Hugh
“Seriously, all he did was stare at me while I put up the camera, as if he thought I had no idea what I was doing, or if I was supposed to magically get it up there without getting on a ladder.”
I snorted, setting my beer down. “Was it because he wanted to watch you get up the ladder? Or he wanted to do it himself?”
Daisy sat back in her chair and pushed her hair back from her face. And it was such a great face. It was hard for me to stay focused on it though, and not let my gaze go down the long line of her neck to her bare shoulders. It still seemed a bit surreal to me that she was right there in front of me, and we were on a date. A date.
Was this our first? Our third? Did a single dance at a wedding and then a night that I could still remember every taste and sound of count as a date? Did our impromptu dinner at the Indian restaurant with my daughter count? Did takeout at my house count? I didn’t know. I had never done this before. Not with Lucy as such a large part of my life. I had always wanted her to be the constant part of my life, and I had never been able to have that. And now that I did, I was so afraid of ruining it, I didn’t know if what I was doing right now was the right thing, or one of the most selfish things I had ever done. It was probably the latter.
“I was pretty sure it was a little bit of both,” Daisy answered, pulling me out of my thoughts. She wore a strapless top over long pants. It almost looked like some sort of jumpsuit, though I wasn’t into fashion so I had no idea if that was the case or not. She had her hair down, falling in waves down her back. She was honestly one of the most gorgeous women I had ever met. I was so damn lucky that she was across from me. Especially considering the fact that while she technically wasn’t my boss, she still was up there in the hierarchy and we worked together.
“Now what are you worried about?” she asked, and I shook my head, reminding myself that I needed to stay present—something I wasn’t very good at.
“Just wondering if this is such a good idea.” I wasn’t sure I should have been that honest about it, but as she smiled at me, that same worry in her gaze, I figured it was good to put it right out in the open. We were both thinking it, we might as well worry about it together.
“Honestly, yes. This is probably a mistake. But if we’re going to call it that, we made that at the wedding. Though if we stick with our plan and keep things separate, it won’t be a problem. Right?”
I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “We can live in denial, that is perfectly fine.”
“That’s what I like about you, Hugh. You’re good at the whole denial thing.”
I shook my head and sat back, missing her touch already. “No. I’m really not. But I don’t mind lying to myself right now.”
“Well, at least we’re both good at that.”
“Anyway, what did you do to the man?”
Daisy frowned. “The man?” Then she snapped her fingers, her eyes brightening. “Oh yes. The client. Well, I continued to work, but as I went up the ladder, the man seemed to come to a decision and proceeded to reach up and grab my ass so I ‘wouldn’t fall off the ladder.’ Even though I hadn’t faltered.”
An unfamiliar rage settled through me. “Does this man still live? Does he have all his limbs?”
Daisy winked and sipped her sparkling wine.
“He lives. And I didn’t even bruise him.”
“You know, that surprises me. Honestly. Not that you’re violent,” I added quickly, as her eyes narrowed. “You stand up for yourself. Something I’m trying to ensure Lucy can do too.”
Daisy grinned, her whole face brightening. She looked even more beautiful, something I hadn’t thought possible. And that was a problem because I was already a goner. Damn it.
“It’s not like that. I politely requested that he remove his hands from my ass, or he was going to feel it later. Not my ass,” she added quickly, before laughing. “I meant I was going to kick his ass and make sure that when he found his nuts, he would never be able to use them again. I even explained it using polite words.”
I was lucky I wasn’t taking a drink when she said that, because I burst out laughing, drawing the attention of a few people around us.
“You know, that’s what I like about you.”
“Because I’m dainty and I never say a bad word?”
“Sure. We’ll go with that.”
Daisy shrugged. “My mom’s worse. But she did teach my sister and me to stand up for ourselves. My father, too.”
“Did you fire him? The client,” I clarified.
Daisy shook her head. “Not then. We should have, in retrospect.”
I leaned forward. “What do you mean, in retrospect?”
She sighed. “Because he hit on Jennifer, and then me again. Cornered us at an event. It got weird. And then he tried to sue us when his building exploded. It didn’t matter that I was almost inside when it happened and got injured from it.”
“The man who hit on you and put his hands on you owned the building that exploded?”
Daisy nodded. “Yes. And then tried to sue our company because he thought we did it. Even though we were just doing our first reconnaissance. Our notes and tapes confirmed that. He didn’t have a chance to win his case. But he tried to drag our name through the mud, as did Sherman Priority Security.” She said the words with such a snarl, that I narrowed my eyes.
“The place that keeps trying to underbid us?”
“Yep. They do shoddy work, they try to steal our people, and they try to steal our clients. So when Mr. Grabby Hands decided he was going to ruin us because we happened to be near the building when it exploded and I got hurt, Sherman Priority took him on. It’s ridiculous. We’re in Denver fucking Colorado.” She winced and looked around, but no one seemed to be paying attention. “Sorry for cursing.”
“I think I curse more than you, you’re fine. Let’s try not to do that in front of Lucy because she can’t curse at school. It’s a whole thing, and then I have to deal with other parents.”
