Eden's Pleasure (Pulse Book 1) (7 page)

It was quite busy tonight. Music played softly in the background, and most of the seats were filled with lots of whispered conversation buzzing in the air.

A few larger groups huddled together in the center of the floor, and familiar faces she knew waved to her as they danced quietly off to the side.

At a long bar, near the far wall of the room, Eden attached her bow tie to the collar of her white blouse and surveyed the contents of the bar to familiarize herself. She wrapped a black apron around her waist and poured herself a glass of water. She took a sip and damn near choked when she saw the man seated in front of her.

"Chase?" she asked stupidly.

"Hi," he said quite entertained with her. “Moonlighting?” he eyed her up and down with a smile.

"Yes, the design business just doesn't pay enough in today's economy." They laughed and she set a cocktail napkin on the bar. She could feel her heart racing and drew a deep cleansing breath to calm her.

"What can I get for you sir?" She raised her chin and swallowed back the urge to giggle at the discomfiture of the moment.

"How about a dirty Martini, good and dirty." He gave her a naughty little smile to go with his drink order.

“Just the way I like them,” she added. She wouldn't let him distract her with his ultra-sexy self from the task at hand.

In a mixing glass, she expertly added vodka, a dash of vermouth, and olive brine as he watched her intently. Then she took an ice chilled glass, placed it on a cocktail napkin in front of him, and grinned into Chase's eyes as she strained the martini into the glass before she added four olives on a red plastic sword.

He took the glass and sipped from it. "Very nice. Thank you."

"So, what are you doing at
Pulse
, have a date?" She waited hoping to be wrong.
What
business was it of hers,
she thought,
not like they were seeing each other?

"As a matter of fact, I do. Nothing sexual, I assure you. It was made months back, I..."

She interrupted him before he could finish, "It's really none of my business. I apologize."

"No, it's ok. I didn't want to be a jerk and cancel on her. She's a nice girl, but I certainly don't see her in my future. It’s kind of a favor to a friend."

"So, tell me why you’re working at
Pulse.
" He leaned his chin on his hand, his eyes were glued to her face, waiting.

"Helping Mik, she owns the place. She called in a favor." She was thankful for the change in topic, pulling away from her building irritation at the thought of his hands touching someone else.

He sipped from his drink and slipped an olive off of the miniature sword with his tongue. "You used to tend bar in a former life?" he asked.

"Yes actually, to pay my way through college. I worked here for Mik when I first came to Boston, until I got my job at the firm and back on my feet," she said as she wiped the counter top.

"Back on your feet?" he asked, interested in learning more.

She didn’t want to get into this with him, explaining her past. Hell, she barely knew him.

A tall, dark haired, very pretty woman put her hand on Chase's shoulder, and he turned in his seat to face her, giving her a peck on the cheek.

Eden felt a pang of jealousy in her stomach. She wanted to look away, but, like a train wreck, she couldn't help but gawk.

Chase turned to Eden and leaned in to whisper, "Let’s continue this conversation at a later date, ok baby?"

Eden nodded in agreement. She watched them walk to a single seating area, reveling in joy to see that Chase sat across from his date to face Eden's direction.

Mikala joined Eden behind the bar and proceeded to help mix cocktails and fill server's trays. They were a great team together, moving rhythmically, never missing a beat. Eden knew her drink menu and was quick to offer drink suggestions to keep the flow moving. Shaking her head with a titter when Chase’s drink order came, she saw that he was taking great pleasure when the waiter leaned in with the request for a Dirty Martini and a Heavenly Orgasm.

She raised her brows and lowered her chin with a you-don’t-think-I-can-do-it look and barely taking her eyes off him, she mixed the martini. Then, taking a tall, highball glass and filling it halfway with ice, she set it on the bar. In a shaker she added a shot each of hazelnut liqueur, almond liqueur and Irish cream. She shook it vigorously while he watched, poured it into the glass and handed both to the waiter. Nodding her head toward Chase, he smiled, biting his lower lip to hold back his laugh and looked over to his date as she chatted on, oblivious to their frisky play.

