now seeing anything else was a sword to his chest.
“I’m sorry I overreacted at work. I’ve been stressed. The truth is, if this Marcus project doesn’t come through, I might have to shut the doors to Sterling Enterprises.”
“Tell me how I can help, and I’ll try my best.”
He knew she would. No one could travel and work with only a backpack for five years without setting a goal and making it happen. “I’m hoping you can share some of your traveling experiences so we get a glimpse into what life is like for the people we’ll be marketing to in other countries.”
She put her hand on his knee and gently squeezed it, as if to comfort him.
She did. More than she probably realized. More than he expected.
She smiled and it was the best thing he’d seen all evening. “That I can do.” Her tongue darted out to give her lips a quick lick and he was overcome with the desire to kiss her, right there, right then. Not because someone was watching and they were performing, but because he wanted to.
“I hope you’re not acting like that on my account.” Aidan took his seat across the table. “Actually, I hope you are acting because if this is a real moment I’m witnessing, then you leave me no choice but to take you outside to kick your ass.”
Her gaze flickered down to his lips. Sawyer sank into his chair, leaving his hand on the back of her neck for another moment, not wanting to stop touching her.
“Relax. We’re chatting about work.” Sawyer sighed and gripped his cold glass instead of Olivia, already missing the feel of her warm, soft skin under his fingertips.
“I don’t know, from my angle it looked like you two were getting awfully cozy. Don’t tell me I’ve made a huge mistake letting this arrangement happen.”
“Last time I checked, you weren’t involved in the arrangement between us.” She raised her chin.
“Is that right?”
“The lady has spoken.” Sawyer smirked. He liked having her on his side. Not that he was against Aidan in any way, but having her defend their agreement felt surprisingly good. For once, he wasn’t alone in trying to reach his goals.
Olivia covered her mouth as she yawned. “I know you guys are used to working but I’m not and my first day was exhausting. I don’t want to argue. I want to sit here, have a drink and a bite to eat, possibly some good conversation—although with you two, you’ll probably have me bored to tears—and then you’re taking me home to bed.”
The beer hit the back of Sawyer’s throat when he inhaled quickly at her unexpected words. He coughed and covered his mouth with his napkin. Her cheeks turned bright red.
“That’s not what I meant,” she said. “I meant he drove us here so after dinner, technically, he’d be the one taking me home. And then I intend to go straight between the sheets.”
Sawyer arched an eyebrow and couldn’t hold back a smirk.
“Really?” Aidan asked, chuckling.
“Alone. I’m going to bed
alone
. So I’m not tired for work tomorrow.” She scoffed at both of them in turn. “You two have your minds in the gutter. And gross. You’re my brother, he’s your best friend. You should kick his ass right now for being a part of this conversation.”
They laughed while she rolled her eyes.
They dug into their meals, eating in silence for a few minutes. Sawyer’s steak was tender and juicy and exactly the taste he’d been looking for, but he had to admit, Olivia’s pasta looked delicious. Or maybe it was the way she licked her plump, pink lips after every bite.
“I know you haven’t been on a regular schedule in a while, but getting up today couldn’t have been that hard,” Aidan said.
“I’ll get used to it. After this morning’s incident, I’m not about to risk being overtired again. Tonight I’m going to bed at a decent hour and tomorrow my alarm will be set for fifteen minutes earlier so I can sufficiently wake up before it’s my turn to in the bathroom.” Olivia glanced around the room before continuing. “Speaking of the bathroom, I’m going to find the Ladies.”
Remembering the incident made him wish the tables had been turned that morning. He’d love to walk in on her getting out of the shower, her body slick with water, her hair messy and hanging free over her naked shoulders.
“What happened this morning?” Aidan asked, grinning like he was about to hear a juicy story. Sawyer was pretty sure he’d feel differently in about thirty seconds.
“Your sister may have walked in on me getting out of the shower, but I was covered by a towel. Mostly.” He laughed as Aidan’s grin slid into a sneer. “Don’t worry. Her virtue is still intact. Or if it isn’t, it wasn’t my fault.”
“Let’s leave my virtue, or lack thereof, out of conversations with my brother.” Her hips swayed tantalizingly as she walked away. The curve of her muscular calves drew his attention to her legs—all the way up to where they disappeared beneath her skirt.