Daisy laughed. “Oh, I get it. Especially because the Montgomerys have the worst language ever.”
“It’s a sign of character. There have been studies.”
“I know. The whole family have those studies bookmarked in case we need to fight the good fight.”
“But seriously, the city is huge. There’s more than enough space for our two companies. There are more than our two. I just don’t think they like that we’re family oriented and they can’t break us.”
“But they still try to steal your people.”
“Not all of our team are Montgomerys. You aren’t.”
“That is true. And you don’t have many full-time staff, mostly contractors.”
“We only need them for large events. We have the ability to cover their insurance if possible; it’s a whole complicated process that Noah deals with and I don’t have to.” Daisy beamed as she said it, and I laughed.
“As someone who used to own a business, I’m with you there. I’m glad Noah is smart enough to handle it.”
“Plus, our new hire, Kate? She’s brilliant. Noah can actually spend time with Ford and Greer now, and not spend so much time on the books.”
“That’s good.” I paused. “I should probably mention the security company that shall not be named has tried to poach me more than once. In fact, they called today.”
Daisy scowled, and for some reason it made her look even hotter. This was an issue. “What? What did they say? What did they offer you? You better not have taken it.”
I held up my hands and shook my head. “First off, I wouldn’t do that. I made a promise and I like you guys. I don’t like the idea of working for a company that would try to underbid and steal employees. And while it might make things easier if you and I weren’t working together, I’d rather deal with the potential fallout of that than work for your arch-nemesis.”
“You and I have nothing to do with it,” she said, before she sighed. “Okay, that’s a complete lie. I would hate you if you worked for them. And while it would make more sense because I wouldn’t be anywhere near being your boss, you would work for the people I hate. I just can’t believe they did that.”
“They did. And they suck. But I’m not working for them. I’m working for you. Even if it makes things complicated.”
“I think I like things complicated,” she said with a laugh, and then her eyes widened before a huge smile spread on her face.
Only she was looking over my shoulder, not at me. I turned and saw a big man with tattoos running down his arms, wide shoulders, and a big beard. I hoped it was one of her numerous family members.
But based on the way he looked at her? No. Definitely not family.
And then I realized exactly who this man was. He wasn’t wearing a tux like he had the night I’d met him at the wedding, but that glower was familiar.
I held back my scowl as Daisy stood up and wrapped her arms around the very large man.
“Hey there, Daisy. I didn’t know you’d be out tonight.” The damn man hugged her tightly, and then kept his hand on her hip as he looked at me.
Though he was probably my height, he was broader, with a fighter’s build. I hated him on sight. I hated that he still had his hand on her hip even though she had let hers drop.
She looked between us and rolled her eyes, stepping away from him and letting his hand fall.
“Crew, this is Hugh. Hugh, this is Crew. Crew’s one of my best friends. And he helps me train.” Daisy took her seat across from me, so I took that as a win, until she opened her mouth to say, “He’s also my ex, but it’s not like that. Crew, if you could stop acting like a jealous ex—which you’ve never done before in your life—that would be great.”
“What? Just looking out for you.”
“I have forty-seven male cousins and even more female cousins to do that for me. I don’t need you for that.”
Her voice was crisp as she spoke, and I barely held back a smirk.
She was standing up for me. Okay, she was standing up for herself, but I was going to pretend it was for me as well.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, putting a little more posh in my accent than I normally had.
From the roll of Daisy’s eyes and Crew’s smirk, they both understood what I was doing. But what the hell, women loved the accent, and I was going to use it to my advantage.
“I see we’re out on a work date. Enjoying yourself?”
“Crew, don’t start.”
“The rest of them know you’re out here?”
“If you don’t shut up, I’m going to kick your ass, and you showed me all the moves to take you down.”
“I’m sure I have a few too,” I added nonchalantly, but Daisy just shook her head at me.
Now what did that mean?
“Fine, I’m meeting a friend for a drink. But it was good to meet you. At least to lay eyes on you. You know, just so you know where we stand.”
“Oh, I think I know exactly where we stand,” I said.
“Boys. Let’s not. We all know that I can take you both out.”
“That is true. But I don’t mind it.” I winked at Daisy, who just smiled, and Crew laughed.
“Have fun. And don’t worry. I’m the easy one to get through.” Crew smirked and headed to the bar, where a woman with a low-cut dress and long blond hair waited.
She pouted at him, until Cruz slid his thumb along her cheek and she let out a soft giggle.
I turned to Daisy, who shrugged.
“He doesn’t usually act like the growly ex. I’m sorry about that. Do you want to head out? We finished dessert.”
I sipped the rest of my drink, giving me a second to gather my thoughts. “Your cousin Leif and his wife Brooke have Lucy for a sleepover with her new best friend. So I have all night. I didn’t get to finish my dessert.”
There was an edge of jealousy in my voice.
“Hugh, is this going to be a problem?”
“No, it’s not.” I stood and held out my hand. When she slid her hand into mine, it was all I could do not to look over at Crew to show him I won. That she was mine. If only for the night.
