Conspiring
Conspiring
A
This
Series Novella
J.B. McGee
Copyright 2012 J.B. McGee
Dedication
To my eTwin, Jaimi, for teaching me how to frolic.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
February 2009
Val and I always go out on Friday nights. We were sick of the same old bars that we had been visiting so we decided to try this place called Joe’s. We heard it was a more upscale place to hang out, so we wanted to give it a shot. Because we decided to meet at 8pm, I went to the gym when I finished work and then went home to shower and change. Even though I don’t have court on Friday’s, my dress most definitely wouldn’t be appropriate to even wear into the office. I bought it last weekend with Val. It’s a sequined black and gold super mini dress. The back is exposed with cloth draped just above the base of my spine. It’s so tight I have trouble sitting down in it, but if I am lucky tonight, I won’t be doing much sitting.
When I get to Joe’s, Val and her group of girls from work are waiting outside for me. We immediately are escorted to the front of the line. So not surprising given our wardrobe selections and the fact that we are all beautiful girls. One look around the place and I can tell that Val and I will become regulars here. The atmosphere is very nice. There are high back booths and high top tables scattered around a large hardwood dance floor. The décor isn’t cheesy like most places. There is drop down lighting throughout and there is a live band. The bar has mirrors along the back, and the cabinetry that the bottles sit in is exquisitely ornamentally carved in dark cherry wood. The bartenders and wait staff are all dressed in all black, and the place is packed already. Val’s work friends consist of insurance agents and secretaries at her office. They are a fun bunch. I was worried about not fitting in with them, but we all seem to get along like we’ve known each other forever.
It doesn’t take long for the guys to take notice of our group. We’ve made our way to the bar to order our first round of drinks when the first guy approaches. He’s confident and incredibly sexy. And he’s cocky. I roll my eyes and smile as I turn my back towards him. I, too, am confident, incredibly sexy and I can certainly do cocky.
“Hey ladies, welcome to Joe’s.”
Even though I know he’s behind me his deep husky voice startles me. He had to be close for us to be able to hear him, but he’s so close that I can feel his warmth on my exposed back. I can feel his breath.
Oh yes, we’ll most certainly be visiting Joe’s again
. Desire pools deep within me. I realize I should probably scoot back before I do what I’m about to do, but part of me can’t wait to see his reaction when I do it. So I decide to stay planted where I am. I slowly turn my head to him seductively and lick my lips before taking my bottom lip beneath my teeth. “Mmm, thank you for the welcome.”
I try not to let the grin that is trying to form on my lips escape. I watch his mouth open while he sucks in a deep breath. I raise my right leg, the one closest to him so that the back of my heel touches the skin behind my knee. I watch as his eyes wander to the movement. I wonder how long I will be able to tease him before he is able to find words. It takes everything in me not to giggle. I love how powerful I can be to a man.
He grunts before he speaks, and I see his hand that is resting on the bar next to me form a fist. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you ladies in before. I wanted to introduce myself.” He removes the hand from the bar and extends it to me. “My name is Joe.”
Nice Veronica. Nice. I let my grin finally escape and reach for his hand. “I’m Veronica. Joe as in
Joe’s
?” I ask.
“That would be me.” He hangs on to my hand a little longer than what I’d typically expect.
I stare down at my hand that is still in his. “Well nice to meet you, Joe.” Then I look back up into his dark eyes.
“Listen, whatever you ladies want tonight. It’s on the house.” He winks.
I glance back at my entourage. “Did you hear that ladies, anything we want tonight. It’s on the house.” When I turn back to Joe, he’s taken a step back. “Thank you.”
He’s about to turn on his heel to walk away, but he holds my gaze a little longer. “My pleasure,” he says seductively, and I know that there are implications with that statement.
After we’ve all gotten our drinks, we head over to one of the high top tables. I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of Joe. Everywhere I look I see him. He’s tall, and he stands out in the crowd. I’m talking with one of Val’s friends, but I feel eyes on me. You know the feeling like someone is staring at you. I turn back around to the most intense bright blue eyes. It’s like they are magnets pulling me closer towards him. I quickly glance away to grab my drink. I can’t give away how he makes me feel. It’s my job to wear the poker face, to retain the upper hand. He makes the sensations I had towards Joe feel like a slow intense burn. But these with him, they are like an explosive display of pyrotechnics going off in my body. If just his look can evoke such fire within my body, I can only imagine what his hands would do to my skin, what his mouth could do to my lips, and then I quiver for a moment at the thought of him inside me.
It’s almost too much to bear. I want him, and I want him now. When I turn back around, he’s right in front of me. I can barely move because I’m pinned in between his body, that I can tell is so hard beneath his clothes, and the table. I push my arms back to brace the table to keep my balance.
“Hey there, I’m Bradley Banks.” He holds his hand out for me to shake it, but he’s so close I have no choice but to try to step back.
I take the tiniest of steps back and reach out to place my hand in his. When I do, it’s exactly as I thought – electrifying.
Game face, Veronica, game face
. I smile as if he has no effect on me at all. I know this works when I am doing my job. I don’t know if it will work for him, but here it goes.
“Veronica Johnson,” I confidently reply. He just stands there for a moment grinning. It’s as if he’s happy that I seem unphased by him. I am definitely not used to the reaction he is giving me. Joe’s reaction, now that was the typical reaction. But, this? What the hell is
this
?
He releases my hand. “So, Veronica what do you do?”
I am focused on my breathing, and I am suddenly thankful for all of these years in the courtroom and corporate meetings. I am very good at remaining calm and maintaining my resolve. “I’m a corporate attorney, you?”
“I’m a CEO and architect.”
I like that he’s successful. I shift on my feet. These shoes are kickass, but they hurt like hell. I also move because I feel the wetness between my legs. It’s partly because I’m hot, but it’s partly because of him. I decide it’s time to start stroking that ego of his. “Oh, a big shot, huh?”
“Nah, not a big shot.” He shrugs his shoulders and chuckles a little. “Just a normal guy who is a work-a-holic and perfectionist.”
I will have to make him laugh again. His smile, his laugh, and those eyes are the sexiest thing I’ve seen and heard in a long time. “Well, I can certainly relate to that. All I do is work these days.”
“Ah, but you’re here.”
I am getting more and more flirty and playful. “And, so are you, Mr. Banks,” I quickly counter as I wink.
“Yeah, but my mind is most definitely somewhere else.”
Oh, I love flirting with sexy men. I start to sway from side to side to the music. “And where might that be?” I take a sip of my drink and glance up to him.
“Somewhere more private.” He inhales sharply and gently grazes his finger down the side of my arm, “Somewhere where I’d be perfecting undressing you.” He closes his eyes for a moment. “And I’d be a work-a-holic to your body.”
Damn, it’s as if he was reading my mind earlier. I can’t resist him any longer. I ever so gently kiss his bottom lip. It takes every bit of will power to pull away from him. I want more of that. I lean into his ear so he can hear in my voice just how badly I want him, “Oh, how I’d like that. Your place or mine?”
He slides his hand to the small of my exposed back and pulls me in swiftly to where I am pressed firmly up against his body, “Baby, I’d take you right here, right now on that table. Let’s get outta here.”