No One Else: The Ladies Who Brunch Book 2, page 7
“Yes, Daddy!” He hops off his stool and takes his hat from my hand, placing it on his head. “Now, let’s make the best pizza ever!”
I give him a high five after I place my hat on my head too. “Let’s do it.”
After we eat dinner and Oliver is clean, I tuck him in bed and sit on the couch, exhausted after a long day. I debate finding something new to watch on Netflix or seeing what’s on television, but part of me is just too tired to care.
I decide to take a shower and pass out early tonight, hoping I’ll wake up feeling rested and productive tomorrow. But as I lie down to go to sleep, the image of Amelia from today pushes itself forward in my mind.
I hate that I want her, that my body is all too curious about how her lips feel or what sounds she might make as I sink my cock into her. I hate that I wonder what her story is. I hate that no matter how much I know she’s a nuisance to my job, I look forward to our interactions and catching glimpses of her throughout the day.
I know the last thing I need is to get involved with someone right now, but it’s been a while since my dick had any female treatment, and right now he’s focused on the newest option nearby. That’s all it has to be, right?
Smirking, I place my hands behind my head and stare up at the ceiling. There isn’t anything on television to keep me entertained right now, but perhaps irritating my new work neighbor can be my new source of entertainment.
I can’t fuck her out of my system, so pissing her off will just have to be the next best thing. And perhaps tomorrow she’ll find what I left for her in her office. Here’s hoping.
“Good morning, Yvonne.” I greet my secretary as I step through the doors of my office just after nine.
“Good morning, Ethan. Um, you have someone waiting for you in your office already.”
That has me stopping in my tracks. My first appointment isn’t until ten. “Really?”
She nods, biting her lip. “Yes. And I told her you weren’t here yet, but she insisted on waiting for you there. I hope that’s okay. She was very persuasive.”
“Well, okay then. Please have my files for me when I’m through.”
She lifts the folder. “They’re already here.”
“Thank you.” I grab the folder from her, tucking it under my arm as I make my way down the hallway to my office, curious about who my impromptu visitor might be. But as soon as I step through the door and get a whiff of lemons and sugar, I know exactly who’s here.
Spinning around from where she’s standing along the wall, staring up at my degrees and awards framed there, is Amelia, wearing a fitted, sleeveless black dress that doesn’t show much skin but definitely highlights her curvy figure. Her hair is down and wild around her face, and her eyes are glowing that honey brown I noticed the other day behind her black-rimmed glasses, but her scowl has me fighting my grin and delighted at pissing her off even more.
“Well, good morning, neighbor.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “No, Mr. Fuller. This is not a good morning.”
“Oh, Amelia, please call me Mr. Fuller again. I didn’t know that was one of my kinks until you just said it.” Chuckling to myself, I make my way around my desk to set down the folder, my briefcase, and my coffee. I mentally pat myself on the shoulder for perfecting that asshole remark.
Her mouth drops open. “God, you have no shame, do you?”
“What do you mean?” I ask coyly, slinking back in my chair and folding my arms over my chest as I watch her start to unravel.
“First, I sincerely hope you don’t talk to your female clients like that because they could sue you for sexual harassment. And second, I believe you left something in my office the other day.” She tosses the stack of business cards I left on her little side table by her door, and now I’m thoroughly pleased that she made this discovery at the exact time I was hoping.
“To answer your first question, don’t worry about how I speak to my female clients. My crass comments are reserved just for you, I assure you. And second, I didn’t know that leaving my cards there would be such an issue. There were plenty of other business cards on the table, so I figured it was a free opportunity for advertising.” Grinning, I smile up at her as I watch her clench her jaw.
“Well, the opportunity was not extended to you. In case you’ve forgotten, you stand for everything that is the opposite of what I do.”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten. I just wanted to make sure that your clients knew they had other options besides the kumbaya sessions you’re holding across the way.”
“God, my brother was right. You’re cocky, and not in a good way.”
And that morsel of information has me smiling even wider. “I see you finally made that connection as well.”
“Oh, that you know my brother? That he sold you this office without thinking about how it would affect my business? Don’t worry, he got an earful from me about it.”
“Lucky him.”
She takes a few steps over to my desk and leans over it, zeroing her gaze on me. And right about now, I’m wishing that her dress was cut low in the front so I could get a view of her cleavage and use that vision later when I’m alone.
Fuck, she’s so hot, so voluptuous, so passionate—that has to translate to other things.
My dick instantly gets hard just watching her, and I can’t remember the last time that happened. I’m a grown man, but I’m getting hard like a teenager.
This is not good, but damn, it feels good to misbehave—especially with her.
“Listen here, Ethan. You need to stay away from my office and away from my clients. My goal is to pretend that you don’t even exist and go about my business, and I think you should do the same.”
“Shame. I definitely know I can’t pretend like you don’t exist, Amelia. But please, do go on.”
She points a finger at my desk. “Your business cards aren’t welcome in my office, and neither are you. Stay on your side of the complex, and everything will be fine.”
“And if I don’t?” I ask, arching a brow at her.
She stands up tall again as a mischievous grin builds on her lips. “Then I’ll have no choice but to retaliate.”
