Under Contract (The GEG Series) (19 page)

“Faaaaaccckk! You two are irritating!” She shakes her head and walks over to her cubby, leaving us to continue laughing.

“We all better now?” CiCi asks as Julie and Ava come back out from her office.

“Yes,” Ava sighs, pushing away nothing with her hands.

“Dinner ... girls?” Julie asks.

“That was hard for you, wasn’t it?” Maddie asks sympathetically.

“Bitches!” Julie says in a quick cough.

“Whores!” Ava says in the same manner.

“By the power invested in me, by the plaques on my walls,” Maddie announces, “I now diagnose us all perpetually twelve!”

“We should’ve never swapped spit,” I say, then cringe.

“It was just that one time, Charley, and it’s still hot in my mind,” Ava teases.

“There the fuck you are!” CiCi bumps her with her hip.

We decide to get Mexican after everyone agrees that CiCi will not have to sit next to Julie.

My phone alarm vibrates violently, nearly sending it off the edge of the nightstand. I grab it and turn it off. I don’t know why I bothered to set it; I haven’t slept well since I’ve been here.

“CiCi.” I read the voicemail alert aloud and suddenly feel nervous. Is something wrong? I quickly hit the button and listen. “Okinawa and samurai swords?” I laugh. She is one crazy bitch! How can you not love her? This is almost as good as the simple text she sent me yesterday—a picture of her flipping me off. I decide to text Charlotte before I head out.

What are you up to, baby?

Out with all the girls. It’s been eventful!

Oh ... how so?

Well, apparently, we’re a posse of super asswhores diligently working on color schemes for our capes. Maddie’s is red, white, and blue because she’s our captain. We have a severe case of Tourette’s between the five of us. Ava and I swapped spit at some point in our lives—the memory still burns hot in her mind. CiCi finds Julie’s ass offensive and Maddie has diagnosed us all perpetually twelve!

And, oh yeah ... some yoga was performed in the midst of all of that!

So just another typical day for the GEGs?

Yeah ... basically! :)

I hate how much I miss you!

We need to talk about something very serious.

I miss you too!

And ...

I hate it ...

You can’t do that!

What?

Say we need to talk about something serious and leave me hanging.

Not on text!

And not when you’re running out the door!

I’m calling you now!

No! I’m with the girls.

CHARLOTTE!

Nah nah nah nah

U

Can’t

Spank

Me!

Maddie’s diagnosis is correct!
:(

Not nice! :(

I will call you after my meeting!!

♥

Kiss kiss ... possibly a spank or two!

Tsk, tsk, Mitchy!

No more to drink!

:)

Ugh! Why did she have to say that? Not a chance in hell I’m going to be able to concentrate in my meeting now.

“Uh ... Mitch, you all right?”

I turn to face Kyle as I finish buttoning my cuffs. “Yeah, man. Everything set for the meeting?”

“Yes. Don’t forget the change we talked about in the PowerPoint presentation,” he says. I stare at him blankly. “The problem that will hinder production at the pace they want for their model?” he questions, apparently hoping to spark a memory. “Shit, Mitch ... what’s going on with you?” he asks.

What’s going on with me?

Charlotte McKendrick. And she needs to tell me something serious.

“Mitch!” Kyle practically yells. I’m like a deer in the headlights. Shit. This is not good.

“Kyle, can you run the meeting today?” I shake my head, trying to snap out of it.

“Uh ... yeah.” Kyle’s eyes widen. I understand his confusion—I never hand over the reins! “Are you okay? Are you sick?”

“Um ... no. Yes. No. I’m okay. I’m not sick,” I try to clarify. “C’mon, let’s go.” I grab my jacket and lead us out.

Kyle remains quiet the entire time we’re traveling to the meeting. What’s there to say besides stating the obvious? I’m off.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks before the elevator reaches the floor.

“Nope,” I say quickly.

“Heh—up—oh.” Charlotte giggles.

“Baby, how much did you drink?” Great. I just listened to Kyle chew me out for twenty minutes—something he’s never done before, me being his boss and all. Now she’s tipsy. Too tipsy to tell me what she meant earlier.

“Uhh ...” she trails off like she’s thinking, then giggles again.

“Go to bed!” I yell and hang up. Just as I throw my cell down on the chair in my office, there’s a knock on my door. It flies open barely a second later, warranting my full attention.

“Mitch, goddamn it! Talk to me!” Kyle snaps after closing my door. Shit. I knew he had a pair—I’ve seen it plenty of times in the boardroom. But he’s never used them toward me.

“Twice in one day. That must be some sort of record.” I give him a smile fully laced with the respect he deserves.

“Cut the shit, man! I have been your right-hand guy for ten years, and I have never seen you off your game like this! What
the fuck
is going on?” Kyle stands in front of me with his tie loose, his top button undone, his sleeves rolled back, and his hands on his hips like I’m his kid brother or something. He kind of looks like a politician who’s been out greeting “the people” in an attempt to get their vote. I chuckle slightly—he’d make a great politician. “You think this is funny, Mitch?” he yells. “This meeting was not only to go over the production issue, but to pitch our latest innovation in emissions control, and you were spewing out information on technology that’s two years old!” His face actually turns red.

This is why I trust and respect Kyle. His loyalty, drive, and devotion to my company cannot be competed with. One would think this was his company too, what with all the blood, sweat, and tears he’s poured into it. Because his dedication is as solid as mine, I presume he’s in the same lonely predicament when he goes home at night.

