Holt's Holding (7 page)

“I met him shortly after our morning laugh, and I would
have to agree, he’s an ass with a capital A.” She offered with distain.

“I take it; you no longer want to introduce him to your
bed?” I laughed

“Hell no!”
She
laughed, “Too controlling and well, he kinda scares me, so I’ll reserve that
invitation for someone else.”

Looking to the bartender, I signaled her, and she nodded
knowing already what I wanted.

Kinda scary when a bartender
doesn’t
need you to vocalize what you wanted. I guess I frequent this bar too much.

 
Occupational hazard
as I now see it.

“Is Julie joining?” I
couldn’t
tell, if the question was more out concern, or something else. I sensed that
she
didn’t
like her too much, but I wasn’t sure why.
The two had always seemed like they liked each other, or maybe not.

“Oh, she left for her first assignment in Haiti.” I pursed
my lips.
 
Shit, I forgot about her
brother.

“Is that a good thing or bad? Based on your expression it
doesn’t sound good?” she looked to me for a response.

“No, it’s not that; I just remembered her brother was
staying with us, well me, while she’s away.” I rolled my eyes.

“And that’s a bad thing?” she raised her expression, and I
knew where her head just went.

I smiled, and shook my head in understanding “No, I guess
not. I
don’t
expect to see him much. She had said he
works late hours.
So, -no biggie.
I just haven’t ever
had to share my space with a guy.”

“Is he hot?” again with her raised expression

“Sam…” I paused rolling my eyes. “I guess, but he looks
like a stuck up tight ass, but, I must concede to the fact that he makes a
really good pot of coffee.”

The bartender was quick, we had a round of shots,
I
had my usual vodka and Redbull in front of me.

Taking our shots, I felt hands come around my hips. I knew
exactly who it was.

“Chris…
love
; be careful where you
put your hands, one of these days, I just might take advantage of you.” I
laughed

“How did you know it was me?” He came to the side of me
leaning into the bar.

“Easy…I know how your hands feel, and I recognize your
cologne,” I laughed

He leaned in “Um I’m pretty sure you’ve done that a few
times in the past. That is, taking advantage, and last I checked;
I’m
pretty sure I approved.
 
We can always take it further anytime Lil.”

“Yeah, but I was your girlfriend then, now I would be using
you to simply sate myself. You know it’s been over a year since I’ve gotten
laid.” I cocked my head at him and smiled.

“Point taken.”
He
smiled. “However, I know you well enough to know it has not been that long.” I
knew he still harbored feelings for me, and I seriously
shouldn’t
lead him on as I do. Nor could I lie to him. …I just
didn’t
feel right about actually flaunting my one Nighters in his face. He
didn’t
deserve that.

We had been broken up after three years agreeing that we
were better friends than anything more. He was currently seeing someone yet
knowing him well; I knew his feelings were ever so close to the surface.

He once told me that I was emotional “inaccessible”. I
never quite understood that comment. I think it was more for his benefit to
label me as he had. A label that was brutally honest.
 
I believe the point of the matter lay with
his pride. I
hadn’t
involved myself with anyone since
our relationship ended.
 
Thinking back, he
was the only one I attempted a relationship
with
.

A few very unpleasant dates here and
there,
were all that the three years had produced, but that was entirely by my choice.
I truly
didn’t
have the strength to deal with my job
and any entanglements that a relationship would bring. I was pretty much a
walking zombie, and too tired to deal with that baggage.

However, Happy Hour with friends was my refuge.
 
Looking back to the bartender she smiled and
ushered over another full round.

We were getting drunk tonight, and happy hour was about to
be extending into one hell of a night.

I knew, I
shouldn’t
, but whom the
fuck cares. Thinking about today’s events, I
wasn’t
so
sure, I would have a job much longer.

My unfiltered mouth and me.

Shit.

“Lilly, what has you in such deep thought?” Chris leaned
over to the bar taking a shot.

“I think I’m about to lose my job” I replied staring at my
drink.

“What do you mean?” He was genuinely concerned.

“I was in the elevator with the new owner, not realizing,
who he was, and my brain to mouth filter failed me at every word.”

“Oh, shit what
did you say
?” He
asked with sincere interest.

“I guess nothing seriously awful, it was just, I don’t
know. He brought out this need to get …. I don’t know
,
I just felt like he was getting under my skin a bit.” I shook my head, not
understanding what he had made me feel.
 
He made me feel like a petulant child.

“I’m sure he wanted to do more than just get under your
skin.
 
More like in it!” Brady chimed in
raising his eyebrows up and down when I turned to look at him.
 
His arms came around my shoulders pulling me
in a warm hug then released me swiftly.
 

“Ugh? What would you know of him?” I looked between him and
Chris.

Brady was a junior partner at a well-known firm and knew
all the “who’s who” in upper society. I think it had more to do with the fact
that his family was old money. It was without a doubt useful in his profession.
Brady so looked the part.
Definitely ultra-yuppie in
appearance.
Even when dressed casually, like he was.
Brady had his polo shirt, expensive jeans meant to look worn in and of course
his boat shoes. His hair, however, was more of the messy “I’m rebelling” look.
He had medium brown hair and brown eyes. He was average height at 6’ and had a
slender but cut build. Without a doubt, he looked of money and to his benefit;
he was an extraordinarily good-looking man.
 
Not to mention, my best friend since childhood.