“Is that so?”
“Don’t test me, Ethan Fuller.”
“Oh, Dr. St. Clair. Now I want nothing more than to know what you’re capable of.”
She turns around and heads for my door, and I watch her ass the entire way before she glances over her shoulder. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” And then she leaves, and my dick twitches as I watch her walk away.
Chuckling, I reach for my cup of coffee and take a sip. “Fuck me,” I mutter to myself, daydreaming about what I would have done with her alone in my office under any other circumstances.
This woman is getting under my skin now. She’s ruffling my feathers and making me forget that I’m alone for a very important reason. I don’t need a distraction, a fire to contain. But damn, she sure is the type that makes a man want to whip out his fire hose and douse a few flames.
And now I’m wondering, does Amelia have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with me? Does she have the balls (metaphorically speaking, of course) to retaliate?
Or will this little game we’re playing just fizzle out as quickly as it started?
I genuinely don’t want to hurt her business or my own, but it’s too damn fun messing with her.
Perhaps I should go over and apologize, let her know that I didn’t mean any harm and I don’t really want to start a war. My immaturity was coming out, and I would honestly like us to remain civil. But would she even believe me?
Maybe I should just let this die down naturally, let her cool off and pretend like everything is as normal as it was before we crossed paths. Besides, I have more important things to focus on, like my son.
Remember your priorities, Ethan. Pissing off some woman is not something you should be concerned with right now.
Clearing my throat and reminding myself that I’m a grown-ass adult and professional, I shake off my impromptu meeting with Amelia and open up the folder on my desk, preparing for my meeting at ten and putting that sexually charged interaction out of my mind—at least until later, when I can take care of the steel rod in my pants as well.
“So, since I convinced you to come out, does that mean I have to pay?” Nick asks as the waitress walks away after taking our drink order. It’s Friday night after a long week, and when he invited me out, I almost declined. But my mother insisted I take some time for myself and decided to keep Oliver overnight. Plus, he made friends with one of her neighbors’ kids, so he was begging to stay to play with his new friend anyway.
“Yup. You initiated this date, so I’m going to order the lobster,” I joke.
Nick licks his lips. “Make it two then. Calories don’t count tonight.”
I chuckle and then lean back in my chair, surveying the busy restaurant around us. The bar in the middle of the restaurant is packed as a baseball game plays on televisions hung along the ceiling. Booths and tables are filled with families and couples out for a Friday night meal, and the smell of fried food and beer fills the air.
“So how have you been, man? Sorry, I haven’t checked in on you since we signed the papers for your office, but life’s been busy, and I knew you had some settling in to do. Plus, I’ve been a little preoccupied myself,” he says with a smirk on his lips.
“Busy with who?” I ask, knowing that the only reason for that remark would have to be his happiness over a woman.
“Elena,” he says with a roll of his tongue.
“And who is Elena?”
“The woman I’m seeing. And fuck, Ethan…she’s gorgeous. Olive skin, green eyes, and long dark hair. She’s a Spanish teacher and last night, we role-played teacher and the naughty student…it was the best sex of my life.”
I hold up my hand. “Dude, I didn’t need to know that.”
“I don’t care. I’m going to tell anyone I fucking can because it was so fucking hot.” He shivers from his memories. “Have you ever been spanked with a ruler? If not, you should try it, man.”
A mental image appears, and I slap it away as fast as I can. “I feel like you’re sharing too much this early in the evening.”
He laughs. “Aw, come on, man. If we were still back in college, we’d be trading stories over the girls we hooked up with all night.”
“That was a long time ago, Nick. Things have changed.”
He grimaces. “You’re right, dude. Sorry. But haven’t you been sowing some wild oats since your divorce?”
“And when the fuck would I have time to do that? Up until recently, Oliver was with me 24-7 except for when I was at work.” The reminder of how long it’s been since I’ve been laid instantly brings up images of Amelia. I’m surely going to hell for lusting after my friend’s sister, even if we’re not exactly besties. But that was the point of going out tonight. Nick insisted we hang out, rekindle our bromance, and I’m definitely not in a position to decline the offer of a friend in a new place—well, new as in not where I was just living.
“Fair point. By the way, I didn’t tell my sister about your divorce and stuff. I figured it wasn’t my place to say.”
My heart rate increases at the mention of her.
So Amelia doesn’t know everything about me? I thought for sure her brother would have mentioned something when she found out he sold me my office space. “Well, I appreciate that. It’s not something I like to go around advertising, but when people find out, it sort of explains why I do what I do.”
“I know. But just so you know, I thought my sister was going to rip my nipple off when I told her I knew you. So, please don’t be a dick to her.”
I scratch the back of my neck. “Uh, well…”
“You already were, weren’t you?”
I struggle to get comfortable in my chair. “We’ve had some not-so-pleasant run-ins, you could say.”
Nick shakes his head at me. “Look, you’re both adults, so I’m just going to say this—be careful messing with my sister, Ethan. She’s a force to be reckoned with. And when she feels strongly about something, like what she does for a living, she will defend it wholeheartedly.”
