Twice Smitten (A Modern Fairy Tale) (4 page)

The weight of his forearm grew heavier on her back. “I’m not like that.” He slid his other hand up her arm to her chin.

“And I don’t string women along,” he said. “I don’t even go out with a woman who will get tripped up in loving me.” He ran his thumb along her jaw. “Some women see what they want to see in a man, be damned what’s really standing right in front of her.”

The touch was too intimate. The gaze too searching. The touch, the stare, made her ache for him in a way she never had before. Made her ache for him in a way Abigail knew she should never feel for him. Her heart thudded as he ran his thumb along the curve of her neck.

“We did this dance before, don’t you remember? And I chose Greg over you.” She forced her mouth into a smirk. The words rang with untruth, but it still drew blood.

His gaze darkened and a new line of tension stiffened his body. They had long since stopped swaying to the music, but he held her to him, and she hadn’t stepped back. The truth of the action settled between them.

“See, that’s the thing, Ms. Johnson.” He splayed his hand on her collarbone. “You could always see beneath the charm and smiles because we’re alike. There’s one important difference between us: I don’t lie to myself.”

The double-edged sword of truth she so proudly yielded cut both ways. She shifted, breaking the gaze. “It’s not a lie.”

Drew lifted his hand, it hovered over her cheek. Without thought she shifted again to get closer to the heat. He placed his hand down at his side and began to dance with her, moving them around the room.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” she demanded. “It’s what you love to do.”

His head flicked to the side as though to say no. “That’s the mistake you keep making, Abby. You don’t want to know the real me.”

It wasn’t the words that made her blood pump but the unyielding rightness in his tone. When he smiled, no light filled his eyes. “You never gave us—me a try.” He stopped again, bending his head down to hers.

She trembled for longer than a heartbeat and secretly reveled in the uncertainty of what would happen next. Like a pig in the muck, she rolled around in the feel of him against her, the way her skin flushed at them touching and then she buried the unspoken wish. “And I never will.”

“If you believed that you wouldn’t still be dancing with me.”

“It’s been your usual M.O. so far. Won’t be expecting anything different.”

She pushed him back and walked away leaving his testicles intact and without a threat. And that action would weigh between them, too.

Back at the table, she sat down and didn’t encourage any conversation. If that wasn’t enough, the expression she probably wore on her face nixed any chatter not discouraged by her seething silence. The glass she’d left trembled in her unsteady hand, but it was too easy to finish off the liquor inside it. She needed another drink.

Never deterred, Sasha spoke first, “Ok. That’s it. I love him. Do you think he would—”

Abigail finished for her friend, “He would pose nude for you. Most definitely. Excuse me.” She left the table and had luck getting to the front of the wet bar without any snags until Drew sidled up beside her. The vulnerability crept up again, and it made her bitchy. “You again?”

Drew sighed, shaking his head. “My cousin’s just got married. I have to make a speech in three minutes. I need a drink.” He turned away from her to the server behind the makeshift bar.

The rigidness in his shoulders made her feel an inch tall. What was it about Drew that she needed to demolish any and all humanity about him? What was in it for her to keep him in the nice square peg of ladies’ man and lush? There was no answer, so with reluctance she placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at it before meeting her gaze.

“I’m sorry,” Abigail said.

His brows rose. “Snowflakes must be raining down in hell.”

She rolled her eyes, because they did have one thing in common. “Never mind. Forget I said anything nice to you.”

He’d moved into her space, and for the first time she noticed he hadn’t wore cologne. He smelled of laundry soap. A light, frothy scent that belied the seriousness in his eyes. “I’ll leave you alone. Hope you got whatever it was you were looking for today.” Suddenly he smiled with all teeth and no mirth. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again. Soon.”

The server placed both of their drinks on the countertop, and it stopped her from asking what he meant. Drew lifted his glass in a toast and walked away without a backward glance. The brush off left a sour taste in Abigail’s mouth booze couldn’t drown out.

“It was a bad idea anyway,” she muttered.

“Did you say something?” the server asked.

“Nothing.”

