Trigger Happy (Girls with Guns, #2) (5 page)

His parents thought he was crazy but with some finesse on Gage’s part, they trusted in his vision. As a gift, they deeded the building over to him. With his long-time friend Blake, they turned it into a brewery immediately. After a few years, however, he realized his heart wasn't into it as much as it was in the beginning and Blake bought him out. Which worked very well as Blake got him hooked up at the credit union where he and his dad used to work. So Blake's recommendation to the Board of Directors to hire Gage, was Gage's way of getting in. He owed that guy a lot.

Gage enjoyed running the credit union. He enjoyed being able to do the things he wanted. He liked making decisions on his own and deciding what was best for the credit union. Truthfully, that's what most people needed, was someone to make a decision. It also felt good not to have to ask for someone else's approval before doing something. He enjoyed how his position gave his employees the comfort that they could come to him for advice on personal matters. They knew he would give them honest and direct answers and they appreciated that. He wasn't afraid to speak the truth and tell it how it was. His employees trusted him and he liked that - it made him feel good.

That wasn't to say there weren't things he didn't like about his job. Because there were. People that called in sick all the time or late. Oh and regulations. He hated them. Actually, there probably wasn't a CEO of any credit union out there that
liked
being regulated. Then there was always the disgruntled member who always thought that they did everything wrong and couldn't get anything right.

Gage got to work and did his usual morning rounds. With fifty-six employees at this branch, he liked to visit with his management staff and tend to any small fires that needed addressed. Today, it was about the town's fall festival and whether or not they were going to have a booth there. They needed to make a decision.

"I already committed to helping a good friend of mine sell beer inside the beer garden. I can definitely make appearances if we have a booth, but you guys are going to have to figure out who is going to man it and who’s going to be in charge of the schedule." He looked pointedly at his four managers, waiting for someone to step up. Ten seconds, thirty seconds, forty five seconds, one minute. No one spoke up.

"Settled then. We are having a booth. It's good to be involved with the community. Lisa, you're in charge of scheduling everyone in three hour shifts, much longer than that and it gets boring as hell." She nodded her head, tucking a piece of her short blond hair behind her ear.

"I assume asking some of the loan officers and tellers is okay? We will need more coverage than just the four of us," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Absolutely. Take the friendly approach and see if there are any volunteers first."

He looked over at his Chief Operations Officer "You and Harmony get together with Lisa and figure out a promotion or sign up bonus, whatever, you know the drill."

"Already thinking about it boss." Nate replied to him, casually typing notes into his iPad.

They were standing in the doorway of the break room, a pretty informal meeting over coffee and tea. He walked down the hallway, saying hello and good morning to various employees.

He really hoped this was a better day than yesterday. Of course yesterday he had made the mistake of visiting that little blond thing he liked to pretend had no name. And that sent him into a tailspin for the rest of the day. As long as he didn't let his thoughts drift to her, he'd be fine. The problem was, his dick didn't always agree with his brain. He chuckled to himself as he walked toward his office. Any man could agree with that sentiment.

A
mber reached for her phone, "Hell-oh??? About time you called! Ever since your text, I've been waiting and waiting."

Marilyn's breathy laugh crossed over the line, "I know, I'm sorry. We've just been busy, you know? He proposed to me in Central Park, while we were taking a horse-drawn carriage ride. It was the best. I still cannot believe how lucky I got. And you are so being my Maid of Honor, you know that right?"

Amber couldn't help but smile as Marilyn talked fifty miles a minute.

"Aww, congratulations! I'm so happy for you. That sounds so romantic. Yes! I would be honored to be your Maid of Honor! When is the wedding?"

"It's going to be on Christmas Eve. I know it's soon, right? That's why we have to get to finding me a dress. Pronto! Do you have time today? Let's go look now. I'm so excited I can't wait."

"I know, me too! I will come pick you up. Be there in ten."

"Okay, bye!"

"Bye!"

