Seducing My Assistant (3 page)

Chapter Four

Eliza

"Xander's brother, Henry is having a party and he wants us all to come and spend the weekend with him." Scott looked nonchalant as he spoke to me, eating his pancakes casually. I sat there across from him, wondering what he was thinking. I still couldn’t quite believe I’d agreed to come to breakfast with him, but I needed the money from the assistant job and I had told him that I would help him out.

"I don't know." I looked at Scott and frowned. "I doubt he cares about me coming, he doesn't even know me." I said, wondering why Henry had thought to invite me to his party. He didn’t even really know me. We’d barely spoken any words and I wondered if Scott was making it all up.

"He specifically mentioned inviting you and Lacey." Scott said with a straight face and I couldn't tell whether he was lying or not. I knew that he was upset with me. I knew that he thought I should just forgive and forget and move on and accept him back, but I wasn’t ready. I was scared to give him my heart. Scared that he'd break it all over again. Especially now that Shane was back with my dad and reminding me of how it felt to be heartbroken and alone.

"Really?" I made a face at him and thought about Henry James, Xander's brother. "He's single right?" I spoke without thinking.

"Why?" Scott's eyes narrowed as he gazed at me. "Are you interested in him." He sounded slightly jealous and it almost made me smile.

"Oh my god, really?" I gazed at him and sighed.

"I don't know." He pursed his lips and a part of me was thrilled by his jealousy, even though it still annoyed me.

"I'm asking for Lacey." I explained, though I wasn't sure why I bothered explaining. I thought back to how Lacey had stared at Henry on the football field and how she’d exchanged words with Henry. Maybe there was something there?

"Oh, she likes him?"

"She doesn't know him to like him, but you never know what could happen." I said, as I thought about how handsome Henry was. "Is he a nice guy?" I bit down on my lower lip. I’d love for Lacey to meet someone and have a love affair, but I didn’t want it to be with an asshole. There was no way that I wanted to see Lacey getting hurt. And I wasn’t going to have her around jackass guys, if I could help it.

Scott shrugged as he glanced at me. "Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I don't know him well at all."

"Okay." I chewed on my lower lip and stared into his deep blue eyes. His eyes were staring at my lower lip and I could see in his gaze that he wanted to kiss me. My stomach churned as I gazed back at him. I wanted to kiss him as well. But I knew that if I kissed him, it would lead to a lot more really quickly and then he'd think everything was fine and that would just ruin everything. He wouldn't woo me and I wouldn't have time to really figure out if he was good for me or not. And if this was something I wanted to really get back involved in. I also didn’t know exactly what Shane wanted and what game he was playing. There was real potential for a lot of people to get really hurt if everything came out.

"So are you going to come?" He looked at me with eyes full of hope and expectation and I just didn't know what to say. My heart jumped as I stared at him. It was racing with excitement, loving the fact that he wanted me, but I didn't know if I was just loving the attention because I was attracted to him or because he was my soulmate. I had so much doubt in my head. Doubt that had crept in because of Shane. And it wasn't that I still loved Shane or wanted to be with him, but it was because I remembered how I'd once felt with Shane. I remembered the love I’d had for him. The adoration. I remembered the way I'd cried when we'd broken up and the way my heart had broken in two. And it made me doubt if I could trust my own emotions. It made me doubt if what I felt was true. If it could ever be true. How did I know what I felt for Scott was real? In a way, he'd already played with my emotions. How could I believe he wouldn't do that to me again? How could I trust him or myself?

"I'll speak to Lacey and ask her what she wants to do." I replied softly, wondering if that was even a good idea. I'd had an inkling that Lacey had been attracted to Henry, but I wasn't so sure he was a good guy. Really rich and really handsome guys rarely were. They ate women like Lacey up for breakfast. I was scared that he'd play her or outright reject her. And I didn't want to see that happen. Lacey deserved a good guy. A really good guy. Lacey deserved a man that would love her with all his heart and treat her like a Queen. And while I didn't know Henry, he didn't seem the sort of guy to do that. He seemed like he was one of those cocky, arrogant self-assured pricks that were selfish to the core.