Relief flooded her brain. No matter what Drew said, they’d never have to see each other again. She’d never question or be tempted by the tug she felt when with him. With that thought, Abigail ordered another bourbon just in case.

Chapter Four

The moment Kristin came into the office with the Expression, Abigail knew she should have locked the door and hid under the desk. The rumors of possible layoffs had the inner office buzzing. As rumor had it, Jim, the head cheese, had hired out to examine which ad account team would get the boot.

Using the pen, Abigail mimed stabbing her eye. The hard sales data from one of her biggest clients covered the large wooden desk. The sales were up three percent, which didn’t make the client happy, because most, if not all, would be handed over to her company as continued payment for services.

The client wanted something bigger and splashier. They wanted Abigail to create a miracle. Normally a challenge she’d jump on. But today, the warmth of the late September sun beamed at her back and begged her to play in it. Her stomach keened in a low whine from hunger. She’d forgone a short stop at Sweet Tooth. There was only so much “I love you more” she could take in the morning. Emma and her fiancé, Tobias, had been on a roll all week. And…ever since the wedding she’d had a tough time settling back into life. It didn’t feel like she had closure.

And now Kristin stood at the door with the oh-my-God-this-is-so-going-to-suck expression.
Really? Really?
The week refused to end.

“What is it this time?” Abigail said with all the enthusiasm she felt—none.

“Betty’s here somewhere, but Jim wants you in the conference room.”

Abigail’s stomach clenched. “Then the rumors are true?”

“Yeah, I know. If she’s here, the outside help was probably her idea. They only want you.” Kristin winced. “They’ve been talking to all the account execs. Do you want me to set up a meeting in an hour with Janice, George, and Mike? Maybe even Promotions?”

They were the core members of her team. Whenever doing heavy duty work she used three other team members on loan from a colleague. She thought about it for a second. “Not yet.”

“So what do you think they’ll torture us with this time?”

“No idea, but let me tell you something.” Abigail pointed her pen at Kristin. “You know what I wish for right now?”

Kristin’s lithe figure tightened with tension, and she worried the ruffles on her gray shirt. “What?”

“That I was two-years old right this moment so I could throw myself on the floor to kick and scream. But, I’m not.”

Kristin’s frame relaxed, and she nodded, knowing the drill. “No, you’re not. You’re a strong, confident woman.”

“I am.” Abigail threw down the pen in frustration. “So, what I’m going to do is not whine. I’m going to see what Jim has in store for us.”

Kristin’s head bobbed. “You’ve got five minutes to bitch to yourself.”

“Thank God for small favors.” Abigail waved a hand at her assistant. “Get a snack tray ready.”

“Already on it.”

Once Kristin cleared the room, Abigail turned to face the large window. After graduating from college she imagined what the view from her office would be like. There was never a question she would have the corner office. She always had ambition and didn’t mind doing grunt work. The view she’d imagined had Time’s Square in the backdrop. Or, at the very least, a skyscraper to look down and see people scurrying to and fro like ants.

Instead she ended up with the college’s cathedral-like clock tower. It did not scrape the sky. From four stories up she could still make out all the people who came and went from other buildings. Still, the company had staked out the best spot within the commercial district. There was no big city bustle but the town was large enough to not be quaint and cheery.

The girl who graduated from college would have been bored to tears. Abigail, grown now, loved it, but what she would give for…something. The X factor of life. Hell, just something unexpected. Betty showed up from corporate every three months with an idea to shake up the competition and put Adtivity on the map. This time was different. This time Jim might decide the view belonged to someone else. Glad she hadn’t eaten, Abigail rubbed a hand over her stomach to push down the nausea.

The intercom next to the laptop buzzed. Kristin’s voice filled the office. “Four minutes. Jim’s already asking about you. Apparently, I’m not needed for this meeting. Do you still want me to take in the snacks?”

“No. Sounds like I’ll be eating it all when I get back.” She frowned, turning away from the window. “Let him know I’ll be there in thirty seconds.”

Abigail stood and jumped up and down on the balls of her feel like a boxer getting ready to go a few rounds. “You can do this. You can smile and look open to any suggestions, comments or criticisms.”

