Unlucky in Love ( Lucky #1) (15 page)

“See anything you like?” he asked, causing her eyes to roam over his shoulders. Oh yeah, she saw something she liked very much.

They were at their third store and she’d found yet another great TV. This one was curved and could also do 3-D. She had on the funky little glasses and was enjoying a Disney movie.

“This is so cool.” She smiled up at him and held out the other pair of glasses for him to try. He slid them on and she admired just how sexy he looked in glasses. His dark eyebrows rose a little as he looked at the screen.

When he smiled, she felt her knees turn weak, so she reached out and took his arm to steady herself.

“Are your knees hurting?” He took hold of her. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so much today.”

“No, it’s you. You do this to me.” She reached up to play with the edge of the glasses. “You make my knees turn to jelly.”

His frown slowly turned up. “You’re going to say something like that to me in here?” He pulled her close and she felt what he meant as the bulge in his jeans grew.

“Sorry, it’s the glasses. You’re like a very sexy Clark Kent.” She ran a finger over his chin and loved the stubble that was there. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He started to remove the glasses, but she stopped him.

“Let me just take a picture.” She held up her phone and he laughed.

“Only if you’re included,” he said in a low tone.

She looked at him and frowned.

“What? You have this sexy-librarian look going on.” He pulled her closer. “You have your fantasies, I have mine.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Two hours later, they walked into his parents’ place and were instantly bombarded with questions from his sisters. He really did love them, but sometimes they just didn’t know when to shut up.

By the time everyone had finally sat around the table, they had asked Kristen every question under the sun. Of course, she’d smiled and laughed as she answered each and every one of them. She’d been lucky enough to get in a few questions of her own.

Even his mom and stepdad had sat back and listened as the girls chatted on. But what had absolutely topped it all off was when Kristen had asked Amber what was up between her and Tom.

Amber had actually started choking on air and had turned a little red in the face. When she’d recovered, she shrugged and quickly changed the subject as she kept sending glances at Aiden.

He didn’t mind that his sister was dating, he even encouraged it, but not with his friends from school. Especially those whom he knew exactly what was on their minds.

Not that Tom was a bad guy. But he was so much older than his little sister.

“Kristen, you and my brother will have to come and see me downtown next month. I’ve made one of the leads in
Wicked
. I play Glinda.” She beamed.

She’d found out last month and had been working overtime with practices and fittings. Aiden loved that his sister was an arts major at Denver University and that she’d been hired on by the Buell Theatre downtown.

She’d been in several plays and had been magnificent in each one. He didn’t know where she got her talent and voice, but he doubted it was from their mother’s side.

Kristen glanced at him before diverting her eyes back to Amber. “You’re in a play?” She leaned forward. “I’ve always wanted to go to one. How exciting. Congratulations.”

Amber gushed for the rest of the dinner, and the conversation turned toward his sisters instead of his relationship with Kristen.

By the time they walked out of his parents’ house, he could tell Kristen was tired. She held on to him as she walked down the sidewalk toward his car.

“Knees hurting?” He wrapped his arm around her.

She nodded. “I should have brought some more aspirin.”

“I’m sure my mother has some.” He started to walk back to see.

She shook her head and tugged him toward his car. “I’ll be all right. Really.” She smiled up at him. He would have done anything to make her more comfortable.

They walked the rest of the way to his car. When he got in, he turned to her. “Your place or mine?”

She leaned back. “I’m thinking of a hot bath and bed.”

“I’ll take you home. Will you still feel up to brunch with your folks tomorrow?”

“It’s not that easy getting out of a meal with my parents. They don’t take no for an answer.”

“Think you’ll be okay?” he asked.

She sighed and closed her eyes as she rested back. “I just need a hot bath and sleep.”

“Speaking of plans, I have this thing next weekend.” He glanced at her. “It’s just a charity dinner and I was hoping you’d come along with me.”

She leaned forward. “Charity?”

He shrugged. “I worked on a project downtown for a women’s shelter, and to thank everyone, they’re having a big get-together.”

She was silent for a while. “Is it formal?”

He peeked at her. “Sort of, why?”

“Because I haven’t had a chance to fully replace my wardrobe yet.”

“What you’re wearing will be fine.” He reached over and took her hand.

