Vanilla On Top (14 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Tony

I click off the phone and pace like a caged lion. There’s a tightness around my chest and I’m not sure why. Returning to the dining room, I blow out the candles on the table. She didn’t know I’d planned a light meal or set things up. I can’t take her canceling personally. It has nothing to do with me and is purely a work stress.

One I’ve experienced many times myself over the past decade.

Sure, I can mumble all the platitudes I’d like, but at the end of the evening, I’m the one left cleaning up the dinner and sleeping by myself. Of course, she’d be busy with the added workload our buyout offer has caused, but the disappointment still rocks me. I wonder if this is how the women I dated felt when I called last minute and bailed on them.

Pretty shitty, no matter how you cut it.

I clean up and place the gift I bought for her on a side table near the door. It will keep ‘til tomorrow. Waking up this morning to the unmistakable sound of an electronic camera shutter gave me a great idea, and I checked her camera before slipping into the bathroom. It didn’t bother me that she was taking pictures—hearing the camera shutter was kind of sexy.

I took another moment while she was getting dressed to reexamine the pictures hanging throughout her apartment. She has a real eye for the medium. After cutting out of work at five, I spent my early evening shopping for the best professional camera money can buy. I can’t wait to surprise her with it.

Most women want fancy clothes or jewels. But I have a feeling the way to this woman’s heart is by unconventional means—and I aim to find it, no matter what.

Climbing into the large, empty bed in the company apartment, I can’t help but wish I was at Heather’s place. This unit might be huge and tastefully decorated, but nothing in it is mine except for the clothes. I need time in Jersey this weekend, working on my building to regain balance.

Maybe Heather would like to see my place. I’ve never taken a woman there. I wonder if it’s too soon. Will she balk if I move faster than she’d like?

I roll over and punch my pillow, too keyed up to sleep and annoyed that I’m confused like a teenager on what to do regarding Heather.
What is it about this woman that has me so tied up in knots?

Tomorrow will be a better day. We’ll eat, laugh, make love, and not talk about this merger that has her working like a dog.

The next morning there’s a pounding on my door before I finish dressing. It’s not even seven, way too early for a delivery or maintenance call. I open the door and see Marcus, dressed for work and holding two large to-go cups of coffee.

“We need to talk,” he says, pushing his way past me and heading toward the breakfast bar.

“What the hell, man? You couldn’t wait ‘til I showed up at eight?”

A snort sounds from my old friend while he settles onto a barstool. “Yeah, so you could blow me off all damn day like you did yesterday?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”

I close the front door and join him, taking a long sip of the purchased java before speaking. “What’s got your panties in a bunch?”

Marcus sputters on his hot coffee. “Seriously? Where should I start? How about with you ‘entertaining’ Heather in your office after our meeting with Parkerson? She’s smoking hot, by the way. Or with the sudden higher bid you put in yesterday—seven million more? What the fuck? Did you really think finance could sign off on that without approval from Nikko?”

I grimace and look away. I wondered if I’d have a problem with the higher negotiation bid. My hope was it would go unnoticed until next Friday when we’re scheduled to meet with the Parkerson executives again. “I looked over our bid again. Their assets warrant a higher offer if we don’t want them to fight the merger.”

An angry look crosses his face. “Well, your timing was shit. Brian happened to be in our department when it came in. He noticed the significant increase and questioned your methods to Nikko, telling him there’s no need.”

Panic and rage burn through me. If the higher number is turned down, we could very well lose this deal. I have no idea if Heather mentioned our private negotiation to her bosses. But if she did and the offer never comes through, they could hold out for more or become increasingly difficult to work with, making this a truly hostile takeover—which is never fun. “That’s a bad idea, man. It needs to be higher or they will create problems on the buyout.”

“Oh, yeah? And how do you know? Could you perhaps be talking business in the bedroom when you shouldn’t be? Has this woman got you so wrapped around her finger she talked you into more money?”

Heat scalds my skin and I turn to the sink to hide my reaction. “This is the livelihood of hundreds of people we’re talking about.”

“And most of them will keep their jobs when we take over. You’ve never done this last minute change of terms before, what gives?”

