My cell phone buzzing as it dances across my hardwood floor pulls me out of sleep. I roll off the large chair in my office slowly. Blinking a few times to clear my vision, I swipe my phone off the floor to see it’s a little after eight o’clock. Six hours, nice, it almost makes up for only three hours this morning. The phone vibrates again. It’s Trent, a teammate, asking if I want to hit the clubs. He’s back in town after spending Christmas in Florida. I decline. He responds back to let him know when I am up for hitting the clubs. I’m not about to tell him the clubs are out for me until I’m done with Amelia. I have no doubt she’ll take a strip of skin off me if she finds out I was in a club. With a chuckle I imagine her angry, and I can’t wait. It won’t be about me going out to the clubs though.
I’m starving, so I head into the kitchen. I cook in batches to keep healthy, home-cooked meals in the fridge. The turkey chili is appealing as the wind moans around the house. I give in to grabbing some oyster crackers with the chili. Body satisfied, I clean the dish then set it to dry.
The house feels empty, which is weird. This is the first time since I moved I thought it. I like being alone, I’m not someone who needs noise or people around all the time. Going to into my office and library I imagine Amelia in here reading the day away with a big mug of coffee. An antique mahogany and leather desk sits in the left half of the large room, behind the desk are some sports memorabilia, a few vintage balls, a few pictures of wins, the picture from my last visit to the White House. It feels weird to put my trophies up here, so they’re downstairs where I work out.
In the middle of the large room are two large chairs, one overstuffed, the other a wingback far more comfortable than it appears. Instead of a coffee table I use a leather ottoman. The two walls on the right are covered in books. With a smile I go to the wall of my first and second editions and other rare books, behind glass. Then right beside them are the leather-bound, gilt-edged books, copies of the rare and first editions. The leather-bound books are worn and falling apart.
5
Amelia
My phone beeps. “Yes?”
“Mr. Baldwin is on his way up. In case you want to take a moment to brush out your hair and fix your makeup.”
Shit. “Tell him I’m out of the office. I’m too busy.”
“Can’t. I already him told you’re free and you haven’t eaten.”
“You’re fired.”
“Two minutes.”
She is so fired. I run a hand through my hair then check my face in the mirror. No, stop it, I scream internally even as I pull out the translucent powder to soak up my oily t-zone and give me a hint of glow. There is no warning before my door opens. One minute I’m chewing on my pen, the next my body comes alive as his eyes run over me. The suit is gone today, he’s in jeans and another black sweater, this one a cable knit.
After the way he left me standing on the street yesterday, a part of me was sure he was done with me. Which was good. I’d done what I set out to do, made him go away. Yet, as I watched the cab pull away from the curb, I was oddly hurt he didn’t even say goodbye.
Lying awake last night, I told myself it was a good thing. I needed a guy like Christopher Baldwin in my life like I needed a class-action lawsuit. Only, my bed felt big, empty, cold. I fell asleep around three in the morning, and now I look and feel like hell.
“Hey sugar, I got a table waiting for us at Giorgio’s. Let’s go.”
The way my whole body jumps to do his bidding is so scary it slams me back to earth. There is no way I’m leaving with him. “I’m busy, Mr. Baldwin. Another time.”
The smile disappears, he’s deadly serious. Sky blue is gone, and his eyes are the color of a storm. Instead of the fear any normal person would be experiencing, heat bubbles up inside me. “That’s three: you lied the first day we met, yesterday, now a lie today. When the time comes, don’t say you weren’t warned.”
My mouth is completely dry. I croak out the words, “Warned about what?”
“Naughty girls get spanked, Amelia.” No, I am not wet. Oh god, I am. “Lying is very naughty, indeed. I was going to let the first lie go; however, this one shows a pattern I believe needs to be nipped in the bud from the beginning. Three, Amelia, remember it for when it comes time for you to count them off.
“You get five minutes to wrap up whatever you’re working on. Every minute after that is another spank.” He looks down at the slim gold watch on his wrist. “Your time starts now.” Then he walks out of my office as quietly as he walked in.
When I close my eyes, they burn. I realize I haven’t blinked since he said the word spanked. Holy fuck. I do not want to be spanked. My nipples harden at the thought, calling me a liar. I don’t even bother saving my work; I grab my bag and my coat, but I stop with my hand on the door, thanking god for the frosted glass. Am I really doing this? Am I really getting involved with Christopher Baldwin, bad boy, manwhore, asshole? No, this is lunch, just lunch. Liar.
I open the door to find him talking with Mary. His eyes go down to his watch, and he lifts a dark eyebrow before he smiles. “With a minute to spare, what a good girl you are.”
“Have a good lunch.” Mary chuckles.
“You’re fired,” I toss at Mary as I walk away.
“What?” We’re in the cab when I break. I can’t take the silence anymore.
A dimple appears. “I’m simply doing the math on how many more hours I have to wait. When is Ethan due back in town?”
I blush, shaking my head. “He’ll be back at work on the fifteenth.”
“That’s four.” My eyes widen as I shake my head, no. “Yes, Amelia. I didn’t ask you when Ethan was due back at work. I asked you when he is back in town. Shake your head all you want, sugar. When your breath catches in anticipation you aren’t fooling anyone. When is he due back?”
“The thirteenth,” I gasp out. Oh god. My face is so red I’m lightheaded when the cab comes to a hard stop. The sidewalk is on my side. I open the door with every intention of escaping, only my legs are so weak I don’t get far before he’s out of the car, at my back. Chris wraps a hand around my arm, bringing me back up against him. The strength of him seeps into me; I don’t want to get away from him.