Cherish her: Laws of Seduction, Book 4 (3 page)

James appears at the doorway, looking relaxed. Worry must be written all over my face. “Baby, it will be fine.”

I return to flipping through my wardrobe. “I don’t know what to wear.”

“Listen, you don’t have to be nervous. I am sure Grandfather will love you in whatever you are wearing.”

The fact that he calls his grandpa “Grandfather” sends my nerves into overdrive. I attempt a reassuring smile as I pull a black dress off its hanger. You can’t go wrong with black, right? This is one of those instances when I miss living with Sam. She would have had me styled and ready to go by now. James has disappeared back into bedroom, and I quickly get ready.

As ready as I will ever be, I go looking for James. I find him standing in the living room looking as cool and collected as usual, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous in one of my favorite suits. I sometimes can’t believe that he is my boyfriend. I stand there a few minutes letting it sink in. When he sees me, he holds up a glass that looks like my favorite gin and tonic. Not wanting to be the cause of our being late, I throw it back in three quick drinks. I shrug my shoulders at James’s raised eyebrows.

Despite James’s reassurance, I am wound up tight the entire ride to the restaurant. The initial meeting with his grandfather seems tense and stilted. He is not as tall as James and his build is stockier. Behind his glasses, his eyes appear to be a watery blue. Although the silver-haired older man does not appear intimidating, I know that appearances can be deceiving. I sense that I don’’t yet have Gordon Ward’s approval.

The menu is overwhelming. I consider asking James to order for me, but don’t want to appear indecisive. After choosing a salad and veal as my entrée, I hand the menu back to the waiter. I smile brightly at my dinner companions, determined to make the best of the situation. A few acquaintances of James and Gordon stop by the table, and I am relieved that I no longer have to hold up my end of the stilted conversation. Gordon seems to know one of the men quite well and asks him and the younger man and woman accompanying him to join us for a drink. As if by magic, the maître Dee appears and arranges extra chairs for our guests.

Gordon beams at our guests, but although it doesn’t show, I sense that James is unhappy with the situation. Gordon introduces me to his good friend Maurice Van Cleef. The other two are his children, who appear to be about my age. His daughter Nicole takes a seat on the other side of James, and his son sits down beside me. I have to ask the son to repeat his name, because I hadn’t caught it in the introductions. He explains that it is Andries. Since their last name is Dutch, his parents had looked for a Dutch first name. I let myself be drawn into conversation with him, since the others seem to be involved in a conversation about people that I have never heard of. Andries is handsome, with deep-set gray eyes and sandy-colored hair that shows a hint of a receding hairline. This does not detract in any way from his good looks. He is also charming and a complete flirt.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Why, are you interested?” He asks back with a devilish smile.

“You are shameless.” I glance pointedly at James.

Andries looks over at James, who appears absorbed in a conversation with his sister. “You have managed to capture the elusive James McAllister, I see.”

“I suppose so.”

“I can see why he fell for you. You are quite beautiful.”

I can feel a blush staining my cheeks. “Thank you.”

He reaches out and rubs a lock of my hair between his fingers. “I have never seen hair quite this color before. It is like liquid gold.” As if sensing my discomfort with his compliments, Andries changes the subject by asking me about work.

Gordon Ward signals the waiter and asks him to bring menus to the Van Cleefs, insisting that they join us for dinner. I have a suspicion that Gordon is trying to offer Nicole up to James as an alternative to me. Every time James turns to give me some attention, Gordon pulls him back into conversation with Nicole. From the amused light in his eyes, I gather Maurice has come to a similar conclusion and finds the situation highly entertaining.

Once the Van Cleefs have been given menus, I excuse myself and go in search of the ladies’ room. As I thread my way through tables filled with diners, I wonder how this evening can get any worse. Gordon is throwing a beautiful blond at James’s feet while her equally gorgeous brother hits on me. This on an evening when I am supposed to be charming his grandfather into liking me.

As I leave the restroom, I am startled to find James waiting for me. Without a word he takes my arm and leads me further down the hall. “Where are we going?”

