High Maintenance (7 page)

Tate broke from the heated kiss, pulled off his jeans and boxers, and then swiftly pulled her against him with one arm around her waist. His steely length pressed against her backside, creating another high of ecstasy for Lexy and causing her to push her behind further into him. They edged toward the bed until her legs touched the mattress.

Holding her hips firmly, Tate guided her to bend over the bed. He ran his hard length between her legs from behind, making her moan and arch into his movements.
Oh God, that’s it.
He continued rubbing her up and down until Lexy was so ready for him she thought she would come in that instant. Tate, sensing her immediate need, flipped Lexy onto her back. It was her first glimpse of his beautiful body, naked and ready for her. Seeing him like that stimulated a want to touch and taste every inch of him. What she needed most of all now was feeling the weight of him on top of her and him pressing deep inside until she molded tightly around him.

Tate quickly grabbed the condom and applied it while Lexy’s anticipation grew. He took her legs under her knees, pulling them open and sliding her toward him. Leaning over her, he lavished her mouth with another kiss, then whispered, “Are you sure, Kitten?”

“Yes. I need you, Tate.” She reached down and took hold of him, enclosed her legs around his waist as she guided him to her. When he reached her entrance, she let go and wrapped her arms around him. Tate kept his eyes on hers, gauging her reaction. He took it slow, pushing barely in to give her only a heavenly little taste and then pulling out again. He kissed her softly as he did this repeatedly. Lexy used her arms and legs to pull him further in, assuring him she was ready, pleading for his entry. His next movement was deeper, more deliberate, and he let out a moan. “God, Lexy. You feel so damn good.” He continued in that cadence, Lexy moving her hips along with him, feeling to her core the building climax. He put all his weight on one hand, freeing up the other to caress her breast, run his hand up her neck and to her cheek. “Fuck…you’re gorgeous,” he panted out before kissing her. Finally, he picked up his pace and groaned. “Are you with me, Kitten?”

Hearing his pleasure building heightened her arousal. His concern for her sent her over the top as he continued pumping into to her over and over.
Oh, God. That’s so good
. “Yes, Tate.” The words barely made it out as a quiver just as he sent her over the edge to ecstasy. Her hips rocked into him, seizing every last drop of pulsing pleasure from him and sending him to crash into his own orgasm, riding it out along with her. Riding, slowly, as if he never wanted it to end.

When their sweat-drenched bodies slowed and stopped, Tate lowered himself all the way down onto Lexy. He planted soft kisses on her lips, her cheek, and in her hair. “Wow, Kitten,” he whispered in her ear as she breathed through the afterglow of pleasure.

He slid out and let his body go to the side of her. Then, he began tracing soft, feathery circles around her breast. Grabbing his wrist, she looked up at him, smiled, and shook her head slowly side to side. He let out a short laugh and intertwined his fingers with her. “You’re incredible,” he said.

“You’re pretty amazing yourself,” she said locked into his gaze. But, she struggled to stay in the moment, and her smile faded. “Tate, maybe we should—”

“Don’t say anything. Please. Not tonight anyway. Let’s just enjoy this.”

Lexy woke up blissfully slow to the sun shining through the window. With the power out, she’d forgotten to close the blinds. Her thoughts went immediately to last night, and the replay was damn hot. She had no regrets about what had happened; the smile plastered on her face proved it. For once she’d acted on instinct and let her desires lead the way without her head interfering. Not only that, but it had felt…right.

When she realized she was naked and alone, she sat up and looked around. A twinge of anxiety churned in her stomach. Attempting to stay positive, she played with her hair in an attempt to look presentable when Tate came back. The thought of him climbing back into bed with her sent a fresh dose of excitement to her heart and a healthy measure of lust coursing through her veins. She considered jumping up to brush her teeth when she heard voices.

“What the hell are you doing here?” A familiar voice came from the living room.

Shit
.

Lexy scrambled for a shirt to toss on, grabbed a pair of shorts, and hobbled toward the door while putting them on. Things were about to get ugly, but she hadn’t even prepared herself to face Julian.

“None of your damn business,” Tate said.

Lexy rounded the corner, dread pumping into her stomach. “Julian! What are you doing?” she said in a gasp.

Tate stood in the middle of the living room in his jeans, holding his T-shirt. Julian remained at the entry, holding the door open.

