Hurricane (18 page)

“I don’t think that should be a problem. But where would we put assistants for them?”

Julianne had thought about that. There wasn’t any question that they would need assistants—it was a vital part of what they did. Their assistants were the go-betweens for their personal receptionists, which they shared with another partner. The bridge was needed to weed out what the assistant could handle and what actually needed their attention. In addition, their assistants actually worked closely with them with vendors and other things as well as coordinating a lot of things for events. It was one of the reasons they ran so efficiently and were in high demand.

“I’ve figured out a possible solution. With the set-up of seven rooms on either side of the building, we can move things around. Put the assistants in that smaller office next to yours and mine. The one we use for sample books and so on. Then the set-up would be my assistant, conference room, my office, Byron’s assistant, conference room, and his office. Move the sample books and the things to the last room at the end. The same for here, except with you and Azure. That way, they have help they need, and if we have appointments things won’t clash.” Julianne paused, then said, “Actually, I think everyone should get an assistant. With the amount of work between here and Moments Deuce, the others will need it. The rest of them have the same set-up on the second floor, and we can shift things during the break. We can start putting out feelers now. There are some among the staff we have now who might work as assistants. But, ultimately, the choice would be up to those who need an assistant.”

“You must be reading my mind. I agree. We’ll discuss it with them. I don’t think we should have any problems with them agreeing. We can bring it up at the meeting this afternoon.” Regina sighed, rubbing her nose. “I, for one, will be glad to have some more time for something besides this place. Don’t get me wrong—I love what we do. But having time for myself would be a good thing.”

“I understand completely.” Julianne smirked wryly.

“Although some of us are having ‘times’ with a certain someone called Honey Boyfriend.” Regina laughed and pushed her gently with her shoulder against hers.

“You know, you were wrong to tell the others about that,” Julianne said.

“Girl, that was too good to not share. It’s your fault for calling him that in my presence.” Regina’s tone was haughty.

“I forgot,” she said sheepishly.

“I wonder what he did to earn that nickname,” Regina mused.

Julianne got wet. She bit her lip.

“I’m even afraid to know what that expression is for.” Regina chuckled.

“I’ll never tell.” Julianne laughed.

Her cell buzzed. From the ring tone, she knew it was her business one. She tapped her Bluetooth.

“Julianne.”

“Jules, why didn’t you tell me you changed the linens and setting for the Helenberg event? I’ll have to order new flowers for the arrangements. I don’t know if I can get it in time,” Dakota said, sounding pissed off.

“What? I didn’t change anything.”

“Well, you need to check the linens that the vendor delivered. They’re not what you showed me when we discussed what I was making,” Dakota said.

Julianne’s eyes narrowed. “We’re using a new vendor. I’ll be right up.”

She disconnected and turned to face Regina.

“What’s wrong?” Regina asked.

“Have to go deal with a pain in the ass vendor.” Her grin was fierce.

“Oh, boy. Which one?”

“The new one we were trying out for the Helenberg party. From what Dakota said, they delivered the wrong linens and place settings,” Julianne said.

“What? I used them for the Chestnut party.” Regina pursed her lips frowning.

“You better come and check what they sent for that one.” Julianne strode to the door.

Regina walked beside her and they went down the hall to the private elevator. Regina pressed the button and it opened immediately so they entered. Julianne placed a call as it ascended. In quick, concise words she gave instructions and strode out of the elevator as it stopped on the second floor. Dakota met them.

Keenan strolled into the reception area leading to Julianne’s office.

“Hey, Marg.” He waved at the receptionist.

“Keenan.” She returned his greeting as he strode past her.

“Keenan.”

He paused, turning to face Andrea, Julianne’s assistant.

“Julianne had to check on something. She’ll be back in a moment for your lunch,” Andrea said.

“Okay.” He continued to her office.

Entering, Keenan went straight to the door leading to the sunroom. He opened it, going to the table where they usually ate lunch. He set up the containers and drinks then put the empty bag on one of the chairs. Wandering around the room, he glanced at his watch. Their time together in the last few weeks had been limited. Julianne’s schedule had been hectic, but they saw each other for lunch every day. That hour wasn’t long, but he cherished it. At nights and on Saturdays, they grabbed the time they could to be together, though it wasn’t much.

