Blurring the Lines (Men of the Zodiac) (9 page)

Even through the roaring pulse of the music, Kira heard the disbelief in her voice. “Play harder?” Seemed so contradictory to what she witnessed with Blake and his brother. “If he planned to show up, he’d already be here. And even if he does show up, who’s to say he’d take the time to say hi to me? He’s the CEO, and I’m just the secretary.” It was almost time for last rounds, and she was tired from fending off offers from other guys. She didn’t need to sit around a bar hoping to catch a glimpse of her boss.

“I can’t even believe you would say that.” Her friend stepped away from the bar, swayed, and leaned back against the stool. “I’m going to ask Keith why Blake isn’t here.”

Kira grabbed Tish’s arm to steady her. “No. Please don’t.” She would not stalk her boss. If he didn’t want to show up, then fine. Let him not show up. Better for her anyway. “Let’s dance.” She’d had one too many, but she didn’t want to go home with this sense of crushing disappointment hitting her full force. Since when did she let a guy dictate her mood? She didn’t need to chase guys, and she was the one who kept saying she didn’t want to sleep with her boss.

“He’s here.”

Without warning, Kira’s whole body warmed. He’d asked her to leave him a list of possible costumes, and she’d offered to rent one for him, but he’d said he’d take care of it. Which costume from her carefully crafted list had he chosen? Would he go traditional in a toga or be more adventurous as Captain America? She checked her cell. Two-thirty a
.
m. She was surprised he’d bothered to show up at all. She glanced in the same direction as Tish but only caught the top of his head. From this distance and her vantage point, she couldn’t make out his costume.

Annoyed with the way her heart sped up at the stupid thought that he was right there, she said, “I’m going to freshen up.”

Her friend nodded over the bass. “I’ll save your spot.”

As she weaved through the crowd toward the back of the bar, Kira’s gaze trailed over all the revealing costumes; her Lois Lane button down blouse and pencil skirt seemed too conservative. She thought it would be cute if she dressed as Superman’s significant other, and she’d even purposefully left Superman off the list of viable costumes for Blake to wear so they wouldn’t match.

In the bathroom, she ran her hands under the cold water and silently chastised herself for the uncontrollable adrenaline flushing her cheeks and the urge to unbutton her blouse just shy of indecent.

After smoothing her bun, she left her buttons intact and exited the restroom. Tish chatted with Keith and a man in a dark suit, his back toward her. She didn’t need to hear his voice to know who it was.

As soon as Blake’s gaze found hers, she sucked in her breath. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t wearing a costume. Under the charcoal suit, he wore a crisp white shirt, and his navy tie matched the buttons on her blouse perfectly. But more captivating than any costume was the way his mouth curved in a smile that reached all the way to the corners of his dark eyes. The air whooshed from her lungs.

“Kira, nice costume. Secretary?”

Keith dipped back his long-neck. “You two are pathetic. Matching outfits.”

Her face heated. “Not intentionally. And I’m not a secretary. And he’s not even in a costume.”

Blake’s eyebrow arched. “If you’re not a secretary, then you are…?”

“Lois Lane.” She stumbled sideways just a bit as she tried to pivot to display her outfit.

He made a noise that sounded like half a laugh and half a choke. “Lois Lane, huh?”

“Yes.” She gave a short nod and giggled. “Although if you prefer, I could be a secretary to match your costume, boss.”

“We’re already matching.” He flipped his tie over his shoulder, and the entire room faded as his long finger slid the top button from his shirt, and then the next and the next, until the royal blue tee shirt with the red ‘S’ peeked through. He flashed a wicked grin. “I thought I was being clever, since Superman wasn’t on your approved list.”

Tish’s mouth dropped open dramatically
.
“Oh my gawd, you’re a match made in a superhero comic book.”

B
lake couldn’t believe they’d coordinated costumes so perfectly. Just one more reminder of how compatible they were. “What do you think? Do I make a decent Superman?”

She chewed the corner of her lower lip and blinked up at him. “I think I need another drink.”

A shot of adrenaline raced through him as he waved to the bartender. Oh yeah. His costume had definitely thrown her off balance, and in a good way. The bartender passed him a pink concoction, and he handed it to her.

She sipped, closed her eyes, and moaned softly. “Mmmm.” When she opened her eyes, she said, “You’re very late.”

“I can explain.” He placed a hand on her lower back and steered her away from the crowd. He wanted her alone. They moved to the far corner, but the music blared too loudly to have a decent conversation. “Outside.”

Once they stepped into the night, he led her down the relatively empty street, and the music faded into the distance. They walked in silence for a block before she stopped and stared into his face. “You look different. More relaxed.”