And just like that, it hits me. All at once.

“I want more, Kyle,” I state with steadfast determination.

“More? Mitch, I can’t give you any more than I have. I don’t think it’s humanly possible.” He stares at me, his eyes wide and mouth agape.

“No, man. I want more for
us
... both of us.” I try to clarify, though I don’t think I’ve done a good job, seeing as his eyes look like they could blow out of their sockets. “Relax, man! I’m not saying I want to bend you over my desk and make you my bitch!” I laugh, lightly at first, but then can’t hold back when I see him calm down. “All I’m saying is, we need to do a massive overhaul on how we handle shit! I don’t want to live like this anymore. And, no offense, but you’re not really the person I want to grow old with.” I pick up my phone and sit in the chair.

“I don’t know what to say, Mitch, except, well, that hurts my feelings. I always try to look nice for you.” Kyle sounds sincere before he laughs at my expression. He sits down across from me and inhales deeply. “What are you thinking?” He exhales forcefully.

“Well, first things first, no more three-month tours! We’re businessmen, not rock stars!” I say, pulling up my schedule.

“Yeah, but we rock at business,” Kyle states.

I raise an eyebrow. What’s up with him? He’s a little off, in a good way. Relaxed, actually. He’s a good guy to be around, but he’s usually very serious. He never jokes, never relaxes, and his mind is usually on the next five things he has to do.

“You’re different,” I say.

“Pot, kettle, man.” He smirks.

I furrow my brow. “What do you mean?”

“So far, you’ve been acting differently this entire trip.”

“How so?”

“The truth?” His eyes widen in a challenge.

I nod. “Nothing but.”

“Lack of focus aside,” he starts. I shift in my seat, prepared to interject, but he raises his hand. “You’ve been more relaxed, more approachable. Dare I say ... more human?” He smirks.

“What the hell does that mean?” I snap. He laughs and shakes his head. We’re silent for a moment.

“Sorry. Go on.” I nod again.

“Mitch, I’ve been working with you for ten years. Given that, I’m probably the only person in the company who’s ever seen you let your guard down naturally and joke around, but ... it doesn’t happen often. You’re serious, ultra-focused ... normally.” That same stupid smirk returns. “She must really be something, that Charlotte.”

Thoughts of Charlotte and her sexy little smile, her girlish giggle, and her oh-so-soft skin dance around in my mind. I’d give anything to run my nose up her neck right now, as pathetic as it sounds. I bring my attention to Kyle as I hear him chuckle.

“What?”

“Throw the towel in, man—your bachelorhood is over. The mere mention of her name and you get this glazed-over look.” He smiles broadly. He’s genuinely happy for me.

I’m glad to have Kyle in my life. Sure, our relationship began as strictly coworkers. Over the years it’s morphed into a very comfortable friendship, mainly because of our similar drive, focus, and ridiculous hours spent working together in a day. We’ve both done our fair share of alienating, pushing aside old friendships. I’m not sure of his reasons, but I’m well aware of mine.

Being with Charlotte, even for such a short amount of time, and getting to know her friends, I feel a part of me coming back to life that I thought was long gone. The part of me that remembers the simple joy of laughing at—or doing—stupid shit with good friends. Good, lifelong friends like Chip McGregor and Pete Sullivan, whom I slowly pushed out of my life to focus on business, to ignore my memories, my loss. I couldn’t be around them anymore—not without Kelly.

Kelly.

“Mitch?” Kyle’s voice sounds strange. I look back at him. “What’s going on, man? Your mood just went south.”

“Nothing.” I quickly shake my head and refocus. “So, do we have the numbers and logistics plans ready for the Nusaki meeting on Friday? We don’t need any fuckups, albeit mine or anyone else’s.” I get up and pour some scotch to ease the tightening in my chest.

“Mitch?”

“Well?” I ignore his confused look.

“Yeah, man. Everything is set. Mitch, go home,” he adds. “I got this. Take a week or two. Go be with her, man. That’s where your heart is right now, not here.” He slaps my shoulder.

“I’m Mitch Colton. Mitch Colton doesn’t take time off, remember? Especially for a piece of ass.” I cringe as I say it.

“Yeah, I remember. What I don’t remember is Mitch Colton speaking in third person, or ever saying something so disrespectful toward Charlotte in the past three weeks. I don’t get it, man. One minute you’re grinning like a lovesick puppy, and the next you’re like ice.” He stares at me, waiting, I think, to see which way my mood will go.

“It’s nothing.”

“Dude, it’s something! Is it because I reminded you about her? Did you guys get into an argument?”

Christ, why won’t he drop this?

I swirl the cubes around in my scotch. “No,” I say, before taking one swig, then another, as blue eyes dance across my memory. “I’m always thinking about Charlotte,” I say. Another swig.

Scent of vanilla.

“I know you are. That’s why your behavior doesn’t make any sense.”

“I was thinking about someone else ... remembering ...” I trail off and take the last swig.

Hair the color of sunshine.

“Who?”

Little freckles all over her round, beautiful face.

I take in a shaky breath and close my eyes, trying to remember the sound of her laughter.

“My wife.” I breathe out and feel my heart drop.

“What?” he asks in disbelief.

“Kyle, I need to be alone now. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I put my glass down and grab my suit jacket before stepping out of the office. Kyle stares at me, dumbfounded. Then again, why wouldn’t he? He had no idea I was ever married.