Back at the door to her office, he looked towards it. Shifting his head, he studied the massive, full colour television surveillance system set up on the right side on one entire wall. Julianne had shown him how it worked. At any time, she could see and hear—if needed—what was happening in various event rooms and some of the other areas in Moments. They used it to keep on top of what was going on, or to spot any problems. Each of the partner’s and their assistant’s offices had the same set-up to monitor. The offices and conference rooms were also wired with cameras, but access to view was only given to whoever resided in the office on either side of the conference area.

Stepping closer to the screen, Keenan studied Julianne, Regina, and Dakota, who seemed to be in one of the rooms they used for events. There was a man he didn’t recognise with them. There was no sound on, but he could tell from their body language that Julianne was agitated. She was pacing back and forth in her rich blue skirt suit before a man. Suddenly, Julianne turned, pointed at the man, then strode out of view of the screen and appeared on a different screen that showed the hallway outside the room. Dakota and Regina followed behind her. The man still in the room looked like he was cursing and started to pack away what was on the table.

Keenan moved away and back to the sunroom. He stood just inside the door.

“Keenan. Sorry—I had to deal with that stupid new vendor.” Julianne’s voice came towards the door.

She entered, pausing inside. Keenan closed the door, locking it. Julianne turned at the sound.

“Oh…there you are. Sorr—”

He closed the distance between them, before kissing her hungrily. Julianne stiffened, then gasped, gripping his shoulders. Keenan backed her up towards the table.

He licked her lips, then said, “I need you.”

“The door…” Julianne moaned.

“Locked,” he said huskily.

“Make me blush,” she whispered against his lips.

Keenan growled, kissing her. He lifted her skirt and tugged off her panties. He unbuckled his belt, then unbuttoned his pants and lowered his zipper—he moaned in her mouth as his cock was freed, releasing some of the pressure. Julianne pushed her hands into the front pocket of his pants and pulled out the condom. In moments, she had him covered with protection. Keenan lifted her onto the table. Stepping between her spread thighs, he thrust into her wetness.

Julianne’s gasp tickled inside his mouth. Duelling his tongue with hers, he stroked inside her urgently. Julianne gripped him. Keenan thrust with firm strokes. Her pussy held him in a delicious, sensual vice. Need rode within him, and his cock throbbed. She swivelled her hips, taking him deeper. She sucked at his tongue, their teeth clacking with the ferocity of their kiss. Her walls clenched on him, and wetness coated his cock. Grunting, Keenan joined her in coming hard. His vision blanked out for a moment, then cleared. With a sigh he gentled the kiss.

Julianne made a soft sound in her throat as he released her from their kiss. Breathing deeply, Keenan let her smell of honeysuckles and peaches fill him along with the scent of them. He breathed out and their combined scents filled him with a sense of contentment.

“What a lunch,” Julianne laughed.

“Delicious.” Keenan chuckled.

“But we won’t have time to eat the food you brought.”

He grinned sheepishly. “We’re slow, so I took a two hour lunch.”

“So you planned this?”

“No…I didn’t… It just happened.” Keenan silently cursed himself.

“Uh-huh.”

“Sorry. I know this is your work an—”

Julianne put her finger over his lip, stilling his words. “Shh…it’s okay. It’s not like we’ve done this before. Or plan to make a habit of it. Although, we might have to do this again.” She smiled, kissing him.

Relief coursed through Keenan as he returned it. He knew how Julianne was about her business. Julianne withdrew, putting her hands around his neck.

“Let me clean up. Then you can. And we can eat.” She kissed him again, then pushed him away.