With an erection pressing against his zipper, relaxed wasn’t the exact word he’d use, but she was right. He felt different. Slipping his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her face, his fingers touched something else that was hers. A flower-shaped pink sticky note. He removed it and held it up.

“You caught the landscape miscalculation on the downtown parking lot.”

She grimaced. “That sounds like an accusation.”

“Not at all. I’m impressed
.
”

She rolled her eyes. “Everyone seems to be impressed with me tonight.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It would be, if I wanted to impress people.”

He’d been annoyed at having to stay in the office so late, but with the architect’s issues
,
he had to make certain nothing was left for chance. Now, he was pleased he’d taken the extra time to figure out the calculations.

And that was just one part of the problem. If he couldn’t get the finances straightened out, he’d have one hell of a fight against the board explaining why keeping the old—even though it would cost them several million more to bring the existing buildings up to code—would be preferable to demolishing and building new.

Blake squinted at her in the dim light and tried to remember all the reasons why kissing her would be a terrible idea. Then she licked her lips, and he couldn’t help himself. His hands moved on their own, cupping her face and lifting her chin. When his mouth closed over hers, he tasted her sweet drink on her lips and felt his growing desire.

If they hadn’t been standing in the middle of the street, he’d have his hands all over her tight curves, but the roar of a passing motorcycle grounded him, and he stepped back, his gaze landing on the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath. Good. He shouldn’t be the only one panting.

He cleared his throat. “I’ve been crunching numbers and architectural plans.”

She blinked and touched a finger to her lips. “What?”

The dazed expression on her adorable face tugged at him, and before he completely lost his mind, he slipped his fingers through hers and tugged her back toward the bar, the company Halloween party, and the people who would act as chaperones.

“The reason I was so late was because of your note.”

She looked down at their hands and then back to his face. “Oh.”

“We’re going to make the downtown revitalization work, but there are financial issues I need to address with some of the board.”

She chewed on her lower lip, and now that he knew how she tasted, he wanted more. Kissing her had been a mistake. But one he wanted to repeat. He had to get her back to Tish, back to where he’d be forced to keep his hands to himself.

He released her hand as she stepped back into the bar, and just before they reached Tish, sitting at the bar, he leaned in to her ear, and whispered, “I’m sorry for—crossing the line outside.”

B
lake thought that tiny kiss outside was crossing the line? Before she could argue, a girl she didn’t recognize from the office sidled up to them and called to him in a high-pitched voice. “What a great costume! I love Superman!”

Kira stepped back, inadvertently allowing the pixie intruder enough space to sneak into his space.

“Hi, Ginny.”

Tish whispered, “So much for the private party sign and security guard.”

That confirmed the woman was not an employee of Whitman-Madison, but given the late hour and the lapse by the security guy, Kira did nothing more than watch as Ginny batted her fake eyelashes and pressed her chest into Blake’s arm. The girl had assets and knew how to use them, that was for sure. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from muttering about the woman’s familiarity with her boss.

“I can’t even believe you’re here. You have to dance with me. Dance with me? Please? For old time’s sake?” She slipped her hand into his and gave a hearty tug.

He frowned but let her drag him away from the group. Even as she pasted on a bright smile, Kira hoped the disappointment wasn’t clear on her face. For old time’s sake? Like they had a past. No doubt she was an ex-lover. But how ex and how far in the past? Even though she had no right to be jealous, the idea of Blake dancing with an ex stung, and she didn’t like it.

Tish looked at Keith. “Is that Blake’s latest?”

“Blast from his past. I vaguely remember her.”

“Why is Superman not dancing with Lois Lane?” her friend asked in almost too loud a voice.

Kira wondered the exact same thing, but she didn’t voice her agreement. After all, he might have kissed her, but he also admitted he thought it was a mistake. She had no claim to him. He could dance with whomever he pleased, and so could she, now that she thought about it. Keith must have read her mind, because he turned to her and said, “I could use a dance or two. I’m wicked out of practice.”

She laughed. “Wicked, huh? I’ll bet you spent too many summers yachting in Nantucket.”

His eyes widened. “I did!”

“Come on.” She laughed. “Let’s dance.”

Tish rolled her eyes. “Great. You two can bond over New England boarding schools. I’ll save your seat.”

“Join us!”

“I’d rather not.”

She glanced once more at her friend before shrugging and facing Keith. “Okay.”

His voice hummed close to her ear as they made their way to an open space on the dance floor. “Boarding school beauty. I should have known by the way you walk.”

She snorted but refrained from commenting.

