The Bottom Line (13 page)

“No one asked me about spanking.” Suspicion rioted through Connor. “What did she look like?”

“A bit on the plump side. Long dark hair.” The man held his hands up in front of his chest, a leer forming on his face. “Big tits.”

Maggie
. Hell, why hadn’t she asked him about spanking? Why would she ask complete strangers and not ask him?

“She’s on my list of dates,” another man said. “I like adventurous women.”

Connor’s mouth tightened. Maggie wasn’t going anywhere with these men.
Not if he had anything to do with it.

He left the men talking about the woman who was into spanking. When he exited the screened area, a crush of chattering women met his gaze.
Hell
. He stilled like a possum in headlights. Where were the girls? He’d had enough of feeling like prey. Julia. Good. Without making eye contact, he navigated the room.

“Drink,” he said in greeting.

Julia gave a clipped nod. “Let’s go.”

“Where are the others?”

“Somewhere around the place. I saw Susan briefly. They’re meeting us at the pub around the corner. God, if I ever agree to do speed dating again, shoot me. It was excruciating.” She hooked her arm in his and dragged him toward the door.

Connor went unwillingly. He didn’t like leaving Maggie here with all those men. What the hell had she been thinking, asking about spanking?

Chapter Ten

What would you do if a stranger started asking you questions about spanking? Run for the hills or feel intrigued enough to ask questions?

I don’t know what came over me. I was in a social situation recently, bored out of my brain. I started thinking about spanking out of self-defense. Hey! Can I help it if spanking preys on my mind these days?

Anyhow, instead of the same boring getting-to-know-you conversation, I asked about spanking. It made the interaction interesting, livened things up a little. The reactions fell into two camps. The men were either for or totally against spanking. One guy was disappointed because he thought I wanted to spank him. Call me an innocent, but it never occurred to me a man would want to be on the end of a spanking. You learn something every day.

I learned something else too. Most of the men who were open to spanking immediately let their minds jump into the gutter. I could see it in their faces. They wondered what else I would do. One of them actually asked me if he could meet me later for a quickie in the car park. Another asked if I was open to anything. When I asked for clarification, he mentioned BDSM. His eyes glittered with a scary light when he mentioned whips and chains. He might have mentioned anal sex as well, but I was too busy trying to change the subject to take in everything. He was seriously creepy.

All of this made me realize I need to stop talking about my desires. I’m with a man who makes me feel good. The sex is pure dynamite between us, and I live for the times when we’re together.

We’ve learned a lot about each other and something in his background makes it difficult for me to tell him what I’d like, what I need. I guess what I’m trying to say is I’ve come to care for him and I don’t want to drive him away. On the other hand, I know I’m not going to be happy until I try spanking.

LOL, I’ve had a thought. What happens if the reality doesn’t match my fantasies? What happens if, after all this time, I hate spanking and it does nothing for me except give me a sore bottom? Yeah, wouldn’t that be a real kick? A spanking aficionado who hates receiving a spanking.

Maggie yawned and slapped at the alarm clock, wishing she could stay in bed for longer. Wasn’t gonna happen.

She dragged herself out of the bed and stood. The twisted sheets told the story. She’d tossed and turned for half the night, worried about her most recent blog entry. The post got right to the point. What if she was all talk and no action? A pretender?

She padded to bathroom and flipped on shower. A decision. She needed one. Today.

Either she had to man up and tell Connor what she wanted—exactly what she wanted—or she needed to move on. Use the terms of their
friends with benefits
deal to find a man who would spank her without a qualm.

A man without baggage.

An hour later, she ran through the front doors of Barker & Johnson. No puffing. This fitness kick was good for something. Maggie hit the elevator button and tapped her foot while waiting for the car to arrive. Long minutes later the elevator let out a cheeky beep. The doors opened. Maggie stepped inside and waited for them to close.

They’d almost shut when a male voice called, “Hold the lift.” A hand shot between the doors at the same time Maggie hit the hold button.

“Thanks. You know those days when nothing seems to go right?” He glanced at Maggie and continued talking without waiting for her reply. “I’m having one of those days. I’m late for an appointment.”

He grinned, and Maggie couldn’t help smiling back. Taller than Greg but not quite as tall as Connor, the man had brown eyes that were full of humor and masculine appreciation. His glance darted to her left hand and back to her face. “I’m Kevin Grainger.” His blond hair was cut short and he had a designer stubble thing going on. The casual look contrasted sharply with the charcoal gray designer suit and pale pink tie.

