Work Like You Don't Need the Money (7 page)

“Yes.” She saw the corner of his lips lift in that half smile.

“Good,” he said, wrapping her in a hug. She felt herself melt against his hard chest, breathing in his spicy cologne and his warmth.

“Have lunch with me?” he asked as she stepped back, suddenly aware that Erin and Anna were openly gawking at them.

“Now?”

“It is lunch time.”

Holly tried to gather her wits. “Okay, just let me get my purse? I'll meet you out front.”

He nodded. She could feel his eyes on her backside all the way to the office door. Once inside, she quickly applied fresh lipstick and eyeliner, cursing her trembling hands. She was grateful she'd worn this dress today, an empire line maxi that skimmed her feet, she felt good because she knew she looked good.

She hurried back out, and found Pete waiting at the front of the store with Roberto. The two of them were deep in conversation, for all the world looking like old friends. She was pleased to have been so wrong about Pete's reaction to Roberto.

“Run along and have fun now, children,” said Roberto, “And Holls, you know we can take care of the place if you want to call it a day.”

Pete grinned at him, while Holly shot him a dark look. “I'm going for lunch, Berto. I'll be back in an hour.”

“Yes, dear. Whatever you say, dear.” He smiled after them as Pete held the door for her.

“He's quite a character,” said Pete as they emerged onto the street.

“You can say that again,” laughed Holly. “You handled him well, I'm impressed. A lot of folk don't know how to take him and get quite uncomfortable.”

“He's a sweetheart and he obviously adores you. Sexual orientation doesn't change the underlying need we men feel to look out for the people we care about. He's a good guy. I get where he's coming from, and I respect him for it.”

Holly smiled, “Aren't you the perceptive one?”

“I make it my business, Holls.”

She laughed. “Only Berto gets away with calling me that!”

He took her hand as they walked down the crowded street. “I'll have to see if I can earn the right to join him, then. Now, where do you want to go for lunch?”

They settled into a corner booth in La Hacienda, a Mexican place where Holly often lunched with Emma.

“Hola, Holly!” The owner brought them menus and poured water. “Usual for you?”

“Yes please, Miguel.”

“What's the usual?” asked Pete.

“Arroz con pollo,” replied Miguel.

Holly started to explain, “It's chicken..”

“With rice,” finished Pete. “Could I get that, too?

“So,” said Pete once they were alone. “You're okay with coming with me on Friday?”

She loved the way that smile hovered on his lips. “As long as you don't mind giving me a
ride
again…” She couldn't help it, the word play was so obvious, she had to.

“Mind?” There went that smile again. “I can't wait, Sweetheart. But I have to ask, what happened to our one-off deal? Not that I'm complaining, you understand.”

Holly had been asking herself the same question since she'd read his note earlier that morning. How could she backtrack so quickly when all her reasons for not getting entangled with him were still just as valid as they had been on Sunday.

“Well, we're going to be seeing quite a bit of each other these next few months. Since we are obviously so good at it, I don't see why we can't keep having sex.”

Pete looked at her, brows drawn together, that pulse working in his jaw as he waited for her to say more. He didn't look impressed.

She laughed nervously, “Oh, come on. The way it looked over the weekend, if we continued sleeping together it was going to complicate things. The way it looks now, our trying to avoid sleeping with each other would be even more complicated.”

Pete glowered a moment longer then rolled his eyes and smiled. “Do you really only want to use me for sex?”

Holly swallowed, hard. “Of course I do,” she laughed.

He was glowering again. “Why?”

 “Pete, just be real about it. I told you before, we're from different worlds. There's no room for me in yours, is there?”

Pete hesitated. That was all she needed to confirm it. “Don't worry, Sweetie. You don't need to come up with an explanation. I get it. I'm a realist. We're attracted to each other. We have great sex. As long as we're both clear about it, I think we can safely keep doing it for the next few months, until our paths are no longer likely to cross again.”