"Okay." Scott said in a disappointed voice and I gave him a soft smile as my thoughts broke away from Henry. I sighed slightly as I realized I was judging Henry based on no real information.

"I'll let you know tonight."

"Over dinner?" He asked hopefully and I just shook my head.

"I have plans." I said with a small smile and his eyes narrowed.

"With who?"

"Scott." I sighed, deliberately being evasive. He deserved to be a little worried and concerned after the way he'd treated me. “Does it matter?”

“I suppose not.” He shrugged. “If you don’t think it does, then it doesn’t.”

“I told Shane I’d meet him.” I said, avoiding eye contact with him. ‘He wants to talk.”

“So you said you’d talk with him, but you didn’t want to meet with me this morning?” I could hear anger in Scott’s voice and I bit down on my lower lip.

“Scott, it’s not like that.”

“Yeah, sure it’s not.” He picked up his coffee mug and looked away from me. I could tell that he was hurt and frustrated. I supposed that if the roles had been reversed, I would have felt the same way, but he had to understand that this was hard for me. Complicated in a way that would not be easy to sort out. Even more complicated than he thought, but that wasn’t his problem.

“So when do you want me to start work?” I asked him, hoping to change the subject.

“On Monday.” He said without looking at me.

“Okay.” I said simply, not wanting to engage him too much if he was going to be in a bad mood. Ugh, I was so annoyed that he was annoyed with me. Didn’t he understand what I was going through? Not that it was exactly fair to him. I knew that he was in a bad situation. Or maybe bad wasn’t the right word. Maybe it was a weird situation. For both of us. I mean I hadn’t foreseen any of this happening. It’s not like it was my fault.

“I should spank you.” He muttered under his breath and I looked up at him, my face warm.

“You wish.”

“I do.” He said and then he looked up at me. “I want to put you over my lap right now.”

“I think you’re a pervert.” I shook my head at him and he laughed.

“You gave me a lap dance at an office party, you’re not really one to talk. Ms. Pervert.”

“Touché.” I stuck my tongue out at him and I saw his eyes staring at my lips again.

“I’d rather you did touché me.” He winked and we both laughed light-heartedly. For a few seconds, I felt like everything was okay between us again. I felt like we were both starting off on the same foot again. “Right between my legs.”

“Scott.” I groaned at him and I wondered if it would be so bad if I reached under the table to give him a little rub. “Eliza.” I mumbled to myself under my breath, wanting to tell myself off. Of course, it would be a huge mistake to tease him under the table. Not that I didn’t want to. I just knew where it would lead.

“Yes, my dear.” Scott said softly and I felt his hand on my leg, creeping up my inner thigh. I suppose he had had the same idea as I had, only his brain wasn’t telling him to stop. His brain wasn’t reminding him that hot sex wasn’t the solution to any of my problems. Maybe he would tell me that hot sex was the solution to all of my problems. Maybe I would believe him or at least convince myself of the fact that he could be right. Hot sex didn’t hurt anyone. As I felt his hand creeping higher, I licked my lips nervously and I could feel my heart beating erratically as my skin started to warm up. I shifted in my seat and my stomach curled deliciously. Maybe, just maybe I wouldn’t say no. “Elizabeth.” Scott leaned closer to me as his hand kept creeping up. “I want to be inside of you right now.”

“Scott.” I blushed, though I couldn’t stop myself from thinking that I wanted him to be inside of me as well.

“What?” He said and I felt his hands between my legs, his fingers rubbing gently. “Let me...” His voice trailed off as the waitress approached the table, with a tired look on her face.

“You guys need anything else?” She asked with a slight drawl. “Or can I close up the tab.”

“You can close the tab.” Scott said, looking slightly annoyed and I quickly shifted and pushed his hand away, my face cooling down as I realized what I’d nearly allowed to happen. “Unless you want anything else?” He gave me a quick look and I shook my head.

“No, I really should be going soon.”