Keenan stepped back, holding the condom. Julianne removed his hand from his flaccid shaft, taking off the used protection and tying it, she then took it with her into the bathroom. Keenan pulled up his pants a little. The sound of running water reached him. A few minutes later, Julianne returned, looking immaculate in a new, burgundy suit. Keenan passed her and went into the full bathroom. He glanced at the armoire that had a change of clothing. A hamper was next to it. The standing shower, toilet, and cabinet with toiletries were on the other side of the room. He went to the sink and cleaned off, grabbing a towel from the rack. He dried off and pulled up his clothing, fastening it. He threw the towel in the hamper and re-entered the other room.

“Your food is heated,” she said.

He joined her in the mini-kitchen. Julianne handed him his food, using a kitchen towel to hold the hot plate. She gave him a cold drink.

“Yours wasn’t cold, so I put it in the fridge. You can drink it another time.”

He took both back to the table and Julianne joined him with her plate and drink. She sat next to him and opened her drink before placing her hand on his thigh.

“Thanks for the appetiser.” She winked.

“My pleasure.” He kissed her.

“Hmmm…so how was work today? Are you still doing training?” she asked.

“Good. A slow day. And yep, training. That time of year for it—just brushing up.” Keenan lifted another fork of food to his mouth.

They talked about their day and Keenan listened as Julianne filled him in on what had delayed her for their lunch. He chuckled at her depiction of the vendor being apologetic and asking for one more shot. Since he’d promised to have everything to them by tomorrow afternoon, they’d given him the opportunity.

“And, after this, he better be more careful.”

“Why’d you give him another chance?” he asked curiously.

Julianne paused, glancing at him. “Something in my gut when I met with him about being a vendor. He was passionate about what he could do, and wanted to be with our company. Currently, we use a variety of places for our linens, napkins and table settings. We’ve been looking at them to see whom we could start using exclusively. None rang with Regina or myself. So we went looking outside and came up with this company. If things work out with them, they’ll be our exclusive provider.”

“And he knows this?” Keenan remembered the cursing he had seen—the man had to be kicking himself for messing up and possibly losing the contract.

“Of course not. We wouldn’t make that sort of commitment until we see what he can do. We’ll see if he can fix things like he promised. We were really looking forward to using his services,” Julianne said.

“Why?” he asked, eating.

“He designs his own linens and settings and has them made. They’re ingenious and really unique. It would give us another ‘oomph’ for our clients. There’s no mistaking his passion for what he does and wants,” Julianne said.

He cupped her cheek and kissed her, then looked into her eyes.

“I can relate to your passion for what you do and want. That’s I how I feel whenever I’m with you.”

“You turn my head when you say things like that. You’re such a poet.” A smile trembled on her lips.

Keenan kissed her fiercely and laced his fingers with hers, resting their hands on his thigh. They went back to eating.

“Come on, Keenan! We don’t want to be late!” Julianne called.

“I’m coming,” Keenan said.

He pushed his feet into his sandals and headed out of his bedroom. Julianne was at the base of the stairs, pacing impatiently. She paused when she saw him.

“There you are. I don’t want to miss the concert.”

“We won’t.” He strode past her.

Julianne followed him, muttering. Keenan stifled a chuckle, stopping to hug her and kiss the top of her forehead.

“Relax. We’ll get there before the first band starts.”

“Sorry. After dealing with that vendor today and planning the changes we want to do at Moments, I’m looking forward to tonight. And tomorrow’s laser tag match,” she said.

“You all are frightening when it comes to laser tag. Why the change from mixed teams? Whose idea was it to make it men verses women?”

“It’s fun. Dakota and his big mouth. He’s the reason.”

“You all are going to get banned one day.”

“If we do, we have an alternative. We’ve been debating building a course for it on one of our properties. Reid and Sampson have been playing with a design.”

“No way.” Keenan shook his head, stunned.

“Yes. They have—the only thing stopping them is they can’t agree on whose property to put it on. Hell, the way things are going, they might put it on both. Dakota would be there all the time. Hell, he might move in.” Julianne laughed.

“Strange. Very strange.”

“Says the man whose sisters call because they can’t work out a crochet pattern,” Julianne retorted.

“Hey—crocheting is relaxing. And I’m good at it,” he muttered.

“There it is…that delightful blush.” She touched his cheek.