Dating A Cougar (17 page)

“Good thing,” Alexa said, leading him through the maze of her house to the garage. “I’m too old to change my personality, even for great sex.”

“Great, huh?” Casey grinned. “Honey, you’ll be adding adverbs to that adjective before you have a chance to talk to Regina and Lauren about it.”

He unlocked the passenger door and held it open for her.

“You honestly think I’m going to tell my friends how good you are in bed?” Alexa asked, hands on hips again.

Casey smirked. “Of course. And when I piss you off, they’ll be the first to know that too. I was married. I know how it works.”

Alexa dropped her hands and sighed. “It’s true,” she admitted, climbing into the car while he laughed.

Casey put the key in the ignition and waited in awe as the soft leather seat adjusted itself perfectly around his rear.

“Oh, hell. I didn’t know what an opportunist I was until this seat molded itself to my ass.”

Alexa laughed, “So you
are
sleeping with me for my cars?”

“Maybe,” Casey said, backing out of the garage and smoothly rolling down the driveway. “I hope that’s not the case. I’ll let you know for sure in a few days.”

“Again, this is not a good way to win points with me,” she chastised, laughing at his pretense to like her cars better than her. Her ego didn’t dent so easily. “So I’m competing with my cars,” she mused, smiling to herself. “We’ll see about that.”

Casey never heard her threat because he was totally absorbed in driving the car through Falls Church morning rush traffic.

Alexa leaned her head back and fell asleep on the way.

*** *** ***

At her building, Casey kissed Alexa goodbye and got off the elevator at the main floor. The doorman was flagging a cab for him as the elevator doors closed.

Alexa rode up to the office alone, missing Casey already. She was lost in fantasy thinking of last night, wishing he’d chosen to hang around this morning, when Sydney spied her.

He looked at his watch and then narrowed his eyes. “You’re late, but at least you finally got laid,” Sydney said, picking up his coffee with a grin.

“
Got laid
?” Alexa repeated. “What is it about men and their unflattering euphemisms for sex?”

“Well, what do you want to call it?” Sydney asked with a shrug. He tapped on his PDA. “Marketing meeting is in fifteen minutes. Want me to delay the meeting time?”

“No,” Alexa barked, then softened her tone as she realized she was on the verge of yelling for no good reason. “No. Sorry for yelling. I’m just tired. The meeting is the only reason I dragged myself here today. I need about ten more hours of sleep.”

“Hmmm…you’re awfully grumpy. Carter must not have been as good as he looked,” Sydney said with a laugh.

“Fat lot you know,” Alexa said, her mouth twisting into a playful snarl. “The man finally let me sleep after the fourth time. Hell, there could have been a fifth or sixth time. He was still up for it when I passed out.”

“So you’re mad because Casey didn’t fall asleep before you?” Sydney asked, feigning confusion, when he secretly wanted to do a happy dance and twirl Alexa around the waiting area.

“No,” Alexa said, turning to stride down the hallway. “I wanted him to stay with me today, but he had an errand to run.”

“Honey, you can’t bring a lover to work like he was a purse dog, otherwise Paul would never leave my side.” Sydney took a sip of his coffee and thought about it for a while.

“Though after four times last night, I can see why you might want to keep an eye on Casey. If word ever got out to the other women here, well, things might get ugly for you,” he joked, pretending to shiver at the potential violence of women fighting over Casey’s affections.

Alexa raised a middle finger salute over her shoulder.

Sydney was the only person who reminded her occasionally that beautiful was good, but it wasn’t always enough. She both loved and hated him for it.

“Hey,” Sydney yelled at the finger. “You weren’t the only one who got lucky last night.”

“Stop bragging and have someone get me a large coffee. Then come talk to me about business. I want you to sit in on the meeting about Lauren’s scents.”

Alexa walked on not glancing back, not wanting to see the I-warned-you look she knew was on Sydney’s face.

“Bossy today, aren’t you?” Sydney yelled down the hall. Then the light bulb turned on in his brain. “Oh,
that’s it
, isn’t it? I was right. Carter was just as bossy in bed as I suspected.”