“Maggie Drummond,” she said, taking his extended hand. His hand bore calluses and a few cuts. A distinct warmth emanated up her arm and she held her breath. Interesting. The elevator reached her floor and came to a halt. “I hope the rest of your day improves. Um, did you choose your tie?”

“I’m getting off here too,” Kevin said with a chuckle. “My seven-year-old niece chose the tie. My sister thought I’d never wear a pink tie but my niece insisted on this one. I wanted to prove my sister wrong.” He fluttered his eyelashes. “What do you think? Does it make me look gay?”

“Your designer stubble is a perfect foil.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

They walked out of the elevator together, both laughing.

“I know this is very forward of me, but could I take you out to dinner tonight? I’m not a weirdo. My accountant Greg Somerville will vouch for me.”

“Anyone who cares about making his seven-year-old niece happy must be okay,” Maggie said. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”

“Great.” Kevin pulled out his wallet and handed her a business card. “I’m staying at the Hilton on the waterfront. I can book a table at Whites for around seven. Would that work for you?”

“Seven is perfect,” Maggie said. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Greg approaching. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant.” With a wave and a quick smile, she turned away to head to her cubicle before she came face-to-face with Greg.

“Wait. I don’t have your number,” Kevin said.

“I’ll be there. I promise,” Maggie said. “I won’t stand you up.”

“Maggie, you’re late. Is there a problem?” Greg asked, his stern gaze going from her to Kevin and back.

“No, no problem,” she said quickly.

“Good,” Greg said, his gaze dropping to the hem of her skirt. “I’ll see you later.”

Not if she saw him first. She hadn’t missed the disapproval on his face when he’d seen her new look. Too bad. She liked it, and judging by the reactions of the rest of the males around the place, they liked the new-look Maggie. Besides, she’d scored a date. She couldn’t wait to tell the girls. She wasn’t looking forward to telling Connor quite as much.

Maggie practically skipped down the passage to her cubicle. As usual several of her fellow employees were playing solitaire and surfing the net. She wouldn’t have time to check her email since she’d promised Tanya, one of the partners, she’d complete the Weston accounts this morning.

After switching on her computer, she immersed herself in work. She worked right through morning tea, printing off the final set of accounts before midday.

She delivered the accounts to Tanya and waited while she glanced through them.

“Great job,” Tanya said. “Thanks for getting them done so quickly. Word is out about you.”

“No problem,” she said. “Pardon?” Tanya’s final words registered. Fear clutched at her heart. What did she mean?

“Word is out about the great work you do. Greg has requested you for a special project he’s working on next month. I understand you’ve done a few jobs for him recently.”

“Oh,” Maggie said. “That’s…uh…great.” What the hell sort of game was Greg playing? Yes, he’d requested her services for a couple of projects recently. Normally that wouldn’t bother her, but when she reported for duty, he treated her like a glorified junior, getting her to make coffee and complete the filing. It was true she wasn’t a qualified accountant, but she wasn’t chopped liver, either. She was good at her job. “Was there anything else you wanted me to work on?”

Tanya ran through a quick list of assignments. “The Dobson accounts are next on the list. The Dobsons are coming in on Monday.”

“All under control,” Maggie said. “I should have them completed for you to check tomorrow.”

Five minutes later, Maggie left her cubicle, desperate for a cup of coffee and something to eat. She spotted the other members of the Tight Five at their usual table, but made a beeline to the coffee machine. She purchased a salad sandwich and went to join them.

“What did you think of the speed dating last night?” Susan asked.

“I had a bunch of really strange men, apart from Connor. He wasn’t weird,” Maggie said.

“But you can’t date Connor,” Christina said.

“Why not?” Connor said in a mild voice. “What’s wrong with me?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Connor. Christina didn’t mean it like that,” Susan said.

“What did Christina mean then, ’cause I’m offended.” Connor puffed out his chest. “I’m a perfect date. Ask anyone.”

“But you don’t keep the fish,” Julia said. “You throw them back. Maggie wants a fisherman who keeps his fish.”

Susan chuckled. “Isn’t fish plural? Maggie doesn’t want to join a harem.”

“Not helping. I’m still feeling insulted,” Connor muttered.

Maggie noted his tense jaw and felt sneaking sympathy. She knew from personal experience he saw only one woman at a time. He didn’t go into relationships lightly. “Stop giving Connor a hard time. How did your dates go, Susan?”

“There were three that were reasonable and I put them on my list of men I’d like to meet again. I’m thinking of running a personal ad or joining one of those online dating sites. What do you think? Is that too sad?”