* * *
I lifted her up, my hands on her thighs, her back pressed against the door.
“Hugh.”
“That’s it, say my name. Tell me exactly who you’re with right now.”
“I don’t like this jealous side of you.”
“I don’t either. So let’s fuck it out of me.”
She laughed, but I held onto her thighs, a bruising grip that I knew might mark her, but she arched into me, wanting more.
“Mark me with your nails, tell the world I’m yours.”
“Hugh,” she moaned, her gaze searching, then she crushed her mouth to mine. I let her feet fall so I could tug down her pants, her panties just a thin strip of cloth over her pussy.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whispered before I lifted one leg up around my hip, and I cupped her over her panties.
“I’m really glad I do yoga for times like this,” she muttered against my mouth. I smiled before kissing her again while I inserted one finger deep inside her. She was hot and wet and swollen, her panties damp.
“Are you wet for me? From my touching you? From my kiss? My Daisy’s all wet and hot for me and I haven’t even fucked you yet. Do you like it? Do you like it when I touch you?”
“You know I do. Please, just get me off.”
“I could, or maybe I will take you right to the edge, and then pull back, teasing, just like you did at dinner tonight.”
She frowned in confusion. “What?”
“All night you kept playing with your hair, biting your lip. Every time you bent over, I could see your cleavage, those beautiful tits nearly falling out of your top. I was on edge all night, and I’m sure I have a zipper mark on my dick, I was so hard. It was all I could do not to go to the bathroom and rub one out just thinking about you. But I held out, just like you’re going to hold out for me. Don’t come. Don’t come until I tell you.”
“I don’t like bossy men.”
“You like me. Now ride my hand, but don’t come.”
And she did, never breaking eye contact as she rolled her hips over my hand, and I inserted another finger, and then a third. When I slid my thumb over her clit, she shook, her eyes darkening, so I quickly slid out of her, letting her calm down.
“Hugh, I was so close.”
“I told you not to come.” I reached around and pinched her ass, not too hard, but definitely not light.
“Ow.”
“Want me to smack it and make it better?”
She pressed her head back to the door and laughed. I kissed down her throat. I let her leg fall so I could tug on her top. The shirt wrapped around her stomach, her breasts falling into my hands.
“No bra?”
“There’s one fitted into the top. It barely worked. I bounced around a lot tonight.”
“Don’t remind me,” I muttered, before I pressed my face to her breasts and kissed and sucked. She slid her hands through my hair as I laved at her nipples, paying attention to them until they were hard little buds between my fingers and between my lips.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“I’m so wet right now I’m pretty sure it’s trailing down my thigh.”
I leaned back and grinned before I bent in front of her.
“Look at you, all wet between those thighs. Looks like I need to pay more attention.”
“If you don’t make me come, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“I think I can take care of that. We’ll see. But not till I tell you.”
“Why is that so hot? What is wrong with me?”
“It’s because you want me.”
I licked up her thighs, tasting her sweetness, and she shivered under my touch. Soon she was riding my face, her pussy wet and hot against my tongue. I spread her thighs apart, and she held onto the doorknob, trying not to fall. She wore only heels, her panties shoved to the side, and her shirt bunched at the waist.
She was a wreck and I fucking loved it.
“Come, come,” I whispered against her cunt, and then she was shaking, her whole body shuddering as I slid my thumb over her clit, watching her go.
I stood, taking her in my arms, but we started laughing and I tripped over her pants, tumbling to the floor. I took the brunt of the impact, but we were both trained in how to fall, and how to not get hurt. Then she was sliding her hands into my pants, I groaned, and we were both stripping off the rest of our clothes, leaving each other naked, and wanting.
“I’ve never been with a guy not circumcised before,” she whispered, and I grinned. “I didn’t get a chance to mention it the first time. You know, with the tearing of clothes and all.”
“I’m so hard right now, it doesn’t really matter,” I teased. She slid her hand up and down my dick, the tip extra sensitive, until her mouth covered me, and I knew I was going to blow if I wasn’t careful. When I knew it was too much, I backed away, and pulled her up to me.
“Condom,” I muttered, and she reached for her purse, practically climbing over me. And because they were right there, I took one nipple into my mouth. She moaned, her body nearly going limp over me, before she wiggled back down and handed me the condom.
“I’ve got you,” I whispered.
She nodded, and I had a feeling something had just shifted. But I didn’t want to think on it. So I sheathed myself in the condom and let her slide over me. She was hot and warm and tight and it took everything in me to not come right away. I let her ride me, her breasts bouncing until I had her on her back, one knee up to her shoulder, and was pounding into her. Because she was mine. Jobs didn’t matter, nothing outside of this did. Her ex nor mine. It was just me and her, and I needed to claim her. It was raw and hard and everything I told myself it couldn’t be.
When she came, I was right behind her, falling into one another.
I held her close, still locked together, and I knew this had changed everything.
This wasn’t just for fun anymore.
As she shivered in my hold, sweaty and mine, I knew it was a fucking problem.