She shook the nerves out of her arms and wrenched the small mirror from the top drawer. Her ebony strands fell past her shoulders. The liner shaping her slanted eyes hadn’t run in the corners. She had yet to worry the lipstick from her heavy bottom lip.

“Go get ’em tiger,” she said to the reflection and left her office.

The long hallway held nothing but doors to other offices, except at the end where the large conference sat. That door stood open and she couldn’t see anyone, yet.

A few more feet and her steps slowed at the sight of Jim, the head cheese, standing in the back corner, arms folded and gaze on the front of the room. If he initiated a meeting, he liked to stand in the front. Jim wasn’t exactly a take-charge type of man, but he liked being viewed as an authority figure. Sure as hell helped he was sharp when it came to the business, but for him to stand in the back…this didn’t bode well.

The feeling of dread grew in the pit of her stomach. Betty had taken a seat near the front. Abigail entered the room and followed Jim’s gaze. Her breath caught in her throat. The last person she’d expected to see ever, ever again stood in front of the Smart Board.

Drew looked as clean cut as he had on Saturday, except he didn’t have a laid back quality. He stood with his hands in his pockets, striking a GQ pose. No whiskers graced his face and it made him look way too pretty boy for a man his age. His hair was clipped so short it was barely there. The style was the only thing to enhance the rare rugged features. He looked downright at home and ready to command the room.

“’Bout time.” Jim straightened from the corner. He put out his hand to her. “Abigail, I want you to meet Drew Carter. He’s an advertising management consultant.”

Drew lifted his chin higher in a regal gesture, but she could see the laugh in his brown eyes. “What a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Johnson. Jim here has had nothing but high praise for you.” He paused for dramatic effect, and words still failed Abigail. “May I be the one to tell her?”

She glanced at Jim then back again at Drew. “Tell me what?”

Drew crossed the room to her, never wavering his gaze. Smug. Check. Full of mischief. Check. A bit heart stopping to have it directed at her. Check.

When he stood no more than a foot away, he struck out his hand. “I’ve been hired to advise the company. I’ve looked over every account executive team and yours seemed to have the most potential for what I do well.”

It was damn hard not to be bitchy in this situation, but shock numbed her brain. He was right in front of her. Touching her and well within hitting distance. But Drew held her gaze and it held all the same promises of debauchery and a very, very good time. No question he was enjoying the hell out of watching her speechless, watching her squirm. No question, right there in his gaze, he’d want the same reaction without either of them wearing clothes. A hit of lust flooded into her gut and she swallowed. Desire fought with anger to see who would make it on top as he caressed her hand with his thumb. “Advise a company that’s in advertising?”

She would have yanked her hand away, but Jim stood there looking so pleased. Drew’s thumb flicked over her pulse. Her heart beat wildly from nerves and, maybe, a little bit of anger from being ambushed. He
did not
set off a wave of craving that had nothing to do with physical hunger.

“Yes.” Jim glanced down at their joined hands and cleared his throat. “I chose your team because of your ability to manage change and implement new procedures. It’s why you’re one of the best here.” Again, he cleared his throat, looking at their joined hands. He sighed. “Though I have confidence in your abilities, I’m uncertain if a different team would better benefit you.”

A nice way to put, possibly, firing her team was a consideration. Her palms dampened. Abigail wrenched her hand away from Drew’s. His face stayed serious, but the smallest of smirks twitched at the corners of his mouth. She really couldn’t blame him after Saturday, but this was her job. Jim was talking about her team. People she’d handpicked. It wasn’t that much of a stretch to start doubting all her abilities if he found fault with the people she chose. She did not make a mistake when it came to her job.

Jim said, “It’s not an unheard of practice. I figured you could use an extra push to take you and this company to the next level. Mr. Carter’s services came highly recommended.” Jim kept right on digging Abigail’s hole. “In a way, you can say Mr. Carter here will be your mentor for the next couple of weeks.”

Drew’s smile started from the corner of his mouth and stretched out seductively. “You can even say, I’ll be your boss.”