Page 32 of Ache
“What about her?”
The droll expression never leaves the woman’s face. “I’ll be in touch, Mr. Prescott.”
A moment later, a red Porsche with tinted windows pulls up next to the Town Car. The woman steps off the sidewalk in a rush and disappears inside. It speeds off into traffic after that.
I’m left bewildered. What the fuck was that shit about? I replay the encounter over and over“It’s the secretary they’re most intrigued with.”
An ominous feeling stabs me in the gut.
Could Everly be in trouble? It may explain the weirdo who joined us for lunch last week. I can’t image her tangled up in anything more dangerous than Christmas ribbon. . . or the sheets in my bed.
It’s nearly three by the time I get back to the office. I have been wrapped up in court proceedings all day and am done with this week. I just want some peace, and I want Everly.
Naked, preferably.
The elevator doors ding open, and like usual, Ever and Lara are sitting behind the long, sleek, wooden desk that guards the doors to the entrance of the firm. They’re like gatekeepers — no one gets in or out without them knowing.
“Ladies,” I acknowledge them as I walk past. Lara smiles as she types away at her computer, but Everly’s eyes catch mine. They’re encased behind her black-rimmed glasses. A reel of dirty images suddenly invades me. I stop short. “Miss Paige, would you be available to work late tonight? I have a mountain of discovery I need to comb through.”
Lara’s head snaps up as Everly answers. “Tonight? But it’s Friday? Don’t you have a hot date?” She’s totally toying with me.
“I do.” I confirm. “But I’ll make it up to her . . . if she’ll let me.”
Innuendo is flying all over the room. Lara doesn’t miss a beat. She knows exactly what’s up. Her expression says it all. So does mine, and so does Everly’s. If Luke was standing next to me, we would be a double duo of defiance.
“I’ll stay if I must,” she sighs.
“You must,” I smirk, opening the glass door.
Back to my office I go.
* * *
Everly and Ispend several hours reading over case documents. I wasn’t kidding when I said I had a mountain of discovery to comb though. We ordered Chinese and ate while the sun set behind the skyscrapers. New York is a magical city. So much life, so much diversity, and yet, when you look for it, so much peace.
By nightfall, we are the only ones left in the office. It’s quiet, save for the shuffling of papers here and there. We haven’t been alone like this in my office since the case. There’s been no need. My workload doesn’t coincide with hers. If things were done the proper way, it would be Lara sitting here with me.
But who cares about proper? Right now, the only thing I care about is spreading Everly out over my desk.
“Ready for a break?” I ask from across the room.
“God, yes.” She shoves her glasses up onto her head and rubs her eyes.
I pat my lap, beckoning her to me.
She automatically glances out the office window, but there’s no one here. “Shut the blinds if it makes you feel better.”
After a beat, she gets up and does just that. She locks the door, too. Now we’re gettin’ somewhere.
She crosses the room to where I'm sitting and props herself up on my desk directly in front of me. I was thinking more like she’d sit on my lap, but this is good, too. She’s wearing a black-and-white striped silk shirt and a tight-ass pencil skirt. She has a bibliophile sex appeal.
“Hey, baby.” I rub my palms along her thighs.
“Hey, yourself.” She rewards me with a warm, sensual smile.
“I have been thinking about you all day.”
“Oh, yeah?” Everly reaches out and places her hands on my shoulders. “Whatexactlywere you thinking about?”
