“We’ve got a present for you,” Mark side, sliding the bag off his shoulder and setting it down on the floor. “An investor appreciation gift.”
His
brother’s eyebrows lifted, and he stood, moving around from behind the desk to inspect the clubs. He ran his fingers over them, and looked up at Mark again.
“Thank you,” he said. “These are great.”
“Erica’s the one who picked them out,” Mark admitted. “She knows way more about golf clubs than I do.”
“Thank you, Erica,” Alex said, turning to look at her. “I really appreciate the gift.”
“You’re welcome,” Erica answered. “Thank you for everything that you contributed to the club. It wouldn’t exist without your generosity.”
At least she seemed in a better mood, Mark thought as they made a little more small-talk and then left. He still didn’t know what had set her off in the first place, except that it seemed to have something to do with Emelie. Maybe she was just uncomfortable around a woman that good-looking, although Mark didn’t think she had any reason to be. She was incredibly hot herself. Telling her didn’t seem like a good idea, though. Not when she’d turned down his dinner invitation. He didn’t want to give her the idea that he was trying to pursue her romantically after she’d shut him down. That was likely to end her employment as well as their friendship.
So he didn’t say anything about it as they headed back to the car and then back to the club, talking about nothing important instead and watching Erica’s profile as she drove. By the time they got back to Little Lake, she looked much less unhappy than she had at the office, and Mark decided to let the whole thing go as a fluke.
“Afternoon,” Christine said from her place at the front desk as they walked in.
“Hey, Christine.” Mark smiled at her, crossing the room to lean an elbow against the desk and ask her how she was doing. “Every going good here?”
“It’s all great.” She smiled back and told him she was great, and gave him a couple messages that she’d taken while he’d been out. It was good to see her looking better. As he’d predicted when he offered to hire her, she was doing an excellent job despite her lack of work experience, picking up quickly on the tasks involved. Jamie had hugged him so tightly he could hardly breathe when she found out that he was giving Christine a job. She’d been convinced it would help her sister feel better, that being useful and needed would give her another reason to stick around. So far, it looked like Jamie had been right, and Mark was glad. Christine wasn’t quite the sister that Jamie was, but she was getting there.
“Glad to hear it,” he said. “Though I think you’re always great.”
She blushed, and looked down at her computer screen. “You don’t have to flatter me for me to get work done,” she said, but she didn’t sound unhappy about it.
“No,” Mark agreed, “I don’t. But just because I don’t have to doesn’t mean I can’t attempt to make one of my best employees smile.”
“Get out of here,” she said, laughing. “Go flirt with someone else. One of your best employees has actual work to get done.”
Grinning, Mark pushed off the desk and headed back toward his own office, but not before catching Erica’s narrow-eyed stare.
Chapter 15
“Thank goodness that’s over,” Alex said as he came through the door, crossing the room to wrap an arm around Jamie and pull her in close, kissing her hard.
Jamie, after an instant of startled stillness, wrapped her arms around his neck and arched up close, opening to let his tongue plunder her mouth. Desire raced through her like fire, and when they broke apart she was breathing a little harder. “Wow,” she said, smiling up at him. “What was that for?”
“It’s a good day,” Alex said, swatting her on the ass as he stepped past her to fill up a glass of water and take a long drink. “The DNA test came back, and I’m not the father of Lacey Riker’s son. We’re finally done with that nonsense.”
Relief washed through Jamie, leaving her nearly weak in knees that were already a little unsteady from Alex’s assault.
“That’s great,” she said, wrapping her arms around her husband and leaning her head against his chest. “I’m so glad it’s over and done with.”
Alex’s arm slid around her waist, holding her close. “So am I,” he said. “And I’m glad I followed your advice. You were right; it was the best way to get rid of her.”
“I’d say I told you so,” Jamie said, “but I’m not that kind of person.”
He laughed, and tipped her chin up for another kiss, long and slow. “You can tell me ‘I told you so’ all you want, Mrs. Reid,” he growled when they’d pulled back, “as long as you give the baby monitor to the nanny tonight.”
Jamie shivered with pleasant anticipation. Two weeks ago, she would have been resistant to the idea of someone else keeping an eye on Lilliana and Benton overnight, but she trusted Briana, and the temptation of a night with Alex all to herself was too much to pass up. They hadn’t had nearly enough of those recently.
“I think I can promise that.”
“Good,” Alex said, stealing a final, too-brief kiss. “Then I’ll enjoy watching you squirm while you wait.” He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear, and nipped at the curve of it. “I’m going to fuck you so good you’re going to forget your own name.”
And then he was gone, halfway across the kitchen to open the fridge and see what they had for dinner. Jamie leaned against the counter, her legs too weak to hold her up properly, and thought night couldn’t come fast enough.