The Hourglass (2 page)

with the help of my stilettos, Luke still towered over me.

“Luke,” I whispered into his neck before placing a kiss against his skin. “I’m afraid I’ve got to take a rain check on our date tonight.”

His strong hands ran down my back and gripped my ass, forcing my body even closer to his. Smiling, I leaned back slightly and peered into his dark green eyes as he spoke. “What could possibly be more important than me getting you out of this dress?”

Giggling lightly, I laced my arms around his neck. “I’m celebrating with my best friend tonight. She just got a new job, so we’re going out for drinks.”

A groan escaped his throat, and he said, “I think I liked your best friend better before she moved back to Denver.”

My giggles turned into laughter as I twined my fingers in his hair and pulled his face down toward mine. “Damn, it’s so difficult being Luke Wellington. Your Friday night booty call cancels on you last minute, so you have to resort to searching your little black book for another woman who’d be more than willing to drop any plans she may have to ensure you don’t spend the night alone. Rough life, I tell ya.”

Smirking, Luke leaned in and lightly kissed my cheek. “You have no idea.”

Allowing Luke to slip from my fingers, I adjusted my dress. Deciding I needed to get a move on it, I sashayed over to my car and opened the door. As I climbed into the driver’s seat I glanced over my shoulder, “Give me a call later, maybe you can swing by when I get home.” I gave Luke a quick wink and pulled the door closed. After shifting my car into reverse, I backed out of my parking space and drove toward our building’s exit, dialing Brooke in the process.

Her voice played over the speakers of my car stereo. “Oh. My. Gosh. I’ve called you a million times since your text. What are we celebrating?”

I shook my head no as I responded. “Wouldn’t you like to know? Meet me at
Corridor 44
in ten minutes, reservations are under my name.” I hung up on Brooke and zoomed through traffic, trying to get to my best friend as quickly as I possibly could.

Brooke was seated at the bar when I arrived, her face glued to her phone as she probably scrolled through her
Facebook
newsfeed. Taking the seat next to her, I leaned over the bar and ordered two raspberry truffle champagne cocktails.

Brooke was practically busting out of her skin awaiting the good news. “You’re killing me!” she exclaimed.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as I eagerly awaited the cocktails to toast with my best friend.

Upon accepting the drinks from the bartender’s hands, I passed one to Brooke. Before raising them for a toast I leaned in, whispering so the two of us were the only ones to hear. “Can you keep a secret?”

Nodding her head, she rolled her eyes as if to tell me hurry up and get on with it. “Okay good. Then let’s raise our glasses to the newest Design Editor of Hourglass Magazine, Brooke Reid!” Clinking them together, we each took a sip of our drinks before setting them down and hugging each other while we squealed like schoolgirls in the middle of the bar.

CHAPTER THREE

Brooke

THE NEXT MORNING
I awoke in my room to a brighter sun and birds chirping. Okay, the birds may not have been chirping, but the sun was brighter, damn it. I was going to have a job with Hourglass Magazine,
the
elite magazine in the fashion industry. Granted, I technically had to wait for the official job offer, but I was in. This called for some serious shopping. A new wardrobe and those heels I promised myself as I sat in the lobby waiting for my interview.

I jumped out of bed, and darted over to my closet, searching through my racks of clothes. With a wide array of colors and textures to choose from, I finally settled on a causal look. After grabbing a denim button up blouse, my black skinny jeans, and my brown riding boots, I got dressed. Standing in front of the mirror I looked myself over. I was typically against the brown and black combo, but Savannah had insisted it worked. I hated to admit it, but she wasn’t entirely wrong, although the combo could just as easily be a recipe for disaster. All I needed was some blush and mascara just to make myself presentable, and I’d be ready to go.

Scooping up the keys I headed out the door. My Jeep Wrangler was the car I’d begged my dad for daily as a teenager, when instead he chose a sensible car that I could ‘learn in’. So after I saved up enough pennies, I traded in my Subaru and got the silver, soft-top jeep that sat so high I damn near needed a stepladder to get in. The smell of the leather interior was my salvation. I turned over the ignition and she roared to a start. I truly was a country girl at heart, and I intended to put my four wheel drive to use today.

