She smiled brightly. So thats why Ive decided to get him back.
What? Get him back? Why in the world would she want that scumbag back? Hell, Brandon didnt even know Roger and he already hated him.
Yes. She spread her arms out. And that explains the makeover.
And with that, she made a show of checking her watch, effectively ending the conversation. Probably a good idea.
So, she said, changing the subject, do you want me to order lunch from catering?
He wasnt finished talking about this, but clearly Kelly needed a time out. So hed let it go. For now.
Yeah, that would be great. Ill have the steak sandwich.
Sounds good. Ill call it in.
He leaned forward in his chair. Listen, Kelly, if you need any help or advice, anything at all, youll come to me. Promise?
Really? You mean it?
Absolutely.
She studied his face as if she were weighing the depth of his sincerity. Youre sure?
I wouldnt have offered if I wasnt.
She seemed to carry on a short debate with herself, then said, Okay, there is one tiny thing you could help me with. If you wouldnt mind.
You name it, he said, reaching for his coffee mug.
Ill be right back. She rushed out to her desk and was back in less than twenty seconds, holding a shopping bag from a well-known and expensive lingerie shop. Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she pulled some wispy scraps of sheer material from the bag and dangled them for him to see.
Which do you like better, the black thong or the red panties?
Two
He choked on his coffee.
Dismayed, Kelly ran around and pounded his back. Are you okay?
Fine, he managed to say. Im fine. Hed be even better once she backed off and her curvaceous breasts were no longer rubbing against his arm. He was only human, for Gods sake. And hard as granite.
Hed been tackled by some of the biggest linebackers in football history, but nothing had ever rendered him apoplectic before now. As he took a deep breath and let it out, the thought entered his mind that maybe she was trying to kill him. Could Roger have treated her so badly that she was going to take it out on every man she knew?
It wasnt enough that shed changed the playing field with her hot new look, but now she was shoving her panties at him. Didnt she know that those little scraps of silk would be forever imprinted on his fragile male psyche? Now he would be forced to spend the next millennium imagining her in that black thong. Was she really that clueless?
I didnt mean to shock you, she said. But you said you would help.
Didnt shock me, he insisted, his voice sounding as if a frog had taken up residence in his throat. Coffee went down wrong. Just give me a minute.
She finally moved back to her side of the desk and quickly shoved the bits of lace into the shopping bag.
Theyll work just fine, he said softly, not trusting his voice yet.
Her eyes glittered with hope. Really?
Believe it, he said with a nod. Any normal guy would be grateful to see you in either pair.
You mean it? Her eyes cleared and she smiled. Thank you, Brandon. Oh, and I apologize again for springing them on you.
No problem.
To make this work, I really need to know what guys consider sexy. She frowned, then admitted, Roger never thought I was.
Never thought you were what?
Sexy.
Brandon sat forward in his chair. Does Roger have some kind of learning disability or something?
She laughed. Thanks for that. Ill go order lunch now.
Good idea, he said, thankful his voice had returned to full volume. Oh, and Kelly?
She stopped at the door. Yes?
Go with the black thong.
Later that afternoon, Brandon hung up the phone from a two-hour teleconference with his brothers and their lawyer.
That guy never stops talking, he said, shaking his head at the sheer immensity of the lawyers convoluted vocabulary.
I was thinking you must pay him by the word, Kelly said, flexing her fingers. She had taken notes during the entire meeting and now she stood and stretched her arms. The movement caused the knit fabric of her dress to stretch so tightly across her perfect round breasts that Brandon had to look the other way to stifle the first stages of another rock-hard erection.
Im getting more coffee, she said. Would you like some?
No, thanks. Will you have a chance to type up your notes and analysis this afternoon?
Definitely. Ill get right on them.
I appreciate it.
She closed the door and Brandon gritted his teeth. He needed Kelly to rethink this new wardrobe situation if he was going to survive the week. Hell, even her ankles were causing him palpitations. There was something about those high heels she was wearing that did awesome things to every inch of her legs.
An hour later, after the rest of his team had gone home, he walked out to Kellys area to find a property file and caught her pouting at herself in her compact mirror.
Oh. She blinked in surprise and quickly slapped the mirror closed and threw it in her drawer.
He rested one hand on the doorjamb. I know Im going to be sorry I asked, but what were you doing?
Nothing. What do you need? A file? Which one? Ill get it. She jumped up and pulled the top file drawer open.
See, now youre just raising my curiosity level, he said, so you might as well tell me.
She clenched her teeth together irately. Fine. Roger complained about the way I kissed, so I was practicing in the mirror. There. Are you happy?
He shook his head. Roger is a complete idiot. Why do you care what he thinks?
She glared at him. I told you, I want to get him back.
Yeah, thats what I dont get. Disgusted with the subject of Roger, he moved to the file drawer and began to sift through the folders himself. Wheres the new Montclair Pavilion file?
Ive got it right here. She picked up a thin folder and handed it to him. She looked so dejected, he couldnt help but feel sorry for teasing her.
Look, Im sure you kiss like a goddess, he said. So stop worrying about what Roger thinks.
I just wish I could practice on something besides a mirror, she said gloomily.
Yeah, he agreed absently as he thumbed through the file. It usually works better to go with a real-life target wholl actually kiss you back.
She shot him a hopeful look. I dont suppose youd be willing to help me out with that.
He glowered at her. Get real, Kelly.
What do you mean? Realization dawned slowly. Oh! No, no! I didnt mean for you to kissoh, dear. I would never want you to well, this isnt going to come out right, no matter how I say it.
So just say it.
Okay. I wasnt talking about you kissing me. She sat on the edge of her desk. But the thing is, Ive made a list of potential, um participants. So I was thinking maybe you could help by looking it over and making some suggestions?