James doesn’t reply. Pulling open a door at the end of the corridor, he tugs me in. He flips on a light, and I see that we are in a small storage closet. There are shelves lined with boxes running along all of the walls. “What are we doing in here?”” I trail off as I take in James’s cold demeanor.

I watch as he removes his suit jacket. He folds it over several times and bends down to place it on the floor in front of him. “Get down on your knees.” Uncertain if I understand him correctly, I kneel down in front of him using his suit jacket to cushion my knees. My eyes widen as he begins undoing his belt and pulling at the button of his dress pants. My lips part in anticipation as his hard erection springs out, and my panties pool with moisture. Reaching out, I wrap my hand around his long, hard length. “I couldn’t stand not touching you another minute. I don’t care how many other men make you laugh and smile. You are mine.”

“You seemed engrossed in your conversation with your grandfather and Blondie.”

My touch is affecting him, because his breathing quickens. “‘Seemed’ is the keyword here. You always have my attention. I just may not be able to show it.”

I had been feeling neglected at the table, and I am gratified that he had been thinking of me so much that he dragged me away. I tighten my grip on his cock and move my hand along the iron length. At the sound of his groan, I lean forward and run my tongue from the base to the tip and then lick and suck. I take him in as far as I can, pushing him to the back of my throat. I am aware of James’s harsh breathing. “Yea, baby, you can take it.” He twists his hand in my hair and uses it to direct my movements. “That feels so fucking good,”” he bites out between gasps. “You. Are. Mine.” I grip him with my hand as I move my mouth up and down his hard shaft. I feel his excitement build, and my body aches for his touch. ““Fuck, I’m going to come.” I suck harder and feel his ejaculate shoot to the back of my throat. Swallowing it down, I sit back and smile up at him. In a familiar gesture, he runs his hand over my cheek. After a moment, he helps me up. I hand him his jacket, which he slides on before reaching up to straighten his tie. “Stop flirting with Van Cleef.”

The James from a few minutes before is gone. Cool and collected, James stands before me. “Are you jealous? Is that what this is about?”

“His hands were all over you.” I look at him with confusion. James clarifies, “He touched your hair.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “You seem to be having a good time chatting up Ms. Van Cleef.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he says dismissively. His voice switches to a husky timber. “When we go back, I want you to think of what I am going to do to you tonight with my cock.”

I feel my face flush and my nipples tighten. James’s eyes travel down my body, and I know my aroused state has not escaped his notice. “You are going to leave me like this?” I gesture up and down my body with my hand.

His smirk makes me want to scream. He suddenly pulls me to him, making me gasp. His hands find my ass, and he presses me hard against him. “Maybe if you are distracted, you won’t be paying Van Cleef so much attention.”

I raise my eyebrows. Is this the way it’s going to be? I can’t resist the urge to provoke him. “I hope your plan doesn’’t backfire on you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing, just forget it.”

James holds my stare as if daring me to back down from the incendiary comment I had just thrown at him. “You little vixen. You had better watch that smart little mouth.”

“Or what?” I challenge.

“Baby, you don’t want to know.” He releases me, and I step away.

“Bring it on, baby.” Tossing back my hair, I pass through the door that James is holding open for me. I look back, and the speculative gleam in James’s eyes sends my libido into overdrive. I’m not entirely certain how I am going to make it through the rest of the evening. “Won’t they be wondering where you are?””

“I told them I had to make a call. You can go back first.”

I nod and walk back into the dining room, making sure I put an extra swish in my hips on my way out.

Taking a few deep breaths before reaching our table, I try to clear my face of any expression. I don’t want to broadcast what we had been up to, especially considering that I was trying to make a good impression on his grandfather. After a few minutes, James slips into the chair next to me. No one seems to have noticed our long absence, or at least they are too polite to mention it.