Tension tightens my shoulders. I put my coffee down and rinse some dishes to buy myself time. What the hell kind of answer can I give? My gut answer that the company will balk didn’t convince him. I sure as hell can’t say Heather wrung the number out of me during sex play. Even if the company deserves a higher offer, the truth of how the bid came about would nullify it.

I take a deep breath and turn back to my colleague. “Let’s just leave it for now. My instinct tells me if the number is higher we’ll have fewer problems closing this deal.”

His steady gaze unnerves me. “We’ve dealt with hostile takeovers before. Why should one more make any difference?”

I shrug, unwilling to admit that it matters because of Heather. No doubt her office will be looking for final paperwork on the offer soon. If the lower number comes through, she’ll know I didn’t honor our bargain. More importantly, had she told anyone higher up, and would
they
be expecting a larger deal?

“I’m going to stand by my offer of fifty-two million.”

Marcus looks shocked at my words.

I shrug, grabbing my to-go cup. “If it doesn’t close on the lower offer, I will be the one saying ‘I told you so.’”

“If I were you, I’d be more worried Brian uses this as leverage to shoe-horn himself into the prime negotiator spot and leave you on your ass.”

I’ve nothing to say to that. If my record doesn’t speak for itself at Apollo, then I don’t know what will. I finish getting ready while Marcus waits. We head into the office together and damned if my day doesn’t start off bad and progress steadily down hill. I’m called in for a private meeting with Nikko and Brian. By lunchtime, Brian has sweet-talked Nikko into thinking the offer is too high based on the company’s assets and the owner begrudgingly agrees, allowing Brian to take over the deal. The paperwork for forty-five million goes out to Parkerson.

The anger and frustration over the situation has my blood boiling. Brian bent the old man’s ear and filled it full of crap. Nikko has been fair in the past and I’m surprised he can’t see beyond the other man’s machinations. Yeah, don
’
t trust the guy who helped double your worth to two hundred billion in less than ten years. Trust the one who wants to
save
you seven million.

I itch to call Heather and let her know what’s going on. I know I can’t because it’s highly unprofessional and if I’m caught, I could get fired, not to mention sued.

The quick turnaround from the figurative fair-hair child to second best has thrown me for such a loop, it takes all of me to not pick up my chair and hurl it through the window. In the short span of forty-eight hours, I’ve managed to fuck up my career, break a verbal negotiation I made with a client, and fall in love with a woman.

Holy shit. There it is. I love her.

Three firsts in the last two days. Admittedly, the last one scares me the most.

Deidra knocks on my door and sticks her head in. “How you doing in here, Tony?”

My breath wheezes out in a rush. “I’ve been better.”

“I’ve got a call on line two for you regarding the steel deal set for next month.”

I run a hand through my hair and close my eyes briefly. Work marches on no matter what personal epiphany you may be experiencing. It’s humbling and intrusive all at once. “Fine. Put it through.”

The phone on my desk rings. I take a deep breath and square myself. Time to reapply and climb back to the top. I’ll need to prove myself to Nikko, again, and kick that weaselly Brian in the balls, all at the same time.

After the conference call, I pace my office carpet. I’ve sent three texts to Heather this afternoon and none of them have been returned. Has she reviewed the lower offer with her bosses and wondered what’s going on?

I have a distinct feeling she’s going to cancel on me last minute again tonight.

If she does, I’ll be showing up at her apartment. There is no way we’re not talking things out.

By eight o’clock I’m sitting on the couch with my cell in my hand, waiting for her to call. It’s official. I’m hard up for a girl. Me, the rat bastard who used to buy a woman a diamond bracelet when I was about to dump her so she’d have something to soothe her anger.

Now it occurs to me, it isn’t about their damaged pride so much as their broken heart. How could I have known when I never felt the same way about them? This empty feeling in my chest scares the crap out of me.

Is it possible to love someone you’ve only known a little over a week? Is this just a strong case of lust and I’m acting like an idiot? How are you supposed to know the difference?

My phone rings and I jump. I deliberately do not answer until the second ring so I don’t look like I’m sitting here waiting for her to call. Freakin’ pathetic.