Eden couldn't help but glance in Chase's direction every chance she got. She would catch him doing the same and they would smile at each other, like it was some kind of obscured secret between them and no one else existed in the room.

"Oh yeah, he's hot, grrr!" Mikala growled.

"Who?" Eden enquired casually.

Mikala’s playful back hander made Eden laugh out loud. "Oh please, girl, give me a break. You’ve barely taken your eyes off Mr. Chase Dean all night. His date should be pissed at the amount of attention he’s been paying to you." They both giggled like school girls, hip checking each other. Eden took great pleasure in the fact that Chase was watching her and his date was of no interest to him.

"Ok, I admit I have looked over a few times. So?” Eden asked, pouring herself a glass of water.

"A few times, try a bazillion times…I'm just saying you have feelings for this guy, I can see it in your eyes, and he's hot for you."

Eden looked at Mikala with a doubtful look, her brows raised. "And you know this how?"

"You’re asking the Queen of matchmakers?" She laughed. "The electricity sparking across the room between you two is going to ignite my club on fire!"

“Tell me what you know about him?" Eden asked, while she watched Chase laughing at something his date said. She wanted desperately to know what it was; wanted desperately to be the one to put that smile on his face.

Mikala was not about to reveal that she had been involved in putting them together. Eden would freak out, knowing that she knew Chase so well and his past. She just couldn’t have that. Some things were meant to stay confidential; she considered her clients like a doctor would, keeping their information classified, for her knowledge only.

“Not much. He’s a club member. And he’s hot. The way he’s checking you out is shameful, you can’t feel that?

"Fine, I think he's hot, but we work together," Eden said, her eyes fixed on Chase and his date that seemed to be doing all the talking for them both.

Mikala threw her arm around Eden's shoulders, squeezing tight. "You need to face the fact that this thing between the two of you is going to win, just mark my words."

Eden shook free of her friend and finished her water in one gulp, not so ladylike but she didn't really care. "There’s nothing going on between us. Will you be ok if I leave now?" Eden asked.

"Sure, go ahead. We're not busy downstairs. I'll have Carl take over here. Get some sleep and thanks for the help. Love you." She air kissed her cheeks and slapped her butt as she moved past her. "Mark my words, Eden Fox!"

Eden threw her black bow tie at Mikala as she made her way to the door and slid out, but only after glancing over to see that Chase and his date were nowhere to be seen. She wondered if Chase had taken her to one of the rooms, or perhaps back to his place or hers. Eden’s answer came in the form of the hot date, as she walked over to the bar and took a seat, very much alone. Eden smiled to herself and left.

***

Eden barely moved from her drawing board when a rap at the door required her attention.

“Come in,” she called out, putting the finishing touches of color to her creation, capping the marker and placing it in its appointed spot.

“Hi there!”

Eden scrunched her face up when she realized that Paul had slimed into her office. She wished she hadn’t sent Amanda on an errand. She looked up to see him making his way over, carrying a drawing tube over his shoulder.

“Yes Paul, what can I do for you?” she asked, short of coming off as totally rude.

“My father asked me to bring these site drawings and blueprints to you.” He slipped the container off of his shoulder and held it out to her.

“Paul, I don’t
do site drawings or blueprints. Why would I need these?” Her puzzlement was fast turning into irritation when she realized that he was staring at her tits. He was such a pig. She felt herself growing wary of this conversation and the sight of his obnoxious face.

He was getting far to close, and she stood quickly, taking the tube from him and placing it on her desk, trying to put some distance between them.

“He asked that you deliver them to Chase Dean, personally. They have revisions that are to be delivered right away. There are important papers you need to pick up too. He can’t take them himself and as you’re his second in command…it’s up to you,” he pointed out, and she flinched at the sight of his arrogant, rat like features.

“You can’t do this, Paul? What about a messenger service?” she asked. “I’m really busy today.”

“Hey, he asked me to ask you to do this. I’m in charge of accounting not this shit.” He leaned toward her. She stiffened as the smell of tobacco smoke and garlic permeated her nostrils, making her want to heave.

“Fine, I’ll do it. I don’t have time, but I’ll do it!” She grabbed her purse and threw the tube over her shoulder, racing past him before he had time to make any more advances.

