Work Like You Don't Need the Money (8 page)

Staring through the storefront, he caught a movement, it was Roberto waving at him. Oh, God. He'd no doubt just seen that little performance. Pete raised a hand in reply and smiled as Roberto raised his eyebrows and nodded. Pete had a feeling he'd made a new friend there. He was glad, he liked the guy.

Chapter Six

By one thirty on Friday, Holly was jumpy and irritable. She was nowhere near ready to leave and she didn't want to. She touched the cell phone in her pocket, ready to give in to the temptation to call Pete and tell him she couldn't go. She'd drive up tomorrow by herself. Except she hated to drive. Especially long distances. Especially by herself! She let out an exasperated sigh as she watched Erin and Anna, both busy with customers.

“Calm down, Holls.” Roberto appeared at her shoulder. “You keep me around for a reason, darling. We both know it's because this place would fall apart without me.”

Holly smiled in spite of herself.

“You, my dear, are simply decoration, not necessary to the survival or success of the place.”

“Thanks!” she laughed.

“Seriously. Go touch up your makeup for that delicious man, then be on your way with a smile. You're going to offend me if you keep fretting like an anxious mother. You know I can run the place, no problem. If you carry on like this, I may start to think you don't trust me.” He folded his arms across his chest and pouted, “You don't want to go there do you? You know you don't want to risk the wrath of Roberto!”

“I do not, and of course you're right.”

“Always, darling, and don't you forget it.”

“Okay, I give up. I'm going in the back to get my things together. Let me know when he arrives, will you?”

At two o'clock on the dot Roberto peeked his head around the office door. “Come on out, Cinders, your carriage awaits.”

Holly smiled and picked up her bag. She was surprised to not see Pete and looked at Roberto. “Where is he?”

Roberto nodded through the storefront. “As I said, your carriage awaits.”

She could see a silver limo waiting at the curb with a uniformed driver standing beside it. “What the..?”

“Chop, chop. You don't want to be late for the ball.” Roberto patted her shoulder. “Go, relax. Let your hair down. Don't give this place another thought. I promise I will take very good care of it.”

“Thanks Berto.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. "You're the best.”

“Yes dear. Now go. Give my love and congrats to Emma.”

She walked out onto the street where the driver, a man in his seventies by the looks of him, snapped to attention as she approached. He held open the rear door for her.

“Miss Hayes?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Hemming sends his apologies. He was delayed and asked me to collect you.”

Holly stared at him. The only time she'd ever been in a limo was on a hen night.

The driver smiled at her and held the door a little wider. “If you will?”

Holly continued to stare at him, not knowing what to make of this. The driver started to look uncomfortable. “I'm Albert,” he said, seemingly at a loss for what to do or say next since Holly still wasn't getting in the car.

Holly's brain kicked in when she realized how rude she was being to this old gentleman. She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Albert. I'm Holly. Would you mind if I call shotgun?”

Albert grinned. “It'd be my pleasure, Miss Holly.” He opened the passenger door for her and Holly buckled herself in.

“So, Albert,” she said once he pulled out into the traffic. “Where are we headed?”

With a sideways glance he replied, “To meet Mr. Hemming.”

Holly laughed. “Yeah, but where?”

“I'm afraid he asked me not to say.”

Holly frowned. “And why was that?”

She could tell Albert was trying not to smile. “He said, if he knew you, you might change your mind about coming.”

“I see.”

“And, Miss Holly? If you don't mind my saying, I think he does know you. He told me not to be surprised if you wanted to sit up front.”

“Well, I don't like to stand on ceremony, and I'm not like Pete, I'm not used to cars and drivers. I just see a nice man who is kindly giving me a ride, thank you.”

Albert laughed, “You're more like Pete than you think. He sits up front with me whenever he can get away with it.”

“Ha! I'd have imagined Mr. Bigshot sitting in the back, doing important stuff and giving orders!”

Albert guffawed at that. “Mr. Bigshot?! Don't let him hear you say that, he'd be horrified. He's as down to earth as they come underneath it all, you know.”

“I do know, Albert. It's just so easy to wind him up calling him that.”

“You stick around, Miss Holly. I think you're going to be good for him.”

