Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll (7 page)

“Impressive place,” Hawke said from beside
her.

Rachel forced a smile and nodded. “Image is
very important to the Association.”

Rachel’s stomach dropped at the sound of
determined, click-clacking high heels, so loud it echoed off the
glass windows surrounding the reception area. Only one woman’s
shoes pierced the tile like that. Well, only one woman’s other than
Cameron’s.

“Good afternoon, Rachel.”

Rachel took a deep breath, adjusted her armor
and prepared for battle. “Hello, Monica.” She turned to Hawke.
“Jaydon Hawke, Monica Kensington.”

Monica gave Hawke her regular plastic smile.
“No introduction necessary. So very nice to meet you, Mr.
Hawke.”

Rachel stifled the urge to gag. “Hawke,
Monica is the director of the neighborhood association.”

“Yes.” Monica’s smile never wavered. “Please,
step into my office and we’ll review your application.”

Rachel couldn’t help but feel somewhat
perplexed. She faxed Hawke’s application immediately after dinner
last week. A phone call this morning confirmed their meeting. She
and Hawke followed Monica into a back office and took two seats in
front of an executive desk.

Rachel frowned. “I was under the impression
we’d meet the committee this morning.”

Monica folded her hands in front of her.
“Yes, well, that is normal protocol as you know, Rachel. However,
there’s a problem with Mr. Hawke’s application.”

Rachel felt her blood begin a low simmer.
“What seems to be the problem?”

“The board feels there are simply too many
unfinished structures at the present time. We feel it best to wait
to extend another invitation until the current projects are
complete.”

The simmer grew to a full rolling boil and
Rachel fought to keep her composure. “Those projects are all mine,
Monica. The board is fully aware that the progress is on schedule
and the homes will be completed by the target date.”

Monica gave a cocky sneer. “I’m sorry,
Rachel, your assurance is simply not good enough.”

Rachel’s heart pounded and suddenly some very
unladylike language lined up on the tip of her tongue. She opened
her mouth to blast Monica’s explanation into a thousand, tiny
little pieces when she felt pressure on her thigh. She looked down
to see Hawke’s hand there, his fingers pressed into her skin.
Immediately, putting Monica in her place became her second
priority. She lifted her eyes to face him, ready to demand why he
had distracted her. Instead, she only had time to wet her bottom
lip before his mouth captured hers.

Caressing, massaging, easing hers open.

Lost in the desire of Hawke’s kiss, Rachel
felt her anger dissipate, very quickly replaced by red hot
lust.

And then he gave her lips one last peck and
retreated.

Rachel blinked in an effort to clear her
vision. Hawke raised an eyebrow. Monica cleared her throat.

Rachel turned back to Monica. Although she
wasn’t convinced Hawke’s kiss helped matters, Rachel mentally stuck
one hand on her hip and wagged a finger in Monica’s face.
Take
that and shove it right up your committee
.

“Monica, you know as well as I do that
Hawke’s application will be approved on his name only. The
paperwork is simply a technicality.”

Monica’s face paled. “Well, I suppose I could
make an exception.”

“You do that.” Rachel moved to the front of
her chair. “Because if you don’t stamp that application approved in
the next five seconds, I’ll call each member of the committee
personally.”

Rachel waited as Monica hesitated, probably
for Hawke’s benefit, and then reached into her desk drawer. In the
next second, she thrust the application at Rachel, complete with
approval.

Rachel gave her a smug smile. “Thank you.
We’re due to break ground this afternoon.”

Monica’s face reddened. “You couldn’t have
possibly gotten permits this quickly.”

Rachel shrugged as she and Hawke stood. “You
forget who he is, Monica.”

And those were my lips he kissed
.

Monica stood and tossed another plastic smile
at Hawke while she extended a hand. “Yes, well, I apologize for the
misunderstanding, Mr. Hawke. Welcome to Pacific Valley
Heights.”

Hawke gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Thank
you, Ms. Kensington.”

“We can see ourselves out,” Rachel told
her.

Once clear of Monica’s office, Rachel
practically ran for the exit.

“Rachel,” Hawke said from beside her, “slow
down.”

