London Falling (Falling #2)(46)
More about London Kelley? Hell yes! I wanted to scream. Instead I played it cool. “By all means, share.”
“London Abigail Bright-Reynolds was born on February fourteenth and will turn twenty-seven next year.”
“Wow. And her birthday is Valentine’s Day? Fits the woman.” Completely afraid of love. How ironic.
Jane smiles and continues. “She married James Kelley at the ripe age of eighteen and was married for four years before being widowed.”
Jane knew her stuff.
“Ms. Kelley lives with one Tripp Devereaux but the only information I could find about him was that he’s worked in modeling for AIR Bright Enterprises and has spent the last few years working in restaurants. He currently works in that overly priced French restaurant next to Armani on Fifth called Magnifique’.”
She’s about to continue when I cut her off. “That’s all. I prefer to find out the rest the old-fashioned way. But London is the reason I wanted to chat with you. Was hoping you could help me again. I want to take Ms. Kelley on another date. Something a bit more casual. What do Yanks find entertaining?”
“You act like we’re the foreigners. We’re not that different from you British folks. Have you considered something like dinner and a movie?”
I jumped up and pulled on Jane’s hands. Her eyes widened with concern as I yanked her into a full-bodied hug. “Smashing, Jane! You’re brilliant!” I hugged her tight but she kept her arms at her sides, clearly uncomfortable. I didn’t care. My most beloved personal assistant was the bees’ knees and I wanted to show it. Quickly before she could escape, I kissed one side of her face, then the other and let her go. A beautiful pink blush rose on her cheeks as she smiled shyly.
“I’m glad I could be of service. A bit more tea, Mr. Stone?”
“Another would be lovely. Thank you.”
As Jane left I pulled up Google to find out what shows were playing on the big screen. As I searched, my phone pinged. Finally!
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
Fighting with a boutique on a piece of furniture they are trying to overcharge me for. What are you doing?
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
Planning our date.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
Really. Give me a hint?
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
Nope. Mums the word. May I be so forward as to suggest you pack a bag for the evening?
Nerves scuttled up my spine and a fine sheen of sweat broke across my forehead as I waited her reply. Suddenly it was very hot in here. Stifling really. I undid the noose they call a tie and a couple of the buttons on my dress shirt. Would she find me too bold? Was asking her to stay the night inappropriate? Shite. I’d have to get rid of Emma.
I pressed the button for Emma’s desk. She answered on the first ring. “Hello, brother mine.”
“Hey Em, can you plan to stay at Nathaniel’s this weekend?”
“Hmmm depends…“ she responded coyly.
“On what?” Fury laced my tone.
“Who’s coming over? Is it the hot woman you manhandled at Nate’s party?”
“Yes. I mean. I didn’t manhandle her.” I sighed. “Can you please stay with him? I want some time alone with London.”
After a beat, she replied. “You really like her.”
I took a deep breath and laid it out there. “I do, Em. More than I want to.”
“I’ll make myself scarce this weekend. Love you. Bye.”
My phone pinged again.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
I like forward. Bag will be packed. Where are you taking me?
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
Nowhere you’d expect. And we will be staying at my place. My sister will be at Nathaniel’s.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
Hmmm I’ll bet I can get it out of you. That’s nice of your sister to give you space. I’d jump you with your sister there or not.
Chriminy! Talk about forward. London takes the term to a whole new place--one that quickly worked its magic down south. My willy was hard as steel at the thought of shagging her while my sister slept in the other room. Almost sounded indecent even though we were grown adults.
To: London Kelley
From: Collier Stone
Christ woman. Keep that up and I’ll be taking you in the car when I pick you up.
There. Now I’ve played her game, settling the score. Too quickly my cell phone pinged again. The woman was wicked fast with her texts.
To: Collier Stone
From: London Kelley
Promises, promises.
That was it. She was the perfect woman. No one in the world could take me from zero to a hundred on the lust-o-meter in the middle of the blessed day while at work. My cock was painfully hard just thinking about taking her in the car. And the bed.
Somehow I had to make good on this date. London was quickly becoming an obsession. Thoughts of her filled every recess of my mind at work, at home, in the shower, eating dinner, sitting in front of the TV, poring over legal documents. If I didn’t get her to commit to being mine for whatever length of time this was between us, I’d never be rid of the righteous need to have her constantly. As it stood, I was on the sheer edge of jumping in my Porsche, finding her and taking her on the steps of wherever she was. Public be damned.