“Right.” She chuckled. “I’d love to go. Was it a project for R&S? I don’t remember hearing anything about a women’s shelter in the last staff meeting.”

“No, it’s something I was working on on the side,” he said. It was the truth; the project hadn’t even been on UD’s books. He’d donated his time to help out after he’d heard about the project from his mother, whose close friend ran the place.

“I’ve always wanted to do charity work.” She leaned back again. “But, as it is, I don’t have enough time to finish my own projects.” She rested her eyes and they drove in silence the rest of the way to her apartment.

He had to shake her gently to wake her up when they arrived. After walking her up to her door and kissing her good night, he drove back to his condo.

When he walked in, he realized just how empty the place felt. As he crawled into bed, he missed the warmth of Kristen next to him and just couldn’t get comfortable without her pressed up against his body.

The next morning, he woke up sore and grouchy and he was sure of one thing—there was no way he wanted to spend another night without Kristen in his arms.

He was also thinking it was time he talked to her about his intentions with R&S. But first, he wanted to discuss it with Steven and Paul. He didn’t want to jeopardize either relationship at this point.

Kristen was soaking in her hot bath when her phone buzzed next to her. Glancing at the number, she smiled.

“So?” Amy’s voice sounded a little breathless.

“All I can say is, I love his family.”

“Did they give you the third degree?”

She laughed. “His sisters did, until I mentioned Tom to Amber. I think there’s something there that she doesn’t want her big brother to know about.”

“Oh, sista’s got a secret.”

“Are you in the bath? Is Aiden there?” She chuckled when Amy made a sexy growl sound.

“Yes and no. I’m alone, soaking away my sore muscles from yesterday.”

“From the elevator? You said you didn’t get hurt.” She heard worry in her friend’s voice.

“I didn’t. Well, bruised a little. My knees took the brunt of the destruction.” She glanced down at her swollen kneecaps. Her arms and hands didn’t hurt at all, just her legs. She flexed her toes. “What are you doing?”

“I’d like to tell you I have a tall, dark, sexy man wrapped around me, but the truth is I’m watching TV. Isn’t it a sad state when two hot women like us are spending our Saturday nights home alone?”

“I’m choosing to be alone tonight.” She leaned back, sinking farther into the hot water, letting the bubbles cover the bruises.

“Sure, rub it in. Hey!” She heard Amy gasp. “Hang on a sec.” She heard the phone muffle as Amy moved around. “Oh my God!”

“What?” Kristen sat up in the water, instantly concerned. “Are you okay?” Amy didn’t respond at first. Not until Kristen repeated her name almost half a dozen times.

“Are you sitting down?” Amy asked.

“Duh! I’m in the tub,” she repeated.

“You’d better get out. I don’t want you accidentally drowning.”

“What is it?” she growled out.

“Well, I had the TV on mute on a local news station. They were doing this report about an event that’s going to take place next weekend. Then your guy’s picture flashed on the screen.”

Kristen smiled, remembering Aiden asking her to the event. She leaned back and closed her eyes. “Yeah, Aiden invited me to the event. It’s for some women’s shelter downtown.”

“Well, that’s not the part you need to hold on to your socks about.”

“Okay?” She sat up.

“When I finally found my remote and un-muted, they were saying Aiden Scott was owner of Urban Development, one of the most successful development firms in Denver.” There was a pause. “I thought you said he worked at R&S?”

Everyone who was anyone in development and architecture in Colorado knew about Urban Development. R&S had even worked with them over the last few years on several high-profile projects.

“That can’t be right.”

“Hang on.” Amy could hear clicking through the phone. “Um, no, it’s correct. I’m on their Web site and it says the CEO is Aiden Scott. There’s even a damn sexy picture of him.”

“What’s he doing at R&S, then?” Her heart sank.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s priming to take over, or worse, take them down.”

Pain shot through Amy’s chest. “He’s going to take over Row and Stein,” she said, under her breath. “I saw him in a meeting with the shareholders the other day. I thought it was weird when I didn’t see Steven or Paul there.” She felt like a complete idiot.

“Wait, you don’t know that. Maybe there’s something more to the story.”

“No, it makes sense. Do they know he’s there just to push them out? They built this company from scratch. My father has told me horror stories of how Steven struggled for the first few years until he brought Paul in. He can’t do this to them.” She jumped from the tub, almost slipping and falling. “I have to call my parents.”