“What the fuck are
you
doing?” he said with a look of disgust. He gave her attire the once over before aiming his angry stare back at Tate. “Are you kidding me with this loser?”

“You can’t just come into my apartment like this. I told you it was over.” She fought against her building anger, afraid the two men would not be able to do the same.

Tate threw his shirt over his head and walked over to stand protectively beside Lexy.

“I was worried about you, Lex. It’s not like I can stop caring. I heard about the blackout, but I couldn’t get here until now.”

Lexy folded her arms and gave him that incredulous look she’d been wearing so often lately.

Tate waited a beat to see if Lexy would respond and then did it for her. “Well you can see she’s fine, so get out. And leave the key too.”

If she hadn’t been so scared, Lexy might have been turned on by Tate’s alpha male display.

Julian took a step forward. “Nobody’s talking to you, you piece of shit.”

“Please, Julian,” Lexy said, looking between the two irate men. “Please, just go.”

Julian took his focus off of Tate. Eyes, filled with disdain and hurt, shot her way. “You know, you really are stupid,” he said with snide laugh.

The comment stung. Julian had a habit of talking down to her during arguments. He’d always apologize afterwards, send her something or bring her flowers. During those times it never occurred to her that he was paying for her to forget. Still she didn’t respond, and she put a hand across Tate’s chest when he moved toward Julian.

“Who do you think did all my handiwork in here for me?” Julian’s eyes burned in Tate’s direction.

Lexy’s brows knotted. “What are you talking about?” She turned to look at Tate, who seemed to be angry and frightened at the same time but didn’t speak.

“Lex, I know I was wrong trying to drive you out of here. But it was only to protect you. I love you, baby. You have to know that.” Then, he turned his attention back to Tate, “I paid you to break stuff, not to fuck her.”

Lexy sucked in a choking breath. Her heart pounded against her chest with fear, confusion, anger. She took a few deep breaths, mentally preparing herself to be careful not to jump to conclusions. “No. That’s not true. Right, Tate?”

Tate’s head snapped over to Lexy, desperation capturing his expression. “He’s lying, Lexy. You know that, right?”

She immediately remembered the business card she’d found at Julian’s. Her throat seized up as she tried to piece things together. Nothing made sense.

“Think about it, Lexy?” Julian said. “              He had the most access to your apartment. He knew when you were gone. That text you saw about him quitting. I see now it was because he wanted to get in your pants.”

Oh, my God. This isn’t happening
. “No,” she said shaking her head.
Last night…I would have known
.

“How was it, Lex? Did he fuck you nice and good and make you forget about me? Did he—”

“Shut up!” Tate said. He grabbed Julian, pushed him back and against the wall with a thud. “Shut. The fuck. Up.” Tate’s hands fisted the front of Julian’s shirt, pressing him harder into the wall. “Lexy, please don’t believe this manipulative asshole. Why would I do that to you?”

Lexy’s stomach turned to knots when she remembered something Tate had shared last night. “You said your business was slow, that you were worried,” she said quietly.

Tate’s face twisted in anger as he shot a look over to Lexy. “Seriously? You think that’s all it takes for me to…to turn into
him
!”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to think.” Lexy’s face flushed with heat. The text she’d seen on Julian’s phone flashed in her mind. No name appeared on the contacts; only screen name “B” showed. “Oh, my God. ‘B’ texted you,” she said to Julian.

“That’s right,” Julian said, hopefully.

“What are you talking about?” Tate said. He released Julian, shoved him to the still open door, and stepped toward Lexy.

“The text Julian received talking about my apartment was from someone listed only as ‘B’ like…Bowers.”

Tate’s eyes pleaded with hers as he took her hands in his. He lowered his voice to a whisper to keep Julian from hearing. “I swear to you, Kitten. This isn’t true. I’ve never lied to you.”

Lexy dropped her gaze to their hands to escape eyes that burned into hers.

“Look at me, Lexy,” he said. “You know me. I wouldn’t do this.” When she didn’t respond, Tate released one of her hands to lift her chin back up. “You know what? I’m
not
going to fucking beg you. I didn’t do this, and if you don’t believe me, fine. But I hope to God you don’t end up with that dirtbag again.”