“Of course it isn’t,” Christina said. “You should let us help you vet them though. And you need to be careful. From what I’ve heard some of those men are weird. Julia, are you sure none of your dates are worth meeting again?”

“Positive,” Julia said in a crisp voice. “I managed to get a bunch of losers.”

“Did you have Connor?” Susan asked.

Connor made a protesting sound. “Still insulted here, people.”

Maggie laughed. “Stop picking on Connor. You know we love you, right?”

“You might, but I’m starting to wonder about the others,” he said easily. The quick wink passed as a joke to the other girls, but Maggie knew he’d sent her a secret message. She felt the blush take over her cheeks and spread across her face. Worried the others would notice, she applied herself to opening her sandwich.

“I have a date tonight,” she said, before they could continue the speed dating discussion.

Her statement stopped the discussion flat and drew their attention. Now she had a real excuse for blushing.

Christina peered over the top of her glasses. “A date?”

“How?” Susan said.

“More to the point, who?” Julia added.

“It had better not be Greg,” Connor said with a trace of disgust. “You’re well rid of him.”

Maggie caught the trace of hurt on his face. His face blanked quickly, and she couldn’t read him, despite knowing him better than she had a couple of months ago. “I met him in the elevator this morning,” she said. “He asked me out for dinner, so I said yes.”

Connor scowled. “You didn’t tell him your address or phone number?”

“She’s not stupid,” Julia said. “You didn’t, did you?”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Of course I didn’t. Credit me with some sense. I’m meeting him at the restaurant.”

“What’s he like?” Christina pushed her glasses up her nose. “Why don’t I meet men in the elevator?” she added before Maggie could answer.

“I was late.” Maggie’s tone was dry. “That’s the secret.”

“In other words, meeting a man is pure luck,” Susan said. “Good to know.”

“I’d better head back to work,” Connor said. “Catch ya later.”

“Connor seems quiet,” Christina said, frowning as he strode away. “He seemed a bit cranky last night too.”

Julia shook her head staring after him. “I don’t know. He used to drop around to see me a couple of times a week, even when he was going out with Gwen.”

“I wonder if he’s going out with someone else,” Susan said.

“Don’t look at me,” Maggie said, ignoring the guilt rippling through her. Hopefully they put her flushed cheeks down to discussing her date. “I know nothing, except I need to get back to work.”

“Have fun on your date. We want to know all the details tomorrow.” Susan grinned. “If I can’t get lucky at least you can, although I have to tell you I’m starting to get jealous.”

Maggie settled back into work. The phone rang.

“Maggie, it’s Greg. Can you report to my office please?” He hung up before she could ask questions. Irritated, she marched down the hall and into his office.

“Ah, Maggie. I’ve talked to Tanya. You’re going to work with me for the rest of the month.”

“But… I don’t think that’s a good idea. Given our personal history and how we’re not together any longer, can’t you get one of the other accounting officers to work with you instead of me?”

“No.” Greg stood and circled his desk. He squatted by her chair and took his face between her hands. “I choose you.”

“What?” She stared at him. “No, I’m dating someone else,” she said. “We can see each other at work and sometimes work together because we’re both adults. I’m not interested in anything else. We’ve broken up and I don’t want to date you again.” She shot to her feet. “I’ll tell Tanya you changed your mind and one of the others will work with you.”

Greg watched her practically run from his office. He slammed his office door and stalked around the edge of his desk.

“Damn,” he muttered and kicked his chair. He cursed softly and slumped into his black leather executive chair. Somehow he had to talk Maggie into going out with him again before the partners’ dinner next month. He didn’t have time to find another woman to take her place before the partners voted to decide which of the junior partners would advance to senior status. Hell, his parents liked her, and she was the perfect woman to help advance his career. He wanted that promotion.

“I deserve it, dammit.” Greg picked up his pen and thumped it on his desktop. Thump. Thump. Thump.

A plan.

Think, man
. There must be something you can do to get Maggie back onside and keep her there.

Connor found himself back in the IT department without remembering walking there. All he could think of was Maggie with another man. Touching her. Kissing her. Making love to her.

He shook his head, trying to shake the vision away. His throat tightened. His hands clenched to fists. Damn, he needed a plan. He’d fallen hard for Maggie and the last thing he wanted was another man to snatch her away from him.

His phone rang and he picked it up. “Grey,” he said. He listened for a few minutes and hung up. He sighed, dragged a hand through his hair and stood. Damn, he’d expected this was coming, but he hated acting like a watchdog.