She took a big swig of her water. That was how she could rationalize this to herself. She knew nothing more than sex would ever happen between them. But the sex was great and they wanted each other. There would be abundant opportunities over the next few months, so why not make the most of it? After the wedding there would be no reason for them to bump into each other again. That would be a natural end point. Knowing that from the beginning would make it easy to deal with at the end, right?

“Now, if you'll excuse me?”

Pete stood as she left the table and headed for the ladies' room.

                                                            **********

Pete stared at the space where Holly had been sitting. What was it about her that got to him so badly? Any man, himself included, under normal circumstances, would be all over what she was offering; great sex, no strings and a predetermined end point. No commitments, no demands, nothing messy, just straight up honesty and lots of great sex. And it was really was great. So why was he so uncomfortable with her proposition? Because he wanted more of her, or more from her? Maybe he did. But that was selfish of him. She'd been right, there was no room for her in his life. But not for her weird reasons about different world stuff. He'd have to get her to open up on what she really meant by that, because it didn't make sense to him. But still, there was no room for her in his life because it wasn't part of the plan. Not yet. He had a few more years yet, four to be precise, before he'd be prepared to take time away from Phoenix and invest it in a woman and a family.

He watched her return to the table. She was hot, no denying that. She was right. Why complicate matters with all the deep and meaningfuls? She was hot, he wanted her, and she was open and willing to sleep with him for the next few months. Really, what else did he need to know?

“So,” he said once she was seated and Miguel had brought their food, “What time can we leave on Friday? Em wants us all there for dinner.” He watched her fiddle with her ring as she thought about it. He realized it was a plain gold band on her wedding finger!

“I don't know,” she said slowly. “If we leave at four we could be there by eight, right?”

“More like eight thirty or nine with the traffic on a Friday.” His eyes were still fixed on that ring. He knew, at least he thought he did, that she wasn't married, so what was the story? Was she divorced?

“Could you leave at midday, say twelve, to give us the whole afternoon?” He smiled. “If you really want to
come
with me.” He emphasized the word to make his meaning clear and was gratified to see her eyes widen and the hint of a flush touch her cheeks.

She gave him her temptress smile, making him shift in his seat.

“You know I want to. But I can't leave the store too early.”

“Why not? Roberto said they could hold the fort.”

She looked uncomfortable. “I just can't. You don't get it. It's my store. I have to be there. I'm not like you. I HAVE to work.”

Pete was a little taken aback by her rapid fire response, but he was curious as to what her problem really was. “If that's a way to say you don't want to spend that much time with me, that's fine, Sweetheart. Just say so. I'm a big boy, I can handle it.” He gave her a hard stare, the look he used when he expected people to drop the excuses and tell him the real story. “Tell me?”

She shook her head. “No, Bigshot, that's not it at all, but I'm not sure you'll understand since you're not subject to the same obligations and responsibilities I am.”

Pete frowned. “Enlighten me.”

“I built that business from nothing. It's the sum total of my life's work. I HAVE to work hard to keep it going, to keep it profitable, to provide an income for my staff. I can't just swan off when I want to, not like you.”

She surprised him. He was under the impression that her store was something of a success. He was a little ashamed that he'd even googled it and asked around the few people he knew in the fashion world. It seemed the store, and Holly herself, had a great reputation.

“I'm sorry, are things not going well?”

She laughed. “Things are going great. It's a thriving little business and I turn a nice profit, but that's only because I work my butt off and don't flit around whenever the mood takes me.”

Pete thought he was starting to understand. He knew so many self-made business people who shared the same fear. They believe that their success was completely tied to their own hard work, that if they didn't continue to work so very hard, it would all slip away. It saddened him because it kept them, and their businesses small.

“You ever hear of working smarter instead of harder?” he asked.

“I like to think I am pretty smart, thank you very much!” she snapped.

He smiled and took hold of her hand. “I didn't say you weren't, Sweetheart. I think you are very smart, you've built a thriving business. I'm just saying that in order to go to the next level, you need to get smarter about your own involvement. You need to run your business, not be your business.”

