The VIP Room(107)

Cade flashed a grin and hustled out the door before Derek could reply or shove him out the doorway.

Derek turned off the coffee pot and the lights and grabbed the schedules before leaving to meet his crews. He tried to shake off the bad feeling that going to the club, even for a single dinner event, was a bad idea.

"Let it go for now," he mumbled to himself as he locked up the trailer. He threw the paperwork on the passenger seat of the truck and was pulling away when his cell phone rang.



* * *



Although she came in before seven for an early start, Lauren was unable to concentrate on tax tables and the reports she needed to complete. Instead, she was thinking about her weekend with Derek, and it was making her panties wet, but she savored the discomfort.

She should have let him stay the night. He wanted to, but she was determined to get a good night's sleep and come to work early. Lot of good it did her. She pushed her chair away from her desk and went to refill her coffee cup in the break room. Thank goodness no one was in yet, so she wouldn't have to make any small talk.

Back at her desk, she found herself looking over the computer screen and out the window. She didn't remember him saying he'd call or scheduling a date when he left. He was busy grabbing her breasts and running his hands between her legs, trying to convince her to let him to stay a little longer. It was sweet, she remembered, but now she wished she had something that confirmed there'd be another time together. Ugh, I hate being so desperate. Of course he'll call.

Lauren forced her attention back to the screen and did a few calculations, but thoughts of Derek never left her consciousness. She had to get their next meeting settled, or she'd be distracted all day.

She dialed his cell.

"Hey, gorgeous, I was just thinking about you."

Her nervousness about calling him instantly disappeared, replaced by a full-body rush of joy at the sound of his voice.

"I thought maybe I'd catch you early before you got started on your day," she said.

"Great timing. I'm in the truck on my way to the first job."

"I won't keep you long. I came in early to get some reports done before everyone comes in, so I have only a few minutes. I was thinking about you, though, and decided to call and say good morning."

"I liked the way you said good morning better yesterday, but hearing your voice will have to do for now," Derek said in his deep, low voice.

Lauren blushed. "Well, I also wanted to invite you over for dinner on Friday."

She held her breath waiting for his reply. It was a ballsy move for her. She'd never called and asked a man out before.

Derek took several seconds to answer and Lauren continued to hold her breath.

"Man, I'd love that, but I'm leaving on a buying trip later this afternoon, and I won't be flying home until late Friday night. Can I take a rain check?"

Lauren heart sunk, but she told herself it was a legit excuse. "Sure, how about Saturday then?"

A longer silence this time caused her stomach to turn into knots.

"Damn, sweetheart. My brother roped me into some stupid business dinner for Saturday only a few minutes ago. And I know I'll be swamped with catch-up stuff during the day after being away all week."

Lauren managed to croak out a few noises that she hoped would indicate understanding. "No problem. Sooo, I guess I'll talk to you some other time then," she said and was about to click off.

"Whoa! Hold on. Give me a minute to think."

"About what?"

"How about I take you out for dinner on Sunday? In fact, let's start early. I'll come over around four to get you."

Lauren's heart raced with relief. He did want to see her again! "Sounds good," she said. "Let me know where we're going, so I know what to wear."

In truth, she wanted to make sure he'd call sometime between now and then.

"Will do. I'm pulling up to the site now, but I'll call you during the week from the road. Would that be all right?"

"Yeah, I'd like that."

"Good. Talk soon."

"Bye, Derek. Have a good trip."

The phone rang the second she clicked off. Lauren checked the call screen and smiled.

"Hi, Daddy!"

"How's my gorgeous girl?"

"Wow, that's the second time I've been called gorgeous this morning, and it's barely eight o'clock!"

"Wait a minute, where are you? And who else called you gorgeous?"

Lauren laughed, but realized she shouldn't have let that slip out. She wasn't ready to reveal anything about Derek to her family until she felt more secure that there was something real to share. Her father certainly didn't need to know she'd been having mind-blowing sex, that was for sure.

"I'm at work, and the guy at the coffee shop greeted me when I went in to pick up a bagel for breakfast," she lied.

"If you're at work, I won't keep you long. I'm calling to ask you to join your mother and me at the new member dinner they're having at the club on Saturday. I hear some young, interesting new people have joined, and it would be a good opportunity to meet them."

Lauren sighed. "You mean there's new male blood coming in, and Mother wants to throw me to the lions."