Peeling out of my apartment parking lot, I could feel the need to cut loose simmering in my blood. I was literally aching to take this baby out and use the independent suspension on one of the mountain trails. Shopping would be next on my agenda I decided as I turned off the interstate and looped the bend that would lead me out of the city. The burning green light, a serendipitous sign I was going exactly where I should.

As I took the turn, my ears were assaulted by the sound of tires squealing, a black blur flashed in front of me. I knew the impending crash was unavoidable and braced for impact. Locking up the brakes, I cringed as the vehicles collided.
Son of a bitch!
I pulled my wheel right, figuring the curb would be a speed bump for my jeep, just as the black SUV veered to the left. Horns blared all around me, and yet I heard with crystal clarity the moment our two vehicles swapped paint. Coming to a stop I let out a string of curses, hitting my steering wheel repeatedly with the palm of my hand sending a pain up my arm.

A tap on my window alerted me to the fact I was no longer alone. When I rolled my head, a man stood outside my driver’s side window. I gave the handle a tug, and the door popped open. My legs swung out and dropped down to the asphalt with a thud. Looking up, it seemed like a year before I finally met his eyes. Tall, he was really tall.
Goodness me
. His eyes were a beautiful green that made me think of the trees in the forest that I was on my way to enjoy.

Reminded of my plans, I moved my eyes to my poor jeep, which now had a haughty Range Rover attached to the front left quarter panel. She wasn’t totaled, but she would definitely need some TLC so this ass better have some good insurance, scanning the car I looked for the driver.

“Are you okay, Hun?”

Hun? Seriously?
Throwing my shoulders back I twisted on the balls of my feet, wishing my boots had a point to kick this guy with. “I’m fine. Are you the idiot driver who missed red light day in Driver’s Ed?”

As he let out a hearty laugh, his head fell back and his whole body shook.
Oh good, I’m funny now.
He wrecks my baby and laughs at my jokes. Winning combo right there.

At the sound of sirens, I turned and looked past the Jolly Green Giant to see an officer pulling up to the scene. “Well, who wants to tell me what happened here?” He said looking from me, to the guy. Following his gaze, I appraised the guy for the first time beyond his height and eye color. He was dressed in navy blue jogging gear, all Nike right down to his shoes, which fit his athletic frame nicely. He had dark hair that was the perfect length to run my fingers through, and a scruff gracing his face after a day of not shaving.

A cocky smirk appeared on his face showing off his dazzling pearly whites. Yeah, he knew exactly how good looking he was and everything in me screamed to flick him off and knock his ego down a peg or two, but I just couldn’t.

“Officer, it was entirely my fault,” his husky voice apologized as he stepped closer to me and made my entire body hum with awareness. The Nike eye candy pulled the officer to the side and spoke with him privately.

Watching skeptically, I realized quickly this was a losing battle as both men appeared to bond and become best buds. Man wins another.

Within a few moments the officer gathered our information and completed an accident report, sans ticket for oh say, reckless driving or failing to yield to a red light. The cop handed us each a copy of the report, then got in his cruiser and left as I stared, jaw dropped, stunned at the events that had just unfolded.

“I am really sorry about that, I have a lot going on and just needed an escape,” tall, dark, and dreamy said from behind me. When I redirected my gaze over my shoulder to look at him, his face was forlorn and he looked beaten down. Like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I got that, I’ve been there.

I was overrun with sympathy. Damn him. “I get that, I was trying to get out to a mountain trail and let off some energy myself.”

“I’m sorry,” he soothed, his voice closer than he was moments ago.

Squatting beside my front axle, I checked out the damage on the underside. As I scanned the jeep, I noted it seemed to all be superficial. The rumble of a diesel engine alerted me to the arrival of a tow truck, and I looked up. “I don’t think I need a tow, it looks to be cosmetic.”

“Yeah yours is, but mine… my rover isn’t looking so hot.”

Turning to look at the black Range Rover, I noted some damage on the front passenger side where he’d clipped my Jeep. Nothing major, just the fender shoved in to the wheel well. He must have hit me just right, and with trying to veer away probably ended up causing more damage.

