Playing with Power - Book 3: New Adult Office Romance (12 page)

Love,

Adele xx

The entire series:

Playing with Power - Book 1

Playing with Power - Book 2

Playing with Power - Book 3

Playing with Power - Book 4

Playing with Power - Book 5

Playing with Power
Book 4

The town car pulled up to the curb and Lauren stepped out, thankful her journey was done and she could finally stretch her legs. It was a windy day but warm, San Fransisco’s summer just beginning to heat up. Looking around, she realized they were nearly at the top of a very large hill, possibly the tallest around. As the driver grabbed her bags out of the trunk, she watched a cable car ascending the hill and clicking into place right in the center of the four-way junction. The car was packed full with people hanging off the sides, all smiling tourists snapping photos and taking in the novelty of it all.

“Ma’am? It’s this way,” the driver said, shaking her out of her fog.

As she followed the driver across the street, Lauren noted that she didn’t feel even a smidge nervous. If anything, she was pissed and ready to confront Landon face-to-face. Cold anger was apparently the antidote to the fluttering she normally felt when he was close. Stepping over the cable car tracks, careful to keep her heels from the loud clicking mechanism below, she strode confidently to his house.

Opening the heavy wrought iron gate, they entered a small tiled courtyard. She gazed up, the four story building seeming to devour the sky above. Skirting each tall window were false balconies overflowing with plant life, lush ivy cascading down like little green waterfalls. The cream walls and white trim felt homey yet clean, simple.
Very Landon,
she thought as she walked up the stone steps to the front door.

Lauren tipped the driver as he deposited the bags on the top step. Standing on the threshold she hesitated, preparing herself for the weekend to come. The clang of the gate jarring her to action, she rang the doorbell. Deep within the house she heard the melody and waited for footsteps. She rang again with no response. Looking around at the windows for any sign of movement, she rapped on the wooden door. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she gazed inside. The interior hall was dark, a bright window illuminating a room on the far end. As she strained to see in, a small Jack Russell Terrier came skidding from the stairs to the left and raced to the front door.

Double checking the address to make sure she’d been left at the correct house, Lauren tested the latch and pushed the door open.

“Hello? Anyone here?” she called out. The little dog sniffed at her toes, wagging his tail excitedly. She offered her hand to smell as she stepped inside. “Hey little guy, what’s your name?”

Leaving her bags outside, she shut the door and called out again.

“Hey!” Landon replied from far upstairs. She heard a big thump and swift footsteps as he jogged down the hall, a flight of stairs, and then the hall above. The dog trotted to the foot of the stairs to greet him. Despite her new-found stoic resolve and temper, Lauren couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit giddy as saw Landon’s hand slide down the banister. He jumped the last few steps, landing with a thud. He was wearing khaki shorts and a white teeshirt, looking tanner than she’d seen him last. A warm smile spread across his face as he approached, threatening to melt her yet again.

“I’m sorry! I hope you weren’t waiting too long. I can’t hear anything up there,” he said hugging her briefly. The way their bodies fit together, even for a fraction of a second, brought an agonizing flood of memories to the surface. “I didn’t even hear Henry bark.”

“He didn’t, actually,” Lauren said crouching down to pat the dog, hiding the pink blooming in her cheeks. “He just came over to say hello.”

Landon grabbed her bags from the landing and brought them inside. “How funny. He always barks. Must be he really likes you. Why don’t we both give you a little tour of the house?”

The townhouse was gorgeous. With dark, wooden floors and simple lines, it reminded her of the house in Sonoma but with a family-friendly twist. Every room had rows of casement windows, all open to let the bay breeze in. His bare feet slapping against the floor, Landon showed her each floor until they reached his office at the very top. Passing his long, glass computer desk and cases filled with business books, they stepped out into his private rooftop patio. Even more ivy grew along the walls, making the patio feel like a true garden sanctuary.

“Why don’t you relax here and I’ll get us something to drink. Henry’ll keep you company.”

Lauren reclined on a green lounge chair, the dog jumping into her lap as soon as she’d settled. He wiggled between her legs, belly exposed and tongue lolling. “I don’t know why, but I never would’ve imagined Landon had a dog. But you’re sweet, aren’t you? You remind me of Button a little bit, yes you do!” she said softly as she stroked the pup. Landon laughed when he returned with two iced teas.

“Look at you man! Have you no decency?” he said, giving Henry a pat on the stomach. “You’ve already got him eating out of the palm of your hand.” Landon took the chair next to hers, handing her the drink. For a moment the only sound was the faint ringing of the cable car bells and the clink of ice against glass.

“So, did you have a nice flight?”

Lauren sighed. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she leveled a serious look at him. “Listen, I don’t want to talk about anything until we clear the air. That shit you pulled with Sahra was unacceptable.” As if feeling the sudden shift in tone, Henry jumped down and disappeared inside. Brushing the hair from her clothes Lauren continued, “You put me in an awkward and dangerous position. Why? I’ve had a week to think about all this. Why should I go into business with someone who obviously doesn’t trust me enough to include me in any decisions?”

Landon held her gaze, his expression unreadable. Lauren’s pulse raced as she waited for an explanation, knowing that her future hinged on what he said next.