With an hour to spare, I spritzed on some perfume and grabbed my clutch purse before heading out. My GPS took me right to the venue, where I got valet parked, as well as some funny stares since my car wasn’t a million-dollar vehicle.
“Hello,” I said to the hostess once I was inside. “I have a meeting with H&P.”
The young woman smiled and led me along. Her hips swayed in a way I was sure she was trained to do for the men who regularly dined here. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, wondering if I had picked the right attire; I felt so exposed.
We rounded the corner, beyond a big private wall.
There they were, Jude and Maverick.
Seeing me, they stood. The two of them looked me over as I did the same to them. Jude had his suit jacket off. The white of his dress shirt stretched over his muscles and the black ink of his tattoos was visible beneath. He spread his legs in a power stance, his hands in his pockets drawing attention to his cock.
Contrastingly, Maverick had his gray suit jacket on, although it was open and showing that he too, had his hands in his pockets. His legs were also slightly spread.
The two of them looked like powerful alphas—Jude with his dark hair and eyes, strong jaw, and pursed lips, and Maverick with his light hair, soft blue eyes, and chiseled face.
How could I work with them and behave myself? I tightened my legs.
“I see you’ve found better shoes,” Maverick said, stepping forward. His scent surrounded me, and I placed his cologne as the softer one that I smelled fresh detergent under.
“I have,” I said, offering a light smile as he extended his hand to me. His hand was calloused and firm, and I could still feel it after our handshake ended.
He cleared his throat and moved toward the table, a half-booth with a high back of brown leather.
I looked toward Jude, the more intimidating of the two. He reached out to shake my hand and I reciprocated. “Good evening, Miss Cates,” he said, his deep voice washing over me. He stepped aside, gesturing to the booth. I slid inside, surprised when they each situated themselves on either side of me. I clenched legs, while the two of them sat with theirs spread wide, leaning forward.
“Thank you for meeting with us,” Maverick said. His blue eyes bored into mine with such intensity, I felt like a prisoner. But what really unnerved me was the fact that I could feel Jude staring at me too. I had a strong suspicion that he was sizing me up, undressing me with his eyes. I could practically feel them moving my zipper down while I concentrated on Maverick. Studying his hard jaws and soft lips, I couldn’t tell if it was just my imagination making me think I felt Jude’s breath on my ear.
“Of course,” I finally answered.
I chanced a glance over to Jude, whose dark eyes pinned me in place. I looked at his face long enough to see the lines of age. Long enough to see the falters in his hard exterior.
Long enough to imagine his lips all over me…
What I didn’t imagine was him coming closer, pressing his knee to my legs so much that I had to cross them. The slight shift sang up my groin and I felt myself clenching and seeping onto my lace underwear. I swallowed nervously, hoping it wasn’t getting on my dress. My chest rising faster, my breasts swelled in the tight dress, and when Jude looked me up and down, I nearly exploded.
I knew something had been said, but I couldn’t place it because Maverick had started pressing against me, too.
Were they doing this on purpose? I didn’t even know why I had been invited, let alone cornered.
“Henley?” Maverick said.
I turned to him. “What?” I asked. Had he said something to me? I couldn’t even remember. Suddenly, the water in front of me called out like a drug. I grabbed it and took some much-needed long sips.
“Nothing. Just wondering about your broken shoe. I couldn’t imagine you would willingly wear those awful flats to an interview,” he teased. His voice was like a cool breeze over harsh rocks, making me yearn in pleasure.
My cheeks warmed. “Oh…They’ve been, um, replaced.” I swallowed hard and Maverick flashed me his familiar soft smile. I tried to return it before glancing at Jude, stunned to see him also cracking a smile my way.
With both of them so close, I didn’t know how to react. I just knew that for a business meeting, it was highly inappropriate.
But if it wasn’t a business meeting, I had no idea what it was. Nevertheless, I couldn’t deny that I liked feeling them both on me. Their proximity made my body sing.
I was very, very out of my element.
6
Maverick
Henley looked like a temptress of the finest sorts. It was almost as if she didn’t know what that dress and her wavy hair were doing. She was going to ruin me.