Yeah, I think I’m beginning to notice that. “Noted.”
He wipes his hands against one another in the air. “All right, that’s all I have to say, and now I’m washing my hands of this and not getting involved. Just don’t make me regret helping you out, man. Otherwise, it won’t just be her wrath you feel.”
Fuck, now I feel like shit. “I won’t.”
Staring off into space, now I know I need to try to make things right with Amelia. Nick is one of the only friends I have in LA, and I don’t want me acting like a pompous ass to his sister to jeopardize that friendship. I make a mental note to stop by her office on Monday and try to smooth things over.
The truth is, I’m not usually a dick, but her presence has rattled me, both professionally and personally. She’s a threat to my business and my mind. I can’t stop thinking about her and what she looks like naked—and that’s a problem.
“What are you looking at?” Nick asks, pulling me back to our conversation.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just weird being out without Oliver.” Nice save, Ethan. Quick on your feet as always.
“I know.” He clasps me on the shoulder. “But this is good for you. I promise, I’ll make sure to keep you company when I can.”
“You mean when Elena isn’t spanking you with rulers?” I tease him.
A voice above me cuts me off before he can answer. “Um, not sure what conversation we walked into, but I feel like that comment needs explaining.” I look to my right and find two men standing beside our table, grinning as Nick scoots his chair back to greet them.
“Jeffrey, my man. So good to see you.” Nick and Jeffrey share an embrace and then Jeffrey reaches for my hand
“Jeffrey.”
“Ethan.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Then he greets the other guy. “Damien, long time no see.”
Damien takes one of the empty chairs at the table. “I know. It’s been like what, two hours?”
“Ethan, this is Damien, Jeffrey’s colleague, best friend, and the boyfriend of one of Amelia’s friends, Charlotte. I’m currently helping Damien find a house for him and Charlotte.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know about it, so don’t say anything.”
“Couldn’t if I wanted to,” I reply. “I have no idea who Charlotte is. But it’s nice to meet you.” Damien and I shake hands.
Jeffrey takes the seat next to Nick as the waitress comes by and delivers our beers. “Can I get you something?”
“I’ll have what they’re having,” he says.
“Same for me,” Damien replies.
She nods and retreats from the table. “So, Ethan. Nick tells me you two go way back?” Jeffrey asks as we all settle in again. I know Nick mentioned drinks with the guys, but I guess I didn’t realize I’d have to make small talk with the guys. Jesus, it really has been that long since I’ve been out.
“Yeah, college. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other though. I just moved to Los Angeles from San Diego about a month ago.”
“Ethan has had some life changes happening recently…hence, why we needed a boy’s night out.”
Jeffrey leans forward. “Girl problems?”
I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. Recently divorced. Well, not super recently. A few years ago, but I moved here to be closer to my mom. She helps a lot with my son.”
Jeffrey winces. “Man, I’m sorry.”
“Nah, it’s okay. It was for the best.”
“Is your ex-wife okay with the move?”
“Well, she’s not around or involved in my son’s life, so I don’t really give a shit what she thinks,” I say a little too harshly.
Damien hisses. “Damn. I take it you’re not a big fan of hers?”
“Nope,” I say matter-of-factly, ready to move on from this topic. The second I start discussing Monica, my blood pressure goes through the roof. “But enough about that. I’m just glad to be out with some adults for a change.”
“Well, then maybe you can be my new wingman. Damien is practically engaged now, and since Nick is too busy getting hit in the ass with rulers, that means you’re the next best thing.” Jeffrey leans forward in his seat.
Nick purses his lips and speaks before I can reply. “Um, she’s a teacher, man.”
Jeffrey’s eyes go wide. “Oh fuck. You landed yourself a TILF?”
“What’s a TILF?” I ask, but I’m pretty sure I can figure out the definition.
“Teacher I’d like to fuck,” Nick replies with a bounce of his eyebrows. “And believe me, she makes all of those fantasies come true.”
Jeffrey practically drools on the table. “Does she have a hot friend? Maybe a math teacher that will spank me every time I miss one of my multiplication table problems? I might just get them wrong on purpose if that’s the case…”
“I’ll ask her the next time we talk,” Nick replies arrogantly.
“Jesus Christ, what did I get myself into this evening?” I mumble loud enough for both of them to hear as I drain nearly half of my beer just as the waitress comes by with Damien and Jeffrey’s. “I’ll have another, please,” I tell her, lifting my glass. She nods and walks away again.
“Oh lighten up, dude.” Nick smacks my shoulder, almost making me choke. “See, this is why you need to start dating.”
“Fuck no. Seriously, Nick, dating is the last thing on my mind.”
“Why? I’m not saying get married again to the first girl you talk to. But you need to let out some pent-up energy, sow some wild oats like I said.”
“I’m not sowing any oats. I just moved away from the city I’ve been living in for years, started a new job, and my son is about to start school. I don’t have time for women.”
“Come on. You seriously don’t even want to try dating again? I mean, not right this second, but you don’t want to find a hot teacher to play out some fantasies with?” He waggles his eyebrows. “I’m telling you…life changing,” he whispers with a cheesy grin on his lips.