Amber slipped into her sandals, grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

She picked Marilyn up in record time and they headed toward the bridal shop.

Marilyn stuck her hand out for Amber to see the ring.

"Look! I love it," she stated excitedly.

"Oh Marilyn, it's beautiful! I'm so happy for you! You look amazingly happy."

"I am. I'm so happy. Tell me about you. What's new?" she asked.

"OMG Marilyn, you are not going to believe who came to the studio! I have been dying to tell you. Gage Alexander, CEO! That's who!"

"You don't sound as happy as I thought you would be. What did he want?"

"He is so infuriating! And hot as hell! He came to tell me to keep our past sexcapade to myself. And scratch that, he more or less demanded I keep quiet. The nerve of him! Who does he think he is?" Amber was getting irritated just talking about it.

"Really?" Marilyn asked quizzically. "Why didn't he just call? Why did he have to make a special trip over?"

"Hell if I know. But it's clear I was some huge mistake from his point of view. Whatever. Anyway, do you have any ideas for what kind of dress you want?"

Marilyn was happy to change the subject, but she found it interesting that Gage felt the need to talk to Amber in person and told her so. Maybe there was more to that than what was on the surface.

Amber listened to all of Marilyn's ideas about dresses and shoes and where to have the wedding. She was extremely happy for her friend, but listening to her talk about her parents and brother as well as Blake's family and how well everyone got along, made it difficult for her to listen with dry eyes. She missed her parents so much. She had always wished she had a bigger family, too. Then, when Amber's special day came, all the family she longed for and needed would surround her. At least she would have her girlfriends.

Brenda Lynn Thomas, owner of Brenda’s Bridal Boutique located in downtown Windsor, greeted them. The minute Marilyn said the wedding was going to be on Christmas Eve, Brenda found three very flattering options for her to choose from. With the exception of the first dress, the other dresses were lined, in some way or another, with white faux fur, adding to the allure of a winter wedding. One dress came complete with gloves and a stocking cap for brides seeking an outdoor winter wedding.

Amber helped Marilyn try them all on and Amber was able to try on a few bridesmaids’ dresses as well. Marilyn chose royal blue and black as her wedding colors. Anything green or red was too predictable. Lucky for Amber, she looked great in royal blue and Marilyn didn't care what style of dress she picked out. Brandi and Gabriella, the ladies’ other good friends, would look fabulous in anything. Marilyn didn’t purchase a dress, but she did walk away with a beautiful garter set that had snowflakes embroidered into each garter.

Amber had another class in the afternoon to practice for their upcoming competition for the festival. She dropped Marilyn off at her house with promises of more gossip later and headed to the studio. Images of Gage Alexander, CEO, came to her mind the minute she unlocked the doors. When she had turned around and saw him standing there, she about had a coronary. Now that she had time to mull over their encounter, she wondered how long he had been standing there watching her.

Based on their past experience with each other, she found it hard to believe that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. He was a guy after all! Shake a little booty in his face and that's what he would be thinking about. She was confident that was what she had witnessed in his eyes when they had begun their discussion. Maybe he wanted her even if he said he didn't. She wanted him. She wanted him, badly. She had to figure out a way to get him to forget his adversity toward her. Once she did that, she needed to figure out how to get him back in bed. Come hell or high water, Amber was going to have her way.

First thing’s first, she was going to that credit union and she was going to apply for a loan. With all of her money tied up in investments, and not really wanting to cash them in, getting a loan made the most sense. She could always pay it off when she felt it was necessary. She already had a contract on the building where the dance studio was and his credit union was as good as place as any to get a loan. She would do whatever it took to get Gage Alexander, CEO, to meet with her and discuss her financial options.

A
mber woke up bright and early, did her yoga on the back patio and during breakfast, read her horoscope:

There is someone who has recently underestimated you and may have made you feel slighted. Kicking your competitiveness into high gear, Gemini, no one can hold you back from an important goal. Put on your best shoes and you will be ready for anything.

