Ignite Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (2 page)

I couldn't help being proud of him. I knew the man
personally, and all aspects of his precarious personality fascinated me.

Landon Davis was ardent, earnest, and obstinate when it
came to work. He could also be playful or moody, caring or utterly deserting. I
could never wrap my brain around the complexities that made him the man I
loved.

He was a brilliant man.

Money and success put aside; he was an impressive lawyer.
I'd thought it a cluster of hyperbolistic nonsense when I'd heard of how
astute, and sharp he was. He was only twenty-eight for god sake. How could I
not think that it was just some total media misuse of words?

By and by, he really was. His eyes alone, demonstrated how
striving and tenacious he could be, which in terms, had translated in some
admirable and honorable success.

A loud motorcycle kick-start roar snapped me back into the
present. I pushed through my apartment building entrance, pressed pause on ‘
Pink
Floyd' 'Shine on you crazy diamond'
, and threw the little music player
device back in my purse.

Carrying some heavy fabrics, and my tired self-up the stairs,
I stumbled on my favorite poodle, waving his tail, and urging me to open his
escape route outside the building.

Maria, my first floor neighbor, strode down the stairs
cursing after him, and seemingly angered.

“Ola Chica.”

She greeted me, pulling her hair up in a messy bun. She
was out of breath and in sweat.

I crouched down to put a halt to Teddy's attempt to make
his way outside the lobby.

“Driving you crazy?”

I asked with a smile, trying to calm her fury.

“He's maddening. I think that he doesn't like it when I
call Sarah to come, and take care of him.”

She took a defeated breath, and gathered him up in her arms.

“Are you heading upstairs to get ready? I'm just waiting
for Sarah. I'll get dressed, grab my camera, and we can head to the show
together if you want to.”

I shook my head slowly.

“No. I'm here to pick up some clothes, and head back
there. We're all getting ready at the showroom. Ryan's leading model
disappeared on him, so he's going onto total breakdown, trying to get the
wedding dress to fit her replacement. I'm sorry sweetie. I have to get there
ASAP.”

I explained the turmoil back at the show.

“It's okay
Chica
, don't let me
keep you. I'll just meet you guys there.”

“Alright, see you later.”

I went up to the apartment, and decided to settle on a
quick scrub under the shower. I was glad it was going to be over tonight. It’s
been the most stressful three weeks. It only got worse when, two weeks ago,
Landon had announced that he managed to get the Shwarzman Building for Ryan to
host his show. I could still hear the outbreak of squeaks, and loud shouts
echoing inside this very apartment. Landon had worked it out with his contacts,
and as soon as there was a cancellation, he'd booked the space for Ryan.

Mr. Davis was a generous man; not only did he realize my
best friend's dream to have his show in one of Manhattan's most prestigious
buildings. He also agreed to be Ryan's publicity tool, to create the buzz
around the event, and attract more people, if only, so they would come, and see
Landon Davis attending the show of one of New York's best fashion designers.

I picked up a suitcase and grabbed everything Jenna and I
would need to get ready for both the preview, and the party. I gathered Jude
and Ryan' stuff from their apartment, and hailed a cab.

 
I lounged on
my back to enjoy the little peace I had left, before getting back to the
galvanizing chaos inside
The New York Library
.

Nothing suggested calm more than some
Buddha Bar
to
help my sanity. I had a night of great expectations ahead of me. I was a proud
friend and an excited girlfriend; Ryan was going to move up to a completely new
level of notoriety and success, I had no doubt about it. In addition, Landon,
my stunning, off-the-charts-hot boyfriend was moving closer to me.

Frankly, I grew tired of us flying back and forth. Every
time I was back home after a weekend with Landon, I'd go to sleep happy, and feeling
wonderful. However, when I wake up, in my excruciatingly empty bed, my mood
would instantly shift, and I'd head to work with a serious case of the Mondays,
and end up frustrated with my needy temper.

