Taming McGruff (Book 3, Once Upon A Romance Series) (7 page)

Other than Rico and her relatives, this was the first male phone number she’d had saved on her phone. She nudged it to look at the screen and scrolled to find his name. The picture she’d taken of him on his Harley popped up. She smiled.

“Don’t get any ideas, Pixie,” he said softly.

She glanced up to find him staring at her lips, and then into her eyes. “I’m not,” she lied. Leaning close, she hesitated a fraction from his mouth. When he didn’t stop her, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. This time, she brushed hers against his. At his soft moan, she deepened the kiss, her tongue finding his in a wildly erotic dance. A smoldering blaze licked along her nerve endings.

Lost in the drugging way he kissed her back, she didn’t realize the exact moment when he’d lifted his hands to cup the back of her head or when he trailed his thumb along her jaw. His hands were big and slightly callused. Rough, yet holding tenderness. Just like the man himself, she realized.

He broke the embrace, and then pressed his forehead against hers. His breath came in short, quick pants.

Priscilla shifted, pressing her lips against his forehead, along the scruff of his cheek, and then to his jaw and chin.

“You’re playing with fire,” he warned.

“Does that mean I’m going to get burned?” She feathered kisses on his lips, loving the taste of him, teasing him, and then along his cheek.

“Absolutely.”

His hard, terse answer brought her up short. She pulled away, gazing into his smoky gray eyes lit with an intense, breathtaking blaze. She gasped at the searing heat. “And you? Will you get burned, too?”

“I already have.”

She swallowed hard. “How so?”

“I’ve been branded. By a very hot, very sexy Pixie.”

***

Griffin sipped his black roasted coffee as he watched her roam through his house, taking pictures and measurements. How could she stir his senses like that? How could she make him forget everything he worked for, especially his mission?

When he opened the door to her, she’d taken his breath away. Her wind-tousled strawberry blonde hair reminded him of her lying by his fire the other night. The skinny jeans she wore molded to her shapely legs. The buttoned-down silky green blouse with the low slung belt around her hips outlined her curves. After kicking off her ankle boots, she padded across his wooden floors as if she belonged there.

Turning to him now, she pointed upstairs.

“No,” he bit out.

Her weak smile came and went. “Good idea.”

“At last, we agree on something.”

“Tempting fate?”

He chuckled. It came out strangled. “You believe in fate?”

She shrugged, going to her notepad and scribbling more notes across a page. “I suppose I do. Fairy tales and fate.”

“Hopes and dreams?” He sounded cynical, even to his own ears.

“What do you have if you don’t have dreams, right?”

When he failed to reply, she glanced up at him. Something inside him shifted. No, she was not getting to him. He wouldn’t allow her to come between him and his revenge.

“Nothing, Griff? You don’t want something so bad that you think about it day and night, that keeps you going even through all the sad things, that you ache for it to happen because then you will feel something so wonderful, so joyous that it means you did something that matters? That you mattered?” Tears glistened in her eyes.

His heart jolted. She’d touched that spot in him that he kept sheltered and hidden.

She brushed the tears away quickly. “Sorry. My mother calls dreams foolish and a waste of time.” Priscilla gathered her things.

He went to her, and then knelt to help her with her scattered paperwork. Her hand brushed his. A jolt of electricity surged from his hand and up his arm. They both stilled. Looking into her big, green eyes, he felt the air rush out of him. “Once, I did dream.” Now, all he had was revenge to hold onto.

“What happened?”

“Someone stole it.” She had no idea it was her mother.

“Can’t you get it back?”

“I’m trying.” Only when I take Agnes King down, he vowed. Only when he could restore his father’s reputation. But what would that do to Priscilla? He shouldn’t care. But he did.

Early Monday morning, Priscilla stood shoulder to shoulder with Rico on one side and Evelyn, the wedding boutique assistant, on her other side. In the crowd of King’s employees, she waited along with them for the big announcement.

Of course, she already knew. And as a part of the King family, she and Francie had been in the managers’ meeting an hour ago as Charlie and Marcus broke the news and introduced Griffin as the new head of King’s.

