Work Like You Don't Need the Money (20 page)

Emma smiled at him. “Yes, but you can do it, can't you?”

“You know I can, and I will.”

“How about you, big guy?” Jack was looking at him, but Pete was stunned. Two weeks? That was all? He was stunned by his own reaction as much as anything else. He felt like he'd been sucker punched and all the air had left him.

“Yeah,” was all he could manage.

“And I know I've got Team Slinky to help me get everything done,” said Emma.

Missy laughed. “Hell yeah, we're up to it, aren't we, Holly?”

Pete watched Holly smile and nod. Did she really look as stunned as he felt or was that just wishful thinking?

Once Smoke told them they could take their seat belts off, Pete unbuckled and came to sit beside Holly. She didn't meet his eyes.

“So, two weeks to make it the most of it, Sweetheart. What do you think of that?”

She smiled, but her eyes didn't shine. “I think we'd better enjoy it while we can, don't you, Bigshot?”

He pulled her from her seat and into his lap. He held her close. Her arms came up around his shoulders and she smiled up at him, lifting her lips to his. Her kiss tasted so sweet, her lips soft as he brushed them with his own. They parted, willingly kissing him back as he clung to her.

She was breathing hard when he lifted his head, her eyes soft as she gazed up at him. It was going to be so hard to let this woman walk away. But he wouldn't think about that now. Didn't have to. She raised her lips to him for more.

“Stay with me tonight, Sweetheart?”

She gave a little nod before her hands met behind his head, pulling him back down into that kiss.

Chapter Thirteen

Holly sat in the grand reception area outside Pete's office. This felt strange. She'd agreed to come and see him here because he wanted to show her some of Jack's workups for the plaza. She knew he ran this big company, but knowing it was very different from sitting here in this huge steel and glass building that he and Jack had built, hundreds of people running around on seven floors doing their bidding. It felt weird, unreal.

She smiled at the secretary sitting behind the huge oak desk. Judy, she'd said her name was.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. He really should be out in a minute. It's my fault. He told me to keep the schedule clear, but I finally got a call he's been waiting on, so I put it through. I didn't think it would take this long.”

“No problem,” Holly replied. “I don't mind waiting.” She'd been here less than five minutes.

“Sorry,” Judy said again looking flustered.

Holly hoped Pete wasn't a mean boss. She couldn't imagine that, but his secretary did look put out and was doing a lot of apologizing. She went over to Judy's desk and sat on the corner of it.

“It's okay, Sweetie. I really don't mind.” She wanted to reassure the woman. “If he gives you a hard time, he'll have me to answer to.”

Judy's eyes widened as the door behind Holly opened and Pete appeared in time to the hear the tail of end of what she'd been saying.

His voice boomed, “Who'll be answering to you? And Judy, I said no calls!”

Holly shot to her feet and spun around. “You'll be answering to me, Bigshot, if you dare give Judy a hard time!”

Pete laughed and wrapped her in a hug. “Didn't I tell you she's awesome, Jude?” And thanks so much for putting Bowers through.”

Holly looked from him to Judy, and back again.

“Hey, Sweetheart.” He pecked her lips.

“I knew you needed him,” said Judy, “But I hated to make Holly wait. And yes,” she smiled at Holly, “she is absolutely wonderful. Anyone who will call you Bigshot and be prepared to put you in your place is alright in my book.”

“Oh, she's not just prepared to Jude, she well and truly kicks my butt!”

“It's about time someone did,” laughed Judy. “Please stick around, Holly. We need someone to keep him in line.”

Holly smiled. She would like nothing more than to be that someone, but that was just a fantasy and she knew it. “Sorry Judy, but I think I'll tire of him in a week or two. He is a bit full of himself, isn't he?”

Pete let her go and looked at Judy. “See what I mean? Kicks my butt!”

Judy laughed. “I'll leave you two to spar it out. You've not forgotten I'm at the doctor with Tom this afternoon, Pete?”

“I have not. And you won't forget to call me tonight to let me know how it goes?”

Judy's eyes softened. “I won't. It was nice to meet you Holly.”

“You too.”