I was glad it was over. Landon had to sort out his
affairs, and name a senior partner to carry the weight with Eve before
expanding the firm to another state. He'd refused several merging proposals
from other firms in New York, and got himself an office building in the heart
of Manhattan; attracting both the attention, and worries of some
well-established and famous law firms.

According to Jenna's expertise, when
Davis & Crawley
was back in
Chicago, rivaling some other sharks, it didn't worry any of the ones in New
York, even though it was ranked the fourth best firm in the state of Illinois.
However, back in what Landon and Eve called a small lawyer pond - where the
oldest firms had a big notoriety, and close to six thousand employees - it was
a whole other story. Therefore, the finest lawyers, and partners, had started
propositioning Landon with a merger, and all sorts of prospectuses. He admired
their determination, but declined every offer. Then, he launched a recruiting
fair all over the country and at the best schools.

I thought it amusing that everything they did, had only
served to boost his self-confidence and cockiness.

He was such a hotheaded bastard.

I called Jude to ask him if he would come out and help me
with the suitcases. Thinking about seeing Landon, and keeping him close, got me
all energized and excited again. I finished paying the cab driver, took a hard,
encouraging breath, and launched myself out of the car.

 
“Thank God
you’re here!”

Jude exclaimed and carried the heavy case out of the
trunk.

“Ryan is driving me crazy. I’m on the brink of a fucking
psychotic break!”

I smiled tenderly at the other man of my life, and gave
him a little squeeze to help calm him.

Despite his obvious tense state, his face was decked out
with a feather of a smile. It was just the stress of the day washing off,
because, the closer we got to the kick-off, the more anxious we got. Jude had
started flying commercial airplanes; he would spend tiring hours in total
control three thousand feet over the ground and get home to find a brooding
Ryan. He would start trying to calm him down and help him with what he needed.

It was helpful, since Jude was well acquainted with the
fashion world and everything that was required around a show of this amplitude.

“So tell me, what’s going on?”

I asked, pushing my hand under his arm and squeezing his
hard biceps.

“Ryan is nagging and waiting for the remaining dresses.”

He gestured to the heavy clothes we were carrying.

“He freaked out when you were unreachable, and thought you
must have had an accident.”

We laughed, and he shook his head in disbelief.

“We also had to reposition the press row and add some last
minute attendees.”

“Well, more attendance is never a bad thing. But other
than that, it’s just another day in Ryan Finch’s shoes.”

I went with my most understanding tone.

“Yeah, well, at least Celeste’s replacement is cool.”

“Did the dress fit?”

I'd been worried about it. The dress was supposedly made according
to Celeste’ silhouette, it matched her down to every detail. She was very
excited about being featured as a bride, but she retracted at the last minute
and suggested a friend of hers to Ryan, saying that they had the same
measurements.

Ryan blew his fuses over the whole thing; calling his
event the ‘Debacle of the Season’ before it even started.

 
“She’s
gorgeous boo. Naturally, he had to make some adjustments, but otherwise, she’s
perfect.”

“Thank god!”

I breathed out some relief, and walked inside the majestic
Shwarzman facilities, ready to emerge with the chaotic anarchy that lay behind
the scenes of every fashion show.

I stood in front of the narrow mirror inside one of the
rooms that were accessible to the staff of the fashion show and polished the
last of my makeup. Surprisingly, and in spite of all the stress and tiredness,
I looked fresh and glowing. A miracle provided by over-priced cosmetics, and
the quickest shower in the history of showers. I straightened my back and
studied my reflection. My friend did not miss on his tradition to make me a
brand new dress for his event – as if I hadn’t enough of them – and
proving, yet again, that he had magical hands and a unique vision. I was wrapped
in the softest materials, two-toned in black and white. The dress was
strapless, and backless. I had no idea how it was standing by itself, but it
was.

I liked dressing-up, especially for Landon. He always looked
perfect, stylish, and sharp. Not a hair out of place, although, his hair
remained disheveled in the sexiest way, but other than that, he was never less
than impeccable.

I let out a loud huff.

I had to deal with my aching feet. I drew a silent promise
to pamper them and begged them to carry me for a little longer. I had to put on
my six-inch stilettos and head back to the show. Landon called me from the
airport and said he was on his way.