“So, beauty and brains. I have to admit you’re the most competent secretary Blake’s ever hired.”

The compliment sounded sincere, and wouldn’t her life be so much easier if Keith gave her the same goose bumps as her boss? After all, the VP wasn’t insisting that he keep business separate from pleasure. “I’m flattered, thank you—” Would it still impress him to know she’d pictured Blake bending the rules with her bent over his desk on a number of different occasions?

“You’re good for him.” He narrowed his eyes. “Even if you’re overqualified.” She wasn’t sure if he meant what she thought he meant, but then he burst into laughter. “Don’t look so worried. I’m not going to tell him. He should’ve read your resume.”

The air whooshed from her lungs, and she swatted at his arm. “It’s not funny. He only offered me the job because I said I wouldn’t sleep with him.”

Keith kept laughing, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. “Serves him right.”

She looked over his shoulder to where Blake had his arms wrapped around another woman, and it irritated her that she couldn’t control the jealousy. “Doesn’t matter. He has that no dating employees rule.”

“It’s because of our mom.”

She leaned back enough to see if he was still laughing, but his smile had flattened. “Really?”

He nodded. “Our dad had an affair with an employee, and Blake saw firsthand how much it destroyed our mom.”

“But he’s not married.” Why would it matter if he dated anyone from the company? It wasn’t like he’d be cheating. Still, in a weird way that explained why he was against workplace dating.

Keith shrugged. “That’s my brother for you. Stickler for the rules. Especially his own.”

That sounded like a warning, but as Blake’s gaze clashed with hers, even in the dimly lit room, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was also a challenge.

Chapter Ten

B
lake unclenched his hands and reminded himself that he was an adult. He would not punch Keith in the face. But if his brother didn’t get his hands off Kira in the next ten seconds, he was not going to make excuses for his actions. He would just act. Kira was killing him with her fitted skirt and crisp buttoned-up shirt. She had killer curves, and right then he envisioned about a dozen different office fantasies starring the two of them.

Keith might not have the same ethical dilemma when it came to dating women at work, but Blake could no longer think of a single valid reason not to pursue his hot assistant. That kiss had been a weak appetizer to what he really wanted to do to her, and as the night wore on, he couldn’t reason himself out of repeating that mistake. Especially when he shoved his hands in his pocket and his fingers touched the pink sticky note he’d left there.

Decision made, he forced a smile as he approached them. “Mind if I cut in?”

His brother moved out of the way. “I’m going to say good night to Tish and head home.”

When Blake finally had Kira alone, he relaxed. She looked mildly buzzed, and with a sexy grin on her face, all he could think about was getting her back to his place. This arrangement might have started as a way for her to save her mom’s building
,
or whatever personal crusade she’d been on, but for him, it was no longer strictly business. He’d changed.

But he wasn’t sure she felt the same way. There was attraction, but mixing business and pleasure with her was weird, even though he’d thought of little else. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Want to get out of here?”

She tilted her head in that adorable way and scrunched her nose. “And cross more lines?”

He grinned at her upturned face and noticed her mouth, how perfectly soft it looked, and wanted to get her anywhere but where they were. A crowded bar with lingering coworkers was not the place to repeat their earlier kiss, and his lips on her lips suddenly occupied his entire brain. “I will if you will.”

She laughed. “That’s the worst pick-up line ever.”

“It wasn’t a line.” Although, with her hair framing her upturned face and the way she leaned into him, using a pick
-
up line might get him exactly want he really wanted.

“So where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere you want me to take you.” The fragrant scent of her blurred his senses, and she’d been invading his dreams, when he found time to sleep. He wanted her, and he couldn’t wait one second longer to get to know her on a more intimate level.

“Back to the office?” She grinned up at him with the look that invited him into her world, and he so longed to dive into her joy. How did she do it? Act like nothing in the world could bring her down? He’d never met someone so…happy. And he wanted to be happy. Happy in the way her body swayed to the music. Happy in the silly smile that crinkled her dark eyes at the corners.

“Or my place.”

Her lips rounded into a perfect “O.” Then, she grabbed his hand and said, “I’m ready.”

He laughed. He’d been ready since the first moment she said his name.

He said, “So am I.”

K
ira concentrated on breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. After they left the building, Blake drove her to a pretty fancy part of town. The twenty-minute ride offered plenty of opportunity for her to change her mind while she sat silently focusing on deep breaths. The light buzz she’d had at the party was long gone, and she’d only had two drinks to begin with.

Her brain kept creating images, anticipating what was to come. At a red light, she slid a glance sideways and caught him smiling at her, and feeling shy, she lowered her gaze.