“Krissy, don’t jump to conclusions.”

“He lied to me.” She wrapped a towel around herself, feeling her anger heat every inch of her body.

“We don’t know what his intentions are yet.”

“No, but we know what they aren’t. He’s not just another designer. He came into R&S, into my house, my family, my friends, determined to take them down.”

“Kris—”

“I can’t talk now.” She quickly hung up and punched her father’s number.

Half an hour later, she was no closer to understanding Aiden’s game than when she had started. Her father didn’t know anything about it and didn’t think it was his place to call Steven Row to find out. He’d suggested that she ask them herself next week at work.

When she finally crawled into bed, her entire body pulsed with sadness, spreading out from her heart.

She had horrible dreams about Aiden in which Steven’s and Paul’s heads were on small little flies. The office was transformed into tiny cutouts and stuck on a huge spider’s web with the title “Urban Development” etched in odd-looking letters above, much like the lettering in
Charlotte’s Web
. Steven and Paul struggled to get free from the web as a very large, dark spider with Aiden’s head crawled toward them. When he got closer, he opened his mouth and fangs hung out of his blood-soaked lips.

She woke with a jolt and glanced at her alarm clock. It was a quarter past three and she knew without a doubt that she wasn’t going to get any more sleep that night.

When Aiden called her later that morning to see if she was feeling better, she made an excuse that she wasn’t and canceled the lunch with her folks. He’d tried to convince her to let him come over, but she’d shut him down quickly.

She couldn’t deal with seeing him yet. Not until she knew exactly what he was doing at R&S. Not until she could control her hurt and anger over his personal betrayal. He’d lied to her. And she’d fallen for yet another man who could manipulate her feelings. She was almost as angry with herself as she was with him.

She spent half of the day in bed, the other half watching television as she lay on her new sofa. She had iced her knees, and by evening, the swelling was almost gone.

Amy had stopped by quickly around lunch and they had devised a plan of action. She wasn’t going to walk into the office tomorrow unprepared. She was never going to be unprepared again when it came to men.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Aiden was running late. He’d hoped to meet Kristen out front and ride up the elevator with her. When he texted her that he was outside, she had replied that she was already at her desk and had taken the stairs.

He walked into the office only five minutes late, but he had to immediately go into a meeting with the board. He’d come to a decision early last week and his lawyers were drawing up all the paperwork. The board just had a few other items they needed to discuss with him.

After clearing it with Steven and Paul, he was relieved to finally be able to tell her everything he’d been keeping from her.

He had planned to see her after the meeting, but when he walked by her desk, it was empty. He asked Carla where she was and she told him that she was out at a job site and wouldn’t be back in the office until tomorrow.

He’d texted her but hadn’t received a message back. When he tried to call her after five, it went directly to her voice mail.

He knew he only had until the end of the week at R&S and really needed to talk to her before returning to work at his own offices. He had planned on telling her everything over dinner this week, but by Thursday evening, he still hadn’t had a chance to see her, let alone talk to her. He knew she was busy at work, since he’d been running around the office himself.

When he walked into the offices Friday morning—his last official day at R&S—and found out that she was again out on a job, his frustration level blew. He couldn’t figure out why she had been avoiding his calls, his voice mails, and his text messages. But he was determined to end all the running around that very moment.

“Aiden?” Steven stopped him from walking out of the doors. “Got a sec?” He nodded toward his office.

“Sure.” He followed the man.

“Morning, Aiden,” Paul said, standing up to shake his hand.

“Paul.” He shook the man’s hand.

“We know you’re probably going to head out soon, but we just wanted to thank you again for everything that you’re doing,” Steven said, walking around his desk and sitting down.

He smiled. “I’m just happy we could make everything work out. I hear you’re moving to Florida.”

“Got a little place lined up along the Emerald Coast. The missus and I will be moving before the first snowfall,” Steven said.

“I’m sure my folks will be visiting you guys. They love it down there.”

“I know. They’re the ones that turned us on to the place.”

“We have something for you,” Paul said, pulling out a box wrapped in silver paper and a black bow. “To thank you for everything.” He handed it to Aiden.

“You didn’t have to do that. I mean, I am getting a very successful business in return.”

