Chapter Four

I carried my luggage off the plane until I met up with Charlie, my driver in Seattle.

Since Matthew maintained my apartment in Vegas, he was typically on duty when I traveled there.

Until my trial case was over, he would be preoccupied in Aspen keeping a closer eye on Miss Johnson.

Charlie welcomed me back with his friendly smile as he held open the door to the backseat of the glossy black Escalade. I slid inside and instantaneously pulled out my Android to check if I had any messages. A grin appeared on my face once I read her name.

Via,

You will be happy to know my plane has landed and I am still in one piece as you requested. 

I smiled at her words as I replied to her.

Ryan,

Thank you for reassuring me about your well-being, Miss Johnson. I just arrived in Seattle and am thinking about the beautifully stubborn woman I met while in Vegas. I am looking forward to the day I get to see her beautiful face again. ;)

Via,

Are you referring to me as this beautiful woman? When was the last time you had your eyes examined, Ryan? I am in no way as gorgeous as you. :P

Shaking my head, I sent her a quick message.

Ryan,

My vision is perfect, thank you very much. No giving me your self-pity shit or I will be on the next flight out of here just to come spank you. 

Via,

Oh, and now we are getting physical. I never figured you would be into the whole Dominant-submissive thing…

My eyes widened once I read her last message. Of course, I was not Dominant material—anymore—and she beyond doubt was not the submissive type. Before I responded, another message popped through.

Via,

How dare you try turning me on when we are so many miles apart! Oh, by the way, your driver does not do too great of a job keeping himself hidden from view. I appreciate your wanting me safe, but next time, please warn a girl so she doesn’t assume she is going to end up on this ID channel that you spoke of!

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her words. Oh, how much I wanted to make this woman mine. However, she was right. I should not be turning her on seeing as we had quite a bit of distance between us.

Ryan,

As much as I hate to, I need to prepare for my trial that will take place within the next week or two. It is difficult for me to work when I am being distracted. ;)

I put my phone on silent and stowed it away before I got caught in her reply.

Charlie held the door open for me again once we arrived home. Climbing out of the car, I strolled in through the front door. Even though she had never been here, the place was empty without the company of Via.

I took the briefcase Charlie held out for me and raced to my office. Opening the door and flicking on the lights, I strolled over to my desk. I plopped on my chair, spinning around a couple of times—something I have done ever since I could remember. As I pulled my laptop out of its case and opened it, a piece of paper folded in half was laying on the keyboard. I picked it up and opened it, curious as to what it may be. A grin began to stretch across my cheeks as I read.

My Dearest Ryan,

By the time you read this, I will be in my toasty-warm bed back in Aspen. Thinking about you, of course!

I am fully aware of the fact that I have thanked you a million times for taking me out, but I had the need to express it in a letter.

I am not much of a writer, so bear with me here!

Oh, gracious kind sir! I would like to thank thee for escorting this fair woman to a banquet even though she got a wee-bit tipsy… (Ha! Ha! I tried to warn you I am no good with the letter-writing thing.)

Alright! You caught me… I didn’t write this just to send you this lame thank you.

I did this because I am watching you sleep and can’t keep a smile off my face. You just look so peaceful when you sleep—not like your crabby, lawyer-self!

I am not sure when we will be with each other again, but I can’t wait until we are! You fascinate me, Mister Rayner, which is something that hardly ever happens to me. You should feel honored!

Oh! Before I forget, I have a surprise for you! I’m not going to ruin it by telling you either. You will be receiving it in 4,3,2,1…

Once my eyes skimmed over the last number, a light tapping on my door pulled my eyes away from the letter.

It couldn’t be her, could it?

Charlie opened the door.

He held a weird expression on his face. “A Mister Mike Hunt is here to see you, sir.”

Mike Hunt? I was not familiar with anybody by the name of Mike Hunt. He must have known me, or Charlie would have never let him inside. I looked over the railing to witness a bodybuilding man standing in a white sailor suit carrying a large, leather bag.

I didn’t remember setting up any appointments to meet with a captain. The strange man opened his bag, pulling out a medium-sized boom box.

He peered up at me with a huge grin on his face. “Somebody told me that you needed a few lessons in hoisting the sail.”