You have a list? Why was he surprised? Kelly made lists for everything. It was just one of the ways she stayed so organized.
Of course I have a list. She jumped up, ran around the desk and pulled a pad and pen out of her drawer. Im good at making lists.
Let me get this straight, he said, absently slapping the file folder against his pants leg. Youve made a list of men youre thinking of approaching to ask for help withwhat? Kissing lessons?
She flipped a page over and studied it. Thats right.
But Im not on the list? he asked warily.
What? No, absolutely not. She shook her head as she held up her hand in a pledge. Of course youre not on the list. Youre my boss.
Good. As long as weve got that settled. He shouldve felt nothing but relief. So why was he getting more annoyed by the minute? She considered him good enough to judge her damn panties but not good enough to kiss?
Okay, that might be the most ridiculous thought hed had all day. This entire situation was getting out of hand. With a heavy exhalation of breath, he shoved away his own ludicrous reactions and tried to empathize with Kellys bizarre quandary.
So whos on the list? he asked, almost afraid to hear her answers.
She glanced up. What do you think about Jean Pierre?
The hotel chef? She couldnt be serious.
Hes French, she explained. They invented the sport, right?
No way in hell. Not Jean Pierre. Youd probably start an international incident. Absolutely not.
Okay, okay. She crossed Jean Pierres name off her list. What about Jeremy?
The guy who mows the lawns?
Hes a landscape designer, she said pointedly. Practically an artist. He might know a thing or two about the art of lamour.
Hes gay.
Really? Why dont I know these things? She blew out a frustrated breath as she drew a line through Jeremys name. Nicholas the winemaker? Hes German, right? He might be
Let me see that list. He snatched the pad from her and gazed at the names. Paulo, the cabana boy?
Hes cute, she insisted, a little too desperately. Forget it. Whos Rocco?
One of the limo drivers.
Which one?
The big guy with the
Never mind. He shook his head. No.
But
No, he said, handing the list back. Throw that away. I dont want you going around kissing the staff, for Gods sake.
Fine. Glaring at Brandon, she ripped the page out, crumpled it up and tossed it in the waste bin. I suppose youre right. It might send the wrong message.
You think? he said, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
She folded her arms tightly across her chest, which only served to emphasize her world-class breasts, damn it.
So who can I ask for help? she wondered, leaning her hip against her desk. Ive got a full week before Roger gets here. I could do a lot of practicing in that time. Do you have any friends you could recommend?
No.
Too bad. She pursed her lips in thought. Maybe theres someone in town who
Not a good idea, he said in a tone that cut off all discussion. Not a good idea? Talk about an understatement. Hell, it was one of the worst ideas Brandon had ever heard. He didnt want her kissing the staff or any poor, unsuspecting Napa Valley residents. All he needed was to have the locals talking about the crazy kissing woman from the Mansion on Silverado Trail.
But he could tell by the tension building along Kellys soft jawline that she was determined to carry out this cockeyed plan of hers. And if she went behind his back and enlisted one of the pool attendants
Brandon stared at those pouty, glossy lips and realized the only man who could help her improve her kissing technique was him. Mainly because he suddenly couldnt stand the thought of her kissing anyone else.
Fine, he said brusquely. Ill help you.
She pushed away from the desk. But youre not on the list.
Doesnt matter. Im going to help you myself because I dont want you scaring away the staff.
She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head at him. I know you meant that in the nicest way.
Sorry. Yes. He shook his head as if to erase the comment. Of course I did.
She continued staring at him. I dont think its a good idea.
Its the only way Ill know for sure that youre not getting into trouble around here.
I wont get into trouble.
I know, because Ill be the one helping you.
Inhaling a deep breath, Kelly let it out slowly, then seemed to brace herself for impact. Okay. I appreciate this, Brandon. She took a hesitant step toward him, but he held up his hand to stop her.
Wait. We need to set some ground rules first.
Ground rules? Why?
Because theres no way Im having you fall for me.
Fall for you? She blinked, then began to laugh. Are you kidding?
Something funny? he asked, insulted.
Yes, she said, giggling like a schoolgirl. The idea that I would ever be dumb enough to fall for you is pretty funny.
Dumb enough?
Yes, dumb enough. Let me count the ways. She held up one hand and began ticking off fingers. Youre a grouch in the morning. You leave newspapers lying around everywhere. You date a woman once and then never call back. Youre a big baby when youre sick.
Wait a minute, he protested.
But she was on a roll now and seemed to be enjoying herself. And all your weird superstitions left over from when you played in the NFL? My gosh, wearing the same socks for every game was bad enough, but I also heard that you ate only sardines and blueberries the night before every game. Do you still do that before big negotiations?
Who does that?
Brandon had heard enough. He placed the file on the chair in front of her desk and stalked closer. The socks were washed between games.
Oh, really?
Yeah, really. He brushed against her, then slipped his hand around her nape and urged her closer. And sardines and blueberries are both excellent sources of omega-three fatty acids.
Fascinating, she whispered, as she stared wide-eyed at him.
Helps the brain function better, he added as he caressed her cheek.
G-good to know. She sounded wary now, probably smart of her.
He bent to kiss her neck, then murmured in her ear, The quarterbacks the brains of the team, did you know that?
She moaned. What are you doing?
What do you think Im doing?
Im not sure.
I am. And he kissed her. She tasted as sweet and hot as he somehow knew she would. Even more so. He had to work to keep the contact light and simple, because it wouldnt do to get carried away. But that didnt stop him from wishing he could lay her down on the desk, run his hands up her thighs, spread her legs and bury himself inside her.
He had to stop. This was wrong in too many ways to count. If he stepped away from her right now, they could both forget this kiss ever happened.