Sydney heard her office door open, and then heard some stomping across the room. Direct hit, he thought, laughing. He shouldn’t tease her, really shouldn’t. But it was a lot of fun to see Alexa Ranger meet her match at last.

Sydney picked up the phone. “Ellen, is Jeannine with you? Can she make a coffee run? Somebody is a little down today. Yes. We will need sprinkles, lots of them. And whipped cream, too. Yes I know, but it’s one of those days. Yes. Thanks.”

Sydney picked up his PDA, his own coffee, and hummed all the way down the hall.

Chapter 15

Casey looked up at the steel and glass monster, wondering how a creative person could voluntarily work in a modern professional building so cold and unwelcoming every day.

Maybe to some it was a feat of creative genius. To him, it was no more attractive than a hangar or a Quonset hut, which were about as ugly as buildings could get.

Though Casey didn’t dwell on his military past very often anymore, today it was on his mind because of what he had to do.

As a Marine, he had served in many wars and altercations and managed to survive. There was the Gulf War, Somalia, and Afghanistan. Not to mention the six times he handled security for embassy duty, if you didn’t count the last one in Djibouti where being thrown by a bomb had taken out his hip.

He’d even survived that, though it had cost him his military career.

Today he wondered what price he was going to have to pay for the fight he was about to have. He wished it didn’t have to be a fight, but if Alexa was right about her daughter, then it was probably going to be one.

Still, after seeing Alexa’s vulnerability last night, he’d decided it was worth risking this conversation, no matter what the outcome.

There was no doorman to greet him in front of the metal monstrosity, but just inside there was a round receptionist area where a woman hesitantly greeted those who entered. In his military mindset, the receptionist area reminded him of a foxhole.

Casey shook his head to clear out the past and brought his attention to task at hand.

“Casey Carter. I have an appointment to see Jenna Ranger at ten. I made it just a little while ago,” he told her.

“Yes, Mr. Carter. If you take the elevator on the left, Ms. Ranger’s office is in Room 337,” she said with a sympathetic smile, sneaking a look at his cane.

Normally, Casey would have been either irked or intrigued by the sideways glance, depending on his mood. His mind was on bigger matters this morning.

Outside Jenna’s office, Casey took a deep breath and then knocked. He wasn’t surprised when she personally opened the door moments later.

Jenna Ranger wouldn’t have yelled for him to come in unless she had to do so. Virginia manners had been bred into her.

“Hi, Casey. You didn’t need to make an appointment. I’d have seen you anyway,” Jenna said smiling. “Come in and sit. Can I get you some coffee or a water?”

“No, I’m fine. Thanks.” He chose to sit in a dark leather chair with chrome legs. It reminded him of the furniture in Seth’s condo. It was comfortable, but not very appealing to his nature.

“It’s nice to see you, but I should warn you before you sit down that I think your cause is already lost.”

“I certainly hope not,” Casey said fervently, working on producing a genuine smile.

“Look—before you start campaigning for Seth, I think you should know he and I are truly finished,” Jenna said softly.

He watched Jenna walk back to her chair, another leather and chrome version, even if it was the executive one.

“I’m genuinely sorry to hear it,” Casey replied. “I know Seth doesn’t show his feelings well, but he really does care about you a great deal.”

Jenna shrugged and sighed, reminding Casey of Alexa.

“I’ve concluded we’re just not suited,” Jenna said philosophically, looking at the desk because it was too hard to look into eyes so similar to Seth’s and say the words. “I’m already dating someone new. I think Seth should do the same.”

Inside Casey winced, but he only shrugged in reply.

“I guess that’s up to Seth,” Casey told her.

Jenna nodded. “Well, I appreciate you coming by. It’s nice of you to want to do this for Seth. Mama told me you even came to see her. I saw your cane in the office.”

“Yes,” Casey said, sucking in air, knowing her statement was his best invitation to just spill it. “That’s actually part of what I came to see you about.”

Jenna wrinkled her face in confusion. “The fact you left your cane in Mama’s office? She already explained Seth hadn’t put you up to coming. I’m not mad at you.”