The tow truck driver assured him it would be a quick fix as he pulled the Range Rover onto the flatbed and drove off. As he watched the truck carry his vehicle away, he looked so beaten down that I just couldn’t leave the poor guy stranded. The Good Samaritan in me screamed to help him as he scrolled through the contacts on his phone, shaking his head every so often as he paused on a name.

“So, do you need a ride somewhere?” I begrudgingly asked.

A large smile spread over his face as his emerald eyes raked over my body.

“Well, I don’t want to hold you up, can I go with you on the trail, maybe buy you some lunch after to apologize for the accident?” he asked.

Take him with me? I don’t even know him; this guy could be a serial killer. Because all serial killers run around in fancy jogging suits and drive range rovers, a little voice in my head taunted.

Some part of me, probably my neglected nether regions, took over, and I began nodding my head up and down, agreeing to this preposterous idea. “I don’t know your name,” I voiced trying to argue with my subconscious.

Extending his large hand he held his smile, locking eyes with me. “Lucas.”

My body warmed and tingled as I shook his hand. I was attracted to him, despite his lack of driving skills and wanted to spend time with him. Wanted to get to know the two sides of this man I had been shown, in just a few brief moments.

As he settled into the seat, a smirk I couldn’t fight came over my face, and my cheeks ached a little as I tried to subdue it.

“Well Lucas, you better buckle up tight, ’cause you asked for it.” I winked. He tugged on the belt to show that he was securely fastened in my passenger seat as I took off on the trail, jostling us around the cab.

We spent the entire bouncy ride to the top laughing and making small talk, and by the time we were heading back down to lunch I was looking forward to being able to just talk with him some more.
Everything truly does happen for a reason
, I thought to myself.

Lucas directed me to a nice little bistro that had pastries and coffee that were like a gift from heaven. I made a mental note that we were close to work and I could come here again on my lunch hour. When he excused himself from the table, I dug into my purse and pulled my phone out seeing the screen flash.

Hey you, I haven’t heard from you today what are you up to?

Ahh Savannah! Lucas was on his way back so I typed a quick reply out and pressed send.

Hey back! Meet me up at the Cherry Creek, shopping and guy talk ;-)

“You look like you are up to no good Brooke.” Lucas crooned as he took his seat again.

“Me? Always,” I teased. “Well, I’ve really got to get going, shopping date with my best friend. Where can I drop you at?”

“I’m good here; I live close so I’ll just catch a cab. But I’ll only let you go on one condition beautiful, promise me dinner?”

A blush rose to my cheeks as I nodded my head, forget playing hard to get, Lucas seemed like the catch of a lifetime. After settling on Wednesday night we said our goodbyes, and Lucas kissed me on the corner of my mouth. He was sweet, with a gentlemanly charm about him. The perfect ten. I literally skipped to my jeep as my excitement bubbled over; I needed to get to Savannah pronto so I could tell her all about this amazing man.

CHAPTER FOUR

Savannah

AS USUAL, CHERRY
Creek Shopping Center was packed, so I decided against going in search of a parking spot and pulled directly up to the valet attendant. Grabbing my bag I slid out of the driver’s seat when the oh so young, yet sexy as hell valet attendant opened my door. High tailing it to
Cherry On Top
, my favorite frozen yogurt store, I snagged a large cup instantly filling it with cheesecake flavored frozen yogurt and topped
that with chunks of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Dipping the spoon into the mountain of mouthwatering goodness I scooped a bite into my mouth and savored the delicious flavor that was taking over my taste buds just as my phone began to ring.

Brooke spoke into the phone before I could even say hello. “I’m here, where are you, I’m dying to tell you all about my newest conquest.”

Laughing at her comment, I swallowed the freezing goodness that was currently teasing my tongue and responded. “Where do you think I am? Getting fat on frozen yogurt.”

Brooke snickered. “Be right there, save me a bite.” I hung up and grabbed a table and an extra spoon. My eyes were always bigger than my stomach when it came to sweets, and Brooke knew that better than anyone.