It didn’t take long to get to her destination in the business district only a few blocks away. She managed to almost pull herself out of her mood during the walk. She stepped into the Dean Construction Enterprises building and stood in awe. Taking in the multi-layered glass and steel tube construction, it was like a crystal palace with a rugged, draconian feel.

At the front desk, she announced that she had a delivery for Chase Dean. The security guard gave her a pass tag and, pointing to the elevators, directed her to get out on the twenty-fifth floor. People got on and off the elevator, floor after floor. Eden couldn’t help notice that this was a very busy, rushed place, making her feel rather anxious. Compared to McLean & Associates, it was like night and day.

When she stepped off the elevator, the atmosphere changed entirely to one of calm and quiet. Soft music played off in the distance, it was barely there. Even the phone at the reception desk chimed softly as she got closer. Etched, pale green, glass walls replaced the usual wallpapered or paneled look of most offices, making it feel light and cheerful. It was very refreshing to see. She had often suggested this look to clients, who were very quick to push the idea aside in favor of solid private walls instead.

“May I help you?” a pretty young redhead sitting at reception asked with a smile.

“I have a delivery for Chase Dean from McLean & Associates, he’s expecting it.” Eden held out the tube to the receptionist. She put her hand up in protest, like Eden was trying to hand her a bag of radioactive dog shit or plutonium. The idea brought a smile to her face remembering a scene from
Beverly Hills Cop
were Eddie Murphy carried a bag to the receptionist, pretending it was some kind of explosive, in an attempt to get in to see the bad guy.

“One moment, please.” She lifted the receiver on the phone and spoke quietly. “Delivery Sir, from McLean… Yes Sir.”

“Left down the hall. The last door on the right.” The pretty little redhead pointed with her pencil.

“Thank you.”

Eden suddenly felt alone in the solace of the hallway. It was long and seemed to go on forever. The etched, glass walls did not allow her the ability to see beyond them. She approached the glass door that read ‘Chase Dean, Chief Executive Officer’ in bold gold lettering, knocking quietly.

“Come in,” his slow, seductive voice called out to her. She slid the door open. It glided easily along its track, and she watched carefully, in fear of it sliding beyond its end.

“Well hello. Isn’t this a nice surprise? I was expecting Adam.” He stood and she walked over to his glass top desk.

“Mr. Hawthorn couldn’t make it. He sent me with the blueprints and site drawings.” She held out the drawing tube, and he took it, placing it on his desk without taking his eyes off of her. She fidgeted with her purse, feeling extremely aware of his stare.

“Design executive, part-time bartender, and now delivery girl? We need to get you a raise so you can give up one of these glamorous positions,” Chase joked.

“Oh, very funny. I’m glad you find my miserable existence so amusing...I’d better get going.” She stepped back slightly to make her departure.

“Oh, someone’s in a pissy mood. Have you had lunch Miss Fox? Are you hungry? Hunger can cause terrible mood swings.” He was taking great delight in this newly discovered side to her. Her moody impatience only added to his need to break her, tame her, to make her his own. Oh, how he enjoyed a challenge.

She checked her watch. “No, I haven’t had time.” Then she realized it was already after two. “I’ll grab a sandwich on the way back to the office. It was nice seeing you again. Goodbye.”

His hand clasped onto her elbow, drawing her eyes to the sight of his huge hand holding her. “Have lunch with me?”

“Thanks, but really I can’t. I have so much to do.” She pulled from his grip, but held her stance.

“We can go down stairs to the coffee shop for a quick bite. You have to eat, and I don’t like to eat alone.” He smiled at her, his beautiful eyes searching for an answer.

She rubbed her hand over her forehead and contemplated.
How can I resist that face?
she asked herself. “Ok, a quick bite. I really shouldn’t, but you’re right. I am hungry. I didn’t realize it.”

“Good.” He shrugged on his jacket, then headed toward the door where she stood waiting. He slipped his hand to the small of her back. The sensation of his hot hand though her clothing was savory as he led her down the hallway to the elevator. He pushed the button and turned to the receptionist.