The managers had taken it with a mixture of melancholy at losing the last King at the helm of the beloved family department store and a rush of excitement at getting
the
Griffin James, retail industry genius, to take over the lofty goal of saving King’s.

He’d been amazing, too. Somehow McGruff turned into a very down-to-earth, relatable leader in a few short minutes, accepting the position as well as honoring her stepfather as a man and as an employer. She took comfort in his words of carrying on a tradition and at the same time exploring new territories to keep King’s competitive.

“What’s going on?” Rico asked, straining to get a look at the temporary podium set up. He nudged her arm. “Come on, girl, you can tell me.”

“You should have come to Charlie’s and Alex’s on Saturday.” She chuckled at his hurt expression.

“And miss my hot date? I don’t think so,” he said.

“Your loss.” Secretly, she thanked the stars he hadn’t shown; he would have suspected the interplay between her and Griff.

“Hmmph! At least I got a second date out of it. He’s gorg, too!”

Evelyn piped up, “You didn’t tell me that. What gives?”

Rico puckered his lips and brushed back his short hair. “I can have some secrets.”

Priscilla and Evelyn burst into laughter at that. “When?” Priscilla asked. “You never have kept them before.”

He glared at her. “Well, I can start now, can’t I? Unless, of course, you’re going to tell me what’s the big to-do all about today.”

The low buzz of conversation surrounding them suddenly increased. She swallowed hard as she watched Charlie, Marcus, Griffin, and Peg, the managerial assistant and her friend, come out of the executive elevator and toward the make-shift podium.

Charlie picked up the microphone. “Good morning, my friends. How are you today?”

They clapped and some employees even called out to her.

“Thank you for coming in before the store opens. I don’t think I have to introduce myself to you and,” she turned to Marcus, “you all know Marcus.” He grinned and waved at the applause. “Now, the man to my right is a legend in our industry, Griffin James. Please give him a warm welcome.”

Ohhs and ahhs raced through the group of employees. Obviously they knew his sterling reputation. Priscilla watched him as he, too, waved to the crowd. But, she noted, how his smile barely moved those sexy lips of his. At the memory of his hot, sensual kisses, her knees wobbled.

“Divine,” Rico whispered.

“Ditto that,” Evelyn said.

“As you know,” Charlie continued, “and at your insistence, I’m still the owner of King’s and will remain the owner.”

There were high-pitched whistles at that and more vigorous clapping.

Pride shot through Priscilla at the way the employees adored her stepsister.

Charlie raised a hand to quiet the employees down. “Thank you again. Also, Marcus has been kind enough to step in and help carry us to our next phase. However, his tenure will be over soon.”

There was a murmur of disappointment. People loved Marcus. They also loved how he and her sister, Francie, fell in love and got married a few short weeks ago.

“I’m afraid, at my doctor’s advice, I won’t be able to return to work full-time. Yes, I’m as surprised as all of you. But as of Friday, I’ve learned I may be off a great deal of time. First, I want to let you know I have some news, about the baby.”

The concerned murmurs rippled through the group.

Rico jabbed Priscilla. “What is it? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Prissy smiled, knowing what was coming.

Her stepsister chuckled. “I’m going to have twins.”

The audience cheered.

Waving his hands in front of his face, Rico tried to hold back tears. He turned to Priscilla and hugged her, jumping up and down. “We’re going to have twins!”

Evelyn joined in.

“I know you’re all as thrilled as Alex and I am about it,” Charlie spoke again. “And I’m certain the celebration party Alex’s grandmother is planning will be a grand affair, with all of you there to share in our joy.” She held up her hands to quiet them down. “So with the discovery of not one, but two, babies, my search for a replacement was paramount. After much consideration and a great deal of soul searching, I have decided that none other than Griffin James will take over the helm of King’s. Please welcome our new leader.”

Priscilla joined in the round of applause. Her pride for Griffin surged inside her. He garnered both awe and respect in the industry.

“Thank you,” he said, clearly taken aback at Charlie’s quick hug before he took the mic from her. “I hope this welcome will continue long after I officially take over in a few days.”

Their laughter filled the air.