He placed his hand on her thigh. “This isn’t very professional.”

“I’m not feeling professional right now.”

His brow wrinkled when he said, “Are you comfortable? With this?”

After weeks of aching for him, she wanted something to happen between them, especially if he was initiating. Her only thought was how quickly she could get him out of that Superman T-shirt. “I’m very uncomfortable.” He frowned, and she touched the side of his mouth. “This shirt is too confining.” She slipped one of the buttons out of place, and smiled when his gaze lowered to her cleavage.

“I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable.” He swallowed and looked back at the road. “You look really good in that Lois Lane costume.”

“You’ll look better out of that Superman shirt.”

With the windows down and scent of the ocean, she felt alive. Free.

She blew out a breath. She was nervous. It had been too long since her last time, and she hated to admit that her last lover definitely spoiled her when it came to generosity between the sheets. She’d been sad to see him go, but he’d proven it wasn’t her but her connections that mattered. At least with Blake, if he initiated things, it wasn’t for any reason other than him wanting her.

He cleared his throat. “Okay. Usually this is when you say something more.”

“More? Like what?” What else could she say? Her actions spoke volumes.

“Like, do you want to talk about this?”

He wanted to talk about this? The fact that she was in his car and they were clearly adults and heading somewhere to be adults. And then a light clicked on in her head and she laughed. “Okay, fine, Blake. I’ll say it. I was wrong.”

“Excuse me?”

She threw her hands up in the air and let them drop to her sides. “Oh my gawd. You’re going to make me say it. Fine. Fine! I was wrong. I said I didn’t want to sleep with you, but I do. I’m in your car. I’m dressed like Lois Lane, and you’re wearing—that adorable Superman shirt. You win. You’re irresistible.”

“Considering that’s the furthest thing from what I expected you to say, I think I’ll just keep focused on the road.”

“What did you think I’d say?”

“I was just wondering if you wanted to know where this is going.”

“Blake, you’re adorable. I know what this is, and I—well, let’s just”—she shrugged—“see where this takes us?”

They passed by the gated guardhouse, and as she read the sign,
The Ambrose
, a whole flood of memories from her childhood etched in her mind. He lived in a gated community where the residents banked over a million a year, easily. As they drove deeper into the development, she noticed the impeccable landscaping. Not one blade of grass was out of place.

Side roads led to large estate homes and some charming two-story villas. Straight ahead, under an impressive arch, a high-rise filled the horizon. Blake drove toward it, veering right and then into the garage underneath the facade.

He parked his SUV in a spot with a
Reserved
sign and placed his hand on her thigh. “Wait here.”

While her skin flamed where he’d touched her, he hopped out and strode around the back. Kira almost disobeyed, but she found a certain charm in Blake’s chivalry. When he opened the door, she swiveled sideways and looked into his face as her skirt rose dangerously up her leg.

As she’d hoped, his eyes widened slightly. Just enough to give her the confidence to confirm he was interested and this was leading exactly where she hoped it would lead. This flirtation was all so silly, really, when they were both adults and both wanted the same thing. A few hours of blissful physical enjoyment.

He slipped his hand in hers. “Come on.”

She glanced around purposefully. “I’m impressed.”

“With the parking garage?”

“That you brought me here.” Why a gated community with mansions and high-rise condominiums and lakes with fountains and a golf course? She’d assumed he lived in a townhouse by the beach or somewhere closer to the buzz of downtown. Who was he really?

“Where else would I bring you?” He slipped her hand through the crook of his arm and led her toward the elevator.
It all felt so charming, like they were returning home after a date, when they hadn’t ever really had one, and she swallowed her hesitation. She didn’t want to think about possibilities. They were temporary, and she was one in a long line of women to hold his arm. But as they entered the elevator, and he slipped his key into the space marked “Penthouse” she couldn’t help but fear the feelings bubbling inside her. Perhaps going home with him had been a bad idea. “I don’t know. I did suggest the office. Maybe a hotel.”

His fierce gaze pinned her in place, and when he spoke, shivers danced along her body. “This isn’t a hotel kind of encounter.”

“Oh.” She paused. He surprised her with his sentiment. Did he really mean it? How many other women had he impressed by bringing them to his fancy penthouse? To lighten her serious thoughts, she teased, “But you didn’t rule out the office.”

“No. I didn’t.” He tugged on her wrist. She leaned into him and had just enough time to catch the intention in his eyes before his mouth descended upon hers.