Judy collected her purse from under her desk and walked for the elevator.

Holly followed Pete into his office. “Welcome to the workhouse.”

She let out a low whistle. “Some workhouse. It's more like a posh hotel!”

Pete laughed. “I'm saying nothing because apparently you already think I'm full of myself!”

Holly grinned. “You're not exactly lacking in confidence, are you?”

“I could be soon, if you keep being mean to me.”

Holly laughed at that. “What could I ever say that would put a dent in your ego, huh Bigshot?”

He sat in his chair and leaned on his desk. He looked up at her, long lashes lowered over those devastating blue eyes. Her heart quickened. She was good at keeping the banter going, but he might win if he carried on like that.

“Holly,” he sounded serious now.

She perched on the edge of his desk. “What, Pete?” Between his tone and the way he was looking at her, this couldn't be good.

“You said you would tire of me in a week or two.”

Her throat went dry. “That's when our time's up.” Her heart was hammering. Why was she so convinced he was about to end it now?

“What if it wasn't?”

“Wasn't what?”

“What if you take the plaza project?”

“I don't understand.”

“We thought we'd have a few months, not just a couple of weeks,” he took her hand his, eyes intense violet. “Holly, I don't want to say goodbye yet.”

The air rushed out of her lungs. This was so not what she'd expected. She didn't know if she was good enough to do the plaza. She didn't want to mess it up, to let him down!

“I don't know, Pete. I don't know that I could do the plaza, even if I wanted to.”

“And you don't even want to?” His voice was emotionless.

“It's just.. I don't..” How could she tell him everything she was thinking?

“It's okay,” he smiled now. “The two don't go hand in hand. You can take it if you want to and not have to see me at all. I wouldn't normally be so involved in the retail side. You could work with Ben on it. But, Holly, I think you should do it, do it for yourself, do it for Emma and Jack, do it for the money. It makes all kinds of sense.”

He was right it did, but it wasn't the thought of the plaza that had her heart hammering in her chest. She thought about it for a moment and then had to ask, “How would it work though, if we carried on? What would be the cut-off point then, Pete? How long is long enough? I want more than two weeks, but if we keep this up what would we do?”

Pete sighed. “I know, Sweetheart. I'm sorry, I was being stupid. Let's just make the most of it. Stick to the plan.”

The disappointment was like a lead weight in her stomach. She'd asked those questions in the hope they could find the answers to them. But his mention of 'the plan' stopped her from explaining that to him. There really was no point in hoping for more. His plan meant she couldn't be part of his life, so why drag it out? The more time they spent together, the harder it would be to say goodbye. And the longer it would take to get over it. It was better this way. In two weeks she'd go back to her own life while he got on with his plan.

“Yeah,” she plastered a smile on her face. “Stick with the plan. And the plan for today is?”

He smiled and stood to face her, placing his hands either side of her hips on the desk. “To spend some quality time with you while I still can.” He kissed the tip of her nose then brushed her lips with his. “So, I need you to agree to look at Jack's workups when I send them over to you.”

“But, I thought..”

His lips came down on hers, soft and warm, “You thought what, Sweetheart?” His hand closed around her thigh and she felt the familiar heat start to build. “I thought you were going to...”

His mouth came down again and her lips parted, responding to his demanding kiss. He lifted his head. “Yeah, I thought I was going to too, but now I know we only have ten days left. So... You are going to agree to look over the mockups and to seriously consider taking the project, aren't you?”

His warm fingers were inching their way up her thigh. She couldn't think straight as his other hand cupped the back of her neck. “Pete, I...”

“Aren't you?” He smiled as his fingers reached the lace of her panties and he touched her through them. “Please say yes?”

“Mmm,” she took hold of his tie and pulled him closer for another kiss.

He stepped between her legs, replacing the pressure of his fingers with the pressure of the bulging  heat in his pants as he rocked his hips against her. He was unbuttoning her blouse.

“Pete! What if someone...”

“They won't.” He had her bra unclasped now, pushing the cups to the sides as he kissed the dusky tips.

She tried one more time with the little will power she had left. “But if someone..”