“Try to hold that thought. You know, you look a lot like your mother when you get confused,” Casey said to Jenna. “Do you do the hands-on-your-hip thing, too?”

Jenna blinked a few times, trying to find the sense in what Casey was saying. Why was Casey so fixated on comparing her to her mother?

“Okay. Let’s try this explanation,” Casey said. “I left my cane in your mother’s office when I came to see her, but it wasn’t about Seth.”

Jenna nodded wisely, hoping she looked properly sympathetic. Seth had said Casey was worried about not having a job.

“Were you looking for a job in Mama’s company?” Jenna asked.

“Me? Work for a lingerie company? Not hardly,” Casey denied, snorting at the thought.

When she continued to look confused, he decided to just confess. “Oh hell, look I’m—I’m interested in your mother.”

Jenna blinked several times again, looking at Casey with new eyes, finally noticing his nervousness, and the slight flush on his face.

“Why? Mama’s menopausal, you know. I think she takes supplements to control the symptoms,” Jenna said, trying to shock him.

“So?” Casey asked. “What does that have to do anything?”

“She’s given up men,” Jenna told him.

Casey looked at her. It definitely wasn’t safe for him to defend Alexa’s sexuality to her daughter.

“I’m planning to change her mind,” he said, proud of how innocently hopeful it sounded.

“Okay. Explain yourself. What do you mean interested in her?” Jenna demanded.

Casey blew out the breath he was holding and just let the words follow it.

“I want to date your mother. I’m hoping the idea doesn’t bother you,” he said.

“
Of course it bothers me
—for goodness sakes, I’m dating Seth.” Jenna startled herself with her pronouncement. It didn’t help when Casey just grinned about it. Jenna shook her head as if she couldn’t believe her own thoughts.

“No. Wait, I didn’t mean it. I’m not dating Seth anymore. Damn it, Casey. This is complicated.”

“I agree,” Casey said with a nod. “The connections make it a little bit complicated, but I want to date her anyway.”

“So what do you want from me? I’m not her keeper,” Jenna demanded, her frustration taking over. “Wait. Are you asking for my
permission
?”

“No. And hell no. I’m not asking for your damn permission. I have enough problems getting Alexa’s permission. I’m asking if you’re going to be okay with it,” Casey said, exasperated. “I know your mother worries about what you think about her. She’s not chasing me. I’m chasing her. If you’re going to be mad at someone over this, be mad at me.”

Despite her initial repulsion, it was very interesting that Casey was willing to confront her.

That certainly hadn’t been the case before. Most the men her mother dated couldn’t have cared less what she thought about the situation.

Jenna rose from her chair to pace behind her desk to the window and then back to sit at her desk again as her brain struggled to take it in.

She looked at Casey, who now sat with his gaze on her desk while he waited on her to respond.

Well, this would teach her to be so self-absorbed, Jenna thought. Just when she was sure she’d reached adulthood, something always catapulted her back to childish behavior.

Jenna hated feeling like a child. Now she had let both the Carter men make her feel that way.

So don’t, she scolded herself. Stop reacting the same way. You’re a logical woman. Think logically.

She turned to face Casey and crossed her arms while he studied him. When had Casey even talked to her mother enough to be attracted. It had taken her a couple of months just to introduce them. Wait, she thought. Was Casey the reason for her mother’s flushed face when she first met him? If so, it must have been some meet and greet between them.

Jenna looked at Casey, watched him toying with the end of his cane. If that was the case, then why hadn’t her mother said anything about being attracted to Casey?

Probably because she knew you would be upset, her inner voice concluded.

Jenna sighed. Had she really told Casey her mother was menopausal? Childish, she thought. Very, very childish. Jenna closed her eyes in embarrassment.

She had to get over this thing about her mother dating. It wasn’t about Casey. Casey was a good man. There was no reason to be all crazy about a few dates anyway. Look how it had worked out between Seth and her.

She had even made her Mama promise to start dating again, which Jenna knew was the right thing for a concerned daughter to do.

