“Hey there,” she heard him say affectionately as he headed toward his office. He grabbed the door latch and turned around, flashing a grin at Lucy as he backed into the room. The next instant, the door swung closed again, and Lucy flinched as she was shut out of Aaron’s inner office—and his future—with a resounding, uncompromising thud.
Chapter Two
The Red Palm was busy for a Monday night. Usually it was just the after-work crowd that gathered here at this hour, but tonight there seemed to be a lot of clubbers around, too, maybe stopping by for a starter drink before heading out on the town. It was just as well, as far as Aaron was concerned. Maybe the noise would help drown out the sound of his cousin’s groveling.
“Come on, Double A, it’s only ten grand. I know you could lose that kind of dough between your couch cushions and not even notice it was missing.”
No such luck, Aaron thought, and barely suppressed an eyeroll. Despite the dull roar of the crowd around them, he could still hear every word of Neil’s pathetic pitch for more money. He could also hear himself clearing his throat and saying, with as much steel as he could muster, “Sorry, Neil, but no way.”
“What?” Neil’s hazel eyes, so like Aaron’s own, grew. “No way? You’d really do your own family—some of your only family—like that?” As Aaron watched in amazement, his cousin’s eyes filmed over with tears, and he clasped his hands in front of his chest. His lips pouted and gave the slightest quiver. It was an impressive performance, Aaron had to admit, but he couldn’t let it get to him. This was the third time this year the guy had asked him for another “loan”—which, of course, he had no intention of ever paying back—and Aaron was determined not to give in again. Sure, he had a fat bank account, but it wasn’t bottomless or anything. And now that he was leaving his lucrative position at Acray-Sys, he’d need to be even more careful about how he spent his cash.
Some things were worth shelling out for, no question, but his wastrel cousin’s inability to budget didn’t make the cut.
Thinking of his imminent job change prompted Aaron to glance at the bartender, who was balanced on a footstool nearby, busily shuffling liquor bottles on a shelf. That’ll be me, soon, Aaron thought with a keen thrill of excitement. Soon I’ll be the one stocking drinks and polishing glasses, and not giving a fig about corporate sales projections and conference calls anymore! The thought made his heart feel lighter, and he smiled as he sipped his beer.
Neil’s brow furrowed into pleats. He dropped his hands, along with the pity-me act. “Get a kick out of punching a guy when he’s down, do you, Cuz? I see how it is.”
“Huh?” Aaron watched, befuddled, as his cousin swiped his Scotch and soda off the bar and angrily slugged the remainder of it down his gullet. Realizing what had just happened, he held up his hand. “Wait, Neil, that’s not why I was smiling, I was just—” But Neil was already off his barstool.
“See you later, Cuz. But just remember, what goes around comes around. Maybe someday I’m in a position to help you out and I say no. We’ll see how funny you think it is then.”
I seriously doubt that will ever happen, Aaron thought, but he didn’t say it. He didn’t say anything as his cousin stomped away, almost barreling over a rain-soaked couple coming in, on his way out the door. Aaron watched lightning whip across the sky just before the door fell shut again, and then he turned back to his beer. Whatever, he thought. It hadn’t been his intention to run off his cousin, but it was just as well he was gone. Maybe now Aaron could finish his drink in peace.
Reaching into his pocket, he took out his phone, along with the crumpled postcard Lucy had given him earlier, and laid them both on the counter.
Lucy.
Lucy, Lucy.
Aaron couldn’t help but smile anytime he thought of her.
Over the past couple of years, it seemed he’d dated almost every unattached woman around his age in the city, and yet none of them could hold a candle to his assistant’s intelligence and sharp sense of humor. Sure, Lucy was a little awkward sometimes, but that was only because she liked Aaron so much. He really didn’t mind the crush she obviously had on him. He thought it was cute. And so was she, for that matter. He liked her clear brown eyes, fringed by thick lashes, and her pouty lower lip. He liked the demure way she smiled, and the tinkling delicacy of her laugh. Aaron had stayed on a lot longer at Acray-Sys than he should have because of those bashful doe eyes and that dulcet giggle. To say nothing about her tight little body—probably the result of all those exercise classes he’d seen marked out in her planner that afternoon.
For months after he’d met her, he’d hoped something would happen between him and Lucy, but the situation had turned out to be a lot more complicated than he’d expected. Not only was there seemingly no good way to hit on one’s assistant without feeling like a lech—and worrying about potentially losing the best employee he’d ever had—he’d eventually started to second-guess whether he was really the right guy for her, anyway. If her behavior around him was any indication, Lucy was inexperienced with men. As in, completely inexperienced. He wouldn’t have been surprised to learn she’d never had a serious boyfriend before. Or even