The press, some celebrity attendees, and fashion critics
started filling the building. We were all one, big mass of nerves. Especially
Ryan; his nerves were shot and scattered all over the backstage. Which is why Jude
had put on his
Mahatma
mask, and got him outside the building to
breathe and calm down. Leaving me, Jenna, his assistants, and a very helpful
Calvin to keep the backstage up and running. Jenna and I swapped places; I took
care of the updated order of the runway and checked for any forgotten details.
When Jenna finished rocking her neon-green leather dress and black pumps, she
took over for me while I got dressed.

I took one last glance, gathered my things, and walked out
of the room. Ryan insisted that Jenna and I watched the show from the rows to
give him the first update. We didn’t want to, but he wasn’t in any arguing
mood, so we conceded. I’d reorganized the seating charts to include Jenna and
me. Despite the stress, I was excited about being with Landon, and watching the
show with him. I was also going to meet the infamous Alec Avery. He was finally
in town. I hadn’t met him, nor did I talk to him since that time in Landon’s
office, where my very jealous, and unreasonably possessive man, had claimed
ownership over me for the first time ever.

Walking through the building, I couldn’t help thinking of
the times I used to come here and enjoy a private connection to literature.
This place has always been my destination to unwind my anxiety-assault during
exam week. The braininess was contagious, and the silence extremely relaxing.

This evening, it was far from quiet. The DJ was still
testing the track list and sound system. People were mingling and exchanging
their anticipation about every part of the show. The first half was going to be
the ready-to-wear daytime chic, the second was haute-couture gowns, for which
Ryan reinvented Disney princesses into a world of modern fantasy. I was giddy
with eagerness to witness the reactions. He created something unique and
unexpected. The only dress he refused to reveal, to any of us, including his
partner, was the bride. He wanted us to be excited about something and ever
since Celeste’s replacement had showed up, he imprisoned her and the dress in
an undisclosed part of the building.

“Clea!”

I turned to find Liam, Brooke, and Eloise walking to me.
They looked positively plush and relaxed. Lucky them. They didn’t have to deal
with the making of a fashion show.

“Hey guys, Eloise, you look fantastic!”

They really did; Liam was styling a scarlet dress shirt
and a double-breasted, gray, slim wool suit. It made his eyes sparkle. Brooke
wore an A-line wool dress and Eloise, was her usual elegant self, in a black
crepe sweetheart dress, with sheer lace on top. Her hair, as per usual, lifted
in a French twist, and very discreet makeup.

“We look fantastic? Look at you, you’re gorgeous!”

Liam whisked me up in a hug, and a long twirl.

He became very flirtatious with me at work, and made jokes
about snatching me from under the-not-that-good-looking-mogul’s nose. He grew
very comfortable around me, and I genuinely liked him. He was fun to be around,
and work with.

“Let her down you idiot!”

Brooke scolded him soundly. I got a little bit dizzy and
uncomfortable, but Liam kept spinning, and for a second, I thought I’d hallucinated
Landon standing behind us.

“I would appreciate it if you could do that Mr. McMillan.”

My heart leaped into my throat and my breath stopped, his
voice came all calm and composed, but I knew better.

As Liam gently put me down, I steadied myself on weakened
knees, and slowly turned to see him.

My eyes grew wide and I felt that ache… the one reserved
just for him, deep in my belly, all the way down between my thighs.

 
“I’m sorry
man.”

Liam looked at Landon, and threw me a sinful wink.

I couldn’t conceal my grin, he was very playful, and since
he also came from money, Landon didn’t intimidate him.

Also - and even though, I was probably in trouble for
allowing Liam to toy with me in a very public display - I was very glad he was
here.

Landon looked impeccable, but in a different way, a much
hotter and sexy style. He wore a tailored Oxford blue suit, nipped, and tucked
to showcase every inch of his torso, a white, button down dress shirt that
contoured his perfect chest, making my head spin with wanton. His pants were
slim and cuffed, and he rocked a pair of white soled boots.