“I beg your pardon?” I blinked a million times, trying to understand what he was saying.

Instead of answering me, he turned on his stereo. As Baby Got Back by Sir-Mix-A-Lot blared through the speakers, he began dancing around the room.

I looked over at Charlie in confusion and he stared at me, attempting to contain his laughter. I turned back to the man in the suit, who now stood wearing nothing but pants.

My eyes widened once my brain had processed what he was doing. I glared at Charlie, who was still trying not to burst. “There is no way she would have done this, right?”

Charlie shrugged. “Honestly sir, I have no idea who hired this man—and who is she?”

My attention focused back on the captain himself right as he was about to unzip his fly. My hands went up, pleading with him to stop. “Whoa! That’s enough.”

He immediately stopped and stared up at me. “Is something wrong, sir?”

A line in between my eyebrows formed.

Oh no, I’m used to having male strippers dancing for me in the middle of my living room floor!

“I hate to tell you this, but I believe you are on the wrong floor, Mister Mike Hunt.” Repeating his name in my head, now I got the reference.

“With all due respect sir, I have been given the right address. You are Mister Ryan Rayner, correct?”

Damn! Who on Earth would send him here? Without a doubt Via would not do anything like this. How could she manage to pull it off being so far away?

I made my way down the stairs. “Who hired you?”

He pulled out a couple of papers from his bag and read them off. “It was a phone-in order from Ms. Olivia Johnson.” He looked back at me. “Do you know a woman by that name, sir?”

A grin appeared on my face as I nodded. “Yes. Of course. Olivia is quite the prankster. I am sorry for the inconvenience.” I flipped a hundred dollar bill at him. “I apologize for wasting your evening.”

He took the money, put everything back into his bag including his shirt, and walked out.

I heard Charlie lightly snickering at the top of the stairs. I squinted at him. “Not a single word at all.”

Digging my phone out of my pocket, I dialed her number.

* * * *

“Oh captain, my captain!” she answered through her laughter over the phone. It took a couple of seconds for her to contain herself. “How was your sailing lesson?” She cracked up again, hardly able to catch her breath.

I patiently waited for her to calm down so she would be able to hear me. “You just think you are so cute and clever, don’t you?”

“Most definitely. The best part is, you weren’t even expecting it!” She started rolling again.

Sitting on the chair in my office, I waited for her to calm herself. “Miss Olivia Johnson, I have half a mind to fly there myself and spank you until your ass bruises!”

That got her to hush. Well, long enough to speak, that was. “I would love to apologize, Ryan, but the truth is I’m not sorry!” She began to crack up again.

“Paybacks are hell!” I told her as I rested back in the chair with a smirk.

I could imagine her grinning over the phone. “In that case, I will be waiting. Always remember my dearest, anything you can do, I can do better. Anyway, how was your evening before Mike Hunt arrived?”

“I found your letter. Tell me something, how did you manage to time it?” I asked while twirling the folded up letter between my fingers.

I could sense her smile growing wider. “Oh, Mister Rayner, you should know by now I have my ways of doing things. I would say that I wish I were there, but seeing as you want to smack my ass, I think I will take a rain check.”

I shook my head even though she could not see me. “Via, I wouldn’t dare touch you unless you asked me too. Think of it as a gentlemen’s rule.”

“I’m going to be honest with you, the whole you wanting to spank me seems a little frightening.”

“Would you mind if I asked why?” I was curious. She had me captivated now.

She took a deep breath in and released it. “Like tonight, for instance, I do something hilarious and you want to tan my hide! How can punishing someone like a child be considered anything else except demeaning?”

I couldn’t help but smile by the simple thought of smacking her ass until it turned a bright shade of pink, something I had not thought about doing to a woman in five years.

My teeth clenched my lip. “Oh, Via, I would love to assist you in answering that question of yours.”

“As delighted I am to test this theory, I need to sleep. I will call you first thing in the morning, Ryan.” With that, she hung up the phone.

Instantly I was alone again. My heart sank once I could no longer hear her.

I had never once ached over someone in my thirty years.

Before I could stand up to prepare myself for bed, my cell phone rang. I grinned as I answered, “I thought you were going to bed, Miss Johnson?”

