Читать книгу In Too Close - Katherine Garbera - Страница 11

3

ELIZABETH SPENT MOST of the day in meetings. But really her mind was on Bradley. Her friend “plus.” She hadn’t been able to get that notion out of her head all day, and she was practically counting the minutes until she saw him again.

She stood above the lobby, which was decked out in fall garlands with the signs of harvest all around. It seemed homey—if home was a big mansion with lots of luxury. She remembered the modest ranch-style home she’d grown up in and acknowledged to herself that Thanksgiving looked a lot different this year.

The scent of spiced pumpkin cookies wafted in the air from the bakery down the hall that led out to the ski area. She felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. Suddenly, she heard raised voices at the front desk and realized that Thompson Holmes was demanding something.

She rubbed the back of her neck. He was demanding and not a very nice man. He might be able to make people weep with his blockbuster movies but in real life he was an ass. But it was her job to keep him happy so he’d tell his friends about the resort. A big part of their clientele was Hollywood A-listers.

Her cell phone rang and she glanced down at Bradley’s face before answering the call.

“I can’t believe you’re calling me at a decent hour,” she quipped. She kept one eye on the front desk where her manager seemed to be getting Thompson to calm down.

“The hour is always decent when you’re on the phone, Lizzie. I’m calling to see if we can bump our dinner to 8:30.”

She felt a twinge of disappointment. They’d been friends for years; she was ready for the benefits to kick in. Maybe he had cold feet after their call last night.

“Sure. We don’t have to have dinner. You can come by my place later, instead.”

“We’re having dinner,” he said. “I was hoping to add a meeting to your calendar today to discuss an opportunity that Carter Shaw brought me. Our dinner is about you and me. I don’t want to talk business then.”

She ignored the fact that he’d just made her feel warm and tingly inside. Sex was all she wanted from Bradley, but the truth was he’d always made her feel good. Even when they were competing against each other and he beat her.

“I’d love to discuss this,” she said. She needed a community project on the calendar for next year. “But Carter can be...difficult. My board of directors is still a little peeved from the way he pushed for snowboarders. Should I get our ski pro to join us?”

She was already thinking where in her schedule she could fit the meeting in and get Lindsey to join them. That way, she’d ensure it was more business and less date. The more she’d contemplated their friends-with-benefits arrangement today, the more important it seemed to make certain they didn’t fall into a relationship. It would just complicate things.

“It’s up to you, but at this phase, probably just you and I would be fine to discuss this idea. I’m talking to the GMs at all the area resorts.”

“Okay. So is it something exciting? Give me some details so I can start—”

“So eager. Are you always this impatient?” he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.

“I just don’t like surprises,” she said. “Forewarned is forearmed and all that.”

“We’re not going to battle,” he reminded her.

Yet it felt like that at times. Letting her guard down with Bradley would be a mistake. She already liked him way too much.

“I just like having all the facts.”

“Fair enough. He wants to do a charity-type winter-sports event in Park City next November. I’m going to donate gear to give to underprivileged kids and I was hoping you could donate the facilities.”

She thought about the logistics of what he was asking. “I’m going to have to run some numbers. Let’s meet in my office at seven and then we can head down to dinner at the Gastrophile West after.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then,” Bradley said. “But you should know I’m putting the timer on and when it’s time for dinner, I’m ending our meeting.”

“Fine. I’m not all about business, you know,” she reminded him. His words echoed those that she’d heard from her family and friends over the years. In fact, whenever she went home for the weekend, her mom confiscated her cell phone the moment she arrived. “If you’re going to have an attitude we can skip the dinner.”

“We’re not skipping anything. I wasn’t giving you a hard time, Lizzie. I just want to make sure that we have enough time to celebrate. What you’ve accomplished is huge and you deserve at least one dinner where the focus is on you.”

She smiled to herself, but felt a shiver of unease go down her spine. “I don’t need the spotlight on me.”

“Maybe I want it there,” he said, his voice dropping to that husky, seductive octave that he’d used in the middle of the night.

“We don’t always get we want, Bradley. You should know that by now,” she said.

“That might be true for some people, but I’m very determined where you are concerned.”

“And what have you determined?” she asked, a bit breathlessly.

He didn’t answer right away and she wasn’t sure if he was doing that to bide his time or to make her jittery, but the effect was the latter.

This dinner was starting to sound like one of the most dangerous things she’d ever agreed to. A night with Bradley could shake her to her moorings, and she’d always known that, but she’d felt sort of safe because she wanted something from him.

“Bradley?”

“I’m determined to have you, Elizabeth Anders, and I’m not going to let your job, or any other excuse you can find, stand between us. Don’t deny you’re having second thoughts. I could tell by the way you ended the call last night.”

“You’re not as clever as you think. I’m not backing away. Just anxious to get to the plus part of this friendship.”