Holly sighed, he was pleased when she squeezed his hand and met his eye.

“Thanks, Pete. I know you're right. I've heard it all before and I see the logic, but I'm not capable of letting go. I need to control my own security. I am successful, but not financially secure. I don't know how people like you take all the risks you must have to build something as huge as Phoenix.

Pete smiled and shook out his left hand so that a heavy silver bracelet slid down from under his sleeve. “Read it.”

The heavy curb chain held a bar, engraved with one word, 'Work!'

She smiled at him and nodded.

“Now turn it over.”

She twisted it to see the underside and read, 'Like you don't need the money.'

Holly laughed, “That's easy for you to say. You don't.”

“It was no easier for me when I had this made than it is for you now. Jack and I were a year into Phoenix and we were feeling the same way you are. We wanted to keep it all in our control, and we needed the money. But it was only by learning to delegate and to take risks as if we really didn't need the money that Phoenix could become what it is.”

“I admire that you made that choice, but I don't think I'm that brave, Pete. Like I told you, we're from different worlds, but that's partly because we're different people. I'll never take that leap because I'm too afraid to fall flat on my face, and too afraid of what would happen if I did.” Her eyes clouded over. For a moment she looked very afraid, terrified. What was that about? The fear was quickly replaced by resignation. This wasn't the time to push it, but he wanted to know more. He wanted to help her.

“I don't think we're that different, Holly. Are you open to a little friendly advice?”

“Who wouldn't be from a self-made, multi-millionaire?” she smiled. “Go ahead, share your pearls of wisdom, Bigshot, but you know what they say about pearls before swine!”

Pete shook his head, lips pursed. “You're not going to get a rise out of me. All I'm going to say is, try baby steps. Getting out of your comfort zone is scary, so try just taking a little step then another, instead of making that huge leap you were talking about.”

“Makes sense. Any suggestions as to where I start?”

Pete grinned. “Compromise with me? Leave work at two on Friday?”

Holly laughed. “That was a roundabout way to get half of what you wanted.”

He caught her eyes and held them with his own. “I'll get all of what I want, and so will you. If we can help you with your business hang-ups along the way, all the better. So, what do you say?”

“I say yes, I will.”

Pete grinned, an idea taking to take shape in his mind. “Excellent! We're going to have a great weekend.”

“I believe you could be right, but I need to get back to work if I'm going to cut out early on Friday.”

“Okay, let me get this then I'll walk you back.” Pete had been hoping for an extended lunch, but he wasn't going to push it.

Once he'd paid Miguel, they walked side by side through the lunchtime crowds. Pete noticed how many guys eyed Holly appreciatively as they passed. He put an arm around her shoulders possessively. She looked up at him, eyebrows raised.

“Do you mind?” he asked.

She smiled and curled her own arm around his waist. “Don't mind at all.”

All too soon they arrived back at her store.

“I'm guessing I pick you up here on Friday?”

“You betcha,” she laughed. “It's going to be hard enough to leave that early without having to go home first too.”

“I figured as much. So, until Friday then.”

“Friday at three.” She smiled.

Pete pulled her to him and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose as he held her within the circle of his arms.

“At two, Holls. We have a deal remember? I take my deals very seriously.”

She laughed up at him, “I was just testing.”

He pecked her lips as he held her against him. “You don't want to test me, Holly, not unless you're prepared to find out how hard I can be.” He proved his point, pulling her hips against him so his erection pressed into her. He didn't care that they were standing on the busy sidewalk outside her store. She didn't seem to care either as she reached her arms up around his neck, pressing the length of her body against him.

Her amber eyes met his. “Oh, I'll test you, Bigshot. Over and over again.” She stroked her hand down his cheek then stepped back with a smile. “On Friday,” she said, then disappeared inside the store.

Pete stood staring after her. She was going to drive him crazy! Was he, Pete Hemming, really standing out on the street staring after a woman he'd just been pretty much dry humping in public?