A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(27)
“Yeah,” I agree.
Then my phone rings again. “Jesus, I bet it’s damn Trevor again. He’s so persistent.
But when I answer, it isn’t Trevor. It’s someone else entirely that shocks the hell out of me. My hand automatically reaches for Lauren’s and she winces as I crush it in a vise-like grip while I listen to the person on the other end.
Pressing my temples, I try to stop replaying Friday night with Samantha in my head knowing she isn’t for me. It’s been almost a week and I’m still scratching my head over her reaction. After every opportunity to stop things, she decided she wanted to continue. But after she got hers, she left me with a stiff dick and only my hand to use instead. And f*ck me if my damn traitorous cock doesn’t stand in protest every time I think about her.
I shift in my chair when my office door opens after a quick knock. Glancing over my monitor, Lisa is coming towards me. She doesn’t stop until she’s right beside me. I focus on my computer screen because I should be going over my presentation one last time before the meeting.
Her hand dislodges my own from my hair. “You’re going to lose all this gorgeous hair if you keep yanking at it.”
I glance away from her expectant face and glare at my hand. I hadn’t realized what I was doing until she’d freed my death grip. “I should cut it all off, or shave my head.”
Her fingers run through my hair. Her nails graze over my scalp and I can’t help that it feels nice. “Don’t you dare, Ben Rhoades. Your hair could be famous if you’d leave it be.”
She works some magic I’m unable to see. Her face however tells the tale as she grins and steps back to admire her work.
“You look good. Ready for the Sadlers. They are in the small conference room. I was sent to tell you.”
Her eyes hold me in place and I have the sense she wants me to say something. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a flash of golden hair. I whirl in that direction, but see nothing.
“What?” Lisa asks.
I angle my desk chair and backup so I can stand with some distance between us.
“Nothing.” Clearly, I can’t expunge Samantha from my head despite it all. “I should head over.”
Lisa nods and walks away. I grab my laptop and a thumb drive and head in for the presentation. The small conference room isn’t quite small. It can hold a dozen people comfortably around the table. The Sadlers sit with their backs to the glass wall at one end of the table. Dad, who sits at the opposite end, watches me approach. He raises a brow in question.
“Sorry I’m late,” I announce as I walk in.
I turn on the charm Dad insists could sell any used car on the lot. A couple of times, I swear I catch a glimpse of Samantha, but I plow on.
“Our plan may be a little aggressive, but with no risk there’s little reward. We believe that our strategy of personally watching over your investments will keep you safer than say our big New York corporate competitors. We are only a phone call away, not a call center where someone with a script will try to answer your questions, or a large corporation where you have to jump through several hoops before you get to your broker.”
My words trail off when I see her. I’m riveted to the view outside the glass. It feels like an eternity since I’ve seen her last. My gaze sweeps over the curve in her top, down a skirt, to her endless legs.
“… New York is—” Mr. Sadler begins.
“Beautiful.” The word slips from my mouth before I realized I’ve said it.
“Huh?” someone murmurs.
I blink, realizing the word took the fast track from my brain to my lips. The self-destruction button on my brain depresses as I watch Jeff stand twenty feet away talking to Samantha. I know that look on his face, and when she smiles, my vision clouds. I don’t know if I’m happy or pissed at seeing her.
“If you would excuse me, I need a drink of water. Does anyone need anything?”
I don’t bother to wait for an answer. I’m out the door as my father’s glare drills into my back.
Barreling forward, Jeff sees me coming. He holds up his hands in the universal sign of peace while moving a few steps back. I sidestep him determined to reach her. Cupping her elbow, I lead her out of sight of the conference room. Her eyes grow large and I can see the bull I’ve become reflected in their beauty.
“What are you doing here?” I half whisper, half growl.
She blinks, a frown curling her smile the other way. “I—”
“Have you come to apologize?”
The storm that darkens her expression is immediate.
“Apologize?” Her one word question is more of an accusation. “For your information, I’m not here to see you. I received an urgent call on Saturday from an admin in your office about an event they want me to handle.
I need to get my head checked because something about her defiance makes her more attractive than less. Remembering how our calamitous night together ended cools my jets instantly.
After a lingering pause with our glares locked, I stand up straight and finally say, “Well, by all means, carry on.”
As much as I’m attracted to her, I don’t have to hedge my bets to know she’s not ready for the likes of me. I need to clear my head of her, so I pivot ready to put distance between us. Her hand lands on my bicep and stops me.