Page 21 of Forever After All (Pine Harbour #2)

Alice

" G ood morning, Calder Marketing, Brenna speaking." Brenna's cheerful voice bounces off the glass walls of the building. "Yes, ma'am. Give me a moment and I'll find that out for you."

Covering the mouthpiece of the telephone, Brenna leans over to speak to me. "Can you check Anna's meetings for me today? My PC is busted again," she whispers.

"Sure thing," I say as I bring up Anna's calendar. "Patrick Jones, meeting at ten. Two hours. Jessica Deary, meeting at twelve-thirty. Thirty minutes. Lunch between one and three. Carter Green, meeting at two-thirty. Blocked out two hours."

What the fuck? I double take at the last meeting and scowl at my screen, feeling irrationally annoyed.

"Thanks, Ali." Brenna finishes her call after confirming the scheduled meeting time with Jessica. "Why is Carter coming in?" she asks .

"Beats me." I shrug, yet feel myself fluster a little.

"Oh. My. Fucking. God," Brenna screeches at me, low enough for only me to hear.

"What?" I ask a little too quickly because I’m irritated.

Not irritated by Brenna, but irritated by Carter.

We've messaged back and forth for the last week, and without saying a word about it he has a fucking meeting scheduled at my office.

After what I told him, and after what we did, I expect a little more from him and I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

"You slept with him, didn't you?" How the hell she knows that from me saying two words is beyond me, but I decide to tell her anyway.

Keeping my voice low, I confirm her suspicion.

"Yep." I nod glancing at her without turning my head.

"I knew it. That man has got it bad for you." She gives me a proud look—one I can’t help smiling at.

"He really doesn't, we're just friends. He was in the right place at the right time," I try to lie.

"Oh, I bet he was." She smirks at me from her side of the desk, and I can't help but return a similar look.

"Tell me everything ." Brenna bounces in her seat, awaiting more information.

"Maybe we can get a drink after work? Too many ears listening." I gesture around our very big, open foyer .

"Sure thing, babe." She nods at me and quickly turns back to professional mode.

"Good morning, Calder Marketing, Brenna speaking," she answers the phone again as I pull my phone out from my bag and start typing a message under the desk.

Me: Are you fucking kidding me, Carter?

The little dots appear immediately.

Carter: I never kid.

Carter: Wait, about what?

Me: A meeting with Anna? Really?

Carter: I didn't realise I needed your permission to attend a meeting, Alice.

Me: You don't.

Me: It would have been nice to know.

Carter: How else was I supposed to see you when you'd rather work for twelve days straight?

Me: I probably won't be here when you come in later, I've got some stuff to do in the offices upstairs, good luck in your meeting.

Carter: You'd better be there. Make sure you are.

My breath hitches a little at the demand.

Me: Like I said, I've got some stuff to do in the offices upstairs.

Carter: See you later, Alice.

I put my phone back into my bag, answer a few calls, schedule a few meetings, and before I know it it's time for lunch.

"I'm upstairs this afternoon, Brenna. There’s some stuff I need to take care of for this charity event. It's why I was here all weekend. I said I'd help with some planning. I'll be back down around four, then maybe we can go for that drink?" I ask my colleague.

"Not hanging around to see your beau, then?" she asks playfully.

"One, he is not my beau, and two, I am actively avoiding him today." I try to sound serious, but I fail.

"I definitely won't tell him where you're working this afternoon then." She winks at me .

"I'm serious, Brenna," I say, trying once more.

"So am I." She drums the desk a few times with her nails as I disappear behind the doors.

Desperate to pee, I head to the closest restroom.

I look at my outfit in the mirror, red dress that clings to my boobs and my hips, some black flat pumps, and a little white cardigan.

I braided my hair in a waterfall braid this morning and pulled some little wisps of hair free around my face to frame it.

I re-apply a wash of red lip balm to my lips and push them together a few times to distribute the colour evenly.

I’m not a vain woman, but working in this type of environment means that I like to look my best where I can.

You’re surrounded by sports professionals most of the time, and when you're not surrounded by them you're surrounded by their agents, so it doesn't hurt to always look professional.

After lunch, I make my way a few floors up in the building and find the planning team for the charity event.

The event is being held to raise money for underprivileged kids, helping them access sport more easily.

They are planning a charity ball and are auctioning off dates with some current and retired athletes.