I am concentrating on eating my salad as daintily as possible when the feel of a hand on my thigh almost makes me choke. I look over at James, and my eyes widen as I realize that both his hands are visible on the table. Shock curses through me as it dawns on me that the hand on my thigh, which is now creeping further up my leg, belongs to the man on my other side. As subtly as possible, I shift away from the roving hand. Thankfully, Andries gets the message and removes it. Unable to eat anything more, I set my fork down. James sends me a curious look, and I make an effort to smile reassuringly. I take a drink of water in an attempt to regain my composure. Had I been sending Andries a signal that I would be receptive to an advance like that? I can hardly believe he would do something when James is sitting right here next to me. Considering James’s earlier reaction to a little light flirting, I didn’t want to know what he would do if he got wind of what had just happened.

My mind flashes to a scenario where they both try to put a hand on my leg at the same time and end up holding hands. A hysterical giggle escapes me and looking around the table, I realize I have everyone’s attention. Gordon addresses me directly for the first time in the evening. “Do you find something amusing, my dear?”

Looking around the table, I apologize. “I was thinking of something from earlier. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt the conversation.”” I am barely able to contain my hysterical laughter as James reaches over to take my hand, which I have clenched in my lap. Relaxing my fingers, I take his hand and force a smile over my lips.

The dinner goes on and on. I barely taste my food. When Gordon requests the bill, I feel intense relief. As Andries gives me the customary goodbye air kisses, he whispers in my ear. “If you ever get bored, give me a call.”

Sitting back in the car, I look over at James. “Your grandfather hates me.” I lean back and groan dramatically. “Did Gary replenish the beverage supply?””

James leans over and opens the console where the drinks are kept. Before he can reach in to hand me something, I grab a little bottle of the hard stuff he usually drinks, open it, and bolt it down. Eyes watering and gasping for breath, I hand the empty bottle back to him.”

“Better?”

“Not at the moment, but maybe when the alcohol hits me. Hand me another one please.”

James closes the console. “I don’t think so. Remember you have work in the morning.”

I groan again. “Please, do not remind me.”

“Lainey, it didn’t go that badly.” James’s attempt to reassure me falls flat.

I begin ticking off on my fingers. “Your grandfather hates me, he threw Nicole Van Cleef at your feet the entire evening, her Don Juan of a brother hit on me, and in a jealous temper you ordered me to get you off in a closet. Although I have to say, that was the highlight of the evening. Did I mention your grandfather hates me?”

James has the nerve to laugh. “Babe, it wasn’t that bad. I am sure Grandfather will warm up to you the more he gets to know you. You have to admit; you were behaving a little strangely. Laughing at nothing. What was that all about?””

My temper ratchets up a notch. “Well, James, I was imagining what you would do if you reached over to find Andries Van Cleef’s hand in my lap.”

James stiffens. “His hand in your lap?”

His menacing tone makes me regret losing my temper. “Just for a moment. Until I made it plain that it was unwanted.”

“Are you telling me that while we were all sitting there eating dinner, Van Cleef had his hands all over you? While I was sitting right next to you? Goddamit, Lainey. Why didn’t you say something?”

“All things considered, I don’t think that would have gone over too well. Besides, it was basically just a pat on the leg that was over in a few seconds.”

“I guess that explains your lack of appetite. If I catch that bastard within a foot of you, I’m going to kill him.”

The furious light in James’s eyes tells me he is being completely serious. I vow to stay far, far away from Andries Van Cleef in the future.

CHAPTER 4

Sitting at my desk the next morning, I am feeling sleep deprived and miserable. E-mails regarding the Rothschild lawsuit are coming into my inbox in an avalanche. I am also scheduled to move back into my office. The mystery of who started the fire intrudes into my thoughts once again. I can’t seem to let it go. Becca, who has been conspicuously absent from work, is now my prime suspect. She certainly had not denied it when I confronted her about it. The sound of Patti clearing her throat has me looking up from my computer screen. James, looking outrageously handsome in a dark gray suit is headed our way. Instead of walking past, he stops. He nods his head to greet at Patti and Nora before turning to me. “How are you feeling this morning?”