Rachel came to a screeching halt just outside
a set of elevators. With a quick glance around the lobby, she
grabbed Hawke’s hand and pulled him inside the first empty one. She
gave the close button a hard slap and exhaled when the doors
slammed together.

She counted to ten and desperately tried to
slow her breathing.

Lost in her anger, Hawke’s voice reminded her
she wasn’t alone. “It amazes me how well you women get around in
those things.”

Rachel glanced at him and noticed he looked
at her shoes. The two-inch Louis Vuitton sandals she’d bought at
Cameron’s insistence. It was a wonder she hadn’t broken her
neck.

She sighed to dispel her tension and then
smiled for good measure. “Talent, I guess.”

Hawke reached to tuck a wayward strand of
hair behind her ear. “You okay?”

“Of course, why?”

“She was brutal, Rachel.”

“Maybe so,” Rachel agreed, “but we managed to
get around her.”

Hawke chuckled. “We certainly did. You
should’ve seen the look on her face after I kissed you.”

Rachel’s breath gave an involuntary hitch.
Another incredible, mouth-watering, panty-dampening kiss. One she
could’ve continued while undressing him and doing him right there
on top of Monica’s desk.

The same one that couldn’t be repeated.

“About that kiss,” she began while her knees
threatened to buckle.

Hawke’s low husky response didn’t help
matters. “You liked it.”

She stood speechless, unable to dispute that
fact. He took advantage of her silence and stepped closer. Against
her will, she placed a palm on his chest to stop his movement.
However, the warmth from his skin seeped into hers and made it
doubly difficult to speak.

“Yes, I did.” She’d be a lying fool if she
didn’t admit it. “But, I need you to understand something.”

Hawke’s eyes sparkled as he nodded for her
continue and for a brief moment she questioned his ability to take
her seriously.

What the heck.

“I’ve worked extremely hard to maintain my
professional position in Diablo.”

“According to my sources, you’re well
respected.”

“I hope so. But that kiss insinuated I have
ulterior motives for keeping my business.”

Her heart hammered as that sexy, undress me
grin overtook his lips again. “I saved you from a temper
tantrum.”

Rachel dropped her hand from his chest and
squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I know that, thank you by the
way, and you know that, but Monica doesn’t. Believe me, she thinks
our business is not architecture.”

Hawke’s fingers caressed the edge of her chin
as he tilted it to face him. “Who cares? We know it’s professional.
So far.”

Rachel fought the urge to shake him. Of
course he didn’t care, publicity was nothing new to him. Negative
or otherwise. She, however, avoided it at all costs.

“This is very important to me, Hawke,” she
answered finally.

With a soft smile, Hawke moved his hands and
stepped back. “I understand and I’m sorry.”

Rachel’s heartbeat jumped. Sorry? He was
sorry? She fought for the right response. He totally misunderstood
and honesty was always best in her book.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said quickly, “because
I’m not. The timing just wasn’t right, that’s all.”

He braced himself against the side wall and
studied her for a moment as if he didn’t know how to respond. And
then he completely shocked her. Again.

“Fly to Sacramento with me.”

Rachel grabbed the side railing for support.
“What?”

“Tomorrow. I have a public appearance in
Sacramento. Maybe if you spent a little more time alone with me,
you’d change your mind about our professional relationship.”

Rachel took a deep breath. There was
absolutely no doubt in her mind what kind of relationship they’d
have if they managed to be totally alone. A mind-blowing sexual
one. And, as much as she hated to admit it, she didn’t think she
was strong enough to deny him.

“I can’t.” She tried to block out the sound
of her brain cursing her.

She waited for him to ignore her response and
insist. Yet, when she moved her gaze to his, she found a look of
total understanding. Almost as if he did consider her feelings.

“The offer still stands.” He pushed himself
off the wall and punched another button on the panel. “Call me if
you change your mind.”