“Done ogling my sister yet, douche?” Aidan’s fist connected with Sawyer’s shoulder in a way that went beyond playful. “Eyes forward.”
“I can’t help it if she has a great body. I’m like a connoisseur of art, I might admire the masterpieces, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to buy one and take it home.”
“Don’t let me stop you from admiring whatever art you enjoy, but when it’s attached to my sister, hands off. That Sam kid really hurt her when he dumped her—practically at the altar—back in college, and I’m not about to let you come anywhere near hurting her too. I lost her for five years while she sorted out her issues and now that she’s back, I’m not going to let you send her running away again. Got it?”
“Shit. I forgot about that.” He paused, considering Aidan’s information. “Don’t worry. I have no plans for putting my hands on your sister unless it’s absolutely necessary to get the cabin. Otherwise, it’s strictly business.”
Why did he feel as if he’d lied under oath?
“It better be.” Aidan relaxed into his chair, the tension clearly leaving. “How’s the cabin project coming along?”
“Not as well as I’d hoped. When we were there this weekend Tyler mentioned all the work he’s done around there to help them out. Of course he wouldn’t miss an opportunity to point out his dedication to the cabin, and my lack of it, while rubbing his relationship with Gran and Gramps in my face.” Sawyer sighed. “I have to figure out a way to do the same.”
“To stoop to his level?”
“If it gets me the cabin, it’ll be worth it in the end.”
“So go out there and fix something.”
“There’s nothing that needs fixing until we do the usual seasonal stuff. Maybe I can order new window screens or something. We’ve been patching the current ones for years.”
“That could work. Possibly expensive, but makes a statement. Although, it’s an expense your arch nemesis might be the one to benefit from in the end.”
Before he could say more, Olivia came back to the table.
“What did I miss? You two look very serious all of a sudden.”
“Nothing.” They both spoke at the same time.
“Talking about ordering new window screens for the cabin,” Sawyer added.
“Fun.” Her voice was thick with sarcasm. “Nothing like throwing a little money around to show someone you care.”
Her complete and utter flippancy about the whole subject irked him. How was it she could get under his skin one minute then be awesome the next? Was she like this when they were younger, too, and he’d forgotten that part of her personality?
“Well, I have to do something to counteract Tyler’s handyman status around my grandparents. Got a better idea?”
She shrugged. “Call me crazy, but you could tell them how much the cabin means to you. Surely they’d give you some extra consideration because you practically grew up within those walls.”
“You think I want their pity vote?” Now he’d gone from irked to irate.
She put her hand on his and squeezed it. “I only meant that maybe you don’t need to worry so much or try so hard because you already have more attachment and right to the cabin than Tyler.”
“Tell that to the guy who’s been working on the cabin damn near every month since I moved out a couple of years ago.” He rolled his hand under hers so their palms pressed together. The sensation of her touch sent warmth blooming in his chest, melting away his irritation.
Aidan reached across the table and put his hand on top of theirs. “This is nice. We should all hold hands as
friends
more often.”
Sawyer sat back and folded his arms across his chest, refusing to meet his friend’s gaze. He cleared his throat before continuing. “It’s not that I don’t want to be the one to do the work, but it’s too hard to make it out to the Catskills every weekend, which is why we only have Sunday dinners once or twice a month.”
“So order the screens then. They do need them and I’m sure they’ll appreciate the gesture.”
“We should do something to celebrate your first day at work.” Aidan smiled in what Sawyer recognized as his friend’s getting-out-of-trouble face, which he used every time a conversation needed a quick change of topic.
“Dessert?” she asked.
“Perfect.” Sawyer nodded, then waved over the server and requested to see the dessert tray. After perusing their options, they made their selections. “Do you have any specialty coffees?”
“We do offer a variety of coffees with liquors in them that pair well with the desserts. I would suggest either the Irish kiss if you like it hot or the chocolate orgasm if you’d prefer a cold drink.”
“What do you think? Kiss or orgasm?” Sawyer asked, trying not to laugh. He’d just been told to watch it around Olivia and now here he was, offering her two deliciously inappropriate treats.
“I’ll have an Irish kiss. I like my coffee hot.”
Sawyer liked things hot, too. “I’ll have that as well. Aidan?”