They laughed. “We know you could have come in and cleared the place out, but with the negotiations going the way they have . . .” Steven shrugged. “I’m sure when we tell the staff today at the meeting, everyone is going to be thrilled.”

He felt his stomach drop. With all the running around this week, trying to get some time alone with Kristen, he’d forgotten about the staff meeting. He glanced down at his watch and frowned. The meeting was set to start in half an hour.

“Well?” Steven nudged him. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

He looked down and quickly tore open the package. It was a black leather box, and when he opened it, there was a shiny new set of silver drafting tools engraved with his name.

“Thank you.” He looked up and smiled. “It’s perfect.”

“You know where to find us if you need anything,” Paul said, standing back.

He excused himself and walked back to his office and dialed Kristen’s cell phone. He usually didn’t make personal calls from the office, but since she was avoiding his calls, he knew she would answer one coming from work.

“Hello?” she answered on the second ring.

“Are you avoiding me?” he asked, holding his breath.

He heard a silence, then listened as she made an excuse and stepped away from someone she’d been talking to.

“No.” He could hear the lie in her tone.

“Why?” he asked.

“I’m at a job site.”

“I know, we’re supposed to have a staff meeting in half an hour.”

“Yes, I know. I’ll be there.”

“You haven’t answered my question.” He was beginning to worry that he’d moved too fast, or not fast enough.

“Let’s not do this over the phone. I’ll be back in the office in ten minutes.”

He glanced at his watch. “Where are you?”

“The place on Market Street. I’m leaving now.”

“I’ll meet you halfway.”

“No . . .” she started to say, but then was quiet. “Okay. There’s a coffee shop at the corner of Sixteenth and Lawrence.”

“I know it. I’ll be there.” He hung up and tried to figure out his next move as he walked out of the building.

The whole week he’d been playing over his family dinner. Had his sisters said or done something to upset her? He couldn’t remember anything.

He’d toiled over it all week, and since she’d been playing cat and mouse with him, he hadn’t had a chance to ask her directly.

He’d even thought about showing up at her place and banging on the door. But something had told him that wouldn’t have gone over well. He’d even wished he’d had Amy’s number so he could ask her.

Less than five minutes later, he walked into the coffee shop and saw Kristen standing in line. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her until he felt her in his arms again.

“Hey.” He smiled down at her and felt her stiffen a little in his arms. She quickly recovered.

“Do you want anything?” She pointed to the menu since they were next in line.

“Besides you?” He shook his head. “I’d like an explanation of why you’ve been avoiding me.”

“Coffee first. I didn’t get a chance to get some before my meeting.”

He stayed close to her as she placed her order. They waited for her name to be called and then walked over and sat in a booth near the back wall.

She took a sip and closed her eyes. She looked a little weary, but he figured it was due to the early morning meeting.

“Rough time?”

Her eyes opened and she zeroed in on his. “Are you taking over Row and Stein?” she said in one quick breath.

He felt his heart kick and his palms go damp. When he nodded, he could see the anger flood into her green eyes.

“There’s nothing more I want to say to you. The moment you sign the papers, you’ll have my resignation on your desk.” She started to get up, but he trapped her there with his hand.

“Kristen, this isn’t some hostile takeover,” he pleaded with her.

“I don’t care what you think it is.” She jerked her hand back. “You lied to me.” She started to gather up her bags.

“I never lied to you.” He stood up and reached for her, telling himself that what he had done was only withhold vital information from her.

“You didn’t tell me everything. That’s the same as lying.” She shoved her bag over her shoulder and moved past him, leaving her almost-full coffee on the table.

“Wait a minute.” He followed her. “What’s this all about?” He took her arm as she exited the building. He felt his heart kick at the thought of losing her.

She jerked her arm away from him. “This is about friendship, and you’ve made it very clear that all it means to you is dollar signs.” She turned toward him. “Or did you think I wouldn’t find out who you really are? Urban Development.”

“I never hid who I was.” He crossed his arms over his chest, not understanding why it mattered.

“You didn’t come right out and tell everyone,” she hissed in a low tone.

“No.” He took a deep breath. “I didn’t.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I believed you when you said Steven was a friend of your family.”

“He is.” He tilted his head, wanting her to believe him.

“How could you do this to him?” she whispered.