“Ha! I'm just a passing fling, but thanks for the vote of confidence.” Why did she have to blurt out such stupid things? Now the old man looked uncomfortable and she felt bad. “Sorry, it's just that I know it's not going to go anywhere serious between us, and I like him more than I should.”

Albert nodded. “I say again. I think you're going to be good for him. And now, we're almost there.”

Holly looked out of the window, “The airport?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Albert slowed the car as they approached a chain link fence. He stopped and leaned out of the window to press some numbers into a keypad.  The section of fence in front of them whirred and then rolled away to the side. Albert drove through the gap and stopped, letting the engine idle until the fence rolled back into place behind them. He drove on past a row of hangars until he came to last one.

Pete stood outside, talking on his cell phone. He ended the call when he saw the limo approaching. Holly caught her breath at the sight of him. He was wearing jeans and a denim shirt which, although it looked old and perfectly faded, she knew had set him back at least five hundred dollars. She knew because she had been the one to persuade the designer to run a limited line in only two of the top men’s stores in the city. Ugh! She really had to let go of the fashion fixation though. It wasn't the shirt, but the body it was stretched over that was making her heart race. Just look at that smile! She did as he came over and opened her door before Albert could get out. He greeted her with a hug and a peck on her lips. He slung an arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side as he addressed Albert.

“Was I right or was I right?”

“You were right, smart ass!”

Holly looked between the two of them, surprised.

Pete laughed. “You're not the only one who calls me names and puts me in my place, you know.”

“So I see. Good for you, Albert. Maybe you and I should join forces and really kick his butt.”

Albert laughed. “I get the impression you can do that all by yourself, but if you ever need reinforcements, you give me a shout.” He handed Holly his card and she slipped it into her purse. “For now though, I'm going to let you two get going.” He covered his ears as the sound of jet engines firing up filled the air.

Pete checked his watch. “Yep, we're filed for two thirty. Thanks, old friend.” Pete opened the trunk and took Holly's bag out then shook Albert's hand. “See you soon.”

“Poker night Tuesday if you're down?” Albert turned to Holly. “It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”

“You too, thank you.” Holly gave him peck on the cheek. She liked the old guy a lot. He smiled and looked at Pete. “She's a keeper, son.”

Pete smiled. “You're an old man, not an old woman, we don't need a matchmaker do we, Holly?”

As he smiled down at her, she felt that hollow pit of disappointment in her stomach again. Why though? She already knew she wasn't a keeper in Pete's eyes. She was just the provider of some hot, easily available sex. She caught Albert's eye, oh, crap! He could see how she truly felt.

She laughed. “Come on Albert, you don't think I'd let myself get tied down with this smart ass, do you?”

They all laughed at that, but as he got back in the limo, Albert shook his head and shot her a look that told her she wasn't fooling him. Not one bit.

Pete took her hand and led her around to the front of the hangar where the plane was revving up its engines. “Sorry about the change of plans. We finally got everything sorted to keep the Lear out here, and it'll save us four hours on the road. Are you okay with this?”

“I'm thrilled. You already know how much I hate road trips, and I've never been in a private jet before.” She wasn't about to tell him how much this was scrambling her emotions. On the one hand, she was curious to see inside. She felt like a little girl excited to fly in a private plane. She was a little shocked at how much it turned her on that he owned it and was taking her in it. She certainly wasn't going to tell him that. On the other hand, it served as a reminder to her of how different they were. He was Peter the Great, Mr. Bigshot, with his limo, his jet, his mega millions. She was just plain Holly Hayes, proud owner of one small store, one small townhouse, and one clapped out old station wagon. She pushed all that aside. For now they had the weekend ahead of them. She'd fly in his jet, they'd sleep together again, why be greedy? She'd take what was on offer and enjoy it.

“Let me show you inside.” Pete grabbed her bag and let her climb the steps ahead of him.

Inside, Holly looked around. It was beautiful. The interior was done out in champagne colored leather. There were four club seats facing each other just behind the cockpit. A dark oak bar with a fridge and sink faced a bathroom. Beyond that, in the rear section, a sofa long enough to seat four ran along one side.