She liked that. Especially, since she knew she was going to see that sexy man again.  She hoped that is what or who, it was referring to. That is what she did. She took a shower and threw on her sexiest, most casual clothing she could find. She threw on her 7 for all Mankind low-rise skinny jeans that sculpted her butt perfectly, and went back into her spacious closet looking for a bra and the perfect top.
Oh, what today will bring.
She couldn't help but smile. She searched and searched and finally found her J Brand gray sweater she had bought and obviously forgotten, since the price tag was still attached. Pairing that with her last season Gianvito Rossi ankle boots that matched her sweater perfectly, she was ready to paint the town. She applied her eye makeup and a light pink lip-gloss, double checked her hair and squirted on her perfume, and headed for the credit union.

Last night she had rounded up a few financial documents she thought might come in handy during their meeting. If they had a meeting. She wasn't exactly sure how busy he was on a day-to-day basis. He couldn’t be that busy, could he? Didn’t he have all of his people to do things for him? She assumed he met with members if they came in and asked to see him. She hoped to catch him off-guard. Her theory was: if she caught him off-guard, especially in front of his employees, he would be forced to be polite and take her to his office for a meeting. Not only that, but those unaware were always that much more vulnerable. She learned that last bit in her concealed weapons class. It would apply in this case as well.

It was nine thirty, not too early and not too late. She parked her Beemer in one of the many available spaces, grabbed her purse and financial documents and headed toward the door. A teller immediately greeted her.

"Good Morning, what can I do for you today?" the gentlemen asked.

"Hi, I am here to see Gage. Can you see if he is available for me?" she asked politely.

"Yes, I will buzz him now."

The teller picked up a phone and pressed a button. A second later, he spoke into the phone.

"Gage, we have a member here that would like to speak with you."

She was only a little nervous. Her mind was made up that she was going to do what she had to in order to get this walking contradiction back into bed,
her bed
, this time. She was confident that he wanted her too. It was only a matter of time before she would break down his unwarranted barriers.

"Gage said to go on back. Do you know where his office is?"

"I do, thank you." She flashed him a flirty smile that he responded to with one of his own.

Amber made her way down the hall and to his door. His back was toward her and she had a second to marvel at his broad shoulders. His salt and pepper hair was growing slightly down his neck, hinting that he needed a haircut. He wore a sky-blue long-sleeved shirt that stretched taut along his back, making the corded muscles stand out. She would love to massage those broad shoulders, that muscular back...all the way down to his rock-hard butt. She cleared her very dry throat.

"Gage? Hi."

For God's sake, Gage thought, do not tell me it's
her
. He would recognize her sweet demanding voice anywhere. He turned in his chair and, yup, there she was. His gut tightened at the sight of her. His eyes unconsciously roamed over her body. Beginning at her boots and moving slowly up her lean legs, all the way to her eyes. Eyes that were gleaming back at him with a look of desire. Fuck. Why did his body do this to him? He did not want to be attracted to this woman. They stood staring at each other for a long moment before Gage decided to welcome her in.

"Please, come in," he grumbled.

She looked smug, as if her surprise visit did exactly what she had hoped.  Surprise him. She did and he wasn’t too happy about it.

"Thank you. For a second there, I thought you weren't going to allow me to enter."

"Trust me, I considered it. But I think you knew that, right? And decided ambushing me was probably the best thing to do? Instead of calling and making an appointment?"

Wow. Amber had to give him credit. He pretty much nailed that one. But she wasn't going to admit it. Maybe she underestimated him a tiny bit. She wasn't mistaken about the attraction though. She noticed the warm male appreciation coming from his eyes when he turned in his chair and found her standing in his door way. She saw how his clear grey eyes took their time appreciating her body from toe to head.

"If I had called to make an appointment with you, would you have accepted it? Not canceling at the last minute?" she eyed him speculatively.

Gage frowned, "It appears we're at a stalemate. Are you here on business or a personal issue?" She knew he was referring to their past.