He laughed, the sound booming through the phone and making her shiver with sensual awareness. “I love it when you surprise me, Lizzie girl.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that. But she knew she’d done something to throw him off his guard. He only called her Lizzie when he was trying to feel her out and figure out what move to make next.

“If I did it all the time it wouldn’t be special,” she said.

“Right again,” he replied under his breath.

She caught hers and waited to see if he’d say anything else, but instead there was only silence. Thompson was shaking the hand of the front-desk manager but Elizabeth still wanted to speak with him and make sure he was taken care of. Doing her job gave her an excuse to escape from Bradley...and all those tumultuous feelings he roused in her. “Look, I’m needed in the lobby, so I’ll talk to you later.”

* * *

THE LARS USTEN LODGE was steeped in American Western tradition and money—two things that hadn’t been in play during Bradley’s childhood. His dad had been a bull rider who had spent one night with Bradley’s mother before moving on. Bradley had never known his old man. He’d given up on that dream when he’d turned ten.

There were still times when the longing to know his father still niggled in the back of his mind, but most days he was content with where he was in the world. He’d carved a successful life for himself and felt a sense of confidence that he wasn’t out of his league here. He could afford to stay and play at the exclusive resort if he chose to.

He handed the keys to his classic ’69 Chevy Camaro to the valet. He put his shoulders back and walked into the resort with the confidence of a man who’d made his own way in the world. It wasn’t lost on him that ten years ago he’d have had to pretend to fit in here, but today he really did.

The staff was friendly and efficient. The lobby spotless and welcoming. He didn’t know how much influence Elizabeth had over the look and feel of the resort, but in his mind he saw her little touches everywhere—the art-deco-inspired paintings on the walls, the attention to detail that she brought to everything she did. She’d been working as the assistant general manager before her promotion. And he knew Lars had given her a lot of extra responsibilities.

He shook his head, knowing what he really needed was a kick in the ass. If he had any chance of convincing Elizabeth to be more than his lover, he had to play it cool.

He knew that. But he’d wanted her for so long. Admired her for her hard work, but at the same time also resented the way she was able to compartmentalize everyone and everything in her life. And he was done abiding by her rules. He was changing the play now and determined to win, no matter what the cost.

“Welcome to the Lars Usten Lodge. May I help you?” the concierge—Theo, according to his nametag—asked when Bradley stepped up to the hospitality desk.

“I’m here to see Ms. Anders.”

“Do you have an appointment, sir?”

“I do. Bradley Hunt.”

“Please have a seat and I’ll let her know you’re here,” Theo said, gesturing to the overstuffed guest chairs.

Bradley walked over to the lobby area but didn’t sit down. He was too restless and that worried him. When he felt like this he acted impulsively, and he needed to be calculated and cool.

At times likes this he wished he’d known his father. Was this reckless feeling coursing through him right now something that he’d gotten from those genes? His mom certainly hadn’t done many impulsive things after that one-night stand that had netted her a child.

“Bradley.”

He turned as Elizabeth walked over to him. She smiled as she saw him, but it was her public smile—the one he knew she used on guests and acquaintances—and that irked him because he wanted her to be happy to see him. Not fake happy.

But then he forgot his irritation as he watched her move. She wore ridiculously high heels, which canted her hips forward and made them sway with each step she took. For a woman so determined to be businesslike, there was something very feminine about the way she dressed and the way she carried herself.

He’d never been able to ignore it and over the years—wait, he didn’t have to ignore it now. He closed the gap between the two of them and leaned in for a kiss.

Her eyes widened as she realized what he was doing and she gave him a hard stare before tipping her head back and kissing him full on the mouth. It wasn’t meant to be a true embrace but more one-upmanship on her part...yet, for some reason, he didn’t care.

Her lips were soft and warm under his. The scent of mint washed over him as he pressed his mouth against hers and encircled her waist with his hands, drawing her close for just a moment before stepping back.

“It’s good to see you,” he murmured.

“I’m guessing you’ve picked up some European habits while travelling.”

“Uh, I don’t know how to break this to you, Lizzie, but no one greets each other like that unless they are very good friends.”

She watched him with that rock-steady gaze of hers, and for just a second he saw some wild emotion flash in her eyes. He wondered what she hid. She was always so buttoned up, so careful and cautious in everything she did. And he’d normally put it down to the fact that she was focused on work, but now he sensed it might be something else.

“We’ve always been friends, Bradley.”

“And I see no reason why anything that happens between us now will change that. Our lives are too entwined.”

“That they are. If you’re ready to discuss business, then let’s head up to my office.”

“I’m definitely ready to be alone with you,” he said, letting his voice drop to a gravelly tone.

Lizzie didn’t respond. Instead, she led the way past Theo, who pretended not to notice them, to the private elevator behind the counter.

“I’m not sure what that was about,” she said the moment the doors closed.

“It was about me making sure that you know I’m not just some guy you have a meeting with. We’re beyond that, and from our conversation two nights ago, I thought you’d agreed with me.”