He closed both hands around her breasts, grazing her nipples with his thumbs. “They won't.”

She moaned and let her head fall to the side at the surge of heat that rushed through her as he thrust his hips.

“When Judy's not around, the door won't open from that side until I push the button. It makes sure I won't be disturbed while I'm doing important stuff. And
you
are important stuff.”

She was moving her hips in time with his thrusts as he continued to touch her breasts. She was under his spell. She knew it and didn't care. He was going to make her come like this, half undressed, perched on the edge of his desk. Suddenly he stood back and let his hands fall at his sides.  

Her eyes flew open and he gave her a wicked grin. “But I'll stop if you want me to.”

“Nooo!” Her body felt bereft of his heat and his tantalizing touch. “Don't!”

“Don't what?” He teased the very tips of her nipples with his fingertips, sending electric currents zinging along the nerve ends that led straight into her panties.

“Don't stop,” she panted.

He got rid of his shirt while she freed his straining cock from his pants. He stepped closer again, her wet panties a flimsy barrier between them as he pressed his hardness into her heat. Her breasts brushed against his naked chest when he scooted her backwards. He leaned forward, forcing her to lay back on the desk, until he was on top of her.

“You're sure you don't want me to stop?” he teased as he stroked her through her panties. She moaned through his kiss. “And what about these? Can I get rid of these?”

Her panties were nothing more than a damp scrap of lace now. She gasped as he took them in his hands. She heard them rip then felt his hot shaft pushing at her.

“Sorry, Sweetheart. I couldn't wait.” He rocked his hips and nudged inside her. He interlaced his fingers with hers and held her hands on the desk above her head. “You ready?”

She nodded. She needed to feel him deep. His pulsing head just inside her was driving her crazy. She wanted more, needed all of him. He brought one hand down and circled her nub as he made the tiniest of movements with his hips.

“Oh, God, Pete!” His expert touch had her right back at the edge, but she wanted him, all of him. “Please, Pete. Please!” She started to come and he plunged deep, filling her. Her body arched up to meet him. He was so hard and hot, his heat set her on fire as she moved with him. He didn't give her time to recover, keeping up the wild rhythm of his hips, the waves of her orgasm receding then surging again. She brought up her legs, wrapping them around his back, deepening their connection.

“Holly!” he rasped her name against her neck as he found his own shuddering release. She clung to him as they soared together.

“It suits you.” They'd cleaned up in the bathrooms off of Pete's adjacent meeting room. Holly was sitting in his chair as he returned to his office.

“What does?”

“The desk, the chair, sitting there like that.” He smiled and the breath caught in her chest. He looked crisp and sharp, not a wrinkle in the shirt that stretched over his broad shoulders, not a hair out of place. No one would guess that ten minutes ago they'd been writhing half-naked on his desk together.

He pinned her with his eyes and grasped the arms of the chair, caging her in. He lowered his face to hers. “Tell me you'll think about Four Mile, Holly. I know you don't want me, but I think it's time for you to spread your wings. Take the project, who knows where it could lead you.”

Holly stared back into the depths of his eyes. He thought she didn't want him? Was he crazy? How could she not want him?

“Tell me you will?”

She continued to stare, dumbstruck by what he'd just said.

His lips quirked up and he started to nod. He tucked his thumb under her chin and nodded her head in time with his own. “There, not so hard is it?”

Finally she smiled. “Okay, I'll think about it.” He was right. It did make all kinds of sense for her to do it. It would broaden her horizons, open who knew what doors for her. She just had to separate it in her mind from Pete himself. How could he think she didn't want him? She pursed her lips. If she agreed to the project, she'd still seem him sometimes, at least. She'd no doubt hang out with Emma and Jack, surely he'd be around? She'd have to think about it. Would she be able to think about anything else?

“Good. One more request.”

She laughed. “Are you always this demanding?”

“Always,” he grinned. He pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “Have dinner with me tonight? Let's get out of here and go back to my place?”

Holly pretended to think about it for moment. She was surprised when he locked his eyes with hers.

“Please?”

He looked so serious. She reached up and kissed his lips. “I was only kidding, there's nothing I would like more.”