“Unfortunately, I never got a chance to work with Charles King. For that, I am truly sorry.”

Tears smarted her eyes.

“From what I’ve heard, he was not only a charismatic salesman, he was a compassionate, caring man who had a dream for himself and his family.” His gaze landed on hers. She swallowed hard. “And, I’m told, by a very good source, dreams are what you hold onto through the darkness. They give you something to aim for, a standard of excellence you push yourself to achieve until you soar. That is the legacy you have carried on and that is the legacy we will continue to strive for here at King’s. I know you will guide me and work beside me to carry out Charles King’s vision.”

Cheers went up, the roar almost deafening. Through it all, she caught his glance and held it for a moment. He nodded to her as the corner of his lip moved ever so slightly upward.

He’d listened to her, to what she felt and thought and had to say. He took her seriously. Her heart turned over in her chest.

Wonder swelled in her. She gave him a thumbs-up. He chuckled.

“Girl, you should have told me how hot he was. Forget my date. I would have come running to meet him,” Rico said. “I’m in l-o-v-e.”

Me, too
. A blast of heat rushed through her. Oh no, she couldn’t be. It was just a crush, wasn’t it?

***

Hours later, Griffin flexed his stiff fingers. His hand cramped from shaking hands and his jaw ached with the effort to keep a smile on his face all day as he went around to each department and introduced himself to every employee. With each one he met, something cold and sharp sank in his belly. They believed in this store, in the King family. Who was he to destroy them as well as the store?

Embedded in the enemy camp, he wondered if just after the first day, he was losing sight of his goal. Their enthusiasm and passion surprised him; he’d never encountered anything like it in the past. They weren’t getting just a paycheck: they were family, invested in a part of that dream he spoke of at the announcement.

As he recalled the speech, thoughts of his pixie took hold. She’d beamed with pride as he stepped up to the podium, taking center stage. Noticing her in the crowd, he used her as his inspiration at the last minute; somehow her words, her passion rang true with the employees. It had struck a chord in him, too, but he couldn’t imagine hoping for anything ever again and not being let down in the end.
Nothing came easy for him
.

Now as he roamed the store, in the back of his mind, he wondered when he’d see Priscilla again.

Peg, his new assistant he’d inherited with the job, chattered amicably, filling him in as they went. “Earth to Griff,” she called, snapping her fingers in front of his face. “You’re back. Good. Now this one, she’s been here since the dawn of time.” She ran a finger down the list of employees attached to her clipboard, and then tapped the paper. “And she doesn’t like change. Outspoken, too. Easy does it with her.”

“You’re a wealth of information.” He filed that away. This woman was a gem, albeit she possessed a less than professional style. It worked with the employees, though.

“I know. Worth my weight in gold.”

He turned to her, seeing the ghost of a smile.

“We gotta work on your sense of humor, Boss.”

“Somehow, I don’t see the reason behind that suggestion,” he drawled.

“Oh, I do. Believe me, I do.”

He frowned. “Is that an attempt at a joke?”

“It’s a fact, Jack.”

Griffin shook his head; it would take a lot to get used to her. “Let me know when you’re kidding around.”

She rolled her eyes. “Holy Toledo, I gotta really break you in and good.”

He wondered who was in charge here—him or her?

Another hour and he turned the corner to see the Charmings Wedding Boutique. It was everything the papers had said.
Hip. Chic
.

However, it was the woman standing a few yards in front of him that captured his attention. Priscilla stood with her sister, Francie, and a gentleman he hadn’t met yet.

“Oh, isn’t that so good to see?” Peg asked. “The sisters. It’s been a real joy to see them blossom.”

“I’m sure you’ve seen a lot.”

“And how. If it wasn’t for Charlie I would’ve been long gone years ago. She rescued me from her stepmother’s wrath.”

“You were Mrs. King’s assistant?” This just got very interesting.

“No, thank heavens. But I’ve seen her operate. A real piece of work, that one. My, the stories I could tell.”

“Maybe you can fill me in someday.” He wished she’d spill it. Why did she have to practice restrain now?

“You got a date. Lunch someday soon? I like steak.”