Love Thy Enemy (Red Stone Security #13)(14)
He closed his laptop and headed out. His brother could deal with the rest of the day’s meetings. Viktor was too edgy.
A run and a swim and maybe some time on the punching bag might expel some of this energy. But he doubted it.
He needed to get Dominique out of his system but he wasn’t sure how. He hadn’t even had a taste of her, yet thoughts of her consumed him. She hadn’t seemed to think he was a monster after today so maybe…he did have a chance with her. Maybe they could be friends. He nearly snorted at the thought.
Even if he didn’t have a shot with Dominique, he’d call later to check on her, to try to convince her to take the house again. Why didn’t he believe his own lie? He wanted to see if she’d let him take her to dinner, to get to know her more. He’d give her a day then test the waters.
Walking away from her was something he just couldn’t do.
*
“Here’s the paperwork to fire Peter.” Lucy set the stack of papers on Abram’s desk, a half-smile tugging at her very kissable lips.
As if she was trying not to smile.
“What’s that look?” Abram frowned as Lucy stepped back.
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You look…happy. Are you glad we’re firing him?” Abram had been planning to anyway, but today’s behavior had been the final straw.
Peter had been hired as professional security and had thought it okay to make a rude, sexual comment about a woman he didn’t know, right in front of her. It didn’t matter that Dominique couldn’t speak Russian—Peter didn’t know that. For all he knew she could have been a client. That kind of behavior wouldn’t be tolerated.
“Why? Are you going to judge me if I say yes?” Now she was full-on grinning. “I don’t even care,” she said before he could answer. “I hated that guy. I’m so glad Viktor is firing him.”
Abram frowned at her words, an alarm bell going off in his head. Lucy seemed to like everyone, even the most obnoxious of their clients. She was sweetness and f*cking sunshine almost all the time, usually to people who didn’t deserve her warmth. “You never said anything.”
She shrugged, taking another step back toward the door. They’d been all over Miami today at various properties they owned, including a hotel he and Viktor favored. He figured Lucy would be leaving soon. Or he’d tell her to. It was well past time she called it a day.
“If I complained about every jerk who made me feel uncomfortable when he looked at me, I wouldn’t be able to work anywhere. He was just one of those guys you know is a pig, so I’m glad he’ll be gone.” She lifted her phone at an incoming text, frowned at it as she typed in a response.
Feeling irrationally territorial, Abram stood from his desk. “He made you feel uncomfortable?”
“What…yes. And now he’s gone. Or he will be.” She gave him one of those megawatt smiles that were rarely reserved for him. “Hey, I’m gonna grab dinner at the diner down the street before heading back. Want to come with me?”
It was the first time she’d ever asked him and he’d be a fool to say no. Nodding, he grabbed his cell phone from his desk. “Sure. What do you mean, heading back?”
“I’ve got some stuff I want to get ahead of before tomorrow. You’ve got three meetings, and after today Viktor has way more on his plate because he cancelled his afternoon meetings.” He could hear the slight question in Lucy’s voice but would never talk about his brother’s personal life to anyone.
“Are we working you too hard?” he asked as they headed for the elevators. This late in the evening the place was almost empty.
She frowned, smoothing a hand down her black pencil skirt. One that showcased her perfect, pert ass. Today she had on five-inch red heels that defined her calves. Calves he’d love to have resting on his shoulders while…
“No, why?”
“If we’re not here, you shouldn’t be here.”
She snorted. “Abram, I love my job so stop worrying. You guys pay me great, and yeah I work crazy hours but it’s worth it. Eventually we’ll need to hire someone else but for now I’m good.”
The sound of his name on her lips for the second time ever—the first she’d said it all on her own—made everything inside him go still as they stepped into the elevator. He finally found his voice as they reached the bottom floor. “If someone ever makes you feel uncomfortable at work again, let me know.” There was no room for argument in his voice and he knew it sounded more like an order than a request but he didn’t care. He’d wanted to say something back in his office about it, but then she’d asked him to join her for dinner and he’d pretty much lost the ability to talk. He knew she was just asking because he was the only one here, but still, a guy could dream this was more for her.
For a moment, his adorable pixie gave him a confused look. “Oh…ah, okay. I will, promise.”
He nodded, taking her answer at face value, but he still planned to do another look at their newer hires. They’d made a mistake hiring Peter. On paper he’d been perfect, but at work he’d been subtly rude and not exactly lazy, but also not an outstanding employee. Abram and his brother owned a variety of companies and had enough different investment properties that they couldn’t vet everyone. But the people who worked directly for them better be exemplary. They’d earned their reputation for a reason and they couldn’t afford to look weak now. Not ever.