“What do you think?”

“It's amazing!” she exclaimed. “I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't anything this luxurious.”

“Make yourself at home. I'll let Smoke know we're ready.”

Holly admired his backside and muscular denim clad legs as he popped his head into the cockpit. He smiled as he turned around and caught her looking. “Soon,” he mouthed, then raised his voice as the pilot appeared behind him. “Holly, this is Smoke, Phoenix Chief Pilot and old friend.”

“Nice to meet you.” Smoke leaned past Pete to shake her hand.

Oh my God! Another gorgeous man. She’d put him easily on this side of forty, with his steely gray eyes, perfectly mussed gray hair, broad shoulders and muscular arms all presented in a sexy pilot's uniform. Yum!

“You too,” she replied.

Smoke went to pull up the steps and secure the door. After giving them a quick safety briefing, he made his way back to the cockpit and closed the door behind him. Pete took the seat opposite Holly and fastened himself in.

“I'll get us some champagne once we're airborne, but we have to strap down for now.”

Holly nodded, still somewhat befuddled by this turn of events. Pete hooked his foot around her calf and smiled.

“You sure you're okay with this?”

“Yep, I'm just a bit surprised, that's all.”

They thundered down the runway and up into the skies above the city. After a few minutes, Smoke's voice came over the intercom.

“You can unbuckle now folks. We'll be cruising at twenty two thousand feet, flight time forty-five minutes. I'll let you know when you need to strap back in.”

Pete stood. “Champagne?” Holly nodded. “Come help me?” he leaned over her to unbuckle her seat belt. Feeling him so close, the butterflies took to flight once more. She followed him to the galley. He unscrewed the lid on a bottle of champagne and she looked at him quizzically.

He laughed. “I hate popping corks in here. Just doesn't seem wise in a pressurized cabin, so I open it before take-off and screw it down.”

Typical! He thought of everything and had it covered. He handed her a flute and then raised his own.

“What shall we drink to?”

Holly had a crazy urge to say, 'to us,' instead she raised her glass and said, “Work!”

“Ha! Like you don't need the money, remember?” Pete went to the back of the plane and sat on the sofa. “This is much comfier,” he grinned and patted the seat next to him.

Holly looked back at the cockpit door.

“Don't worry, he's flying the plane. He's not coming back here.”

“Still, it's a bit weird though, isn't it?”

“Relax. Come sit with me.”

Holly came and sat beside him, heart racing. Pete knocked back his champagne then tipped the bottom of her glass so that she would do the same. Why not? She downed it and felt the bubbles going straight to her head. Pete got rid of her glass and drew her toward him. He locked his fingers in her hair and his lips came down on hers. Holly moaned as he explored her mouth, meeting his tongue with her own, feeling the heat begin to mount between her legs. She wanted him so badly. From the hunger of his kiss, she knew he wanted her just as much. She felt his warm hands stroking her breasts through her top. She moaned again as he increased the pressure. Squeezing and pinching her nipples. She pulled at his shirt, grateful for the knowledge that what looked like buttons were actually press studs and she could rip them open, which she did. She stared at his bare chest, perfect pecs and rock hard abs.

“Holly, we have to.” He rested his head against the back of the sofa.

“Much as I hate to make your head any bigger,” she smiled as she straddled him, kneeling on the sofa to face him, “I have to admit, you are right once again.”

He took hold of her hand and brought it to the front of his pants so she could feel his erection. He was so hard.

“Don't worry, Sweetheart. I don't think you could make my head any bigger than it is right now. I need to be inside you.” He unfastened his jeans and pushed them down past his hips, then slid his hand inside her panties. “You're soaking.”

She could only nod as he stroked her, exploring her damps folds with his deft fingers. He was in complete control of her body again, taking her where he wanted her. She willingly went with him, moving her hips in time with his fingers. She felt the heat building. When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he withdrew his hand and quickly put on a condom. He pulled her panties to the side and they both watched transfixed as he guided himself toward her opening.

“Sorry guys,” Smoke's voice over the intercom sliced through the moment, and Holly jumped to her feet. Pete closed his eyes in frustration. She could see that little muscle working in his jaw.