She nibbled on her lower lip and shook her head. “Of course I do. But I need you to understand I can’t be gossiped about here. I’m their boss and the employees need to always remember that.”

“In that case, I apologize,” he said, reaching around her to hit the stop button. “Is there a security camera watching us?”

“No. Only the executives have a key to use this elevator.” Her eyes darted toward him nervously. “Why? What are you doing?”

“Taking the kiss I really wanted.”

* * *

ELIZABETH BRACED HERSELF for the touch of Bradley’s mouth against hers. The last time he’d kissed her...it had been earthshaking, and even though she was prepared, there was that initial shock that sent waves of feeling down her body.

She shut her eyes but that only intensified the sensation of his mouth on hers. He put his hands on her waist, drawing her closer to him, and for once she just forgot about everything but the here and now.

She tilted her head to the side to get a better angle, thrust her tongue deep into his mouth and savored the taste of him. This was her reward, she thought. Justifying to herself...taking what she’d longed for.

His hands caressed her back and then slid lower. He cupped her buttocks and drew her into his body. His hips rocked against hers and he groaned deep in his throat.

She smiled inside, where she’d been alone and cold for the longest time, and then tangled her hands in his thick brown hair and drew him even closer to her. She felt the rough exhalation of his breath against the side of her cheek as she pulled her mouth from his.

She opened her eyes and looked up into the dark green gaze of the one man she’d never been able to really categorize as “just a friend.” From the first moment they’d met, she had wanted more, which made him extremely dangerous.

And danger at age thirty looked much different than at eighteen, so although she knew in her heart that he still wasn’t the safe option, she wasn’t walking away this time. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life living in a sort of shadow state, never really taking what she wanted.

“I guess I’m not the only one who wanted that kiss,” he said, keeping his grip on her waist.

She reached up and touched his lower lip, rubbing her finger back and forth against it while she tried to think of a comeback. It was hard to speak when everything in her body was focused on how good Bradley felt and how she never wanted to leave his arms.

He pressed his hips against her and arched one eyebrow.

“You always did need your ego stroked,” she said at last.

“Honey, that’s not my ego.”

“I know exactly what it is,” she murmured, reaching between their bodies to rub his cock through his pants. He groaned and his hands tightened on her a split second before his mouth came down again.

This time there was no illusion of who was doing the claiming. Bradley was staking his, and she enjoyed every second of it. He lifted her off her feet and held her securely to him as his lips devoured hers.

Elizabeth relinquished everything, stopped thinking, stopped worrying and stopped wishing this was something that she could control. And she acknowledged, for perhaps the first time in a really long time, that she wasn’t in control of anything.

Gripping Bradley’s shoulders, she held on to him as sensations swept over her, and felt herself let go. Really letting go had been a long time coming, and suddenly she couldn’t stop.

She lifted her leg and wrapped it around his hips, rubbing the center of her body over the ridge of his cock, and he shuddered in her arms. Then he pulled his mouth from hers, whispering dark words of sexual need against her skin as he nibbled at her neck, and his hands slid lower to cup her buttocks and draw her into fuller contact with him.

With her nails into his shoulders she sought his mouth again as he rocked his hips against hers. The world started spinning around her. Feeling the cold surface of the elevator car against her back and Bradley pressed along her front, she trailed her hands down his back until she felt the barrier of his belt then reached lower and grabbed his butt. Trembling with desire, she squeezed his rock-hard cheeks and drew herself against him.

He sucked her lower lip between his teeth and nibbled at her mouth for a second.

“Are you okay in the elevator?” The voice startled them both.

Bradley pulled back but didn’t let her go.

“Hell,” he muttered, putting his forehead against hers and holding her for another minute.

“Hello?” the voice said again.

“How do I respond?” Bradley whispered

Elizabeth felt waves of regret wash over her. She knew better than to start this kind of thing at work. “Let me.”

She walked to the intercom and pressed the button. “We’re fine. Sorry, we were arguing a point.”

She hit the button for the elevator to resume movement and turned to look at Bradley, who gave her a rueful smile. “Arguing a point? Who won?”

“Me,” she said.

“How do you figure, Lizzie?”

“I wasn’t sure if our last kiss was just a fluke,” she replied. “But now I know it wasn’t.” Inside, she did feel as if it was a victory of sorts, because now she knew what she wanted from Bradley.

“Well, I could have told you that from the start,” he chided. “I knew from the first moment our lips met that it was more than a coincidence.”

“Don’t go bragging,” she said.

The elevator doors opened and she started to walk away, but his voice followed her down the hall to her office.

“Why not? I like the way you stroke my...ego.”

She shook her head as she entered her office and walked behind her desk. She wanted to pretend she was still in charge, both here in the office and in life, but she had a feeling that one trip in the elevator had changed things.

A part of her didn’t regret it, but another part of her was afraid of the way that Bradley made it so easy for her to forget herself and her own rules. Something she knew was incredibly dangerous.