He felt his palms go sweaty and reached for her once more. He didn’t think he would have time now to explain it to her, but if it meant keeping her, he would do everything in his power to hold on to their relationship. Even if it meant cutting his losses with the deal. “You don’t have all the facts, I’m not—”

“I don’t need facts,” she interrupted. “I’ve heard all about the last time Urban Development took over a business.”

He cringed. “This is different.”

“Is it?” She started walking toward their building again.

He took her arm and spun her around. “Yes, it is. This is personal.”

She glared at him and then looked down at his hand, which was holding her arm. “Let go of me,” she said under her breath.

“I can’t,” he whispered.

Kristen was running on pure adrenaline. She’d missed breakfast and had only had a few sips of her coffee. She groaned when she realized she’d left it back in the coffee shop, then glanced back and saw Aiden rushing to follow her.

She’d desperately needed the kick of caffeine before what she could only imagine would be a very uncomfortable meeting.

“Let me walk with you. Everything will be explained at the meeting.” He jogged to keep up with her.

She jerked her arm away again. “Don’t you get it? It doesn’t matter what happens in the meeting. You betrayed my trust.”

He took a step back like she’d slapped him.

“Kristen.”

She shook her head and fought back the tears. She’d cried too much this last week and didn’t want to give him any more.

“We’d better go or we’ll be late for your big meeting.” She turned and started walking and felt him following her.

When she walked into the building, she headed toward the stairs. But he took hold of her arm and started walking toward the elevators.

“Aiden,” she said in a low voice. She felt her breath speed up and her heart rate skyrocket the closer they got to the metal doors.

“Don’t fight it.” He ran his hand down her back, sending shivers up her spine. Why did her body still react this way to him even though her heart hurt so much?

“Don’t . . .” She tried to pull her arm free. “I can’t . . .” She started to feel light-headed.

“At least let me do this for you,” he said next to her ear as the metal doors slid open slowly.

All week long, she’d avoided elevators at all cost. The one she’d been trapped in had been closed down for three days, and now it was back up and running. This time, however, they stepped into a different car and she felt her knees go completely weak.

His arm was around her as he hit the button to their floor. When the doors slid closed, he nudged her until her back was up against the mirrored wall.

“Look at me.” His voice broke through the cloud of fear. Then she focused only on his dark eyes. “Good.” He smiled and she felt the rest of her body melt at the sexy curve of his lips. “Forget everything.” He took a step closer to her, and time seemed to stop completely. Even the need for breathing halted.

His hand came up and he brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. “I don’t care what happens now. Just know that I love you,” he said before his lips found hers.

She couldn’t stop herself from responding to his kiss as his mouth tilted over hers. His hands were feather light as they ran up and down her back, her arms, pulling her, holding her closer. She felt his pulse jump against her hands that lay on his chest.

She’d been a fool to try and deny the fact that she’d fallen for him. Completely.

When the car slowed down, he pulled back. “Think of this, of me, every time you step into one of these again.” He smiled down at her and ran his hand over her wet cheek. “I’m sorry if I hurt you. I hope you’ll give me a chance to explain my actions.”

She hadn’t realized she’d been crying until that moment. All her fears and emotions seemed to spring forward at once. Just the thought that Aiden had betrayed her, her friends, had her eyes burning. Using the back of her hand, she wiped her face dry as they stepped out onto their floor.

“Take a moment.” He nodded to the restroom. “I’ll see you in the meeting.” He turned and walked into the front doors at R&S.

She rushed to the restroom, afraid of what she looked like. Expecting to be pale and frazzled, she went to the mirror and was shocked. Her cheeks were pink, her lips red from his kisses, and her eyes . . . her eyes were completely dreamy looking. Like she’d just been kissed by the man she loved.

She closed her eyes and leaned on the sink and took a couple cleansing breaths.

She washed her face, put on some fresh lip gloss, and straightened her shoulders. She was completely prepared for the meeting.

When she walked into the crowded conference room, Aiden, Steven, and Paul were all standing at the front of the room. Aiden watched her walk in and she couldn’t control her heart from fluttering when she noticed the way he looked at her.

Damn him for playing her. She raised her chin up and met his eyes. She’d typed up her resignation last night, just in case he wanted to go through with his plan of tearing up her friends’ company. It felt wonderful to know that she wouldn’t be his employee and fall into his trap. He may have played her, but that didn’t mean he would win the prize.