Once back in his suite, Hawke threw his head
back against the sofa while his brain worked overtime. What the
hell was her problem? Maybe the kiss they shared had been too much
too fast. Too fast, anyway. Personally, the punch of that kiss had
knocked him for a loop. He’d kissed quite a few women in his time,
but never had he felt so connected to someone. Just the thought of
the velvet warmth of her curved, pouty lips tucked between his made
him hard. Her soft, full mouth was tailor made for his, caressed
him, burnt him with the sweetness. His cock nudged him. Damn, why
was she so difficult?

Hawke caught a glimpse of Max as he entered
the suite and headed toward the kitchen. After the refrigerator
door and several cabinet doors slammed shut, Hawke was convinced
Max’s morning hadn’t been much better than his.

“Need a beer?”

Max sat down in a chair opposite Hawke and
toasted him with a dark bottle. “Got one, thanks. What about
you?”

Hawke sighed. “Wouldn’t help me.”

Max took a swig of beer then balanced the
bottle on his knee. “Lay it on me, Hawke.”

Hawke shook his head and grinned. “You don’t
want to hear it.”

“Probably not, but let me have it.”

“It’s Rachel.”

Max nodded. “Figured.”

Hawke laid his head back against the sofa.
“Extraction won’t be easy from her.”

“What’s the problem? I don’t recall you ever
having trouble snagging women. Rock star or otherwise.”

“I’ve played the part of the ultimate ladies’
man for so long, I’m not sure I know what I’m doing. Rachel doesn’t
see me as Hawke. She actually avoids me, rather than falls at my
feet. And now I’m so damn frustrated I could punch something.”

Max snickered. “You won’t be satisfied until
you bed her.”

“What the hell did you just say?”

“Your mission is to do whatever it takes to
get to Diego. If that means sleeping with your mark for
information, then that’s way it goes.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

“You want me to put somebody else in? I’m
sure Steele would be happy to be re-assigned.”

“No. I can handle it.”

“There’s another tube on the way.”

“Damn. Business is booming.”

“We’ve got to get Shadow in that office. Did
you convince her to go to Sacramento?”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I told you, she’s difficult. Closed.
Cautious. Hell, I’ve never seen a woman so damn controlled.”

“You have it bad.”

Yeah, he did. He just wasn’t ready to admit
it. “I just need time to break her.”

“We don’t have that kind of time.”

“It won’t do any good to push her. I left the
invitation open. Maybe she’ll bite.”

“You have a back-up plan?”

“No.”

Max took another swig of beer and swallowed.
“Good luck with that.”

***

The office was deathly quiet when Rachel
arrived.
Where the heck is Cameron?
She blew her bangs off
her forehead as she tossed Hawke’s paperwork to the desk and
plopped down in her chair. After dealing with Monica this morning,
a little distraction would be nice right about now.

Rachel glanced at the application now stamped
with approved in big, bold letters. She nibbled the end of her pen,
desperately trying to control her fractured thoughts and
concentrate on the contracts in front of her. What was wrong with
her? She never had trouble keeping her mind on business.

Rachel blinked the fuzziness from her eyes
and attempted once again to read. Words and terms slurred together
as her mind drifted back to Hawke.

Why exactly did he kiss her? In all reality,
she really didn’t care. Besides the fact that she thoroughly
enjoyed his lips on hers, he’d saved her from an embarrassing
temper tantrum. She rolled her eyes at that thought. Actually, he
saved Monica. Two more seconds and he might have witnessed Rachel
crawl over the desk and sink her claws into Monica’s
holier-than-thou attitude. Not that she was complaining, but was he
always so forward? She sighed. The odds were in his favor; he
didn’t need to be forward. Jaydon Hawke could sit back and watch
women flock to him. There was no need to court, no need to date, no
need to impress. All he had to do was snap his fingers and a
willing female appeared. And although she found herself willing,
Rachel refused to mold herself to suit Hawke. Especially since she
still wasn’t convinced monogamy was part of his vocabulary.

She tossed her pen to the desk and folded her
arms across her chest. Hawke’s reputation dictated the necessity of
a willing woman on his arm. A beautiful, enhanced woman willing to
soothe his ego for a day or two. The type of woman she wasn’t.
Granted, she was no virgin, but one time sexual affairs were not
her thing. She preferred getting to know her partner and building
somewhat of a relationship before she jumped into bed with him. If
she even decided to.