She exhaled on the phone. “I had to tell you something. Somebody once told me to always let people know how you feel because one day, it may be too late.” She took a deep breath and released it. “I think I am in love with you.”

I opened my mouth to express my feelings for her, but the line cut. Did she actually just hang up on me? Staring at my phone, I waited until her name flashed over the screen again.

“You tell me that you love me and then you hang up on me?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready to hear your response. I panicked.”

Instead of speaking right away, I let the awkward silence linger just to spite her. Her breathing grew harder, and I would put money on it that she was biting her sexy ass lip. She was growing anxious, which was making me a bit horny. “I don’t think I am in love with you. I already know.”

My heart slammed against my chest, surprised by the words I had just spoken. Do I love this woman? Do I want to spend the rest of my life with her? Damn straight!

“What makes you so sure?”

Does she seriously want me to explain how she makes me feel over the phone? That’s not going to happen!

“Go to bed, Olivia. We will talk about this when I see you again. I have a trial in two days I must prepare myself for so I am not clueless in court. You are a huge distraction. Now, get well rested because you will need it before you see me again.” With that, I hung up the phone.

As much as I wanted to, I refrained from answering when she called again. Instead, I shut everything down in my office and went straight to my bedroom. As my head hit my pillow, my phone buzzed, this time with a text message. I smiled once I read her message.

Via

Since you have decided to ignore me now, I will play this little game of yours. I am going to bed. Not because you told me to, but due to the fact I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. So much so, I may be too busy to answer any of your messages or calls. Consider this your warning!

I had to admit, it was a bit of a turn-on when she got a little bothered. It was much more amusing in person, but the text message would do for now. It would be enough to allow me to picture her wide blue eyes that changed to a shade of green when she was angry, or how the color of her cheeks would transform into a bright shade of pink. Rolling over, I tried to block out my perverted thoughts. I lay there, trying my damnedest to think of what I needed to complete for my case.

I was meeting with my client tomorrow afternoon to go over a few questions they might ask her in court. The questions would zero in on my client’s relationship with the heartless son of a bitch. When she met him, how long had she known him? Did he show any signs of odd behavior—that sort of thing. I had spoken with this woman over the phone. The run-through of the trial would be our first physical meeting, which was what she had requested, of course.

Normally, I did not take on clients unless we met in my office. A phone call was too impersonal and distant. I found my job easier once I got the eye-to-eye contact. I was a hard-ass in the court room, but with my clients, I preferred to be laid back enough so they were comfortable.

* * * *

My lips mumbled the lyrics of Baby Got Back before my eyes opened the next morning. Oh, that woman is so going to get paid back for what she did to me.

I didn’t care if she was the first woman ever to have enough balls to pull this prank. Others would be too intimated or know better. She wasn’t afraid of me. In all honesty, I was afraid of her.

No matter where I traveled, women would stare at me with the same expressions. It was either an I want you now look or the jaw dropping he is so gorgeous gawk. I got a kick out of watching the women drool over my appearance, but it was merely looks. Olivia Johnson was the one woman who did not glare at me like I was from another planet. Hell, she had me wondering if she even found me attractive. She did a fantastic job at ignoring me until my brother introduced us.

For the first time in a long ass time, I didn’t feel like another sex object. It felt as if she saw right through my soul when she stared into my eyes.

The loud ringing of my alarm jolted me out of my thoughts. I clambered out of bed and straight to the bathroom, dragging my phone along with me just in case my Via called. I turned the water to the shower on, stripped out of my lounge pants, and stepped underneath the water. Letting the warmth mask my body, I drenched my hair and lathered on shampoo. My hair was nice and sudsy when my phone rang. “Of course.”

I checked the ID and answered, “Good morning, Emilia.”

“Good morning, sir.” She sounded dumbfounded by my chipper tone. I couldn’t blame her since I had been slightly bitter and short with her since I hired her. “Samantha Benson just called to confirm today’s meeting, sir.”

“Thank you, Emilia. I will be in the office in approximately an hour. See you then.” I hung up the phone.

Rinsing the shampoo out of my hair, I finished my shower. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my waistline. Standing in front of the sink, I brushed my teeth and rinsed with mouthwash.