"Look, what I'm thinking is retired NHL players and current NHL players. It would be a huge draw and would raise a fucking ton of money for these kids," one of the guys says across the table.

"Or retired NFL players and current NFL players," someone else adds.

"Or both?" I ask, and the table take turns nodding, making faces of approval and the hum of suggestions continues.

Anna pokes her head into the conference room "Oh, great, Alice, you're here. Thanks for helping with the admin for this."

"That's okay," I answer my boss. "It's fun. I like being involved."

Anna walks in and Carter follows, winking at me, making sure everyone sees.

My brain malfunctions a little and my tummy contracts at seeing my friend in the flesh again.

Or maybe my brain malfunctioned and my tummy contracted because he looks like a fucking god.

The ovaries of every woman in the room implode at the same moment.

Carter is wearing a blue suit that accentuates his wide shoulders.

His dark wavy hair is brushed back off his face.

He unbuttons his jacket, and the light blue shirt he wears pulls taut against his chest, a tiny bit of chest hair pokes over the top of his shirt.

I blink a few times, forgetting how to function.

He sinks down into an empty chair directly opposite me.

I try my hardest not to make eye contact, but glance over at him, and he leans forward, elbows propped on the table.

Linking his hands together he rests his chin on top of them and for a split second his eyes burn into my soul.

Honestly, he's never looked sexier, and I think that's because I know exactly what’s under that suit and shirt.

"Sorry, give me one second," Carter says, pulling out his phone. "This is really important, and I'll be right with you." After a few moments of typing, and places his phone face down on the table. "It's on silent now. No more distractions."

My phone vibrates in my lap and I glance down, trying to remain discreet.

Carter: I hope you weren't trying to hide from me.

I feel my cheeks flush a little, luckily hidden by my makeup.

"I think you all know Carter," Anna suggests to the room, and there are several nods of recognition around the table.

"He approached me and wants to help. Carter is making a very hefty donation to the event and has agreed to be auctioned for a date.

This is going to be so huge for those kids, Carter.

Thank you." Anna nods at Carter and he nods back.

He is humble and quiet. Anna doesn't say exactly what that donation is, but I just know it's fucking huge.

"Sorry, I'll be back in a moment. Powder room," I say and push myself up from the chair, excusing myself from the room. I don't look at anyone and leave as quickly as I can .

I head to the closest unlocked door I can find.

I slide in through it and close the heavy wood behind me.

I sink my back into the door, and prop myself up on it, as I run my clammy hands down the front of my dress, adjusting it.

Powder room, my ass. It’s a dimly lit, disused closet, but it's good enough for me to catch my breath in.

Why do I feel so flustered all of a sudden? What the fuck is wrong with me? He's just a friend. It was just sex. Get a grip, Alice.

It feels like the longest time I've been standing against this door, but in reality, it's probably only been a few minutes.

I regain my composure and decide to head back to the meeting, reminding myself to remain professional.

I take a few more deep breaths in and out and step back out into the corridor.

I relax my shoulders and focus on the conference room door, halfway down the corridor.

After taking only a few steps towards the conference room, a door opens next to me and a large arm darts out of the door, pulling me through the threshold by my bicep.

I squeal and panic a little, not expecting it as I'm dragged into the darkness. The door slams closed behind me, and I hear it lock as a body presses up against mine.

"Hi, princess, red is so your fucking colour." Carter's voice rumbles in the dark.

I fumble in the dark for a switch on the wall and flick it on as his body invades my space.

The restroom illuminates with a bright white light, and I squint my eyes closed for a few seconds while my vision adjusts.

How many disused rooms are there in this damn building?

Sinks, toilet stalls, bright white tile everywhere, and a full-sized mirror on the back wall.

"Carter, what the fuck are you doing?" I ask and hit him in the chest. My hand thuds against the wall of muscle in front of me.

"Don't know, don't fucking care." He grabs me by the shoulders and slams me back against the wall, my ass bounces off the tile as he does. My pussy floods instantly. It's so fucking wrong, yet so fucking right.

"Alice, fuck, I want you." He presses his forehead into mine and breathes deeply, his chest heaving against mine as he does.

Carter presses his mouth to mine, frantically trying to claim more of me than he is able to, and I relax into his arms. My body reacts to his every touch.

"I want you too," I respond.