“Hey, Tony. It’s me.”

“Hey.”

“I’m still at the office and probably will be for another hour or so.”

My heart sinks to my stomach. Just like I thought. I knew she’d cancel. I force a lightness into my voice I’m not feeling. “Yeah, I understand.” Part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop—for her to call me out on the lower deal. “What about tomorrow night? You don’t plan on working late on Friday, do you?”

“I’m sorry. I already made plans with friends.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Oh, dear. This looks bad doesn’t it?” I don’t answer, afraid if I do I will sound like a sullen brat. “It’s the timing, Tony, I swear. This buyout has created more work than any of us bargained for. We’re all working late nights.”

I nod, then remember she can’t see it and grunt a response. For some reason, she’s pulling away from me. The non-returned texts prove it. Something is up and I aim to find out what.

We end the call after I suggest taking her to my building this weekend. She agreed, even sounded enthusiastic about the idea, but a part of me worries about that eagerness.

Holy crap. Is she going to dump me on Saturday? I thought we really connected Tuesday night, but maybe it was all in my head.

I glance at the clock. In an hour, I’m heading over to her place uninvited. I won’t be pushed off and shunted into the corner. I’ve waited too long to find someone like her and I won’t give up easily.

The doorman remembers me and lets me in without calling up. That’s a relief, I was afraid she might say
no
if given the chance. In a few minutes, I’m standing before her door.

I knock on the door, feeling sweat trickle down my back. Heather opens it, still dressed for work in a dark shirt and blouse, but barefoot and looking tired.

Delight lights her eyes when she sees me. “Tony! What a nice surprise.” Her smile warms and she extends a hand to me. “I’ve missed you.”

Relief pours through me as I step inside and gather her into my arms. Her soft curves mold to my body. I take a deep breath and smell her ginger citrus bodywash. “Me too.” I plant a soft kiss on her neck, then pull back and stare deep into her eyes. “What happened to us seeing each other in private during the merger?”

She blushes and looks away. “I’m sorry. Lots of things have come up that I hadn’t expected. It’s kind of thrown me for a loop.”

I lean in, touching my mouth to hers, reassuring myself that things are okay between us. “Let’s not talk about work, okay?”

Stiffness leaks out of her and she nods. “Sounds good to me.”

While I’d like nothing more than to blurt out my feelings for her and wring a declaration from her, I know the timing isn’t right. Instead, I let my body do the talking as I sweep her into my arms and carry her to the bedroom.

“You’re not too tired for some fun, are you? I know the perfect thing for stress.”

Her dark eyes widen and her mouth forms a surprised
O
. I lay her down on the covers and proceed to kiss her senseless, determined to
show
her exactly how I feel.

Chapter Fifteen

Heather

“Let me get this straight,” Carla says between bites. “He comes over for a late night booty call and then what? Did he stay or take off afterwards?”

I grimace at Carla’s poor choice of wording, annoyed dinner at my place has become a question and answer session. Tony’s visit wasn’t that late and our experience wasn’t a “booty call,” as far as I could tell. His physical actions held an almost desperate edge to them, like he was proving something to himself, or to me. I can’t be sure which.

“It wasn’t like that,” I say. She picks at her Chinese food, nodding. “And yes, he stayed the night.”

“Ooooo…now we’re talking!” She shoves her chopsticks into the takeout container and pushes it away. “Guys only spend the night if they really care.”

“Uh-huh,” I respond, not wanting to read too far into Tony’s behavior. I don’t know what he was like with his other girlfriends. “Or they’re tired and don’t want to get up.”

“Puh-lease. A player like Tony doesn’t stay unless he has good reason.”

A lump forms in my throat and I push my own food container away, no longer hungry. “He really is a player, isn’t he?” My eyes tear up. “I tried to convince myself maybe this was something more, but I keep coming back to the fact that he has a history with a lot of women. And I may be nothing more than another in a long line.”

Carla comes around the table to hug me. “Whoa, now.” Her arms close tightly on my shoulders and I hold back from bawling over her kindness. “No tears. This is a ladies night out and we’re going to have fun.” She runs a hand down my hair and smiles. “I think you mean more to him than all the others.”