“Word in the firm is about this takeover of your agency by
Vaihn Enterprises. Mr. Vaihn has a bit of a reputation of being a playboy.”

“Playboy”, Chris raised his eyes teasing Brady “I didn’t
realize that word was ever used these days!”

“Fine…He’s a predator. Better?”

“Ok, first playboy now predator….really?
I
would think both adjectives lean in very different directions.” I raised my
drink laughing at him.

“Uh, point is…chasing ass is something he makes sport of.
He will mind fuck, the woman before he actually fucks her. He’s a sadistic
genius and extremely dangerous.” Brady grinned, but I could tell there was more
to his knowledge of my new Boss.
 
Sharing
a look, there was definitely a warning in his eyes.
 
Understanding fully, I winked at him.

“Well, I’m sure I won’t be working for him or his agency by
tomorrow. I won’t have a job.”
 
I knew I
wasn’t
losing my job, however, anything was possible.
 

Chris was quick to catch Brady’s confused expression. “She
had a lack of brain to mouth filter, talking to him in the elevator this
evening.”

Brady pursed his lips tight and looked directly into his
rum and coke shaking his head then quickly swallowing it whole.

“What am I missing?” I looked at Brady

Brady half grinned and was about to say something as he
looked between Chris and me.

“How was his demeanor with you?” Brady looked down to me.

“Ugh, not sure what you mean? He was nice I guess. He
looked a little amused and insisted that I call him by his first name. I was
quick to refuse and continued to address him formally.
I’m
not sure why, but he was just so arrogant in his undertones part of me wanted
to slap him back down to earth. To my defense, I hate his type. Well excluding
you of course.”
 
I rose an eyebrow
laughing.
  
To all it sounded like a
group conversation, but between Brady, and me there was an unspoken
conversation
being held
.

“I’m going to pretend that you just didn’t insult me Lil.
Because
I’m
awesome, by the way. But I’m afraid that
you better hope you don’t have a job tomorrow.” He winked taking a long sip
from his beer.

“Ok, why would I hope that?” I shook my head at him.

“I’m thinking your brassy mouth may have pulled his
attention. Shit…that dress would do just fine, but you may have inadvertently
just given him a challenge.” He pulled his lips tight into a croaked smile and
raised his eyebrows intently at me.

“Brady, I doubt that.
You’ve
met
our Lil haven’t you?
She’ likely to beat him at his own
game.”
Chris
laughed
 
“
Damn man, you’ve known her all your life, fuck the two of you
are as thick as thieves.”
 
Laughing and
shaking his head, Chris looked between us. “No wonder the two of you are best
friends.”

Crossing my arms, I looked to Chris, “and
what do you mean by that?
You better qualify you
statement and quick!”

“Please don’t take this wrong. I love you Lil, and I say
this because of that…” He smiled his charming smile “You’re like a man…you’re a
fucking piranha when it comes to the opposite sex. I swear
,
if I didn’t know any better, I would without a doubt say you were as cold and
deadly as one.”

“So not true.”
I
pursed my lips and shook my head. One word came to mind –Inaccessible.

Brady started laughing, as did Chris and Sam. Great all my
friends thought this of me.

Maybe they had a point.

Memories of every man I dated, well I
wouldn’t
call it that, but had any relationship always ended with me throwing him to the
curb, so Chris was right I supposed. I took my shot down needing to focus on
something other than my emotional inaccessibility.

“Moving on; I doubt that I presented him with any
challenge, or invitation of such.” Then another thought crossed my mind as I
looked between Brady and Sam. “I was informed he had a partner. What do you
guys know about him?”

“English Hot tee…” Sam raised her eyebrows.

“Partner in crime more
like
!” Brady
huffed, and looked at Sam.
 
Whoa, was I
sensing a bit of jealousy?

“Oh stop it Brady.” I looked over to Sam “You met
him?”
 
I really wanted her take on him.

“Yes I did, and he can bend me over any conference table he
chooses,” She laughed taking her third shot of Tequila.

“Oh Sam love…” Brady walked to her, positioned himself in
front of her spreading her legs open, and fit his body tight to hers. “You need
to get laid, and I’m more than willing to bend you over”

Laughing at his display, he was gyrating into her,
teasingly with added sound effects. Chris and I both laughed our heads off, as
we could not contain the humor of his actions.

Poor Sam, it was obvious he and she both had a thing for
the other. So stubborn; the two of them are.

I
knew that one day soon, they would end
up in bed
. Maybe,
wishful thinking
, but the
sexual tension between the two of them was thick.

Sam looked over at me, rolling her eyes. I smiled and
nodded.

As things needed to get crazy, our song blasted thru the
speakers.
 
“Paradiso Girls-Patron
Tequila”

We both started laughing, and looked to the bartender. Damn
she was quick.

Another round.

Taking the shots, Sam and I were quick to get to the dance
floor. More like the one, we decided belonged there. We were undoubtedly
drunk,
and dancing away. Singing the lyrics, we were finally
drunk and lose, just as we had intended.

Brady was quick to jump in, as he loved the attention, but
more importantly an excuse, allowing him to be all over Sam. Returning to the
bar, the alcohol was doing its job on Sam. Her guards down, and it almost look
like the two of them were close to being undone.

Neither of them willing to totally let go, nor kiss, but
they were so damn close. I
couldn’t
help but grin.
Chris noticed what was inevitable between the two of them.