He presses his phone to the front of his suit jacket to block out our conversation from the person he's talking to. "I'm in the middle of an important call, Lark. Whatever it is, will need to wait. You're excused."
I'm excused? Does he think this is fifth grade? I move past him and sit back down in the chair I was in earlier. "I'll wait until you're done."
"You'll leave now."
"I can't," I say with a tremor in my voice. "I need you to explain something to me."
"This call is important, Lark." He moves to my side. "It requires my attention. Please leave."
I look up at his face. He's serious, deadly serious. I don't want any part of this conversation to get back to Crew, so I haul my ass back out of the chair and face him. "I'll go, but I need to speak with you as soon as possible."
"Fine." He waves his hand in the direction of his door. "See yourself out."
I curse under my breath as I open the door, walk through and slam it shut behind me.
Chapter 4
Ryker
Crew Benton's younger sister is everything I'm not supposed to want. She works for me. She's related to my boss. She's got the sweetest smile I've ever seen, and she smells like she took a bath in a mountain spring. She's innocence personified. She's not my usual type at all unless you consider that tattoo on her thigh.
That damn small heart tattoo that has haunted me since I first saw those two pictures a year ago.
I knew immediately it was her when I scanned that ridiculous gallery of pictures she'd uploaded the night of the Christmas party. I imagine her intention was to gain someone's favor by capturing the evening's events. The only reason I scrolled through the images on the laptop in my office was to delete any of me.
I had a few too many beers as I shot the shit with the employees who run their asses off every single day for me. I had somewhere else to be, but when I saw Lark standing in the corner alone, I couldn't remember anything.
I got a small taste of what I wanted for Christmas when I kissed her under that cilantro some idiot bought as a pass-off for mistletoe. It was hung near the elevators, and when I walked out of the crowded conference room to see Lark standing beneath it, I caved.
I craved a taste of those perfectly shaped, full, pink lips. I got it when she turned, tilted her neck back and offered her mouth to me after I tapped her on the shoulder and pointed at the cilantro. We didn’t exchange a single word, just a kiss that I've never forgotten. She broke the kiss when the elevator doors flew open, and two of her co-workers stepped off. She stepped on and was gone in a flash.
"Ryker? What the fuck is going on between you and Lark?"
Daydreams about a woman you want to screw should never be interrupted by her brother. Why the fuck did I agree when Human Resources told me that Lark was a great fit for the marketing division? I thought
I'd be able to look past how attractive she is. I was confident that I'd be able to ignore the way she looks at me. It's been a struggle every single day since I met her.
"Hey, Crew," I shoot those two words off my tongue with as much cheeriness as I can muster. "What's up?"
He stands in the doorway of my office. He bears no resemblance at all to Lark. She's a blonde. His hair is as black as mine. Her eyes are a shade of soft shade of gray. His are green. There's no way to tell they're related based on appearance. The only similarity between the two of them is their effort to distance themselves from the Benton name. Their parents own half the real estate in Manhattan, yet neither of them works for them. I've overheard Crew grumbling to Nolan Black, the co-owner of Matiz, about how controlling his father is. The elder Benton has to be a fucking tyrant if two of his four children want nothing to do with him professionally.
"Word around the office is that you ordered Lark in here after the meeting this morning." He doesn't hesitate as he steps toward me. "Why?"
I scramble for something to say that isn't related to my dick pictures or that photo that shows the barest slice of her smooth pussy.
"We were discussing the holiday party for our division."
Not a complete lie. We talked about last year's party.
"You're fucking fired if you told her about the surprise, Ryker." His eyes narrow on me. "Tell me you didn't spill the beans."
"What beans?" I shoot back when I realize the grin on his face means he's kidding about firing me. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You play dumb well, Moore." He taps my chest with his finger. "You did this same song and dance with her, right? Tell me that she still thinks there's an office Christmas party tomorrow night."
I still think there's an office Christmas party tomorrow night. I had plans to be there. I've vowed to steer clear of any beverages that are stronger than water and anything that resembles mistletoe. I may be single since I dumped Gem, but Lark Benton is still on my I-wish-I-could-fuck-but-I-can't list.
"She thinks there's an office party tomorrow," I say smoothly. "She has no idea about the surprise."