Her heavy heart sank as Tate released her other hand, and she watched him walk out the door, shoving past Julian. She itched to chase after him, but she couldn’t unless she was sure she could trust him. Frustration turned to anger as she turned to Julian, his face draped in smugness. He took a step toward her. “You leave too.”

“Wait. Can I please explain—”

“You’ve got some damn nerve. You can’t
explain
this away like I’ve let you do with everything else. Just get out.”

“I will, but I just want you to know something before I go.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her ring. “This was a gift. And I’m not letting you go that easily.”

The sweet, charming Julian she knew was putting up a fight, but she steeled herself against his attempts. Her gaze traveled beyond him to the door where she needed him to go, but he continued to talk.

“That Bowers guy took advantage of you. I can overlook what happened because I’m partly to blame.” He walked to the side table next to the couch and set the ring down gently.

Her cloudy head pounded. “I can’t do this right now, Julian. Just please go.”

He padded slowly back to the door as if she’d stop him. “I’ll give you some time, but I know we can make this work, Lex.”

A carton of powdered donuts rested on Lexy’s lap as she sat on the couch
not
watching the television that was on. Cupcake slumbered peacefully at her feet. The door opened behind her.

“Come on in. Everyone else does.”

“What? It was unlocked,” Mimi said.

“Oh.”

“Oh, my God! You said those were the devil.” Mimi snatched the carton from Lexy’s lap with a scolding look. A short toss and the donuts landed with a thud on the coffee table.

“Yeah, well, I’m in the mood to live dangerously,” Lexy said.

“Um…didn’t you already do that?”

Lexy answered with her expression.

“Sorry. How ya doing?” Mimi sat in the chair next to her and leaned her elbows on her knees.

“Okay, I guess. I just feel sort of stuck.” It had been two days since both men had left her apartment.

“Have you heard from either of them?”

“Nothing from Tate.” She picked up her phone and tapped the screen. “Only this from Julian.”

Mimi took the cell from Lexy’s outstretched hand and read it. “Hey, that’s great. So he spoke to his lawyer about your mom.” Her plastered smile was unconvincing.

Lexy said, “It’s pretty vague, don’t you think?”

Her shoulders shrugged. “I suppose you’re right. Do you think he’s just using that as bait to get you back?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. I think I’ll go see that Woodward guy myself.”

“Good idea. Want me to come? I never turn down seeing a man in a suit.”

“No, thanks.” She half-smiled at her friend’s attempt to make her forget her problems. “I appreciate that, but I’ll be fine on my own. I need to do something to get through this.”

“To get out of being stuck?”

Lexy sighed before speaking. “I don’t know why I said that. It’s not the right word.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve had two days to think about this and to replay all that’s happened. My heart aches, I feel sick to my stomach, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat…except for those disgusting donuts.”

“You’ve been through this before with Julian.”

“No, that’s the thing. It’s never been like this.” She stroked the still sleeping Cupcake eliciting a stretch from the furry baby. “Then, I realized that all that I’m feeling, all the sadness, the regret, the pain, it’s all for Tate. He’s the one I can’t stop thinking about…What the hell are you smiling at?”

“I was hoping you’d say that. But, does that mean you believe him?”

“Honestly, I sort of do. The thing is, Julian has proven over and over to be a liar. I had no reason to suspect Tate was lying. I’m sure I’ve hurt his feelings, and that’s what’s killing me.”

“Unless he’s staying away because he’s guilty.”

Lexy’s mouth gaped open; she tossed a pillow at her friend. “You are no freaking help.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“First, I’m going to go see that lawyer, then I’m going to find Tate.”

***

Lexy entered the building and took the stairs to the second floor. She hadn’t told Julian she was going to see Mr. Woodward and hoped their paths wouldn’t cross. Her pulse raced with anticipation, but more than anything she felt fear. If Julian had stayed true to his word, it might mean a way to get her mother and aunt back from Mexico. But, would she feel obligated to give him another chance? If he hadn’t kept his promise, it would be devastating news to her as well as her family.

She sat in the waiting room for five minutes before Woodward came out to lead her back to his office. She’d met him at a party Julian’s parents had and had seen him in Julian’s office once over a year ago. She wasn’t sure he would remember that. “It’s nice to see you, Mr. Woodward. Thank you for meeting with me.”

“It’s good to see you again, Lexy.” He smiled. “Have a seat…and please, call me Jim.”