Time to be a real grown up, Jenna thought. She took a deep breath. “So does Mama know you’re here?” Jenna demanded.

Casey flushed and shook his head no. “I’m still walking, aren’t I?”

Well at least Casey understood the soggy ground he was standing on. It made Jenna laugh. “Boy, are you going to be in trouble when she finds out,” Jenna informed him.

“Thanks, but not a news flash. I was kind of hoping if you didn’t want me dead, you might be willing to just keep this little visit between us,” Casey said, smiling.

Jenna ignored his pleading look. Seth had made her impervious to the Carter charm.

“Did Mama tell you I have a test for men who want to date her?” Jenna asked.

“A test, huh?” Casey echoed, not for moment believing her story, but grateful Jenna was starting to be friendly to him again.

Jenna shook her head. “What’s the thing you most like about my mother?”

“Her sassy mouth,” Casey said, not missing a beat, and giving Jenna a hard glare, which she merely returned with a knowing grin.

“What’s the thing you hate about her?” Jenna asked with a laugh.

“Who are you? Freaking James Lipton? Same thing, especially when she’s flirting,” he said, gripping the end of his cane. “Want to hear what my favorite curse word is next?”

Jenna laughed loud and long. The man was already jealous. Great, she’d let Casey Carter dig his own grave. Her mother hated jealous men.

“Congratulations. You passed the test. You may now date my mother.”

“I can tell you’re still pissed. Why are you not killing me?” Casey asked, surprise overriding his common sense.

“I’m trying to grow up,” Jenna said truthfully. “Run while you can. My attempts at maturity usually don’t last long.”

“Not yet. I need to know some other stuff. Why are you not bringing up our age differences, the fact that I’m unemployed, or the obvious?” Casey asked, patting the cane.

Jenna bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing again. Well, damn. Maybe she wasn’t as impervious to Carter charm as she thought. The man was insecure, but brave as hell. It was hard not to be impressed.

“Okay, you’re right. Maybe we should talk about those concerns. First, I figured eventually Mama would have to stop dating stuffy older guys with no fun left in them. Second, neither Mama nor I need a man for money.”

Jenna put both arms on her desk and met his dark brown gaze with her own direct blue one.

“Lastly, I’m absolutely sure a cane hasn’t slowed you down much. The satisfied look in your eyes already tells me you’re pretty sure my mother is just as interested in you as you are in her.”

Jenna only liked him more for the wicked twinkle in his eyes that confirmed what she was saying.

“I’m not blind, Casey. I can see why Mama would like you. Besides, you look like an older version of Seth,” Jenna said with a shrug, thinking Casey ought to know his own appeal.

“I genuinely like your mother, Jenna,” Casey told her, meaning every word. “I think your mother likes me back. I don’t want to be a man Alexa won’t tell her family and friends about. I also don’t want to make you or Seth uncomfortable, but it’s not like I planned to be attracted to her. Seth has already tried to hook me up, but I’m not interested in other women.”

Jenna sniffed and looked away. “Great. I guess Seth thought Mama was too old for you?”

“Yes. I think our age difference bothered him more than the family connection,” Casey said.

“He obviously doesn’t know my mother. She’s ageless where men are concerned. I can see in your face you don’t think she’s too old,” she said.

“No. I think she’s just right,” Casey said truthfully.

Jenna shrugged. If Seth was against the relationship, that was just one more motivation she had to make herself okay with it. She would not let Seth hurt her mother’s feelings with his disapproval.

“If Mama wants to date you, I’m going make myself be okay with it one way or the other,” Jenna said with absolute sincerity. “I love my mother, Casey. I’m done giving her a hard time about the men in her life.”

Casey sighed, feeling even more genuine regret that Seth and Jenna had broken up.

“You know, Seth arranged a cocktail party with fifteen or twenty women trying to get me interested in one of them. They were all attractive and very nice women. You know what I asked him?” Casey waited a moment to be sure Jenna was completely hearing him. “I asked Seth why he thought I’d be interested in any of them if he wasn’t.”