“Really?” The glimmer of hope in my voice sounds wimpy. “What makes you say that?”

“What’s gotten into you lately? First you’re all bossy and take control with him, then you get a new hairstyle and start dressing sexy…And now, you’re back-tracking to the self-doubting hen you were before you met him.”

I raise my shoulders once and let them drop, not sure where to begin. The work opportunities opening up the past few days have made me rethink everything about myself, and what I want. A position on the board would be beyond anything I’ve ever dreamed of obtaining.

Carla looks me over and bluntly asks, “Are you expecting your period soon? Could that account for this sudden moodiness?”

I laugh. “Hardly. It’s another two weeks off. I’ve had a lot going on at work.”

“Like what?”

I proceed to fill her in on what’s happened, tactfully leaving out the interlude in Tony’s office. Her mouth drops open when I’m done.

“Holy cannoli. No wonder you’re tied in knots. Do you think this merger thing could put an end to you both? What will Tony say when he finds out you’re secretly helping to save your company? Can you even date if you’re both Apollo employees?”

“I don’t know! That’s what’s eating me inside. We’re too new for me to know for sure. He could be mad, he could try and push harder on the buyout…It could get really ugly.” Fear grips my heart when I mentally review her last question. “And holy hell, the thought of a company policy against dating never even occurred to me.”

“Obviously, you can’t tell him what’s happening on your end. You could lose your job
and
the new position if they find out you are literally sleeping with the enemy.”

I refrain from telling her about the lower original offer that came in. Maybe Tony couldn’t get his bosses to sign off on the higher amount. I was led to believe he was the primary on the deal and capable of making all the decisions, but something must have happened I’m unaware of. I’ve been dying to ask him, but we agreed not to talk about work last night. “Now, you know what’s eating me.”

Carla lets out a dramatic sigh and flounces into the closest chair. “Yeah, and it’s a doozy. You need tonight to let off steam more than I do.” She jumps up and heads to my bedroom. “Come on, I plan on raiding your closet to dress you up in something drop dead sex-say.”

I laugh and trail after her. “Why? Don’t I have enough on my plate without adding more men to the mix?”

“Now see, that’s where you’re wrong, sister.” She rummages through my clothes, her eagle eye unerringly picking out my daring new purchases. “You dress first and foremost for yourself, not a man. I’ll admit I was jealous when you started changing last week.” She looks back at me and winks. “Not one of my finer moments. But traveling this week gave me more time than I wanted for a little much-needed introspection. I realized it was my own dissatisfaction with
my
life that had me feeling uncomfortable with what you were doing with yours.” Her expression turns to shock when she discovers the leather pants hanging with the tags still on them. “Oh. My. God.” She waves them in the air. “You have to wear these tonight.”

My face heats. “No way! I’m not ready for those yet.”

“Dammit! Yes, you are. Look in the mirror.” She points to the oval one hanging over my dresser. “You are gorgeous and in the prime of your life. When is the right time to wear something sexy on a night out with your friends? Now! Don’t try and tell me I’m wrong.”

I bite my lip, still unsure. “I dunno. And hey, where is the girl who acted like her nose was out of joint last week over soup, huh?”

“I told you. I was acting like a self-conscious, jealous bitch and I only realized it when you accused me of wanting to be with you because I was prettier.” She whips back to me and points her finger. “Which I’m not. You are stunning. You just need to believe it.”

She returns to the closet and with a triumphant screech, hauls out the black leather bustier I bought with the pants. She spins and shakes the garment at me. “Do you have any idea how good you are going to look in this? Tiny waist and perfect pert boobs?”

I frown, not sure I can pull it off. “Umm…”

She wiggles her eyebrows. A determined glint comes into her eye. “You will be wearing this drop dead, sexy-ass outfit if I have to clonk you on the head and dress you myself!”

I laugh, moving closer to wrap my arms around her. “You’re the best, Carla.” I step back and eye the outfit I felt bold-as-brass trying on in the store. “Okay, I’ll wear it, but you’d better be honest and tell me if it’s too much. The goal is to
not
look like a street walker, you know.”