“Okay, Jim. I’m sure you’re very busy, so I’ll make this quick.”

“It’s fine really.” He sat on the corner edge of his desk with his hands in the pockets of his suit pants. His salt and pepper hair was short and stylish, and he wore a kind face.

“I don’t want to put you in a spot with the company or with Julian, but I’d like to ask you some questions.”

“Well, I’m not sure how much I’m at liberty to share with you, but let’s get something straight. I don’t work for Julian, I work for Richard,” he said, referring to Julian’s father.

His confidence and boldness impressed her. She pictured him standing up to Julian who typically intimidated the company employees. “Right. This really doesn’t have to do with the business anyway. It’s about me.”

“I see.” He folded his arms, fidgeted, looked to the door. “I’m guessing this is about your family?”

Her eyes widened at his instant recollection. “Yes, my mother and aunt. Did Julian ask you to look into some ways to help them?” Her conflicting emotions fought for center stage.

Jim took a breath. “Yes, he did.”

“When was that?”

“Oh, it was…sometime last year, I’d say. But, then we got bogged down with that merger, and you know we were all back and forth to the East Coast offices for that.”

“He hasn’t contacted you recently about it?”

Jim rose from the desk, walked around it to sit in his chair. An awkward pause fell between them, leaving Lexy wondering if he was going to answer. “Look, I’m sorry to tell you this, but I can see you’re determined to get details.”

“Yes, I am. What is it?”

“I don’t lie to people, Lexy. Yes, I’m a lawyer. We find ways
around
problems. But, in real life, I don’t lie to someone’s face. And, I’m not going to lie to you.” He shook his head. “Julian’s an asshole.”

That wasn’t the first time she’d heard employees bad-mouth him, so she wasn’t taken aback—only confused to be hearing it from someone of a higher level. “What are you saying exactly?”

He picked up his phone and pressed a few buttons before turning the screen to her. “This was his reply when I asked him last week if he still needed me to help you.”

Wedding’s off. And besides, we’ve got enough of them sneaking through the Texas border as it is.

Lexy’s skin heated. She was certain her face flushed, but she fought back tears of anger and swallowed back a gasp. She refused to fall apart in the building under Julian’s watch. “Thank you, Mr. Woodward.” She stood, shook his hand. “I appreciate your honesty.” She headed for the door taking in deep breaths, but when her hand touched the knob his voice stopped her.

“Lexy?”

“Yes.”

He came up and handed her his card, a look of sincere regret on his face. “I really am sorry. I’m not sure what I can do, but give me a call and I can direct you to some avenues to pursue.”

“Thank you. That’s very nice of you.”

“And one more thing.” He paused, his eyes darting from hers for a moment. “I want you to know that I had nothing to do with him hiring that Bowers guy to do those things to your apartment.”

Lexy’s heart jumped into her throat. “What?”

“I swear to you, I found out by accident very recently and told Julian to keep me out of it.”

“Bowers?”

“Yeah, I heard him talking to someone named Bowers on the phone. Are you all right?”

The tears fell just as she bolted from the office. Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran up three more flights of stairs to reach Julian’s floor. Her sleeve served as a tissue; she didn’t want Julian to see she’d been crying.

She kept her quick pace when she reached Lindsey’s desk.

“Hey, Lexy. What are you doing he…” Lindsey stood. “Wait,” she said as Lexy blew by her, flinging the door open.

Julian leaned back in his chair, talking on the business phone. Surprised, he popped up and said, “Ruben, I’m going to need to call you back.”

“Give me your phone!” Lexy spat out, trying to catch her breath from hauling up the stairs and the emotions that assaulted her.

“Lexy, baby.” He looked at the phone in his hand.

“Not that one. Give me your cell phone!”

“What’s wrong?” He came from around the desk, reached an arm to her. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“Julian,” she said, her voice full of warning, “give me your fucking cell phone.”

Stunned, he pulled it from his pocket and handed it to her.

She scrolled through the contacts until she found the one labeled “B.” She pressed the call button. Fear pumping through her, she listened as it rang. Julian looked on.

“Hello,” the voice came.

Lexy hung up; she let out an exasperated breath. “Oh my God! You are such an asshole!” She threw the phone. It landed in his chair. Then, she ran out the door.