“Really?’ He pursed his lips and I could tell that he wanted to say something else. His blue eyes were narrowed and I watched as he ran his hand through his silky dark hair. How badly I wanted to touch it too.

“Really.” I nodded. “You know that I have things to do.”

“Like Shane?” He said, his voice stiff and I froze.

“Excuse me?” My voice rose. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“So I can close up then?” The waitress interrupted us, her face bored and I looked up at her, feeling slightly embarrassed that she’d witnessed our conversation.

“Yes.” I said with a nod and she just stared at me before walking away.

“She’s got a stick up her ass or something.” Scott said with a grin and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, even though I was still mad at him.

“She does seem like she’s not quite happy to be here.” I said with a small nod and looked away from his eyes.

“Not quite happy?” He made a face. “She looked absolutely miserable. Like the wicked witch of the west or some old shrew that’s just found out that there’s no cabbage soup to be had for dinner.”

“Scott.” I shook my head and laughed. “You’re horrible.”

“She reminds me of Old Trunchball or whatever her name was from that Matilda movie. The mean ugly headmistress?”

“I know who she is.” I giggled. “But she’s not that bad.”

“She’s worse.” He continued and I reached over and grabbed his hand and tapped it gently to get him to stop as his voice was getting louder and louder and I was scared that the waitress would hear him and then do something bad. I’m wasn’t sure exactly what she’d do, but she didn’t seem the sort to hear herself being criticized and not say something.

“Scott, ssh.” I said quietly. “She’s going to hear and...”

“And what?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Kick us out.”

“No, but who knows.” I said and shook my head at him. “Let’s not make her feel bad.”

“Old Trunchball won’t feel bad.” He grinned and this time I stopped myself from laughing.

“You’re really bad, you know that.” I made a face at him. “And I’m still mad at your Shane comment.”

“I’m still mad that you’re even meeting up with him.” His tone changed and all laughter was now gone from his voice.

“Scott, I know you might not understand why I need to talk to him, but it’s just all very complicated and now he’s brought my dad into it.” I sighed. “It’s hard to explain, but this is something I need to do.”

“Okay.” He said simply. “But will you come to Henry’s gathering this weekend? You and Lacey?”

“I told you, I have to ask Lacey. I’m not sure what she’s going to want to do.”

“I hope you’ll come.” He said and pulled out his wallet. “I think it will be a good time.” He grabbed a bunch of twenties out of his wallet and dropped them on the table and stood up.

“Where are you going?” I looked up at him in surprise.

“I thought you wanted to be done?” He shrugged. “I have something else to do today so I’m going to head out. Did you need a ride?”

“No, I don’t need a ride.” I stared up at him. “Why, what are you doing?”

“I’m not sure you really want to know.” He glanced at me and pursed his lips.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I stood up as well. All sorts of thoughts flew through my head. What the hell was he talking about? What did he have to do and why wouldn’t I want to know?

“Elizabeth, just let me know if you can come this weekend and if you can start on the Monday after that, okay.” He started walking away from the table towards the front door and I hurried to keep up with him. “Have a good time with, Shane, later today.”

“Really? That’s all you have to say?”

“That’s all.” He gave me a quick smile, opened the door for me and then gave me a quick hug. “Give me a call tonight when you figure it out.”

“Do you even want me to come?” I asked him feeling awkward and unsure of myself all of a sudden, which I knew was really stupid. He had just asked me to come. He was the one that wanted me to go, not the other way around.

“What do you think, Elizabeth?” He rolled his eyes at me. “Have a good day.” He nodded and then walked away from me and towards the street where I assumed he’d parked his car. I watched after him, feeling frustrated and annoyed. He hadn’t even attempted to kiss me or try and get me to leave with him. It was like he didn’t even care. I knew I was being unfair. I knew that I didn’t have a right to be upset that he hadn’t tried to be more intimate with me. I knew that inside. Yet, my head didn’t want to acknowledge that I was being stupid. I wanted him to chase me and want me; even though I was the one that wasn’t fully committing to him, or committing at all. Everything was such a mess. I sighed and grabbed my phone as I walked towards my own car.