“Impossible. With your fresh face and simple elegance no one would ever mistake you for a hooker in that outfit.” She spots the black boots with the spiked silver heel. “Oh,” she lovingly runs her hand over them. “But if we add these you might just pass for a dominatrix in training.”

Carla and I meet Gemma and Katrina at an upscale place I’ve never been to. Katrina works for a PR firm and obtained tickets through her company. Something about a new client and a special DJ event, but I wasn’t paying attention, my nerves kept me distracted. Katrina’s a high-energy redhead with the curves and pale skin to turn any man’s head. I love her attitude. Gemma is a sassy brunette with a boyfriend who’s head over heels in love with her.

Both women eye my outfit when we step out of the cab and give me a nod of approval as we enter the bar. “Looking good, Heather,” Gemma says with a wink. “Remind me to send pictures to Steve so he knows exactly what he’s missing tonight.”

I force a smile, rubbing a hand self-consciously on one thigh, feeling the mold of the snug leather over the curve. Every fiber of my being is acutely aware of how my outfit fits. In the end, I opted for a cropped jacket to partly cover the exposed leather ties of the top and chose the new red heels over the black boots. Carla’s comment about a “dominatrix in training
”
made me feel too uncomfortable. Sure, she can tease me about being a vanilla dom, but stepping out looking like one is more than I can handle for now.

Music pounds through the hidden speakers, the bass reverberating up through the floor into my bones. The lighting isn’t bright or dim, but more of a twilight. I like it compared to the normal darkness of some dance clubs. A group of men at the center bar immediately check out the four of us when we saunter in. Katrina and Gemma are two of Carla’s yoga buddies, and both have exquisite bodies.

“You’re drawing every eye our way, Heather.” Katrina says with a nudge of her hip. “Way to go, girlfriend.”

Their comments boost my confidence even more. I’m enjoying feeling sexy and strong, glad I opted for the red heels and short jacket. Maybe if I were with Tony I’d feel different. I bet he would go crazy for the boots and leather pants. Picturing his heat-filled gaze and the accompanying bulge in his pants draws a flush to my face.

I’m desperate for this whole stressful work situation to be over. I’m so scared of how things will turn out. Why should I have to choose between him and my job? It’s not fair.

Katrina catches my eye, nodding toward the bar. “Let’s get a drink,” she yells over the music.

A group of men parts at our approach, giving us a narrow pathway to the bar. Appraising looks and welcoming smiles rain down upon our small group. One opens his mouth to speak and Carla shushes him with a wave of her hand. “We’re here for a ladies night out.” The wine we drank at my house makes her bolder than usual. “You’re cute, but we came to dance. Not pick up men.”

The man good-naturedly tilts his head and leaves us be, the interest in his eyes saying he’ll try again later. We get our drinks and slowly make our way to the dance floor. It’s barely past ten and the dance area stands mostly empty.

Gemma shouts in Carla’s direction, “Are you sure you want to do this? We could wait a little bit ‘til the place fills up.”

“We’re not here for
them
, ladies. We’re here for ourselves.” She downs her drink and places it on a nearby table. “Let’s dance!”

My face stretches into a huge smile at her silliness. This night is totally what I need.

After fifteen minutes on the dance floor, a hand touches my waist from behind. I glance back to see the man from the bar Carla shushed. His eyebrows rise in question, asking for a dance. I smile and nod, content to share a song with a stranger.

He’s not as good-looking as Tony, but that’s okay. His hands linger on my waist and his eyes promise more if I’m interested. I smile, pleased with his offer, but shake my head. I don’t plan on taking him home, just dancing for a little while.

I consider teasing him by dancing close, but I refrain. He doesn’t deserve me toying with him. Sweat trickles down my back under the jacket and my face flushes from the exertion. I’d like to take my coat off, but I don’t want to invite more attention than I can handle.

Who knew a night out with friends could be so uplifting? The handsome man dancing with me whirls me by the hand and then pulls me in close.

The power feels good. Very, very good.