Warm, soft, and powerful, his lips shot tingles down to the depths of her stomach, and this, this uncontrollable surge of longing, hit her right there. He kissed her as he backed her up against the wall. The way his mouth moved over hers had her forgetting how she’d been so sure she wouldn’t want to sleep with him. He gripped the back of her neck, tangling his fingers in her hair, and she inhaled his delicious, seductive scent. When his tongue swept over her lips, she heard him groan. She let her hands roam, up his arms, over his broad shoulders, and across the wide expanse of his chest, over the smooth fabric preventing her from touching his skin.

The weight of him held her captive, and when he stretched her arms above her head and clasped them in one of his large palms, she arched into his chest.

Everything came into focus. The whole reason she’d been at loose ends stemmed from not having direction. With Blake, she finally had a goal. He had no idea what he did for her self-esteem or the wild thoughts in her head, but ever since she’d knocked into him and decided to fight for something—her mom’s vision for the community—she finally felt like she was making progress. She could do this.

She kissed him back with all the desire and longing she’d held inside over the past two months, but with her hands pinned above her head, she couldn’t touch him the way she wanted. She needed to feel his body, rub her hands over his skin, but he held her firmly in place, and when his free hand ran up her stomach to cup her breast, she moaned.

The elevator doors dinged open, but instead of releasing her, he wrapped an arm around her back and lifted her into him, carrying her to his door without breaking contact.

Kira had never really thought about those scenes in the movies when the couples made out on elevators and fell through the doors still tangled together, but now, with Blake’s powerful gait taking them into his foyer, she shivered from the anticipation and the sheer desire of him as he deepened their kiss. He kicked shut the door and then set her on a table or a ledge of something in the foyer, and with one swift motion, lifted the button-up blouse over her head, slid the straps over her shoulders, unclipped her black strapless bra, and exposed her breasts.

She laughed. “That was efficient.”

“You did say that shirt was uncomfortable.” He licked his lips and then cupped her breast, brushing his thumb over the nipple, pouring liquid fire through her entire body.

She resisted the urge to cover herself with her hands and instead reached for his shirt. She grabbed and tugged, but the buttons held firm. Her fingers pinched them through the holes and mercilessly yanked the fabric apart. A faint smile hit her lips at the sight of the Superman T-shirt, but he wasted no time dragging it over his head. When she could finally touch his exposed chest, she ran her fingers over the fine hair scattered over the hard planes of the muscles. He was built for power, and she clutched on to his biceps, felt the muscles between her own thighs clench, and gave a triumphant laugh at the way just touching him could elicit such a physical reaction from her.

Without a care for what her words meant, she said, “I have been aching to do this since I landed on you.”

He grabbed her by the arms, lowered his head to her neck, and licked. “Delicious.”

As his mouth trailed hot kisses over her collarbone to the tip of her nipple, she lost her grip on everything but the way he made her feel. “Oh yes.”

He ran his hand up her thigh, lifting her skirt. His fingers hooked over her panties, and with one tug, they slid down her legs.

Through the haze of desire, she sank against him while his hands explored her exposed skin. She wanted this man desperately. His energy, his commanding power. And she wanted his hands on all her sensitive parts. His touch ignited fires over every inch of her skin, and she wanted the feeling to go on and on.

The heat tingled over her chest and down her stomach. Nothing else mattered but the heat of his mouth over hers and the dizzying effect his touch had on her body. Rocking into him, she undid the belt, buckle, and zipper of his pants. Using her heels to hook the sides, she shoved his pants to his ankles. He kicked out of his loafers and stepped out of the pants.

They wouldn’t even make it past the foyer. She’d have him right here, and she couldn’t imagine wanting anything more than to feel him pressing into her.

Until her back hit the light switch and the light flicked on. The reality of the situation flashed in front of her eyes, and the conversation in the car hit her squarely in the chest. It wasn’t just about seeing where this went tonight. It would be about how they faced each other in the office on Monday.

She blinked and slid off the side table. “Blake.”

He released her, and she heard him sigh. “I’ve lost you.”

Amid the relaxed Key West décor, beachy and definitely so completely opposite his uptight work persona, she recalled the real reason why Blake even knew she existed. The building. The contract. How many secretaries had hoped to be in her exact location, and how many had he fired for such advances? She might be having fun with the temporary gig, but if she forgot for one moment what usually happened to women who overstepped their place in the office…

Kira wanted to express the thoughts flooding her mind, but she couldn’t clarify them. How was she supposed to ask if he intended to let her go like he had the others? She didn’t figure that he’d bring her here, sleep with her, and then renege on their deal, but… “Your rule.” She whispered the final words like they were dirty and waited until comprehension lit his honeyed gaze.